Now for those not familiar with the British traction scene, let me assure you that this is a genuine mainline loco. To mark the end of 47 8s on Virgin Cross Country services in August 2002, Virgin and the British Transport Police got together to have a 47 8 put into a POLICE livery, to help promote a safer railway and discourage vandalism. Whether you are a passenger waiting at a station, or someone trespassing on the railway few locos would turn more heads and stop people in their tracks than when 47829 suddenly appears. Hopefully by doing so it has made people think again about doing something, and you never know who might be on it. The loco is still in use today but has been 'transfered' to Freightliner and can now be seen 'escorting' car trains amongst other duties. This picture was taken at Coventry in June 2002 on a Virgin Cross Country train to London Paddington.
Photo from James & Martin's Picture Collection Copyright 'Jampics' m.hawkes7@ntlworld.com