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Its was just like the old days...1998 to be precise when we first started...to see a pair of class 47s coming off the bend at Stratford from the N.London line in daylight hours, both under power. Then they were RfD locos but on the 15th of January 2004 they were Freightliner's led by 47303 then 47358. Even the weather was the same...damp and grey!. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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A signal check on platform 10a provides the opportunity for more pictures. They are on a return Lawley Street to Ipswich liner having done the outward trip in the early hours. We think that only 3 or 4 Freightliner grey 47s are still running now so to get two on the same train is a rare sighting. They might have seen better days but the grime, clag and sound gives these old locos the character we enthusiasts enjoy. They are 47303 'Freightliner Cleveland' and 47358. Its Stratford E.London and the date is the 15th January 2004. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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47303-freightliner-cleveland-newarknorthgate.jpg Freightliner two-tone grey 47 303 'Freightliner Cleveland' at Newark Northgate. Shot through the door glass pane of an Mk.IV GNER coach on 12 April 2000. The length of the loco is appreciated in this shot. Photo by alex lu (lexcie@innocent.com, http://www.lexcie.zetnet.co.uk/)

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Freightliner's 47309 'European Rail Operator of the Year' is seen on route learning duties at Stratford E.London in the Autumn of 2002. These locos used to be a regular sight are now comparitively rare. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com

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Now this is the kind of thing that brings a smile to rail fan's like ourselves! The old in the form of 47358 having to rescue the new in this case an unidentified Freightliner 66 '5'. A few Freightliner class 47s...at least 2 in original grey livery...are still around providing cover for such failures, taking trains down the branch to Felixstowe or stepping-up when there is motive power shortage. Pictured at Statford E.London in December 2004. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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Freighliner 47358 makes are rare daytime outing, hauling a Northbound freightliner train away from its Eastleigh crew change. May 28, 2003 Photo and copyright Wayland Smith (wa231_2000@yahoo.co.uk)

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47371 passing Reading on the 9 April 1998. This loco, owned by Porterbrook Leasing, is leased to Freightliner. It carries the Freightliner livery. Photo by Mike Arm Scanned for the Rail Info web site (http://www.railinfo.home.ml.org/)

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Freightliner Class 47/3. 47377 stands beside EWS's 58011 at Eastleigh T&RSMD on Saturday 11th September 1999. Photo and scan: Ross Aitken (aos@cableinet.co.uk) Website: http://wkweb4.cableinet.co.uk/aos/photography

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We were completely taken by surprise but pleased to see 47303 sitting in platform 10 at Stratford on May 25th 2005. It was being used for route learning but with its hours up by the end of the week and an exam due this picture may well be impossible to repeat. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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The old face of Freightliner in the form of 47303 alongside the new 66508. Pictured at Stratford on May 25th 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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47303 runs through platform 10 at Stratford on the 16th March 2005. There are now only 3 Freightliner Grey class 47s running and it is a long time since we have seen one on this particular train the Ipswich to Tilbury liner. This is a particularly good train to have 'one of the old favourites' on because..... Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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.....within an hour or so it returns the loco having changed ends in Temple Mills, giving you get a second opportunity to see and photograph it. 47303 now heads off on the last leg of its journey to the port of Tilbury on the 16th March 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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Some old locos somehow manage to survive and having recently failed with low power 47358 is one. Reminding us of what things regularly looked like maybe two years or more ago this grey Freightliner 47 brings its train through Hackney Wick on the 13th January 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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47358 has been specially spruced up and returned to traffic for the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala and is pictured at Alton with Fragonsets's 31128. Sunday 15th May at the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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Looking down on Ropley Shed we see 47303 which was not able to join in the fun the previous day due to flat batteries...but this is being worked on and hopefully with rejoin the action later in the day. Sunday 15th May at the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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SUCCESS...47303 is up and running and will go on the front of the next train to Alresford. The loco is seen here awaiting its arrival in the platform at Ropley. Sunday 15th May at the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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47358 runs into the platform at Ropley with D1013 and 37401 alongside. The 47 carries the headboard 'John Rooney 1951-2005' in memory of a Frieghtliner Employee and Mid-Hants Volunteer. Sunday 15th May at the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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Could this be their last train? Freightliner Intermodal class 47s are likely to be withdrawn soon following the arrival of more class 66s. 47358 and 47303 along with the Mid-Hants class 33 approach Ropley with the final train of the 3 day Gala back to Alton. Sunday 15th May at the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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A final glimpse of 47303 as along with the resident class 33 they make their way up gradient or the 'Alps' as they are known as back to Ropley. Will either of the Freightliner 47s at the Gala be seen in action on the main line again? Sunday 15th May at the Mid-Hants Diesel Gala 2005. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.

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Ipswich's resident dumped loco... Freightliner's 47370...has not been active for well over a year and presumably is unlikely to be so again. Pictured on the 31st August 2004. Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com British and Foreign Railway Pictures Jampics Fotopic.