During the 1980s various members of the Class 47/4 fleet were renumbered into the 479xx series for departmental use. This did not stop them from being used on passengers services, as we can see here. 47972 (the former 47545) speeds past Spetchley on 22 July 1989 with the 1V45 09:18 Manchester Piccadilly to Paignton service, which it had taken over at Birmingham New Street. Interestingly this is a full week before the official renumbering date, although the cleared area around the number does show that the change has only just taken place.