News

The Class 37/4 Preservation Project has been established by the project Co-ordinator, Matt Kitchin with the assistance (and continual nagging!) of Phil Lynch, Richard Tuplin, Jon Starkey, Nigel Stanley, the Class 37 Locomotive Association lads and many more. The idea was borne out of the realisation that over half of the popular 37/4 sub-class had already been taken out of traffic and a bleak future faced the rest as dedicated passenger and freight duties were given over to more modern locomotives and units.

The bare bones of the project have been established, a website has been established and press releases sent out. Next comes the formation of a committee to move the project forward to our ultimate aim, the purchase and preservation of a member of the 37/4 sub-class. An announcement will be made in the near future for the inaugural meeting of the Class 37/4 Preservation Project to elect and establish a committee. Please visit the website regularly for announcements and news on the 37/4's or join the 37/4 Project Discussion List.

In the mean time the website will be regularly updated with progress reports on the Preservation Project, news on class 37/4's and updates on the remaining active members workings.

Apologies for lack of updates recently, this has been due to my computer being taken out of action on the the weekend with various faults and has since undergone its very own General Overhaul!

The inaugural meeting is now likely to be held in Stafford although exact venue is still to be confirmed. It will begin at around 14:00ish and hopefully conclude around 16:00 although I will hopefully be around before and after the meeting if you are not around at those times. Exact location will be confirmed in the next day or two.

The evening of Sunday 26th November saw 37427 work a 5Z?? 19:50 Fort William to Inverness ECS to get the sleeper stock to Inverness depot for storage / maintenance as it won't be required for work in the near future. The Fort Bill - Edinburgh seating portion of the sleeper stock is still suspended but latest news is that it should return around 9th/10th December. The full sleeper service through to London Euston is not likely to return until late January but the London Euston - Glasgow Central / Edinburgh is now running but in the path of the Aberdeen/Inverness/Fort Bill sleeper - don't ask me why it still seems illogical!

EWS has now agreed to provide at least one 67 for the Aberdeen sleeper portion whenever that starts running again despite 67002 being out of action. There is still some debate as to whether a 67 will take over the Inverness portion due to restrictions on the route.

In recent days Bescot has become home to some hellfire celebrities, first off is 37401 "Mary Queen of Scots" who has been working trips off the Midlands yard since the beginning of the week. 37428 is also back at Bescot which seems to have become its second home in recent months and to conclude 37702 "Taff Merthyr" (beasty loco) and 31110 (alledgedly it is more than capable of pulling the skin of rice puddings!) are all currently working Bescot trips. The trips that these locos are regularly appearing on are the trips to Chaddeston (Derby), Washwood Heath, Burton and the Bloxwich trip which are all out and back workings off Bescot.

There have been rumours of loco hauled Rhymney Saturday shopper specials being organised for a few months now but it all depended on the Cardiff Valleys Cardiff drivers knowing 37's (Rhymney drivers crew the peak hour weekday services). Well apparently the following diagram will be loco hauled on Saturdays during December but confirmation would be appreciated!

2F12 09.10 Rhymney - Cardiff Central
2R18 11.01 Cardiff Central - Rhymney
2F20 12.14 Rhymney - Cardiff Central
2R42 17.00 Cardiff Central - Rhymney

Traction and stock will be one of the sets that finish at Rhymney on Fridays night. It is then expected that the loco will return to Cardiff Canton on Saturday night light engine for maintenance.
I STRESS THIS HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED YET! CONFIRMATION STILL REQUIRED OF THESE WORKINGS - IF YOU CAN HELP CONTACT ME ASAP!

As predicted 37372/412 and 418 worked the Rhymney's all day with 37421 07:57 Crewe - Cardiff Central, 37609 08:33 Manchester Piccadilly - Cardiff Central and 47736 (eh a duff - must have been a fix!) on 10:28 Crewe - Cardiff Central.

37428 has returned to traffic having been working the coast for the past few days so any rumours of its downfall have been well and truly scotched for a while. Meanwhile 37429 is out of traffic at Crewe DMD with a traction motor flashover.

