2nd Aug 1992

Sting Ray on the Mule! Wearing a rather battered and worn version of the first large logo BR Railfreight grey livery, Class 47/3 no. 47371 "Sting Ray" passes Slymlakes on the 16.28 Exeter St. Davids to London Waterloo. It was a strange period for this route: the "fifties" had gone, the Class 47/7s were in short supply and the new Super Sprinter Class 159s weren't ready yet. So a stop-gap solution to fill the need for traction was the transfer of Tinsley freight engines to this former Southern route. Totally bizarre! Great for us local enthusiasts though! 47371 kind-of lives on in the shape of Class 57 no. 57313 - wearing Pullman livery if you please - who saw that coming in 1992?