Railway Herald
Clearly showing the height a Class 76 pantograph could reach to afford Depot staff working on a live loco some degree of safety Class 76 No. 76031 leads a line up of three similar locos on Reddish MPD Manchester on Sunday 19th March 1978. Built at BR Gorton Works in June 1952 as No. E26044 she was renumbered under TOPS as No. 76031 in the mid 1970s after the original loco with that number was withdrawn and scrapped at Crewe Works. Being multiple working equipped and dual braked she survived in service until closure of the Woodhead route from Manchester to Sheffield in July 1981. Travelling across the Pennines one last time, albeit towed by a diesel, she was scrapped at Coopers Metals of Sheffield during February 1984. The Class 47/4 No. 47503 seen on the left has fared rather better. Built as Brush Type 4 No. D1946 she was later converted and renumbered as Class 47/7 No. 47771 and is currently preserved on the Colne Valley Railway in Essex.
Bob Woolnough
