| This will be a small collection of photos of Class 37s at work, principally the famous BSC Lackenby - Corby steel "Tubeliner", which featured pairs of these superb machines barking along with a heavy load of steel coils in tow.
The dedicated fleet of twenty locos, 37501-37520, featured some interesting livery variations around the basic Railfreight theme; some sported a red band on the lower bodyside, some had large numbers, some small, while of course 37501 was for a time famously turned out in BSC light blue. I think I have a slide of that somewhere, so keep your fingers crossed ! As this is primarily a freight collection, I've taken the liberty of including another class of locomotive which I rate highly, the Class 56 'Grids', even if it's only a couple of shots for now. So, here's a small collection to get things started..... |
37404 approaches Tyndrum Lower with the morning Oban - Glasgow QS service, in September 1986. Given that 37693 was allegedly supposed to be on the train, this was a slight disappointment, though I, and innumerable others, would give anything to see such a sight again! |
Trundling past Berkswell on a chilly autumnal day around 1990 is 37013, in charge of a mixed freight, probably bound for Bescot. RIP 37013 - scrapped at Kingsbury in February 2007. |
In the mid-to-late 1980s, arguably the most famous freight working in the country was 'The Tubeliner', from BSC Lackenby to Corby. The southbound working was fully laden with rolled steel coils, and was always worked by a pair of 37s. Usually it would be a pair from the 37501-37520 pool, but on this occasion, recently-outshpped 37668 and 37667 are in charge of the train, passing Station Farm at Bolton Percy, in spring 1988. |
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6M47 again, seen here passing York Yard South signal box, by means of which most freights avoid the station. 37517 and 37519 are in charge. |
The northbound empty train, whose reporting number escapes me, is seen here passing Colton South Junction, powered by 37507 'Hartlepool Pipe Mill' (I think...?) and 37513. |
The empty wagons are seen once again, in the charge of 37516 and 37513, passing the remains of Holgate Cattle Dock, en route to York Yard South. |
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Freshly outshopped from Doncaster Works, 37174 looks superb in large logo livery atop the works test train as it passes Station Farm, Bolton Percy. |
Having rounded the curve at Holgate Junction at the usual cautious 15mph, the driver of 6M47 has just given 37511 and 37519 full power to lift the heavy 'Tubeliner' on its way south. The resultant fabulous barking racket from the pair of 12CSVTs can well be imagined! :-) |
Having unusually been routed through the yard rather than the main line, 37517 and 37504 make a lovely sight as they restart 6M47 from York Yard South. In the background, the smoke from the sugar beet factory drifts across in the crisp winter air. |
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Having briefly paused at York Yard South box, 56098 catches some low winter sun as it heads a fully laden MGR, in early 1988. Signs of track rationalisation and ongoing ECML electrification work are well evident.... |
A scene from bygone days at Colton Junction, as 56102 storms south with 1,000 tons-worth of MGR in tow, bound probably for Drax or Eggborough Power Station. The hapless driver of the 31 on the adjacent Up Leeds line is no doubt phoning the signalman to request assistance after failing !!!! |