EWS has officially announced that it has last won *some* work out in Spain. 14 37/7's will be required out there on construction traffic for a high speed rail link from Spring 2001 till 2005. They will be outbased at Zargoza, dunno where that is but hopefully somewhere nice and sunny! There may also be the possibility of more work out in Spain if this contract is a success.

It would appear that the Fort William sleeper portion 1B01/1Y11 is now cancelled until further notice, probably until Christmas and through sleeper services to London may be out of the timetable until at least Spring next year! Any confirmation anyone?

The plan for tomorrow's Rugby Gala is as follows:
37372 07:15 Rhymney - Cardiff then 08:50 Cardiff - Rhymney
37418 08:15 Rhymney - Cardiff then 09:50 Cardiff - Rhymney
37412 09:15 Rhymney - Cardiff then 10:50 Cardiff - Rhymney

37372 will take the stock up ECS from Cardiff Canton CS to Rhymney early tomorrow morning with 37412 and 418 (both hell!) already at Rhymney tonight. Expect 37372 to stay out on the Valleys all day *unless* an extra loco is sent down from Crewe (there are enough spare) either overnight or tomorrow morning. Departures from Cardiff Central will be hourly at 50 minutes past the hour and departures from Rhymney are at 15 minutes past the hour.

The marches will consist of the following diagrams with 37609 confirmed to work one, probably beginning with the 08:33 ex Manchester Picc with a 37/4 confirmed for another diagram and *probably* a 37/4 covering for 47705 (faulty axles / Traction Motors) on the final diagram although in what order the locos will work is not confirmed yet. Today Crewe DMD had 37421/426 and 429 spare and 37413 is due off repair early tomorrow morning.

Hopefully the Valleys will be as much of a riot as last weekend! 37/0 haulage in late 2000 - my lords! Unfortunately I can't make it due to getting my hands mucky with 37075 so any phot's or news reports are most welcome at matt@class37.free-online.co.uk

Cardiff Railways have confirmed that they will be continuing with loco haulage until AT LEAST February 2001. This is due to the problems with First North Westerns "Coradias". Cardiff Railways is due to acquire a number of pacer units from fNW, these units cannot be released by fNW for overhaul before going to Cardiff Railways until all the "Heritage" 101 units have been replaced around Manchester. Give me a Met-Cam 101 or an EE Type 3 any day over those plastic Alsthom things!

Last Saturday (11th November) during all the riots taking place in the Valleys a working bigger than 37801's stint almost occurred due to a muddle up at Cardiff Canton Carriage Sidings. The shunter at Canton knew that one of the locos coming off the Marches additional workings was due to go on the stock for one of the Rhymney workings which was waiting for a loco in the sidings. In rolls 37609 and the shunter couldn't distinguish between loco owners (EWS and DRS) and decides to stick this on the stock. Driver duly arrives and takes the loco and stock to the starting signal and reports to the signalman. "37609 here on 5??? ECS to Central", a sharp signalman realises the mistake and refuses to let the driver go with that loco! Pitty because a DRS tractor to Rhymney would have been an event not to miss!

Keep your diaries free for Saturday 16th December as the inaugural meeting of the Class 37/4 Preservation Project will take place, all are welcome. The location is not confirmed yet but accessibility is a primary factor and it will almost certainly occur in the West Midlands or North West.

37415 and 37427 returned the test train 1Z16 back from Fort William to Motherwell TMD yesterday. 37415 requiring maintenance but what did 37427 do after that? Will the test train return to Crewe, possibly with the extra loco for the Rhymney's this Saturday on the front? 37606 failed at Roy Bridge yesterday with wheelslip and had to be rescued by 37419 ex. Fort William which took the train back to Fort William.

Thanks to John Hynd for this photo of 37423+37409 at Corrour where the front loco came of the rails whilst hauling the 22:01 freight from Fort William to Mossend in January 1993. The photo was taken the next day whilst rescue operations were taking place.

37427's latest wanderings after the Rhymney's at the weekend have involved the 5Z16 Crewe to Edinburgh Craigentinny then 1Z16 to Fort William via Motherwell TMD to pick up 37415. This train is believed to be some sort of test train although confirmation and photos would be appreciated! The rush to get 37418 back "up north" has been partly explained by its appearance on a Cambrian Coast ballast on Sunday 12th November, this line requiring RETB fitted loco's. 37418 has again been out on the coast and is now showing on hire to the WKCD pool till the end of the month!

