My word how time flies and unfortunately modelling progress has not been made during this time.

I have spent a large part of my recent spare time working on home restoration work and my job has also taken up a lot more than just my basic hours, so with these two things added up, railway modelling has taken a very big back seat.

However, the repair work, plastering, woodwork, painting, wallpapering is now complete, the carpets are laid, the furniture back in place and one bedroom and new en-suite later I can say it is finished, well almost At work too there has been a substantial milestone passed with the submission of a major bridge inspection report I have been working on for several months now.

Yep that's me counting rivets in 12 inch to the foot scale!

So with both of these time sponges out of the way I finally find myself leavening work on time and getting home with more time in the evenings. I also treated myself to a bit of a celebratory purchase from my local model shop which has re-invigorated me back into 2010.

So what did I buy, well 3 things actually; a Bachmann Class 47, 47148 in BR Blue (32-803), a Ratio Provender Store kit and some grey ballast. I was well pleased with the Class 47 purchase as it was being sold at a very good bargain price so I could not resist getting it. But it is an early version of the 47 with numeric head codes and 3 radiator grilles, but a bargain is a bargain.

As 47148 was one of the 3 radiator grille versions I tried to do a bit of research into its history but could not find much on it and the only photos I found were all of it post conversion to the Serck radiator grille type. The best shot being 47148 at Llandudno Junction

If anyone could help out with some history dates as to when it ran in this version I would be most grateful.