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DRS 37424 named "Avro Vulcan XH558"

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sprinterguy

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While the topic of this thread is somewhat specific, I must say that I am pleased to see reported elsewhere online the return of an old favourite loco of mine, 37424, to service with Direct Rail Services today, and note that it appears to have been officially named "Avro Vulcan XH558" at the Crewe Gresty Bridge open day. DRS seem to be particularly fond of BR large logo blue with regards to their class 37s at present!

It's a notable continuation of a theme from 37087 being named "Vulcan Avro B1 & B2" while a Harry Needle Railroad Co. loco in the mid 2000s, which subsequently moved to DRS (with nameplates removed, mind). Harry Needle reputedly intended to pursue a "Vulcan" theme with the names of his class 37s, which was dropped before any namings were carried out (37087 to have been named "Vulcan Foundry").

It's a shame that the aircraft in question isn't still airworthy, to have allowed for a flyover in conjunction with the naming! ;)

It has also had the number 37558 applied in conjunction with the naming ceremony - out of curiosity, does anybody know if this is intended to be a temporary measure or more permanent (the application of the numbers looks fairly permanent to me)?
 
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Harbornite

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I didn't notice the number 37558, neither did I stay for the naming bit. However, I thought that 37424 looked stonking, a credit to all involved, and a great choice of name. Another surprise was seeing D1944, it looked gorgeous. I'll eventually get round to sticking the pics on here.
 
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Smudger105e

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While the topic of this thread is somewhat specific, I must say that I am pleased to see reported elsewhere online the return of an old favourite loco of mine, 37424, to service with Direct Rail Services today, and note that it appears to have been officially named "Avro Vulcan XH558" at the Crewe Gresty Bridge open day. DRS seem to be particularly fond of BR large logo blue with regards to their class 37s at present!

It has also had the number 37558 applied in conjunction with the naming ceremony - out of curiosity, does anybody know if this is intended to be a temporary measure or more permanent (the application of the numbers looks fairly permanent to me)?

I doubt it will be keeping the bodyside numbers as it has 37424 on the nose ends.
 

theblackwatch

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I spoke to one of the DRS staff with the loco at Crewe this afternoon, he said the loco will remain as 37424 on TOPS (and with end numbers), but will be retaining the 37558 identity.
 

Spamcan81

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While the topic of this thread is somewhat specific, I must say that I am pleased to see reported elsewhere online the return of an old favourite loco of mine, 37424, to service with Direct Rail Services today, and note that it appears to have been officially named "Avro Vulcan XH558" at the Crewe Gresty Bridge open day. DRS seem to be particularly fond of BR large logo blue with regards to their class 37s at present!

It's a notable continuation of a theme from 37087 being named "Vulcan Avro B1 & B2", both names recognising the shared English Electric heritage of both the loco and aircraft, while a Harry Needle Railroad Co. loco in the mid 2000s which subsequently moved to DRS (with nameplates removed, mind). Harry Needle reputedly intended to pursue a "Vulcan" theme with the names of his class 37s, which was dropped before any namings were carried out (37087 to have been named "Vulcan Foundry").


It's a shame that the aircraft in question isn't still airworthy, to have allowed for a flyover in conjunction with the naming!

It has also had the number 37558 applied in conjunction with the naming ceremony - out of curiosity, does anybody know if this is intended to be a temporary measure or more permanent (the application of the numbers looks fairly permanent to me)?

Enlighten me please as to the EE heritage of the Avro Vulcan?
 

Harbornite

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Enlighten me please as to the EE heritage of the Avro Vulcan?

Good point. I'm sure that Vulcan production had ended by the time Avro and EE had joined BAC.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ignore that last post, Avro actually became part of Hawker Siddeley (I never knew this before, it surprises me to know that Avro and Hawker were part of the same family during world war 2!). Anyway, the Vulcan has more in common with the Class 47.
 
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Spamcan81

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Good point. I'm sure that Vulcan production had ended by the time Avro and EE had joined BAC.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ignore that last post, Avro actually became part of Hawker Siddeley. Therefore, it has more in common with the Class 47.

Avro became part of Hawker Siddeley and were never part of BAC.

Edit : Your edit beat me to it.
 

sprinterguy

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I spoke to one of the DRS staff with the loco at Crewe this afternoon, he said the loco will remain as 37424 on TOPS (and with end numbers), but will be retaining the 37558 identity.
Thanks for that, that sounds like a sensible approach.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I didn't notice the number 37558, neither did I stay for the naming bit. However, I thought that 37424 looked stonking, a credit to all involved, and a great choice of name. Another surprise was seeing D1944, it looked gorgeous. I'll eventually get round to sticking the pics on here.
The number appears to have been concealed under the same curtain used to hide the nameplate prior to unveiling.

I suspect that I'm somewhat behind the times, but is 47501 still a DRS machine, or is it privately owned these days? I think that loco looked smartest in Intercity Executive livery with its' "Craftsman" nameplates, but I'm not one to begrudge a competent application of any 'heritage' livery, and the 47s did look good in two tone green.
 

Harbornite

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I suspect that I'm somewhat behind the times, but is 47501 still a DRS machine, or is it privately owned these days? I think that loco looked smartest in Intercity Executive livery with its' "Craftsman" nameplates, but I'm not one to begrudge a competent application of any 'heritage' livery, and the 47s did look good in two tone green.

Intercity exec livery looked considerably better than DRS's previous livery, and is arguably one of the best ever worn by the class. 47501 is now in use with Locomotive leasing as a super shunter for their works at what was once known as Crewe Diesel.
 

sprinterguy

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Intercity exec livery looked considerably better than DRS's previous livery, and is arguably one of the best ever worn by the class. 47501 is now in use with Locomotive leasing as a super shunter for their works at what was once known as Crewe Diesel.
Ah, cheers for clearing that up, I had a feeling that it had changed hands.
 

Harbornite

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Ah, cheers for clearing that up, I had a feeling that it had changed hands.

Locomotive storage ltd have done a great job of restoring Crewe Diesel depot, it looks better than new now. No more pigeon crap, weeds and rotting class 60s!
 

sprinterguy

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I look forward to seeing 37424/558 on Cumbrian Coast workings soon.
Yeah; I'm not generally one to go chasing particular locos around, but I will be keeping a casual eye out to see if there is ever a time when 37403 and 37424 are both in use on the two Cumbrian Coast diagrams: I never expected that in 2016 there would be a chance for me to become reacquainted with two of my favourite members of the 37/4 sub-class, on passenger workings no less (especially when a majority of my former favourites have already faced the scrapmans' gas axe).
 

childwallblues

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Yeah; I'm not generally one to go chasing particular locos around, but I will be keeping a casual eye out to see if there is ever a time when 37403 and 37424 are both in use on the two Cumbrian Coast diagrams: I never expected that in 2016 there would be a chance for me to become reacquainted with two of my favourite members of the 37/4 sub-class, on passenger workings no less (especially when a majority of my former favourites have already faced the scrapmans' gas axe).

I don't think it will be too long before 37407 joins them.
 

Rick1984

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Pulled the 0917 from Great Yarmouth today. Looks beautiful in the Big Logo livery.

Also 37403 Isle of Mull was parked up in Norwich

Apologies for quality of photography
 

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