Apparently the Marches additional workings will take the same format as last weekend so expect one DRS 37/6 and a 37/4 to be out on the Marches. There is also the requirement for three 37's on the Rhymney traffic, 37412 and 37413 are already in the Valleys but 37372 has spent a few days enjoying Welsh hospitality at Newport so a possible contender for a "thunderbird" role in the Valleys should anything go pear-shaped (idle speculation!)?

First off, 37429 worked 6Z?? Hoo Jn Yard to Barrow Docks from Bescot today after being based around the West Midlands area for the past few days. 37418 didn't get very far on its way to Scotland (can't have been that urgent :-)) as it featured on the coast today, spending the day working Diagram 1 on the North Wales Coast, meanwhile 37415 and 37427 were both allocated 1Z16 test train (any gen on this working, from where to where?).

Looks like the planned takeover of diagram two by Hippos did not take place as planned yesterday, any more news anyone?

37407 storms out of Rannoch with the northbound beds in June 1991. 407 was outbased at Grangemouth
at this time and was absolutely massive on the West Highland. Photo: Rugby Town

Finally, an appeal. Does anyone out there have any phots of Eastfield shed (especially inside shots)? They are required for a project to model the shed in 00 scale. Details of the modelling project will be uploaded to the website in the near future and it is hoped will be updated as the project progresses so keep a look out. In the meantime if anyone can help please contact matt@class37.free-online.co.uk

37425 is now WNXX at Cardiff Canton TMD allocated N/ONE so will almost certainly not be returning to traffic after its electrical cubicle fire. RIP "Concrete Bob".

The Photographs have finally been uploaded - thanks to everyone who has contributed! All contributions are great fully accepted and there are plenty more photos to upload! The Preservation pages have also been updated.

37069 at Wigan CRDC has appeared on the latest tender list. Recently arrived at Wigan from France it is believed that the loco is in working condition but generally knackered after its long holiday on the continent. Anyone interested in purchasing the locomotive please visit End of the Line for more details.

Despite appalling weather the Ruggex's specials have run with some alterations. Due to D172 "Ixion" bursting a few days previously there was nothing to haul 1H98 07:21 Crewe - Manchester Piccadilly so 37609 took 1H98 to Manchester but diverted from its normal route and ran via Warrington Bank Quay and Earlestown Curve to Manchester Piccadilly where 37609 continued to Cardiff Central working the 08:33 from Manchester Piccadilly. 47705 then did the 07:57 Crewe - Cardiff Central leaving 37412 to do the 10:28 Crewe - Cardiff Central.

Meanwhile in the valleys 37418 had been sent down from Scotland to assist 37413/427 on the Rhymney's. 37413 was stopped Friday night at Cardiff Canton TMD for an A Exam leaving 37418/427 to do the Friday evening commuter service's to Rhymney (incidentally it was 37418's first trip to Rhymney - last 37/4 to make it to Rhymney?). There was some speculation throughout the night that, should 37413 not be available in the morning then 37801 may take her place working the early morning ECS from Cardiff Canton to Rhymney. Latest news at midday on 11/11/00 is that 37418/427 are required urgently back in Scotland so are likely to make the move back north on Monday, possibly 6S79 Newport - Mossend?

As predicted 37418/427 were required urgently back in Scotland so both were taken off the Rhymney diagrams around early afternoon with 37801 running light from Newport to replace 37418 and 37412 replaced 37427. 37418 and 427 then worked the 20:45 Cardiff Central to Crewe in multi!

Expect 37413/412 to remain the Rhymney engines for quite a while. Why was 37418/427 required back over the border in such a hurry? The WKMB pool is in a mess (as usual) with various locos out of traffic for repairs, B exams, etc. but there isn't that much work for them up there! If anyone has any photos of the outrageous workings please contact me ASAP at matt@class37.free-online.co.uk

The following class 37/4's could be found in England and Wales at 21:00 on 10/11/00:

37401 1G79 18:22 Holyhead - Birmingham New Street then 1D99 23:46 Birmingham New Street - Holyhead
37412 Available, Warrington Arpley
37413 A/XAM, Cardiff Canton TMD
37418 Available, Rhymney
37421 Crewe DMD
37426 Crewe DMD
37427 Available, Rhymney
37429 Bescot

All Scotrail Sleepers have been cancelled until further notice due to the large amount of emergency engineering work being carried out on the WCML overnight. As a result 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh - Fort William sleeper/seating portion has been retimed to leave Edinburgh at around 07:20ish until the through sleepers have been re-instated. However be warned if you are considering traveling on it as it has been cancelled on regular occasions!

