Raymond
Locomotive Statistics
Name: Raymond
Number: 47527 (Pre TOPS D1110)
Type: Diesel Locomotive
Locomotive Class: BR Class 47 ("Brush Type 4")
Power Classification: Type 4
Wheel Arrangement: Co-Co
Built: Brush Traction, Loughborough (1958)
Gender: Male
Current Location: The Dark Railway
Current Condition: Operational
Current Livery: BR Blue
Number: 47527 (Pre TOPS D1110)
Type: Diesel Locomotive
Locomotive Class: BR Class 47 ("Brush Type 4")
Power Classification: Type 4
Wheel Arrangement: Co-Co
Built: Brush Traction, Loughborough (1958)
Gender: Male
Current Location: The Dark Railway
Current Condition: Operational
Current Livery: BR Blue
Profile
"Raymond" is a BR Class 47, coming to the Railway in 1959, mainly for Passenger Duties.
When he first appeared on the Railway, he appeared to be ignorant, arrogant and uncooperative.
However, it was soon revealed that this was simply a defence mechanism: He was actually quite shy and nervous.
Soon, he began to make friends, eventually being accepted by the other engines after showing his true side.
He soon proved himself to be a versatile and useful addition to the fleet, ready for any task.
He is a kind engine, respecting the other engines and always striving to do his best.
He is also quite intelligent, able to work out situations quickly and logically before the other engines.
Raymond unfortunately suffers from a lack of confidence, avoiding confrontation and keeping things to himself.
However, with encouragement from his best friends, his confidence has slowly grown.
He has a good sence of humour, but can sometimes misunderstand jokes, especially Brians.
It is also worth noting that Raymond is excellent at Gaming, winning almost every game he plays.
His best friends are Dave and Brian, getting up to all sorts of mischief with them.
He is extremely loyal to them, helping them out of many sticky situations in the past.
He is proud of being versatile, able to do almost any task required of him.
When he first appeared on the Railway, he appeared to be ignorant, arrogant and uncooperative.
However, it was soon revealed that this was simply a defence mechanism: He was actually quite shy and nervous.
Soon, he began to make friends, eventually being accepted by the other engines after showing his true side.
He soon proved himself to be a versatile and useful addition to the fleet, ready for any task.
He is a kind engine, respecting the other engines and always striving to do his best.
He is also quite intelligent, able to work out situations quickly and logically before the other engines.
Raymond unfortunately suffers from a lack of confidence, avoiding confrontation and keeping things to himself.
However, with encouragement from his best friends, his confidence has slowly grown.
He has a good sence of humour, but can sometimes misunderstand jokes, especially Brians.
It is also worth noting that Raymond is excellent at Gaming, winning almost every game he plays.
His best friends are Dave and Brian, getting up to all sorts of mischief with them.
He is extremely loyal to them, helping them out of many sticky situations in the past.
He is proud of being versatile, able to do almost any task required of him.
History
Built by Brush Traction in 1958, Raymond was actually the prototype unit of what would become known as the "Brush Type 4" and, latterly, the "BR Class 47". The original plans for Raymond date all the way back to 1953, apparently sketched by Brush Traction Engineers on a Management Trip to the Settle and Carlisle Line. These plans also clearly show his project number: 47527 (which would eventually become his permanent number, and the basis for the British Rail Class 47 TOPS Classification)
When outshopped, he carried the British Railways Two Tone Green, and was give the Pre-TOPS style number of "D1110", selected by the higher ups within Brush Traction. He was initially based at 50A (York) for trial running, working semi-fast services from York to Edinburgh, as well as occasionally venturing south to Grantham and Peterborough.
When first built, Raymond was rather shy, and usually kept himself to himself, hauling trains quietly and without fuss. However, he was plagued by reliability problems, usually to do with his traction motors, alternator and his Sulzer engine. He was also bullied on by the local steam engines at his home shed in York, teasing him for his unreliability, and because he was different.
In September 1959, the bullying reached a climax, when an LNER A4 Pacific (No 60006 "Sir Ralph Wedgewood") maliciously collided with Raymond. Something snapped inside Raymond that day, and after a year of almost solid bullying, he went for the A4 and derailed it, causing severe damage to the Pacific.
His Manager was not prepared to risk Raymond being damaged any further, and offered to transfer the Prototype diesel elsewhere. Mr Dark (Owner of the Dark Railway) was contacted, who had been looking for another locomotive for his railway. After lengthy discussions, Raymond was transferred to the Dark Railway. Raymond arrived there in October 1959, where he has remained in front line service ever since.
When outshopped, he carried the British Railways Two Tone Green, and was give the Pre-TOPS style number of "D1110", selected by the higher ups within Brush Traction. He was initially based at 50A (York) for trial running, working semi-fast services from York to Edinburgh, as well as occasionally venturing south to Grantham and Peterborough.
When first built, Raymond was rather shy, and usually kept himself to himself, hauling trains quietly and without fuss. However, he was plagued by reliability problems, usually to do with his traction motors, alternator and his Sulzer engine. He was also bullied on by the local steam engines at his home shed in York, teasing him for his unreliability, and because he was different.
In September 1959, the bullying reached a climax, when an LNER A4 Pacific (No 60006 "Sir Ralph Wedgewood") maliciously collided with Raymond. Something snapped inside Raymond that day, and after a year of almost solid bullying, he went for the A4 and derailed it, causing severe damage to the Pacific.
His Manager was not prepared to risk Raymond being damaged any further, and offered to transfer the Prototype diesel elsewhere. Mr Dark (Owner of the Dark Railway) was contacted, who had been looking for another locomotive for his railway. After lengthy discussions, Raymond was transferred to the Dark Railway. Raymond arrived there in October 1959, where he has remained in front line service ever since.
