TransportSteve2011

This is a flickr picture of 47174, not mine,  taken in April 1980, no headlight at all.

It was only a 5-wagon set, so about 400-500t.

Oh, well, only 5 wagons would have been about 399 tons with fully laden containers, even an 08 would pull that on the mainline.......lol

Cheerz .    Steve.

The diesel capacity of the Class 73 ED was largely intended to allow them to carry out shunting and trip work on non-electrified lines; the SE Division had fitted a 'trolley wire' to some of its yards to allow the Class 71s to work in and out of them, but elsewhere there was no such provision.  On DC power, they seemed as capable as the 33s; on diesel, they have been noted working occasional long-distance trains, such as a Southampton- Birmingham Freightliner, but I suspect they had to have a lie down afterwards. 

I'm surprised that they actually got to Birmingham Landor Street, loaded shipping containers on a full train from Soton Maritime would have been well in excess of 1100 tons, even the booked diagram 47s had trouble at times, especially, in bad weather.

Cheerz.  Steve.