The next Rugby Gala days at Cardiff are 11th and 18th November and *should* feature the usual loco-hauled action on the Rhymney line. The following additional trains are booked to run along the Marches Line although read the comments below before travelling!

There is some doubt as to whether these will run on Saturday 11th November, it all depends on the weather! As of yesterday the "Marches" line was closed due to flooding and with more rainfall expected it doesn't sound good.

On Saturday 18th November the Rugby match could be cancelled altogether as the Samoan(?) rugby players (the opposition) are threatening to strike over pay that day! Hopefully any gen will be posted by the Friday evening before at the latest!
<gen from Tim Rogers/c37>

Thanks to everyone who has expressed an interest in the Class 37/4 Preservation Project so far. The response has been quite amazing so keep it coming! I promise to reply to ALL emails as soon as it is humanly possible but if you don't hear from me just send a gentle reminder as I've probably forgotten or lost the email.

Possibly this month's most outrageous tractor working, 37038 was used to clear the line after 37428 failed with a Power to Earth fault at Prestatyn whilst working 1D71 12:07 Birmingham New Street (started Chester) to Holyhead on 30th October. Originally 038 was to only be used to clear the line to Bangor but eventually the train ran through to Holyhead. 37038 then preceded to work 1G79 18:25 Holyhead to Birmingham New Street. Unfortunately it too expired at Gaewern with a coolant leak and had to be rescued by 37421 which took the train to Crewe where it was terminated due to line closures in the West Midlands. 37421 then worked the next booked train, the 23:46 Birmingham New Street to Holyhead, starting at Crewe. If anyone has any photos of these outrageous rescues please contact me ASAP!

37425 has been placed on decision with an ok date of 30/11 following an electrical cubicle fire. It is currently dumped at Cardiff Canton TMD but its future looks ominous considering the short term future of the North Wales Coast and Rhymney loco-hauled and its high engine hours. 37427 has been sent down from Bescot to work with 37413 on the Rhymney's.

37215 and 37324 will hopefully be in action on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Diesel Day on Wednesday 27th December along with D8137, 24081, 47105. Departures will be hourly from Toddington and will NOT call at Winchcombe. Rover Tickets will be available and gift shop, tea room and on train catering will be open. For more information visit http://www.gwsr.co.uk

The following are the Class 37/4 diagrams on the North Wales Coast. The locos are usually sourced from the WKCD pool based at Crewe Diesel although 37428 from Motherwell's WKMB pool has been a regular visitor of recent months. See the news item below for info on the future of the diagrams...

From Monday 13th November the Coast will be reduced to one diagram. Diagram 2 is due to go over to "Hippo" (Class175) operation if enough of them are in service at that point. The remaining diagram will stay until the end of December unless something happens to the Hippo fleet in the meantime.

The following Royal Scotsman Timings have been acquired, more to follow. This train is one of the few in Scotland where you can virtually guarantee a 37/4 for haulage. Although the locos do not provide ETH to the train as it has its own on board generator 37/4's appear to be favoured traction after displacement from West Highland works by the Red Death.

