Which classes have worked a MK4 set in passenger service (aside from 89/90/91)?

alexl92 · 3 Jul 2026

I asked a similar question on another forum about 10 years ago and I remember the answers being quite interesting but can't find the thread now as that forum's had a number of re-launches.
Aside from the obvious - classes 89, 90 and 91 - and the 43s acting as DVTs, which classes of Loco have worked a MK4 set in passenger service i.e. not as a rescue? And does anyone have photos?

Thanks

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The exile · 3 Jul 2026

alexl92 said:
I asked a similar question on another forum about 10 years ago and I remember the answers being quite interesting but can't find the thread now as that forum's had a number of re-launches.
Aside from the obvious - classes 89, 90 and 91 - and the 43s acting as DVTs, which classes of Loco have worked a MK4 set in passenger service i.e. not as a rescue? And does anyone have photos?

Thanks

The other obvious answer is 67 - even if the sets in question are somewhat shorter.

alexl92 · 3 Jul 2026

The exile said:
The other obvious answer is 67 - even if the sets in question are somewhat shorter.

Thanks - I'd forgotten they work them in Wales.

I believe I remember someone saying that in BR days, 31s and 47s may have done so due to the 91s being grounded but I can't remember the detail or context.

sprinterguy · 3 Jul 2026

alexl92 said:
I believe I remember someone saying that in BR days, 31s and 47s may have done so due to the 91s being grounded but I can't remember the detail or context.

In the years immediately following electrification to Leeds, 47/4s hauled mark 4 sets conventionally between Leeds and Bradford after the class 91 had detached - One photo here:

https://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/images/donations/Michael%20Kaye/CO%20Michael%20Kaye%20-%20Paul%20Corrie/Bradford/47418%20at%20Bradford%20F.%20Sq.jpg

At the time, it wouldn't be implausible that a 31/4 might deputise, but I haven't been able to find any evidence to support it.

For reference, the thread you raised on the topic on this forum in 2014 with a few linked photos can be found here:

Trivia: Has a MkIV set ever been hauled by something other than Class 89/90/91?

Bit of a trivia question, this one. Other than a thunderbird rescue where the whole set including loco is towed, has a MKIV set ever been hauled by something other than a class 89, 90 or 91? Has a 67 ever replaced (rather than rescued) a 91 in service for example?

www.railforums.co.uk

DarloRich · 3 Jul 2026

alexl92 said:
I believe I remember someone saying that in BR days, 31s and 47s may have done so due to the 91s being grounded but I can't remember the detail or context.

certainly had a 47 hooked onto a dead 91/DVT and hauled away.

I am sure there was a booked Bradford (?) turn in the olden days that had a hauled 91/Mkiv set

EDIT - @sprinterguy has the gen!

atillathehunn · 3 Jul 2026

The exile said:
The other obvious answer is 67 - even if the sets in question are somewhat shorter.

Even before the Welsh departure, they and the 47s would surely have also worked them on drags via the Tyne Valley or via the Coast to Newcastle? I can remember being dragged in a MKIV set round the coast by a 67.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2026 ==

atillathehunn said:
Even before the Welsh departure, they and the 47s would surely have also worked them on drags via the Tyne Valley or via the Coast to Newcastle? I can remember being dragged in a MKIV set round the coast by a 67.

I don't think booked diversions count as rescue, and you asked for evidence - here's a YouTube video of a 47 dragging a set out of Northallerton bound for the coast:

sprinterguy · 3 Jul 2026

atillathehunn said:
Even before the Welsh departure, they and the 47s would surely have also worked them on drags via the Tyne Valley or via the Coast to Newcastle? I can remember being dragged in a MKIV set round the coast by a 67.

Yeah, RES 47/7s were entrusted with the contract for Thunderbird and hauling of diverted ECML passenger services from 1994 onwards, the contract passing to EWS and 67s subsequently taking over some time in 2003 IIRC.

The Durham Coast was a fairly regular diversionary route for dragged 225 sets in passenger service during the 47 era as per the video you have shared* (and subsequently with 67s, after a hiatus in the early 2000s), though the first year I personally can remember planned ECML diversions via the Tyne Valley taking place, post-electrification, was in 2003 and in that and the following few years it was HSTs only, until the odd class 67 hauled 225 drag began to appear in the schedules in more recent times.

*Ah, I remember that Easter weekend well, from a bit further up the Coast.

liamf656 · 3 Jul 2026

alexl92 said:
I asked a similar question on another forum about 10 years ago and I remember the answers being quite interesting but can't find the thread now as that forum's had a number of re-launches.
Aside from the obvious - classes 89, 90 and 91 - and the 43s acting as DVTs, which classes of Loco have worked a MK4 set in passenger service i.e. not as a rescue? And does anyone have photos?

