On Saturday, 26th March, the North Norfolk Railway will celebrate the 60th birthday of one of the line’s resident diesel locomotives, D6732.

The Class 37 will be in action at the head of special trains on its return to service following a thorough repaint into the British Railways’ green it carried when it first entered service in March 1962. On Saturday, 26th March, the locomotive will be paired with the railway’s rake of four “Suburban” coaches dating from the mid-1950s.

During the winter, the carriages received a refresh in the railway’s Carriage & Wagon works at Weybourne. The Carriage & Wagon team also carried out some necessary bodywork repairs to D6732 before specialist contractors from Heritage Painting Limited carried out the most comprehensive repaint it has received in over a quarter of a century.

Between 1960 and 1965, over 300 English Electric Type 3s were delivered as part of British Railways modernisation plan. Initially allocated to Hull Dairycoates depot, for much of its career D6732 worked passenger and freight trains in the North West.

In 1996, D6732 became the first Class 37 to work in preservation when it hauled its first train on the North Norfolk Railway. Class 37s were no strangers to the area as they saw regular use on InterCity services from London to Norwich, while others were the mainstay of Liverpool Street to Cambridge and King’s Lynn services.

Amongst enthusiasts, the distinctive agricultural sound of the engines earned Class 37s the nickname of “tractors”.

On 26th March, steam- and diesel-hauled trains will be in operation. D6732 will work the 10.35, 12.15. 14.05, and 15.50 departures from Sheringham, and the 11.30, 13.15, 15.05, and 16.30 services from Holt. Day Rover tickets allow unlimited travel all day.

Locomotive owner, Alistair Barham, praising the Heritage Painting team, said “The thoroughness of the preparation and the care they have taken with the repainting and signwriting was very impressive and the loco now looks as good as she did when she first turned a wheel six decades ago”

“I am delighted with the result and am looking forward to passengers being able to enjoy the distinctive sight and sounds of the 60-year-old machine.”