Un identified Colas and Direct rail locos.
 

I was in the South London area yesterday (8th of the 7th) and caught sight of a direct rail class 47 comming up fro SL, it had a name but was too far to make out and I missed the number, and today I saw a class 66 in Colas livery passing through Wandsworth Roed that I swear was numbered 66 746 but I cant find that in any book. Can anybody shed any light on either of my two problems. Thanks.

Hi Orion,
Direct Rail only operate three Class 47 that carry a name; 47501 Craftsman, 47802 Pride of Cumbria and 47832 Solway Princess.
Cloas Rail only operates five Class 66 and they are all 66 / 8. 66841, 842, 843, 844 and 845.
I am not sure 66 / 7’s went as far as 66746, I think but may well be wrong that the highest 66 / 7 was 66727.

There's been some renumbering of 66/4, 66/5 & 66/8 into the 66/7 series, and it now goes up to 66746. 66841, 66844 & 66845 have been renumbered 66743, 66745 & 66746 respectively, and are still Colas locos. Maybe this helps. :)
For up to date loco & unit/CS info, check out the Abrail website:
http://www.abrail.co.uk/Index.htm

Or see page 11 in this weeks edition of Railway Herald. Full details of the Class66 renumbering to date are included. See http://www.railwayherald.com for details.

Regards, 62440.

Found this,
The locos GBRf has purchased from Eversholt Rail are 66578, 66579, 66580 and 66581, which will be re-numbered as 66738-66741. The Class 66s GBRf will receive on lease from Porterbrook in July are 66841, 66842, 66843, 66844 and 66845, which will be re-numbered 66742-66746.

Hope this helps

Currently still in plain green livery as they are ex-'Frightliner' fleet. (See page 52 of Rail 673)

Thanks one and all for your help.