Saturday 3rd  & Sunday 4th July saw ‘The Sinfin Syphons’ and “The Primary Colours” tours of the 2nd & 3rd days of a 4 day Branch Line Society fundraising charter named ‘The Summer Syphons’.

Hauled by Direct Rail Services Class 37 locomotives 37422 Victorious & 37423 Spirit of The Lake, with 37422 replacing InterCity swallow livery 37419 due to failing on Day 1 of the tour ‘The Europort Explorer’.

Saturday the 3rd of July saw The Sinfin Syphons (The Summer Syphons Day 2) start at York, heading to Retford where it was supposed to journey from Retford to Sheffield via Workshop but unfortunately this part of the tour could not take place.

The tour was sent back to Doncaster from Retford and journeyed via Swinton onto East Midlands Gateway near Castle Donnington.

The tour then moved on to Derby where it visited sidings such as Sinfin Siding and Chaddeston Sidings, then on to Toton via Beeston, spending time around areas of the site, it then took the Robin Hood line via Mansfield and Shirebrook and back on to York using a freight line just after Shireoaks to Doncaster via Maltby.

The Sinfin Syphons would see the 37s pass through stations such: Doncaster, Retford, Swinton (South Yorkshire), Meadowhall, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Spondon, Long Eaton, Peartree, Beeston, Mansfield, Shirebrook, Langwith Whaley-Thorns & Shireoaks. 

Sunday 4th July would see The Primary Colours (The Summer Syphons Day 3) start at York just like the previous day, however, this would leave over an hour late due to a coach derailment at Holgate Siding in York during the night, thankfully the tour could run where it first headed to Brightside via Doncaster & Meadowhall where the tour would then head up to Huddersfield via Barnsley & Penistone and the tour would head on to Guide Bridge, Hadfield & Glossop. It was meant to travel via Hebden Bridge but due to being so late was rerouted to make up for lost time via Stalybridge. 

After visiting Hadfield & Glossop the tour would then head to Crewe via Heaton Norris Junction where two Freightliner Class 70s made the very rare sight of double-heading on the tour attaching themselves to 37422 heading via Stockport & Wilmslow.

After spending time around Crewe, the tour began to head back to York via the Hope Valley & Sheffield. However, 37423, unfortunately, failed at Wilmslow but managed to start back up again to limp the tour to Manchester Piccadilly, making an unscheduled stop to allow 37422 to haul the tour back to York instead of passing through Denton & Reddish South to reduce time. 

Unfortunately at Earles Sidings in Hope in the Hope Valley 37422 also failed and the tour was rescued by DB Cargo Class 66 locomotive 66066 Geoff Spencer from Hope Earles Sidings to York via Sheffield, Meadowhall & Doncaster.

The Primary Colours would see the tractors pass through stations such: Doncaster, Swinton (South Yorkshire), Meadowhall, Barnsley, Penistone, Huddersfield, Stalybridge Guide Bridge, Dinting, Hadfield, Glossop, Stockport, Cheadle Hulme, Wilmslow, Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly, Chinley, Hope, Grindleford & Sheffield. 

In this video, RailView captured the 37’s on Saturday 3rd July at locations such as:

• Spondon, Derbyshire passing through at 15:26, 3 minutes late.
• Beeston, Nottinghamshire passing through at 16:10, 3 minutes late.

Sunday 4th July:

• Swinton (South Yorkshire), passing through at 09:36, 63 minutes late.
• Station Road, Barnsley, Yorkshire passing through at 10:37, 72 minutes late.
• Chinley, Derbyshire passing through at 20:28, 75 minutes late.
• Grindleford, Derbyshire passing through 22:21, 167 minutes late.

Info about the Class 37:

• Power type Diesel-electric
• Built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry
• Built date, 1960-1965
• Total Produced, 309
• Wheel configuration, Co-Co
• Engine, English Electric 12CSVT
• Power output, 1,750 BHP
• Max Speed, 80MPH
• Nickname, Tractor

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