Class 37

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Introduction


The Class 37s are a mixed freight and passenger locomotive design and were built between 1960 and 1965. These locos were used all over Scotland on freight duties and were once the mainstay of passenger traction on the West Highland and Far North lines. They were also noteworthy performers on the Highland mainline and between Aberdeen and Inverness until being replaced by sprinters in the 1990s. As part of the general refurbishment program in the mid 1980s, thirty class members were additionally equipped with Electric Train Heating (ETH) equipment and renumbered in the 37/4 sub-class. These locomotives are now owned by EWS who operate a small, constantly changing pool of this sub class - though many more are held in 'warm storage' and could be reinstated at short notice.

The last regular Class 37 passenger workings in Scotland were the Fort William to Edinburgh and return Caledonian Sleeper services. These services gained a large following within the enthusiast community. These services were turned over to the more reliable and economical Class 67s in 2006 - though there has been recent concern relating to problems with the newer traction's bogies and Class 37s have continued to be substituted for Class 67s on all three portions of the sleeper services.

EWS


Class 37s still see use with EWS and can be seen on anything from engineering trains to substituting for failed class 67s on the Caledonian Sleeper services. The Edinburgh bnliner used to produce a class 37 but with the 5 of them mostly based down south and only coming up for specials anything in Millerhill tends to be used. They make regular trips Dead in Train (DIT) between Scotland and England and between England and Scotland for working specials and other duties.

37406 passes Barry Links with 6A30 Mossend to Aberdeen on 24th August 2006. Photo by Jim Ramsay


At the start of 2008 EWS won a contract to move potatoes from Elgin to Laurencekirk, this train has run twice so far and both times it has produced a class 37

37422 pauses at Aberdeen whilst working 6A67 0955 Elgin to Laurencekirk tattie train on the 3rd March 2008. Photo by Bruce Kitchener


Fleet List


WKBN - Network Class 37 (RETB fitted) Allocated to Toton TMD (TO)
WFMU - WFMU Fleet Management Unit Non-sector Allocated Locos Allocated to Crewe and Toton
WNXX - EWS Stored

Below is a table of the current active EWS class 37's, Just because the loco is in the pool WFMU it doesn't mean that it is stored.

NumberLiveryPoolNameStatus / Location
37401EWS Red and Gold (Basic)WKBN Operational
37405EWS Red and GoldWNTS Tactical Stored at Toton
37406EWS Red and GoldWNTSThe Saltire SocietyTactical Stored at Eastleigh.
37410EWS Red and GoldWNTSAluminium 100Tactical Stored at Eastleigh
37411BR GreenWNTSCaerphilly Castle / Castell CaerffiliTactical Stored at Eastleigh
37416Royal Scotsman LiveryWNXXSir Robert McAlpine/Concrete BobTactical Stored at Eastleigh
37417EWS Red and GoldWKBNRichard TrevithickOperational
37419EWS Red and GoldWNTS Tactical Stored at Old Oak Common
37422EWS Red and GoldWNTSCardiff CantonTactical Stored at Eastleigh
37425BR large Logo Blue and YellowWNTRPride of the Valleys / Balchder y CymoeddTactical Reserve at Eastleigh
37670EWS Red and GoldWNTS Tactical Stored at Knottingley


DRS


DRS Class 37, 37229, pauses at Stirling with a railtour for Inverness. Photo by Ewan Tait


DRS Class 37s make regular trips to Scotland on the Nuclear flask trains to Hunterston and Torness but these duties can also be covered by Class 66s or Class 20s.

Fleet List


Liveries
DR: Deep Blue with Light Blue or Dark Grey roof & DRS branding
DZ: Deep Blue with Large Turquoise bodyside panel and Green DRS Compass logo branding

NumberLiveryPoolNameStatus
37023MLXHSS Stored at Brush Loughborough
37029DRXHSS Stored at Brush Loughborough
37038DRXHNC Operational
37059DRXHNC Operational
37069DRXHNC Operational
37087DRXHNCKeighley and Worth Valley Railway 40th Anniversary 1968 - 2008 Operational
37194DRXHNC Operational
37197DRXHHP Stored at Brush Loughborough
37218DZXHNC Operational
37229DZXHNCJonty Jarvis 8-12-1998 to 18-3-2005Operational
37259DRXHNC Operational
37261DRXHNC Operational
37423DZXHNC Operational
37510DZXHNC Operational
37515DRXHSS Stored Serviceable
37601DZXHHP Stored at Crewe Gresty Bridge
37602DZXHNC Operational
37603DZXHNC Operational
37604DZXHHP Stored
37605DRXHNC Operational
37606DRXHNC Operational
37607DRXHNC Operational
37608DRXHNC Operational
37609DRXHNC Operational
37610DZXHNCT.S. (Ted) Cassady 14.5.61 - 6.4.08 Operational
37611DRXHNC Operational
37612DRXHNC Operational
37667DRXHNC Operational
37682DZXHHP Under Overhaul at Barrow Hill
37683DZXHHP Under overhaul at Barrow Hill
37688DRXHNCKingmoor TMDOperational


Preservation


Scotland plays host to three preserved Class 37s.

37025 Inverness TMD is located at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway and has recently undergone restoration. The locomotive made its first passenger runs in preservation at the Bo'ness Diesel Gala on Saturday 29th September 2007

37097 is located at the Caledonian Railway (Brechin). It has been operational since 2006 and recently received a repaint into BR blue. It was named Old Fettercairn at the CR's 'Sulzerfest' diesel gala on the 6th of May 2007 - the name comes from a local distillery's brand of whisky. The Fettercairn distillery provided sponsorship for the restoration of the loco.

37175 is located at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway and after being purchased from EWS in 2006 has recently been made operational. The locomotive deputised for the unavailable 37025 at the Keighley & Worth Valley Diesel Gala in June 2007, making its first passenger runs in preservation. It then moved to the East Lancs Railway for three months and arrived at Bo'ness in September 2007 in readiness for the diesel gala. It is now a resident loco at Bo'ness.

37025 at Boness
37097 at Brechin
37175 at Boness

Created by brucekitchener and last modified by him at 06:25, 25 of October 2008.