47711 'County of Hertfordshire' which is one of the last two locomotives to carry Network South-East livery, is seen on display at the EWS Toton depot open day on Sun 30th Aug 1998.
This loco, built new as D1941 and renumbered to 47498 under the TOPS numbering scheme, recieved it's current number of 47711, but with the name 'Greyfriars Bobby', during the early 1980's when it was one of the first 12 loco's converted to Class 47/7's by fitting out with an earlier version of the TDM (time Division Multiplex) push/pull system for dedicated use on the Edinburgh - Glasgow Push/Pull service with converted MK 2 DBSO's.
Upon arrival during the early 1990's of the Class 158 express DMU's on this route, most of these original Class 47/7's were cascaded onto the Waterloo - Exeter route to replace the dwindling Class 50's, but again were replaced by Class 159 express DMU's on this line. Because they were equipped with push/pull, albeit an older version, they found use with RES - Rail Express systems (Now part of EWS). With newer Class 47/7's being converted for RES & fitted with the newer form of TDM Push/Pull system for use with propelling mail trains which use former class 307 driving trailers, the original Edinburgh - Glasgow Class 47/7's began to be phased out of service.
Out of the original 17 class 47/7's converted (Batch 1: 47701 - 47712, Batch 2: 47713 - 47716 & 47717 which was converted to replace 47713 which was destroyed by fire), 12 survive as 5, No: 47706 - 47708 & 47713 - 47714 have been cut up. The remaining 12 are either owned by EWS, Fragonset or other bodies who currently lease their loco's to fragonset.
However, 47702 & 47711 have been purchased (or leased from EWS) to Virgin Trains, a move which will therefor see this loco loose it's NSE livery in favour of Virgin livery, leaving only 73129 as the last loco to carry this livery (unless you count shunter 03179 at Hornsey depot).

Photo and Scan: Ross Aitken (aos@cableinet.co.uk)