Part 4 (October-December)

With the bushes on the platform conveniently blocking the glare of the morning sunshine, 47804 arrives into Sleaford with West Coast Railways' 1Z90 0614 Skegness - Carlisle charter (02/10/2019)

Under clear blue skies, 47804 takes a breather during a short break at Appleby (02/10/2019)

Another view of 47804 after arriving at Carlisle with 1Z90. This was my first run of the year behind this particular loco, which has been out of traffic since the Summer of 2018 for an engine overhaul (02/10/2019)

Later that afternoon sister loco 47826 waits to depart from Carlisle with the 1Z92 1535 return leg to Skegness via the Tyne Valley and ECML (02/10/2019)

47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' is pictured on arrival at Edinburgh Waverley with 1Z47 0541 'Statesman' charter from Wolverhampton (05/10/2019)

Three familiar faces exchange pleasantries as 47853 is readied for the short journey from Waverley to Craigentinny (05/10/2019)

Another view of BR blue liveried 47853 at Edinburgh prior to departing with 5Z47 1306 to Craigentinny. The loco would later work the 1700 return leg to Wolverhampton (05/10/2019)

The SF47 Group's 47367 is pictured on arrival at Dereham with 2D12 1640 from Wymondham Abbey at the end of what had been a productive but at times fruastrating first day of the Mid Norfolk Railway's Diesel Running Weekend (12/10/2019)

The following morning 47367 prepares to get Day 2 of the Gala under way from Dereham with 2W01 0930 to Wymondham Abbey. 47596 is tucked inside providing power (and heat!) to at least one of the coaches (13/10/2019)

An alternative view of the two home-based SF47 Group machines (13/10/2019)

In a near copy of the previous evening's scene, 47367 is pictured again a couple of hours later on arrival back into Dereham with 2D02 1040 from Wymondham Abbey (13/10/2019)

The SF47 Group's other Dereham based loco was largely confined to train heating duty on the rake of Mk3 coaches, but did get the opportunity of a round trip on its own each day: 'Aldeburgh Festival' is seen here at the head of 2W05 1150 to Wymondham Abbey (13/10/2019)

A couple of hours later 47596 is pictured again at Thuxton with 2D06 1320 from Wymondham Abbey to Dereham. This view has only recently been made possible by some re-signalling work, which now enables the northbound train to arrive ahead of the southbound working rather than being held outside beyond the crossing (13/10/2019)

The Mid Norfolk Railway is one of the few heritage lines where it might be possible to see two preserved '47s' passing one another on a routine basis. In this view 47596 waits to depart from Thuxton with 2D06 as class mate 47367 arrives with 2W07 1320 Dereham - Wymondham Abbey (13/10/2019)

47810 'Crewe Diesel Depot' awaits departure from London King's Cross with UK Railtours' 1Z37 0930 charter to Ely (16/10/2019)

Three generations of ECML workhorse stand side by side at King's Cross. Just the one missing... (16/10/2019)

But not for long! As if by magic the morning Lincoln - King's Cross HST appeared out of Gasworks Tunnel shortly before the tour was due to depart! The Quartet were even arranged in chronological order (16/10/2019)

47853 had brought the ECS for the Charter down to the Capital from Crewe in the early hours of the morning, and is seen here after arriving at Ely on the rear of 1Z37 (16/10/2019)

Shortly afterwards the 'BR blue' liveried machine waits to tow the empty train into the nearby sidings for servicing during the break as a Cross Country '170' prepares to depart from Ely with a Stansted to Birmingham service (16/10/2019)

With 47853 just visible in the background, 47810 brings up the rear of 5Z38 1201 shunt move to Ely Reception Sidings. The two-tone green liveried machine later worked the 1Z39 1508 return leg to King's Cross via Spalding, Lincoln and the ECML (16/10/2019)

An atmospheric nocturnal view of King's Cross later that evening as 47853 waits to depart with the 5Z40 2057 ECS move back to Crewe HS. As hand-held efforts go, this hasn't turned out too badly at all (16/10/2019)

47593 + 47501 await departure from Stevenage with 1Z91 0545 'Statesman' charter to Inverness. Shortly afterwards 'Craftsman' unfortunately suffered a fractured coolant pipe and was shut down at Huntingdon before being removed from the train at Tyne Yard (19/10/2019)

Later that afternoon in a scene reminiscent of the 1980s, 47593 waits at Dunkeld to cross the southbound 'Tesco' intermodal . train. 47810 was by now attached to the rear of the train having been brought up light from Crewe to Edinburgh to replace its errant sister (19/10/2019)

Having completed Day One of Three, 47593 takes a well earned rest on the blocks at Inverness after arriving with 1Z90 (19/10/2019)