The English Electric Class 37/4 Diesel Locomotives

The Provincial Sector refurbished 31 Class 37 locomotives to support the shortfall of DMU trainsets. They were initially used to service Scottish lines and later replaced by Sprinter trainsets. At privatisation, the fleet was owned by freight companies and hired out to other freight and passenger operators. The class members' versatility and ability to handle various duties have proven invaluable, and some have been preserved and hired for preservation purposes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

In the prelude to the privatisation of British Rail (BR), the Provincial Sector, later known as Regional Railways, assumed responsibility for local and secondary train services. To address the shortfall of DMU (Diesel Multiple Units) trainsets, they initiated the refurbishment of 31 Class 37 locomotives, equipped with train heating equipment, hence designated Class 37/4. Their initial task was to operate services on Scottish lines, radiating from Inverness to points north and Glasgow to service the West Highland Line. To support the Cambrian Line services and services from Cardiff traversing the Marches Line to serve Liverpool, a small batch of these locomotives was based in South Wales. However, these services were soon replaced by Sprinter trainsets, freeing the fleet for other duties, including freight operations.

At privatisation in April 1994, the fleet became owned by freight companies, who subsequently hired locomotives to other freight companies and passenger operators. Throughout their working life, the fleet members have proven invaluable and capable of powering a variety of services. Fred Kerr's book seeks to showcase this adaptability by detailing the reasons for their initial creation and the tasks successfully undertaken once released from their initial roles as support for the shortage of DMU trainsets.

The advent of privatisation saw an increased demand for the Class 37/4's go-anywhere, do-anything ability, which is also reflected in the range of photographs that illustrate the wide range of duties performed by class members. Once withdrawn from service, some class members were purchased for preservation, and their adaptability was evident as preserved examples were hired by train operators to cover duties that no other class of diesel locomotives could.

In conclusion, the Class 37/4 locomotives played a crucial role in the pre-privatisation era of British Rail, providing essential support to local and secondary train services. Their refurbishment and deployment in various roles demonstrated their adaptability and prowess in handling a diverse range of duties. The privatisation era saw an increased demand for their capabilities, and preserved examples continue to be valued for their historical significance and versatility.

Dimension: 282 x 216 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399096133