Direct Rail Services is to retire its fleet of Class 37 locomotives, marking the end of an era on the mainline.
Since being introduced with DRS, they have played a vital role in operating snow trains, nuclear flask trains and freight services.
The operator has extended its gratitude to the rail enthusiast community, which DRS says its ‘passion and support for the Class 37s have made them ‘cultural icons’.
DRS says that its decision to retire the locomotives has been driven by a need to modernise the fleet.
There have been a number of locomotive sales recently from DRS, but this is the final round, and will include the sale of 37407, 37419, 37422, 37424, 37425 and 37716.
Gottfried Eymer, NTS Managing Director – Rail, said: “It is the end of an era for the Class 37s at DRS, they have been a firm favourite with staff and enthusiasts alike, but the time is right to focus on more modern and efficient engines such as our excellent Class 68 and 88s.”
Responses
I can remember going down to a park area in Tottenham , where the north London line crossed the Stratford line , and me and my friends would spend hours watching the 37s from Stratford , hauling tankers and mixed freights, 1979 , brilliant and the noise :)))) happy days
Had them on the majority of the consett jobs good little workhorses,on my 25 years as a guard,only remember, 3 37s failing!!!
Who bought 37425?
😭😭😭
Got to love a 37, but like with everything times move on, and with a general overhaul of a Class 37 now costing around £750,000 and their lowsy environmental credentials, their time is coming to a close. They still perform some amazing duties however. On 22rd January 2024, 37685 rescued 60026 as York after it failed hauling a fully loaded biomass train to Drax. That single Class 37 with just 1,250bhp at the rail, and a light RA of 5 took the over 2000 tonne train forward from York on a sopping wet day, and did so without breaking a sweat. Videos on YouTube.
Used two of these on the Welbeck colliery to Toton with 43 Mgrs in tow good days gone forever.
I used to work ln these damn things out of Ripple Lane, they were a pain, uncomfortable perched up on that seat, trying to see out over the nose, no notch controller, power surges, slipping, when the overloads dropped out… big BANG if you was in the wrong cab, could make it look like a steamer, so much smoke coming our the exhaust… give me a Brush Type 2 or Brush Type 4 any day what s difference!!!… that’s a 31 or 47 if you didn’t know…
I think it’s time for me to show gratitude to being able to enjoy the Class 37s whilst they were there but I am sure that someone will buy one for preservation and that’s good enough for me. Thank you for your service.
Their withdrawal is mainly due to their pollution rating. The new diesels meet the new pollution regulations whereas the Class 37 engines don’t.
I was a fireman at Euston in the early 80s I remember the overhead power was down and a Ripple Lane crew came light engine from Willesden high level and hauled our 86 and 10 coaches as far as Rugby with a Class 37. Always remember the noise it made compared to electric locos-happy days.
How much is one to buy?
It’s sad to see the famous class 37s leave DRS what a great service they offered no other class of Locomotives will come near them one of a kind just fantastic to hear these engines on the mainline again thankyou Vulcan Foundry Works you were the best.
such a shame as these are my favourites and I remember them coming through my hometown with brand new transits from the Swaythling factory.the sound is awesome and does anyone know if they will be staying in the country otherwise will lose these iconic beasts forever.
There was a preserved 37 on the Epping and Ongar line.
The 37’s to my untrained eye, remind me ( like the class 40’s) of the awesome Deltics , I remember as a kid taking trips when my dad worked at YTV ( Yorkshire television) from Leeds to either Manchester or as far as STV in Glasgow or border in Carlisle, and I know that some of the trains we took were pulled by 37’s and Deltics , they all look similar in design .
But they are still superior to the 69’s and 88’s as the recent shambles with TPE putting almost new coaches into mothballs , because the 68’s unset the nimbys due to their noisy engines .
Yet these old school locos like the amazing 37’s are still noisy , compared to the current crop of multiple unit Intercity and regional trains .
