37294 Crewe DMD 06 07 2008
37294 sits in long term warm storage in the shed at Crewe DMD.
Built as D6994 by English Electric at Vulcan Works (Works No. E3554/D983), it was delivered to BR Cardiff Canton depot on 8 July 1965.
In November 1973, it became 37294 under TOPS.
It spent its first 25 odd years based in Wales on the Western Region (1 move to Landore for 12 months in 1980, but mainly Cardiff based).
It very rarely worked passenger services (occasional rescue or relief train). Instead, it was mainly found on the South Wales coal and steel freights.
Under sectorisation in early 1988, it joined the FQLC Pool (Freight Coal Distribution Cardiff).
In December 1988, it moved to Petroleum (FPLW - Freight Petroleum & Chemicals South Wales).
In February 1992 it finally left Wales for Eastfield in Glasgow. 3 months later on 10 May 1992, it transferred to Inverness.
Allocated to the RAJV Pool (Regional Railways ScotRail - Inverness Locos) and mainly still on freight, it spent some time each summer on Scottish Highlands passenger trains (was not ETH fitted and summer workings did not need heating).
In March 1994, it was transferred to Motherwell and the LGBM Pool (Trainload Freight West - ML Class 37/0).
This meant it was available to assist on the steam heated Highland sleeper portions (which it often did, especially in 1995).
On 27 November 1998 with privatisation, it joined EWS and was allocated to the WKMB Pool (EWS Motherwell Class 37 - RETB fitted).
6 months later, EWS stored it to the WNXX Pool, removed its RETB equipment, isolated its vacuum brakes and readied it for a contract in France. It was allocated to the WKMF Pool - EWS Headquarters Class 37 (Special Projects) on 2 July 1999.
It was shipped through the Chunnel on 25 August 1999 and arrived back in the UK on 9 August 2000.
Sent to Tyne Yard for storage on 19 August 2000, it stayed there for 2 years.
On 2 September 2002, it was sent to Bescot, authorised for a B Exam and allocated to the WKAD Pool - to cover for locos on the Autumn Sandite season.
But the repairs took a lot longer than expected and it was touch and go whether it would work again as EWS stored even more Class 37s.
It even had a test run allocated on 10 December 2002 (with a Bescot to Washwood Heath engineers). But at the last minute, it was replaced with a Class 66 and sent back into the shed for more work.
Finally on 10 January 2003, Bescot sent it to Toton TMD to finish repairs. 5 days later it did a test run (light engine Toton to Castleton) and re-entered service.
Unfortunately, a month later, it was back in store again.
Initially noted on the Toton test bank on 13 February undergoing tests, the results were not good so it was stored from WKAD to the WNSS Pool on 16 February 2003.
6 months later EWS tried again (this time for use on the sandite trains).
After some time in the shed at Toton, it was noted on the wheel lathe and then the loadbank on 30 August.
It had a light engine test run on 4 September, some more test runs over the next few days and then was back in traffic on 10 September 2003 (initially WNSS Pool hired to WKSN).
On 24 September with sandite season starting, it was officially allocated to its last ever working pool (WKSN - EWS Toton Class 37 (Sandite Fitted)).
When the sandite season ended, it was stored again for a final time on 17 December 2003 to the WNTR pool at Crewe.
EWS closed Crewe DMD down as an active depot on 27 December and 37294 was pushed inside the locked DMD shed for storage.
Other than a February 2004 move to the WNXX pool, nothing happened for the next almost 5 years as it sat inside just getting pigeon droppings on it (like this photo).
On 9 October 2008, 37294 was put up for sale. In late December it was announced it had been bought by the CF Booth, Rotherham scrapyard.
On 5 March 2009 , it was towed to Crewe EMD to prepare it for road transport amid rumours it had been sold on.
The rumours proved true and on 25 March 2009, 37294 was delivered by road into preservation at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway, Skipton.
Its first run on the line was on 25 July 2009 and it was in regular use until 27 December 2020.
In 2022, after COVID pandemic restrictions ended, it was re-activated and is back in useπ π .
Big thanks as usual for the websites with the info:
Ian Furness for his WNXX forum & Mick Parker for his class37.co.uk website.
