Completed as D1566 at British Rail Crewe Works, in 03/1964, this loco was immediately despatched to Darnall shed, Sheffield. Only a few weeks later, the machine moved on to Immingham depot, followed shortly afterwards to Finsbury Park shed. At this time the loco was being utilised on services up and down the East Coast Main Line. In early 1965 the loco was moved to March depot, working freight trips to and from the busy yards in the area. A further move to Norwich saw here turning out on passenger work to London Liverpool Street. By the late 1960s the loco had returned to its original Sheffield home, although shortly after the turn of the new decade had been despatched back to Immingham.

By the beginning of 1973 D1566 was sent to the then B.R. Stoke Division, before being transferred to the depot where it was to spend most of its working life working out of Crewe Diesel Depot. It then became 47449 under TOPS denoting its fitment of Electric Train Heating equipment.

47449 was to find itself allocated to the freight sector at the end of its stay at Crewe, and by 1990 the loco had returned to Sheffield, although this time Tinsley depot. It was at this time the loco acquired its unofficial name of ‘ORIBI’. Now officially a Railfreight Distribution machine, it then moved to Old Oak Common under the banner of Network South East. At this time the loco could be found operating between Paddington and Oxford. In early 1993 it moved across London to Stratford, however it was in the May of that year the loco was withdrawn from traffic.

It was then purchased from British Rail by Pete Waterman and became a Rail Charter Services loco, and at this time was being utilised at Tyseley for driver training purposes. In 1996 it was purchased for preservation by the Llangollen Diesel Group. In 2001 it was hired to Alstom Traincare at Chester to enable staff to be trained on emergency rescue by loco techniques involving the new class 175 units.

The weather worn large logo livery it had at the time was kept on the loco until 03/2002, when the loco was outshopped at Llangollen in original two-tone green livery, with full yellow ends and given its original D1566 identity. The group decided to name the loco after long scrapped Western Region sister loco 47083, ORION, in the summer of 2002. A full naming ceremony was arranged at Llangollen and was carried out by ‘Rail Express’ magazine editor Murray Brown, who was presented with an 00 gauge replica of the locomotive as a token of thanks from the group for ‘doing the honours’. As seen here at Llangollen, it has since been outshopped in traditional B.R. Blue but carries both fleetnumbers. Seen here, on 07/07/2024, it is awaiting departure on delayed 13:15 Corwen - Carrog - Glyndyfrdwy - Berwyn - Llangollen service during the railway's Classic Transport Weekend. © Peter Steel 2024.

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Completed as D1566 at British Rail Crewe Works, in 03/1964, this loco was immediately despatched to Darnall shed, Sheffield. Only a few weeks later, the machine moved on to Immingham depot, followed shortly afterwards to Finsbury Park shed. At this time the loco was being utilised on services up and down the East Coast Main Line. In early 1965 the loco was moved to March depot, working freight trips to and from the busy yards in the area. A further move to Norwich saw here turning out on passenger work to London Liverpool Street. By the late 1960s the loco had returned to its original Sheffield home, although shortly after the turn of the new decade had been despatched back to Immingham.

By the beginning of 1973 D1566 was sent to the then B.R. Stoke Division, before being transferred to the depot where it was to spend most of its working life working out of Crewe Diesel Depot. It then became 47449 under TOPS denoting its fitment of Electric Train Heating equipment.

47449 was to find itself allocated to the freight sector at the end of its stay at Crewe, and by 1990 the loco had returned to Sheffield, although this time Tinsley depot. It was at this time the loco acquired its unofficial name of ‘ORIBI’. Now officially a Railfreight Distribution machine, it then moved to Old Oak Common under the banner of Network South East. At this time the loco could be found operating between Paddington and Oxford. In early 1993 it moved across London to Stratford, however it was in the May of that year the loco was withdrawn from traffic.

It was then purchased from British Rail by Pete Waterman and became a Rail Charter Services loco, and at this time was being utilised at Tyseley for driver training purposes. In 1996 it was purchased for preservation by the Llangollen Diesel Group. In 2001 it was hired to Alstom Traincare at Chester to enable staff to be trained on emergency rescue by loco techniques involving the new class 175 units.

The weather worn large logo livery it had at the time was kept on the loco until 03/2002, when the loco was outshopped at Llangollen in original two-tone green livery, with full yellow ends and given its original D1566 identity. The group decided to name the loco after long scrapped Western Region sister loco 47083, ORION, in the summer of 2002. A full naming ceremony was arranged at Llangollen and was carried out by ‘Rail Express’ magazine editor Murray Brown, who was presented with an 00 gauge replica of the locomotive as a token of thanks from the group for ‘doing the honours’. As seen here at Corwen, it has since been outshopped in traditional B.R. Blue but carries both fleetnumbers. Seen here, on 07/07/2024, it had operated in on 12:00 Llangollen - Berwyn - Glyndyfrdwy - Carrog - Corwen service during the railway's Classic Transport Weekend. It has now been detached and will now run around its stock and operate the return 13:15 service. © Peter Steel 2024.

© All Rights Reserved

Completed as D1566 at British Rail Crewe Works, in 03/1964, this loco was immediately despatched to Darnall shed, Sheffield. Only a few weeks later, the machine moved on to Immingham depot, followed shortly afterwards to Finsbury Park shed. At this time the loco was being utilised on services up and down the East Coast Main Line. In early 1965 the loco was moved to March depot, working freight trips to and from the busy yards in the area. A further move to Norwich saw here turning out on passenger work to London Liverpool Street. By the late 1960s the loco had returned to its original Sheffield home, although shortly after the turn of the new decade had been despatched back to Immingham.

