A very-special Class 37 diesel locomotive is expected to be on display at this weekend’s Diesel Gala on the Great Central Railway.
The Gala, to be held this Saturday and Sunday, 22nd and 23rd April, will see Class No. 37207 on display at Quorn.
Owned by the Heavy Tractor Group, 37207 has been converted to run on batteries following three years of research and development. by Meteor Power.
Meteor Power’s development of a battery conversion system for the locomotive provides a greener, cheaper, and quieter solution for freight or ‘super shunter’ work.
Throughout last summer, 37207 was used to test an electric powertrain that Meteor Power had installed in a Class 08 diesel shunter and is now ready to receive its own electric conversion. As part of its test programme, last June successfully travelled 1½ miles within Wolverton Works on battery power.
Before undergoing its transformation, 37207 had sat unused for nearly two decades, but it is under the care of the Heavy Tractor Group which also cares for classmates Nos. 37714 and D6700.
The Heavy Tractor Group is a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving and operating a working example of a British Rail Class 37 Type 3 locomotive.
Whilst on the Great Central Railway, 37207 will be stored undercover at Swithland, where the Heavy Tractor Group will also carry out some work on the locomotive.
It is hoped that the mainline certification process of 37207 will take place later this year.
It is expected that during the Gala 37207 will be on display at Quorn alongside the Heavy Tractor Group’s sales stand at the upcoming diesel gala. Other locomotives scheduled to appear at the Gala are Class 17 No. D8568, Class 33 No. D6535, Class 37s Nos. D67600 and 37714 Cardiff Canton, Class 45 No. D123, Class 50 No. 50017 Royal Oak, and Derby Lightweight diesel unit Iris.
Full details of the Gala are available online at https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/special-events/spring-diesel-gala/
Responses
Is there any information available on the range of this locomotive when hauling typical loads? This seems to me to be rather crucial. Reading that “As part of its test programme, last June successfully travelled 1½ miles within Wolverton Works on battery power” isn’t very impressive!
Sounds like they don’t want to divulge any more info. Maybe in case it’s seen by a person or group they don’t like.
It’s a prototype in the early stages of development. Evidently travelling 1.5 miles on battery power isn’t impressive for a production unit, but it’s a development milestone passed. It’s like not being impressed by a baby’s ability to walk from one side of the room to the other; it’s not like that’s the furthest they’ll ever be able to walk.
Sorry, in my opinion oil and coal are the only future.