37294 Crewe DMD 06 07 2008
37294 sits in long term warm storage in the shed at Crewe DMD.
Built as D6994 by English Electric at Vulcan Works (Works No. E3554/D983), it was delivered to BR Cardiff Canton depot on 8 July 1965.
In November 1973, it became 37294 under TOPS.
It spent its first 25 odd years based in Wales on the Western Region (1 move to Landore for 12 months in 1980, but mainly Cardiff based).
It very rarely worked passenger services (occasional rescue or relief train). Instead, it was mainly found on the South Wales coal and steel freights.
Under sectorisation in early 1988, it joined the FQLC Pool (Freight Coal Distribution Cardiff).
In December 1988, it moved to Petroleum (FPLW - Freight Petroleum & Chemicals South Wales).
In February 1992 it finally left Wales for Eastfield in Glasgow. 3 months later on 10 May 1992, it transferred to Inverness.
Allocated to the RAJV Pool (Regional Railways ScotRail - Inverness Locos) and mainly still on freight, it spent some time each summer on Scottish Highlands passenger trains (was not ETH fitted and summer workings did not need heating).
In March 1994, it was transferred to Motherwell and the LGBM Pool (Trainload Freight West - ML Class 37/0).
This meant it was available to assist on the steam heated Highland sleeper portions (which it often did, especially in 1995).
On 27 November 1998 with privatisation, it joined EWS and was allocated to the WKMB Pool (EWS Motherwell Class 37 - RETB fitted).
6 months later, EWS stored it to the WNXX Pool, removed its RETB equipment, isolated its vacuum brakes and readied it for a contract in France. It was allocated to the WKMF Pool - EWS Headquarters Class 37 (Special Projects) on 2 July 1999.
It was shipped through the Chunnel on 25 August 1999 and arrived back in the UK on 9 August 2000.
Sent to Tyne Yard for storage on 19 August 2000, it stayed there for 2 years.
On 2 September 2002, it was sent to Bescot, authorised for a B Exam and allocated to the WKAD Pool - to cover for locos on the Autumn Sandite season.
But the repairs took a lot longer than expected and it was touch and go whether it would work again as EWS stored even more Class 37s.
It even had a test run allocated on 10 December 2002 (with a Bescot to Washwood Heath engineers). But at the last minute, it was replaced with a Class 66 and sent back into the shed for more work.
Finally on 10 January 2003, Bescot sent it to Toton TMD to finish repairs. 5 days later it did a test run (light engine Toton to Castleton) and re-entered service.
Unfortunately, a month later, it was back in store again.
Initially noted on the Toton test bank on 13 February undergoing tests, the results were not good so it was stored from WKAD to the WNSS Pool on 16 February 2003.
6 months later EWS tried again (this time for use on the sandite trains).
After some time in the shed at Toton, it was noted on the wheel lathe and then the loadbank on 30 August.
It had a light engine test run on 4 September, some more test runs over the next few days and then was back in traffic on 10 September 2003 (initially WNSS Pool hired to WKSN).
On 24 September with sandite season starting, it was officially allocated to its last ever working pool (WKSN - EWS Toton Class 37 (Sandite Fitted)).
When the sandite season ended, it was stored again for a final time on 17 December 2003 to the WNTR pool at Crewe.
EWS closed Crewe DMD down as an active depot on 27 December and 37294 was pushed inside the locked DMD shed for storage.
Other than a February 2004 move to the WNXX pool, nothing happened for the next almost 5 years as it sat inside just getting pigeon droppings on it (like this photo).
On 9 October 2008, 37294 was put up for sale. In late December it was announced it had been bought by the CF Booth, Rotherham scrapyard.
On 5 March 2009 , it was towed to Crewe EMD to prepare it for road transport amid rumours it had been sold on.
The rumours proved true and on 25 March 2009, 37294 was delivered by road into preservation at the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway, Skipton.
Its first run on the line was on 25 July 2009 and it was in regular use until 27 December 2020.
In 2022, after COVID pandemic restrictions ended, it was re-activated and is back in useπ π .
Big thanks as usual for the websites with the info:
Ian Furness for his WNXX forum & Mick Parker for his class37.co.uk website.