The running season is now well under way at the GWSR and, as hoped, D6948 has returned to traffic after its near 3 year absence. Mainline diesel running started on the 1st April with D6948 taking the last round trip on the Purple timetable. It was also out again on the 2nd for the Pink Timetable with 3 round trips completed successfully. A couple of niggles made themselves evident but, after the length of time out of traffic this was to be expected and should be cleared up during routine maintenance. It was good to see a large number of people from the Groups’ membership, and the wider Class 37 community, attending both days to welcome the ‘Green Machine’ back into traffic.
The loco has also seen the lions’ share of turns so far as running in continues and will continue to see use on the Purple Timetable throughout the rest of April, as well as the Pink Timetable on Sunday, 30 April. The May rosters will be added to the site shortly.
One, specific date to add to the diary will be Sunday, 11 June, where D6948 will be in action all day alongside the Class 117 and ‘Modified’ Hall, 7903 ‘Foremarke Hall’ for the ‘1960s Green Livery Day’ at the GWSR. D6948 will run 3 round trips over the day in celebration of British Railway Green. Details can be found here – https://www.gwsr.com/events/1960s-green-livery-weekend
Whilst D6948 clocks up some much needed mileage, 37215 remains serviceable but is being kept in reserve for now. The loco has had it’s B Exam and is fit to run however the return of the round OLEO buffers from overhaul has been delayed slightly, and so the loco still wears the temporary oval ones. Also to be factored in is the work to disconnect and remove the compressors from the no. 1 end nose and to replace with the overhauled pair that we have in spares. Not a quick job by any means and would require a window of opportunity where the loco is out of traffic.
Both locos have also had their tyre and wheel inspections completed by Paul Good.
On the subject of 37215, earlier this week (16 April) a couple of photos were posted on one social media site of the group loco in service during its time at Tinsley TMD in the 1970s. The owner has agreed that I can share them on our social sites, so it is with great thanks to Ray Honke that I add them for your delectation!
I can safely say that I have only seen one other photo of 37215/6915 in this guise, by the renowned Robert Masterman from 1967 (https://www.class37.co.uk/imagepage.aspx?strnumber=rm37215), which shows that the loco wore this look for some time – from it’s Cardiff allocation through its time in South Yorkshire.