Too many claim loco hauled is no longer the way , yet it was so much more flexible , as if they needed more capacity for a planned train journey , it was simple to shunt extra coaches onto a loco.
As I say I remember trips behind them , often in the corridor mark 1 and mark 2, A-C ( I gather the Aircon ‘ Mark2 D’s had compartments) those compartment coaches where by far more comfortable than the current crop of imported stock , with maybe the exception of the well received, Stadler flirt units .
But is used to be a joy to stand on the platform at Leeds , and wonder what loco would turn up. It was often a lottery , with everything from the 37’s or even the smaller 31’s, or a 47 noisy and smokey , with it’s distinctive engine note , or the amazing Deltics and as I say the 37’s .
I’ve seen various photos of Leeds station at that time ( very late 70’s when I was so very young and well into the 80’s ), of course the real joy if it was a family break to visit friends in Wales would be the sight of the then new , HST’s we used to have some real talented train builders and designers in this country .
And in my humble opinion, the Sight of a Deltic or 37, pulling a rake of Aircon Mark2, D,E or F, blue grey brings back fond memories, and they rode well too .
I found a great photo of some of the locos in the later years of the Waverley route, with 37’s and Deltics , coming from London , via Leeds and the settle Carlisle line . And onward via the Waverley route .
And going back to the compartment coaches , no matter the weather, you could close the door on the compartment, white often folk would choose another compartment if they saw people already in them . Even second class had arm rests and that wee tiny table by the window for cups of tea or coffee .
And to see them carry on into our modern era , the likes of the 37’s , Deltics etc is an an amazing sight. I hope they will all be preserved, or even bought by other cargo operators . They make great thunderbird locos. It really does seem like a backward step , by bringing in locos that still have issues, like the cracks on the 68’s ..and I gather reliability issues , where the 37’s have been well maintained and any issues long since sorted .
We must preserve these locos , lest we end up with only foreign made multiple units , with very little charm .
I hope that perhaps as the great central preserved railway , among others will take some of them , as soon with luck it will be joined up as one , and with the plan to link it I believe to Leicester I think they said , to add that long heritage line to the national network, could see the 37’s once again hauling coaches and happy train fans for years to come .
They still have much to offer .
Who will buy them or just been scrapped?
Expensive to maintain. Primitive wheelslip detection. Came to a halt many times trying to go up Edinburgh sub at Craiglockhart.
Going all in on the 68 and 88 might be a mistake given how ineffective they’ve proved themselves at heavy freight moves on account of them being of BoBo. DRS are limiting their options to intermodal really.
DRS also have a large number of Co-Co ’66’s
Gutted
I believe that they will be snapped up by the preservation society’s, there a good strong robust locomotive, they put these modern traction to shame
DRS may one day regret getting rid of their 37s.
Same with DB getting rid of their Class 60s
I remember can remember working on building them as an apprentic iat at the Vulcan Foundry. in the 1960’s
Vulcan Foundary was an awesome place. Not a brick left to know it was there. Very sad.
Did you remember working with Sid Case at the Vulcan? Relative of Mine took me there one Saturday had a cab ride one end of the yard to the other:))
It would be great to see them in kent like the old days
They should keep them.
They are reliable and part of railway history
Such good work horses class 37’s have been…I’m sure at least half of the remaining loco’s will be seen on British heritage railways.
Love the sound of a 37 full throttle.
I always disliked diesel locomotives having stopped trainspotting when they took over from steam. However, Class 37s have a special place in my heart. They have stood the test of time and earned their corn. They are the only diesels I can tolerate and the only ones I would make a journey to see. End of an era indeed.
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of these locomotives!
They are still reliable and I thought a few might be kept on by DRS.
I was a fireman with BR at eastfield traction depot Glasgow 1974 onwards DRS bought some of the class 37s when eastfield closed DRS refurbished them and it turned out my brother who was a driver with DRS he ended up driving the same class 37s that I drove but 35 years later
Would be nice if NTS could do an enthuasiast special to mark the end of an era.