By the beginning of 1973 D1566 was sent to the then B.R. Stoke Division, before being transferred to the depot where it was to spend most of its working life working out of Crewe Diesel Depot. It then became 47449 under TOPS denoting its fitment of Electric Train Heating equipment.

47449 was to find itself allocated to the freight sector at the end of its stay at Crewe, and by 1990 the loco had returned to Sheffield, although this time Tinsley depot. It was at this time the loco acquired its unofficial name of ‘ORIBI’. Now officially a Railfreight Distribution machine, it then moved to Old Oak Common under the banner of Network South East. At this time the loco could be found operating between Paddington and Oxford. In early 1993 it moved across London to Stratford, however it was in the May of that year the loco was withdrawn from traffic.

It was then purchased from British Rail by Pete Waterman and became a Rail Charter Services loco, and at this time was being utilised at Tyseley for driver training purposes. In 1996 it was purchased for preservation by the Llangollen Diesel Group. In 2001 it was hired to Alstom Traincare at Chester to enable staff to be trained on emergency rescue by loco techniques involving the new class 175 units.

The weather worn large logo livery it had at the time was kept on the loco until 03/2002, when the loco was outshopped at Llangollen in original two-tone green livery, with full yellow ends and given its original D1566 identity. The group decided to name the loco after long scrapped Western Region sister loco 47083, ORION, in the summer of 2002. A full naming ceremony was arranged at Llangollen and was carried out by ‘Rail Express’ magazine editor Murray Brown, who was presented with an 00 gauge replica of the locomotive as a token of thanks from the group for ‘doing the honours’. As seen here at Corwen, it has since been outshopped in traditional B.R. Blue but carries both fleetnumbers. Seen here, on 07/07/2024, it had operated in on 12:00 Llangollen - Berwyn - Glyndyfrdwy - Carrog - Corwen service during the railway's Classic Transport Weekend. It has now been detached and will now run around its stock and operate the return 13:15 service. © Peter Steel 2024.

© All Rights Reserved

Completed as D1566 at British Rail Crewe Works, in 03/1964, this loco was immediately despatched to Darnall shed, Sheffield. Only a few weeks later, the machine moved on to Immingham depot, followed shortly afterwards to Finsbury Park shed. At this time the loco was being utilised on services up and down the East Coast Main Line. In early 1965 the loco was moved to March depot, working freight trips to and from the busy yards in the area. A further move to Norwich saw here turning out on passenger work to London Liverpool Street. By the late 1960s the loco had returned to its original Sheffield home, although shortly after the turn of the new decade had been despatched back to Immingham.

By the beginning of 1973 D1566 was sent to the then B.R. Stoke Division, before being transferred to the depot where it was to spend most of its working life working out of Crewe Diesel Depot. It then became 47449 under TOPS denoting its fitment of Electric Train Heating equipment.

47449 was to find itself allocated to the freight sector at the end of its stay at Crewe, and by 1990 the loco had returned to Sheffield, although this time Tinsley depot. It was at this time the loco acquired its unofficial name of ‘ORIBI’. Now officially a Railfreight Distribution machine, it then moved to Old Oak Common under the banner of Network South East. At this time the loco could be found operating between Paddington and Oxford. In early 1993 it moved across London to Stratford, however it was in the May of that year the loco was withdrawn from traffic.

It was then purchased from British Rail by Pete Waterman and became a Rail Charter Services loco, and at this time was being utilised at Tyseley for driver training purposes. In 1996 it was purchased for preservation by the Llangollen Diesel Group. In 2001 it was hired to Alstom Traincare at Chester to enable staff to be trained on emergency rescue by loco techniques involving the new class 175 units.

The weather worn large logo livery it had at the time was kept on the loco until 03/2002, when the loco was outshopped at Llangollen in original two-tone green livery, with full yellow ends and given its original D1566 identity. The group decided to name the loco after long scrapped Western Region sister loco 47083, ORION, in the summer of 2002. A full naming ceremony was arranged at Llangollen and was carried out by ‘Rail Express’ magazine editor Murray Brown, who was presented with an 00 gauge replica of the locomotive as a token of thanks from the group for ‘doing the honours’. As seen here at Corwen, it has since been outshopped in traditional B.R. Blue but carries both fleetnumbers. Seen here, on 07/07/2024, it had operated in on 12:00 Llangollen - Berwyn - Glyndyfrdwy - Carrog - Corwen service during the railway's Classic Transport Weekend. It would now be detached and run around its stock and operate the return 13:15 service. In the coach bays by the station are Coopers, Killamarsh, G16JCS, a smart Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, that was new to the now closed Titterington Holidays, Blencow, Penrith, in 03/2018, registered TH18THH. It appeared at the 68th UK Coach Rally, Blackpool, on the weekend of 13/14th. April, 2024, with Coopers. The preserved London Transport RM next to it is operating a return heritage service from Glyndyfrdwy Station. © Peter Steel 2024.

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This photo was taken on the approach to Corwen when on the 12:00 Llangollen - Berwyn - Glyndyfrdwy - Carrog - Corwen service which was being hauled by preserved British Railways - Class 47 - D1566 - 47449 - Brush Traction Type 4, during the railway's Classic Transport Weekend, on 07/07/2024. © Peter Steel 2024.

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