Thanks

Just to clarify do you mean just the loco with Mk4s and DVT, or does it meet the criteria if the loco is dragging a full rake (91 included)?

Pit_buzzer · 3 Jul 2026

A class 47 (47 402 if I remember correctly) worked a diverted east coast service into St Pancras, mk4 set and no class 91

Spartacus · 5 Jul 2026

atillathehunn said:
Even before the Welsh departure, they and the 47s would surely have also worked them on drags via the Tyne Valley or via the Coast to Newcastle? I can remember being dragged in a MKIV set round the coast by a 67.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2026 ==

I don't think booked diversions count as rescue, and you asked for evidence - here's a YouTube video of a 47 dragging a set out of Northallerton bound for the coast:

I certainly remember both on booked drags via Hambleton to and from Leeds, via Lincoln too in the case of 67s.

Cowley · 5 Jul 2026

A couple of photos of 31s dragging mk4 sets here.

By John Whiteley

31 dragging.

31404 and 82215 leaving Shipley on the 15.50 Kings Cross - Bradford Forster Square. 10 July 1990.

www.flickr.com

And Paul Corrie

31444

Shipley 01/08/89 sees 31444 with the return bradford forster square leeds class 91 Mk4 drag ecs ... cutting it fine with the sun rapidly falling out of the sky at 20:20

www.flickr.com

Failed Unit · 5 Jul 2026

In the ”wrong type of snow incident“ shortly after they were introduced, I understand both 31s and 47s hauled them on the Leeds - London route.

NXEA! · 5 Jul 2026

Cowley said:
A couple of photos of 31s dragging mk4 sets here.

By John Whiteley

31 dragging.

31404 and 82215 leaving Shipley on the 15.50 Kings Cross - Bradford Forster Square. 10 July 1990.

www.flickr.com

And Paul Corrie

31444

Shipley 01/08/89 sees 31444 with the return bradford forster square leeds class 91 Mk4 drag ecs ... cutting it fine with the sun rapidly falling out of the sky at 20:20

www.flickr.com

That shot of 31444 isn’t dragging a Mark 4 set, it’s actually rarer than that, as that appears to be a 91+Mark 3 HST set - the coach behind the 91 is a Mark 3 TGS (complete with someone hanging out of the droplight), and you can just make out the HST power car at the rear. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen one of those being dragged away from the wires and away from the main ECML. Can’t have been a common occurrence at all.

alexl92 · 6 Jul 2026

sprinterguy said:
For reference, the thread you raised on the topic on this forum in 2014 with a few linked photos can be found here:

Trivia: Has a MkIV set ever been hauled by something other than Class 89/90/91?

Bit of a trivia question, this one. Other than a thunderbird rescue where the whole set including loco is towed, has a MKIV set ever been hauled by something other than a class 89, 90 or 91? Has a 67 ever replaced (rather than rescued) a 91 in service for example?

www.railforums.co.uk

Oh! I was convinced it was on a totally separate forum so didn't even check on here! Thanks!

liamf656 said:
Just to clarify do you mean just the loco with Mk4s and DVT, or does it meet the criteria if the loco is dragging a full rake (91 included)?

I was meaning just loco + mk4s + DVT but I'd be interested to see if anything unusual has done a drag!

Cowley · 6 Jul 2026

NXEA! said:
That shot of 31444 isn’t dragging a Mark 4 set, it’s actually rarer than that, as that appears to be a 91+Mark 3 HST set - the coach behind the 91 is a Mark 3 TGS (complete with someone hanging out of the droplight), and you can just make out the HST power car at the rear. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen one of those being dragged away from the wires and away from the main ECML. Can’t have been a common occurrence at all.

Ah. Well spotted!

Edders23 · 6 Jul 2026

There used to be a thundertbird loco stationed at Peterborough which was sometimes a 57. I have no evidence for it but they were occassionally used so someone somewhere might have a photograph

Geezertronic · 6 Jul 2026

alexl92 said:
Thanks - I'd forgotten they work them in Wales.

And Chiltern Line?

Harpo · 6 Jul 2026

Geezertronic said:
And Chiltern Line?

Chilterns was mk3 and now mk5.

Geezertronic · 7 Jul 2026

Harpo said:
Chilterns was mk3 and now mk5.

Learn something new every day, thanks

Which classes have worked a MK4 set in passenger service (aside from 89/90/91)?

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