This weekend just passed, 2 – 5 October, saw the Severn Valley Railway gathered together ten Class 37 locomotives, including our very own D6948, to celebrate 65 years since the very first Class 37/EE Type 3 rolled off the Vulcan Foundry production line. Sadly, D6700 wasn’t able to appear however the SVR were able to secure 37501 which, as D6705, entered traffic in early 1961. Close enough.
As you may be aware our friends at the SVR had requested the presence of both 37215 and D6948 however the Committee agreed that only D6948 would attend due to the condition of the wheelsets on ‘215’. D6948 was loaded up and tripped the 40ish miles to Kidderminster. The fitness to run exam was completed without issue and the loco passed fit to take part.
As we know, the SVR never do things by halves and this event, originally planned to have 17 examples of the Class, saw 10 in total – D6948, 37250, 37263, 37264, 37423, 37501, 37508, 37518, 37688 and 37901 – coupled with a variety of liveries that included the first and the most recent. The timetable was intensive enough to see all the locos worked hard but with enough flexibility to minimise any delays that were accrued. As luck would have it delays over the 4 days were almost non-existent, even with the introduction of Storm Amy on the Friday and Saturday and minor issues with 37518 and 37688.
D6948 was utilised very heavily over each of the days with a need to split crew over the first 3 days due to the length of time the loco was to be in use. This included a number of early starts coupled with late finishes. For those of us that crewed, it was a pleasure to be able to drive the line using ‘our’ loco as well as allow some of the crew from the SVR to get to grips with the ‘green machine’. The crews that did get to grips with D6948 were all very impressed and the feedback was that they would have wanted the loco to replace 37263 on loan when ‘263’ returns to it’s home base at Telford.
D6948 would also prove very popular amongst the assembled visitors across all four days and regular comments on the locos overall condition were regularly received both by the crew and at our sales stand, which had been set up under the roof on Kidderminster station.
The loco would cover 293 Miles 62 Chains (according to one of our Committee members) over the four days and probably worked harder than at any point since it’s mainline days. She didn’t put a foot wrong, although a slight low pressure fuel leak occurred on the Saturday. Although not a showstopper, it will need to be monitored whilst it is away with a repair to happen when she returns to Toddington.
The Sales Stand also saw a record-breaking event with income eclipsing anything we have taken before – plus some new memberships. We had a new intake of stock from our partner, Pixelshack, which flew out like hotcakes! There is still some of the new stock left and this will be on our ‘Members Train’ on Saturday 11 October, when D6948 works the Diesel roster on the SVR Timetable.
Overall, a huge thanks to Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, Matt Robinson and all the organisers and crew at the Severn Valley but, also a huge thanks to everyone who passed comment on the loco, bought anything from the Sales Stand or who just stopped by to chat. We had a blast!!
But, the fun didn’t stop on the Sunday as Monday evening saw the locos posed outside the Carriage Shed at Kidderminster for an evening, invitation-only photo shoot. This was attended by the GWSR’s own, Jack Boskett. One of Jack’s pictures is included at the top, but here is another……
As mentioned above, there is another chance to sample D6948 working hard through the Worcestershire/Shropshire hills as it is in use on Saturday 11 October on the SVR diesel turn. Normal SVR ticketing rates apply and the timetable is below. The loco works the yellow highlighted services.
This will be the last time D6948 will be in use on the SVR before she returns home to the GWSR at the end of October. Hopefully we’ll see you there!!
