Class 37 at 50 – the NRM celebrates

Regular readers of the blog will have noticed two things recently. The first is the absence of posts from me – that’s due to time constraints and trying to get the day job done. If I can, I will backtrack to the Steam Gala over the next few days, plus an industrial conservation conference in Duxford and the launch into service of “Calbourne” on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway last week. Sorry to all those who look forward to my posts (and I believe there’s at least one of you!).

The second thing is that you will recall we have been having bodywork done on our class 37, D6700. Shortly after the last blog entry, the loco went off to Carnforth for painting before taking part in our celebration of 50 years of the type this weekend at York.

Mark’s already posted the confirmed list of engines attending at the link above – it should be good fun for all. I’ll be around on both days, having a driving slot in the afternoons. We’ll be having passenger rides, the chance for a driver experience session on some of the locos, and cab visits for others. Inside there’ll be some trade stands and model displays, plus some historic English Electric material in Search Engine which will link the event across the museum.

Locos have begun to arrive, and there will be at least six in attendance. After the event is opened on Saturday morning by Pip Dunn of Railways Illustrated magazine, D6700 herself will be started – and the signal will then be given to start up the other working engines too. Should wake up the staff! Come and have a look, or a ride. It promises to be a good do.

I'm not going to spoil the surprise by shwoing you a complete picture of the repainted D6700, but it's a stunner. Come to York this weekend and see the reality in the metal. This picture of the cabside gives an idea of the quality of the work turned out by West Coast Railway Company at Carnforth


The South Yard is turning into a passable impression of a diesel depot. 37 906, 37 275 and 47 798 line up in the afternoon sun at York on Wednesday.



Filed under: Conservation, Museum news, Rail vehicle collections Tagged: d6700, diesel engine, diesel event, york