Class 37 loco update

This year is the 50th anniversary of the entry into service of the English Electric Type 3 – otherwise known as the Class 37. We’re commemorating this with a Diesel Anniversary Weekend in York in October – but for the last several months, our own 37 (the very first) has been in the works undergoing major body repairs at the hands of skilled welder Dave Hewson.

Currently known as D6700, this engine has also carried 37 119* and 37 350 during its working life, but will be outshopped in its original identity for the event.

We had hoped that the engine would be able to celebrate the class’s anniversary by attending events at other locations around the country, but the extent of the bodywork repairs has meant that it sadly couldn’t happen. It will be good to have the engine finished for our event at the very least.

Here’s some pictures taken yesterday in The Works of the state so far.

(Ed’s note: there’s a tie-in competition for our diesel event – the prize is to start up D6700 during our mass Saturday morning start-up. You can enter via the page for our Class 37 Diesel Anniversary Weekend.)

D6700 under repair. Note the repaired cab window surounds. You can see Dave Hewson is busy from the reflection of the welding arc on the side of the Western on the adjacent track.


Just one of the sections of repaired bodyside on the loco, with curves and angles galore!


Following behind where Dave Hewson has been working was Steve Huggins, our diesel fitter, grinding the welds back in readiness for priming.




Filed under: Rail vehicle collections Tagged: class 37, d6700, diesel engine, diesel event, locomotive, repairs, The Works