British Rail Class 37

British Rail Class 37
Builder:	English Electric Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns
Years built:	1960 - 1965
Early numbers:	D6700-D6999 D6600-D6608
Number built:	309
Replaced by:	British Rail Class 66
Engine:	English Electric 12CSVT Mirrless Blackstone MB275Tt Ruston RK270Tt
Transmission:	Diesel Electric
Wheel layout:	Co-Co
Brakes:	Vacuum Air
Length:	18.74m (61' - 6")
Width:	2.73m (8' - 11 1/2")
Height:	3.96m (13')
Weight:	102 Tonnes - 108 Tonnes
Maximum speed:	80mph - 90mph
Engine power:	1,750hp (EE 12CSVT) 1,800hp (Other Engines)
Maximum TE:	55,500 lb - 61,910 lb
Fuel capacity:	4,046 Litres - 7,682 Litres
Operators:	EWS DRS West Coast Railway Company Eurostar

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. They were relatively rarely seen on the more 'glamorous' main line expresses, but on secondary and inter-regional services they performed well for many years. The Class 37 is known by railway enthusiasts as a "Tractor" or "Growler", these nicknames derived from the similarities of the sound of the locomotive and a conventional Tractor.

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 However, the introduction of new Class 66 locomotives has meant many locomotives have been withdrawn or scrapped.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 examples 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 these 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 bodywork bears a strong family resemblance to the English Electric Class 40 and Class 23 'Baby Deltic'.

The Class was designed for both passenger and freight work and was as much at home hauling heavy goods trains as it was on passenger services (indeed, in 1966 the Western Region even tried modifying some of its 37s for 100mph operation). Many of the original locomotives were fitted with boilers for steam heating. With the withdrawal of many Type 2 and Type 3 locomotives in the 1980s the 37s were selected as the standard Type 3 and many of the fleet were given a heavy overhaul to prolong their life into the 1990s and beyond. Some were fitted with electrical train heating (ETH) equipment 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.

A number of locomotives were rebuilt as Class 37/9 in the late 1980s to evaluate Mirrlees and Ruston engines for possible use on a new Class 38 freight locomotive. These 'Slugs' were heavily ballasted to improve traction and had excellent load-hauling capabilities, but the Class 38 (understood to be a 'modular' locomotive based on the approach that gave rise to the Class 58 and the unbuilt Class 88 electric loco) was never built.

The Class 37 has a relatively low axle 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 (Far North Line) and in parts of Wales.

Sub-classes

Current operations

Direct Rail Services

Direct Rail Services operate around twenty Class 37s. They haul nuclear trains, and during autumn have also seen use on sandite trains on behalf of Network Rail. DRS locomotives tend to be used in pairs as a precaution in case one fails en route.

DRS also have several more non-operational Class 37s, which are in store, or undergoing overhaul.

English, Welsh and Scottish Railway

EWS currently operates a small fleet of severn Class 37/4 locomotives, currently consisting of 37405, 37406, 37410, 37411, 37417, 37422 and 37425. They are officially allocated to Toton TMD, but see much of their work in Scotland.

They retained some regular passenger duties into 2006. One was used on First ScotRail's Caledonian Sleeper service over the West Highland Line up until June 2006. Another was hired to Arriva Trains Wales for weekday peak hour use on the Rhymney Line up until December 2006.

As of January 2007, current work for the Class includes deputising for Class 67s on Caledonian Sleeper trains (between Edinburgh and Aberdeen); snowplough standby duties in Inverness and/or Aberdeen; and the 'Binliner' service, which carries compacted refuse from Edinburgh to East Lothian for landfill.

In addition to the above, EWS own a large number of non-operational 37s which are stored at numerous locations around Britain (plus a few in Spain following a hire contract). Many are considered suitable for re-activation at relatively short notice.

Eurostar (UK)

Eurostar (UK) Ltd. (at the time European Passenger Services) initially had twelve locomotives modified as Class 37/6, with the intention that they would haul international night trains over the non-electrified parts of their routes in Britain. However, these services were never introduced, and nine of the twelve 37/6s were subsequently sold to DRS. Eurostar (UK) retained three, which have been put to other uses, including: rescuing failed Eurostar sets; moving Eurostars over non-electrified routes; driver training, and route learning.

West Coast Railway Company

The West Coast Railway Company (WCRC) purchased four locomotives from Ian Riley Engineering in 2004. The two operational locomotives (nos. 37197 and 37261) were used on charter trains, or as standby locomotives for "The Jacobite" steam-hauled excursion services from Fort William to Mallaig during 2005. These two, along with non-operational 37423, have since been sold to DRS. The fourth (no. 37235) was for spares.

WCRC now has one operational Class 37, No. 37248 and 37214, more recently acquired.

Trivia

Network Rail ERTMS project

As of July 2007, Network Rail are currently restoring 3 class 37's as part of the ERTMS trial project on the cambrian coastline. The site of the restoration is the Barrow Hill Roundhouse, where 5 ex-HNRC locomotives have been taken. The intention is to strip and scrap 2 locomotives, using them only as parts donors.

The class was chosen because of its original fitment with both air and vacuum braking, a feature which will allow it to pull both modern freight trains as well as steam specials. The main work of the locomotives will be to pull on track machines (such as tampers) through the ERTMS section.

Preservation

D6712 at Liverpool Street, 1963 in BR green with yellow warning panels.

D6884 passing through Llanelli in August 1967.

37051 at Cambridge, May 1978 in rail blue livery.

Class 37/0, no. 37038 at Crewe Works on 1st June 2003. This locomotive had recently been purchased by Direct Rail Services, whose blue livery it carries.

Class 37/4, no. 37411 "The Scottish Railway Preservation Society" at Carlisle on 27th August 2004. At the time, this EWS-owned locomotive was hired to Arriva Trains Northern for services over the Settle-Carlisle line.

Class 37/5, no. 37674 "Saint Blaise Church 1445-1995" at Westbury on 16th April 2004. This locomotive is now preserved.

37710 at Didcot on 30th October 2004.

37229 'Jonty Jarvis' at Whitby with a Pathfinder Tours Railtour on 1st June 2005.

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

Fleet Details

As of July 2007, the main operator of Class 37 locomotives is Direct Rail Services. However, EWS retain a large fleet of fifty-plus locomotives in reserve, many of which could be reactivated at short notice.

References

• The Junction - Class 37 History

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

British Rail Class 37

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