5H98
Days booked: 23/10, 31/10
Millerhill Yard		13:20
Edinburgh	13:44

1H98
Days booked: 23/10, 31/10
Edinburgh		14:07
Newbridge Jn	14:20	14:27
Gartshore	14:59	15:07
Helensburgh Upper	16:07	16:09
Garelochhead	16:21	16:22
Arrochar	16:44	16:46
Crainlarich	17:20	17:23
Tyndrum Lower	17:32	17:34
Dalmally	17:53	17:58
Taynuilt	18:16

Days booked: 24/10, 01/11
Taynuilt		05:50
Dalmally	06:15	06:17
Tyndrum Lower	06:43	06:55
Ardlui	07:13	07:20
Arrochar	07:35	07:35
Glendouglas		07/46
Garelochhead	07:54	08:15
Helensburgh Upper	08:27	08:29
Craigendoran Jn		08/33
Dalreoch		08/40
Dumbarton Central	08:41	08:43
Dalmuir		08/55
Westerton		09/03
Cowlairs North Jn		09/09
Cowlairs South Jn		09/11
Lenzie		09/16
Greenhill Upper Jn		09/28
Greenhill Lower Jn		09/28
Carmuirs West Jn		09/31
Larbert Jn		09/32
Stirling	09:42	09:47
Dunblane		09/55
Blackford		10/10
Hilton Jn		10/27
Perth	10:31	10:33
Stanley		10/45
Dunkeld and Birnam	10:57	11:16
Pitlochry		11/31
Blair Atholl	11:43	13:09
Dalwhinnie		13/49
Kingussie	14:02	14:07
Kincraig	14:16	14:40
Aviemore		14/48
Carrbridge	15:00	15:30
Aviemore		15/38
Kincraig	15:48	16:30
Aviemore Speyside	16:38	17:21
Boat of Garten	17:41

Days booked: 25/10, 02/11
Boat of Garten		08:20
Aviemore Speyside	08:40	09:15
Kincraig	09:24	11:30
Aviemore	11:37	11:50
Carrbridge	12:00	12:04
Moy	12:24	12:28
Inverness Avoider	12:45	12:59
Muir of Ord	13:21	13:23
Dingwall	13:32	13:54
Garve	14:24	14:26
Achnasheen	15:02	15:09
Strathcarron	15:39	16:04
Plockton	16:30	16:35
Kyle of Lochalsh	16:47

Days booked: 26/10, 03/11
Kyle of Lochalsh		13:25
Strathcarron	14:13	14:23
Achnasheen	14:56	14:57
Garve	15:25	15:26
Dingwall	15:53	15:54
Muir of Ord	16:02	16:03
Inverness	16:22	16:24
Nairn	16:43	16:48
Forres	17:06	17:12
Elgin	17:29	17:30
Keith Loop	17:54	17:59
Keith	18:01	20:40
Keith Loop		20/41
Huntly	20:56	21:01
Kennethmont		21/13
Insch		21/19
Inverurie		21/29
Dyce		21/39
Aberdeen	21:49	22:08
Stonehaven		22/26
Carmont		22/32
Laurencekirk		22/40
Montrose		22/52
Usan		22/54
Arbroath		23/06
Carnoustie		23/12
Camperdown Jn		23/20
Dundee	20:40

Days booked: 27/10, 04/11
Dundee		07:23
Dundee Central Jn		07/24
Errol		07/33
Barnhill		07/41
Perth	07:44	08:02
Hilton Jn		08/05
Newburgh		08/14
Ladybank		08/23
Thornton North Jn		08/30
Thornton South Jn		08/31
Kirkcaldy		08/36
Burntisland		08/44
Inverkeithing		08/57
Dalmeny Jn		09/05
Haymarket West Jn		09/16
Haymarket	09:17	09:18
Edinburgh	09:23

OK, not a 37/4 but news on the rest of the class will appear from time to time! 37075 is due to make the short trek from the GCR(N) at Ruddington to the Great Central Railway at Loughborough on Thursday 26th October. A number of repairs will be carried out on the loco over the winter together with an intensive training program ensuring the locomotive is available for service next Spring.
For more info on 37075 visit http://www.corporateblue.co.uk

Up until the end of September 2000 the 18:23 Holyhead to Birmingham international and 21:12 return to the head was, on Sundays only, the only passenger train on the national Railtrack network booked to be worked by a pair of locomotives in running in multiple. Sadly this train is now operated by 175's but the 20:12 Crewe to Holyhead can occasionally produce a pair depending on requirements at Holyhead.

37429+37426 1D99 Birmingham International, 14-05-00

Photo: 37429 and 37426 resting at Birmingham International with the 23:12 Birmingham International to Holyhead
service on Sunday 14th May 2000. Matthew Kitchin