Class 47 buffer beam areas

[AlistairCowell]

Class 47 locomotives were originally built with lower buffer beams (or fairings). Since around in 1990s, the locos began to appear with their buffer beam fairings removed. Not all locomotives were so treated and some 47s still have buffer beam fairings today. I think 47299 was the first following the accident in 1984, and on one end of 47589 by 1986. Conversions to become Class 57s even involved the removal of buffer beam fairings (if fitted on a 47) in recent years.

Few Class 56s also received similar treatment (only 56001 to 56032 only had buffer beam fairings), and 56301 and 56312 were treated in the Class 47 manner (their lower profile in the cabs being two inches higher than the rest of the bodyside), as opposed to those numbered 56033 onwards.

 

[Jim-s]

I had wondered if the 47s had been built originally with the different styles, does look like quite a large modification in comparison to say removing the valances on the 37s