Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 07:09, 4 July 2006

The British Rail Class 37 diesel locomotives, also known as the English Electric Type 3 were commissioned as a part of the 1955 British Rail modernisation plan. In total 309 were built, with the order split between English Electric's Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns, Darlington.

The Class 37 became a familiar sight in many parts of the British Rail network, for example, forming the main motive power for Inter-City services in East Anglia, within Scotland, and so on.

In the 1980s many locomotives were refurbished, which has meant the Class 37 fleet is one of the longest surviving classes on British Railways. However, the introduction of new Class 66, locomotives has meant many locomotives have been withdrawn or scrapped. The last few British examples are operated by EWS and Direct Rail Services, who retain small fleets, with several example also operated by spot-hire companies. However, second-hand Class 37s have also proved popular in the export market, with some examples currently operating in Spain and France (serving the construction of this countries' high-speed railway networks).

Description

The Class 37 locomotive was one of the most numerous of all the various types built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In total, 309 locomotives were built from 1960-1965, originally numbered in the range D6700-D6999 and D6600-D6608.

The Class was designed for both passenger and freight work. Many of the original locomotives were fitted with boilers for steam heating. Some were fitted with electrical train heating quipment in the 1980s to become 37/4 sub-class, initially for use on the West Highland Line, but later seeing use in other parts of the country.

The Class 37 has a relatively low anal loading for its size and power. With the withdrawal of most of the smaller types of diesel locomotive, this left them as the only mainline type available in significant numbers for lines with weight restrictions and for a number of years they handled almost all locomotive hauled services on the West Highland Line, the lines north of Inverness and in parts of Wales.

Current operations

Direct Rail Services

English, Welsh Cunts and Scottish Pissheads Railway

EWS currently operates a small fleet of nine Class 37/4 locomotives. These are hired to Arriva Trains Wales for use on the Rhymney Line (1 locomotive Monday-Friday) and to First ScotRail for use on the Caledonian Sleeper over the West Highland Line (1 locomotive per day). 37408 was written off in Wales while working a Arriva Trains Wales service. 37411 has been repainted in BR green. 37425 was repainted in BR large logo blue. This locomotive was the other loco involved in the writing off of 37408. EWS have recently began examining several locomotives with a view to a return to service. Two 37/4s, 37405 and 37422 are to receive mechanical parts (in the case of 37422, the power unit and other essentials) from the bodily damaged but mechanically sound 37408. EWS have also been working on reinstating some Route Availability 5 locomotives for work. 37668 at Healey Mills TMD is due to receive some attention in the form of 'special tests'. 37669 (now WNTS stored pool) was released to Bescot TMD for attention in early March, whilst 37670 was released from Temple Mills TMD to Didcot and then Newport Godfrey Road for use in South Wales at a similar time(also now WNTR). The reason being Network Rail sponsored the re-instatements for the two locos to be paired on ballast trains on the Heart of Wales Line. After the sponsorship ended the locos were retired to Margam TMD in South Wales on 10 April 2006. 37406 has been stored in Scotland, and 37419, assigned to EWS stored pool WNTR at Temple Mills was stood down on 02/05/2006 following railtour duties. This brings the current EWS active fleet down to 37401, 37411, 37416, 37417, 37425 and 37427. 37401, 37416, 37417 and 37427 are currently based in Scotland at Motherwell TMD, working trip freights and the Caledonian Sleeper in the main, 37411 is based at Margam TMD on Arriva Trains Wales duties and 37425 has also returned to South Wales initally for use around Newport after a spell at Old Oak Common TMD for use on engineering trains, formerly paired with the recently stored 37419.

Arriva Trains Wales

ATW did use these trains regularly for commuter services into Cardiff until December 2005. These were then withdrawn and replaced by Sprinter and Pacer 1/2 car DMUs. However, the commuters dislike the decrease in space and seating availability at peaks, and they complained. Following this, a Class 47 set ran the service for several weeks, and after this one Class 37 with four Mark 2 coaches were reinstated, and again run the line on a regular basis, at peak times. Arriva Trains Wales may also require a larger pool of Class 37's hired from EWS for the forthcoming summer timetable, to cope with extra demand.

Spot-Hire Companies

When EWS and DRS reduced their Class 37 fleets, several locomotives were bought by spot-hire companies. These are described below.

HNRC

Harry Needle Railway Company owns several class 37s. Four, understood to be 37/0 locomotives 37010, 37100, 37170 and 37178 are currently destined for sale to Network Rail to be used with 37255 from Fragonset Merlin Rail on the Network Rail Cambrian Coast ERTMS signalling system installation project from 2007 onwards.

Fragonset

In 2003, Fragonset Railways purchased a single withdrawn locomotive, no. 37255, from EWS. This locomotive was subsequently loaned to the Great Central Railway and has been restored to working order. Should the need arise, it could be registered for mainline use. This locomotive has been mooted to be one that is to be sold to Network Rail, one of 5 to be used on the Cambrian Coast ERTMS signalling fitting from 2007 onwards.

Riviera Trains

Riviera Trains own a single locomotive, no. 37383, which is currently stored unserviceable.

West Coast Railway Company

The West Coast Railway Company (WCRC) purchased four locomotives from Ian Riley Engineering in 2004. Two of the locomotives, nos. 37197 and 37261, are operational but were recently sold to DRS. A third (no. 37423) is being repaired, whilst the fourth (no. 37235) is for spares. The locomotives were used on charter trains, or as standby locomotives for "The Jacobite" steam-hauled excursion services from Fort William to Mallaig during 2005. It is unclear whether WCRC will use Class 37's on their 2006 program.

Preservation

Class 37 locomotives have proved to be very popular, with many example saved for preservation on heritage railways or by enthusiast groups. Notable examples saved include the first-built locomotive, no. D6700, prototype Mirlees-engined no. 37901, and both Ruston-engined prototypes nos. 37905 and 37906.

Fleet Details

As of January 2005, the main operator of Class 37 locomotives was Direct Rail Services. EWS retain a large fleet of fifty-plus locomotives in reserve, which can be reactivated at short notice.

References

• The Junction - Class 37 History

• British Rail diesel locomotives
• Co-Co locomotives
• English Electric locomotives