Class 37's, maids of all work.
First entering service in 1960, the class 37's (English Electric type 3's) are some of the oldest diesels still regularly running on the main line. Rated at 1750 bhp, they could be seen on just about any type of train from express passengers, to heavy freight and branch line work. In this video we see some of their workings I have managed to film over the last few years.
The video starts at Carnforth when DRS class 37's were used to top-and-tail Northern Trains services on the Cumbrian coast line. 37402 and 37218 are seen on these services.
04:17. A pair of Colas class 37's take a Network Rail test train south on the East Coast Main Line and are seen ascending Gamston bank to the south of Retford.
05:21. Network rail 97302 is seen on a test train at Retford on the Sheffield to Lincoln line which dives under the East Coast Main Line at the station.
06:35. Rail Operations Group 37884 'Cepheus' is seen on the East Coast Main Line at Retford station as it works a Toton to Leeds service dragging a crane. This train had been routed a long way round, going down to Grantham and then up the East Coast Main Line to get to Leeds. The loco is then seen later in the day returning a different crane to Toton by the same long way round.
09:12. A few months later I filmed 37884 again, this time on the West Coast Main Line heading south light loco through Carnforth.
09:55. West Coast Railways 37706 is seen descending from Whisker Hill Juncion to pass under the East Coast Main Line at Retford with a Branch Line Society charter train to Cleethorpes.
12:55. 37025 'Inverness TMD' brings a Network Rail Test train round the link from the Sheffield to Lincoln line into the main line platform 2 at Retford. The train the reverses and goes back onto the Sheffield to Lincoln line and then passes through the low level platforms towards Gainsborough.
15:22. 37264 is seen at Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
16:18. Back to the Cumbrian Coast line, and this time when the services were being worked by a single class 37 and DVT. A south-bound service with the DVT leading arrives in Ravenglass, and then 37409 is seen on a north-bound service.
18:15. West Coast Railways 37516 brings a south-bound charter service from Dumfries into Carnforth. The train is about to cross over into the loops to enable the class 37 to replaced by a steam locomotive for the rest of its journey south.
19:16. Finally, we see 37264 again on the North Yorkshire Moors railway with a service from Grosmont to Pickering.