Class 37 65th Birthday Gala

[LRV3004]

So, as it stands, the current list is:

D6948 (37248)
37250
37263
37264
37423
37501
37508
37688
37901
37xxx (WCRC)

I’d like to see a 37263+37264 pairing myself!!!!

 

[birchesgreen]

Hopefully will be there on the Thursday.

 

[Peter749]

My visit would depend on the Allocations - I need half of the locos shown.
If they get spread out over the four days then it might not be worth it.

 

[Forty29]

It's the thrash l am going for! How about a triple header 250, 688 and 901! Can't wait for the allocation roster are they waiting for the final count or is that the final line up?

 

[LRV3004]

It's the thrash l am going for! How about a triple header 250, 688 and 901! Can't wait for the allocation roster are they waiting for the final count or is that the final line up?

Going to stick my neck out and say that’s your lot - they said up to ten and there’s ten down on the list now, so……….!

 

[hexagon789]

It's the thrash l am going for! How about a triple header 250, 688 and 901! Can't wait for the allocation roster are they waiting for the final count or is that the final line up?

I thought double heading, let alone triple heading, wasn't permitted on the SVR?

 

[xotGD]

Well I require 901, but as that isn't really a 37 I'm not too distressed that I am unable to attend.

I need the SVR to get 308 up and running. Maybe for the 70th anniversary?

 

[Peter749]

I thought double heading, let alone triple heading, wasn't permitted on the SVR?

Not sure about triple heading but if you check via Google you can find double headings

 

[43096]

Not sure about triple heading but if you check via Google you can find double headings

Yes, but are those before, or after, the restriction over Victoria Bridge were put in place?

 

[sad1e]

Not sure about triple heading but if you check via Google you can find double headings

View attachment 189203View attachment 189204

Out of interest why is there a 175 in the background of the first photo ?

 

[hexagon789]

Not sure about triple heading but if you check via Google you can find double headings

View attachment 189203View attachment 189204

Apologies, I thought I'd read it was prohibited due to a weak bridge somewhere.

Either I'm completely wrong or it's another line and I've muddled them up.

 

[JonathanH]

Apologies, I thought I'd read it was prohibited due to a weak bridge somewhere.

I think it is suggested that two heavy locomotives can't cross Victoria Bridge double headed.
https://www.svrwiki.com/Victoria_Bridge

To preserve the structure the bridge has a permanent speed limit of 15 mph and is also subject to operating restrictions which means that two large engines may not work double headed over it. A lower 5mph speed limit applies to any two engines coupled together while passing over Victoria Bridge.

 

[warwickshire]

Out of interest why is there a 175 in the background of the first photo ?

That would have been at the time, 1999 to 2001, of when the First North Western 175s was brand new, and did trials on the Severn Valley Railway, before running overnight trials on the main line between Kidderminster and Princess Risborough on the Chiltern Mainline, with Fragonset locomotives class 33 and 47 being on Stanby at Banbury in case of failure,

175 testing to start of with due to the various problems and issues they had when brand new.

 

[D6700]

Both photos were taken during the October 1999 Diesel Gala and are from this webpage:

https://railrevisited.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-1999-severn-valley-railway-diesel-gala.html

A review of the event at "Six Bells Junction" confirms a number of trains were double-headed between Kidderminster and Bewdley only - so not running over Victoria Bridge. Since both pictures were taken at Kidderminster, they may also have been double headed to/from Bewdley only.

https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/galas/161099.htm

 

[Peter749]

These two pictures were taken by me at the May 2018 Diesel gala - the use of Air Braked Locos meant a loco had to be between the Pilot and Train locos

And they worked beyond Bewdley to Bridgenorth




So I don't know if the bridge restriction has been applied since

Peter

 

[D6700]

I suspect we may see some double heading at this gala due the number of "air only" locos, but most likely featuring just one "large engine", as per the info contained in post 72.

We should have a roster in the next day or two, so all will become clear, whatever is planned...

 

[JonathanH]

These two pictures were taken by me at the May 2018 Diesel gala - the use of Air Braked Locos meant a loco had to be between the Pilot and Train locos

More recently 69005 and 33012 worked together in 2022, also two 25s this time last year, and two 73s just a month ago, but two 37s are somewhat heavier.

 

[kje7812]

These two pictures were taken by me at the May 2018 Diesel gala - the use of Air Braked Locos meant a loco had to be between the Pilot and Train locos

And they worked beyond Bewdley to Bridgenorth
View attachment 189217

View attachment 189218

So I don't know if the bridge restriction has been applied since

Peter

The restriction is predates that event.
20s and 73s are lighter enough to be permitted to double head over Victoria bridge. Also generally these have to be allowed on request by the infrastructure manager.

In other news the timetable with loco allocations is available now:

https://svr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/65-Years-of-Class-37-Timetable-with-allocs.pdf

 

[Sun Chariot]

It's the thrash l am going for! How about a triple header 250, 688 and 901

One of my regrets was not making time to go and see, hear & photograph the 37/3 triple headed coal workings in Scotland for Ravenscraig.
My one consolation, was seeing, hearing and a few photos of 50033 + D400 + 50007 with The Bishops Triple tour; lots of EE thrash as they departed Cheltenham.

 

[62484GlenLyon]

Timetable with loco allocations is now on the website.

 

[xotGD]

So the only TBA is which Syphon will WCRC be sending.

 

[62484GlenLyon]

So the only TBA is which Syphon will WCRC be sendin

presumably we'll discover tomorrow when this train runs - 5Z37, 12.39 Carnforth Steamtown to Kidderminster SVR - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K44342/2025-09-30/detailed.

 

[Peter749]

Timetable with loco allocations is now on the website.

I will give this a miss.

I need 5 of the locos advertised and I wondered if it was worth getting up at 05.00 to travel from Manchester on the train but now I have seen the timetable its rubbish.
If would have to be Friday to visit as NR Engineering work is messing with the timetable on the Saturday

I noticed neither 37263 or 37501 are working on the Friday and 37901 is doing one round trip - not worth £45 if they are not using all the locos
The visiting Mainline locos seem to get less work than those that can be had on their own railway.

 

[barrowjack]

Going on Thursday, need 7 of them depending on which WCRC is there and think I can get them all in. First visit to Severn Valley since the Gala in May 1988 which featured 37428 for haulage. Remember being annoyed at the time as was common on normal services. Never had it again despite doing several full length trips on the Cambrian coast on a summer Saturday so every cloud....

 

[JonathanH]

The visiting Mainline locos seem to get less work than those that can be had on their own railway.

The visiting locomotives typically need to be on air braked stock, and presumably have representatives of the mainline operators aboard.

 

[norbitonflyer]

More recently 69005 and 33012 worked together in 2022, also two 25s this time last year, and two 73s just a month ago, but two 37s are somewhat heavier.

Even more recently, at the Autumn gala last year, 58023 double headed with 20142 as translator (Pictured at, I think, Highley)

 

[LRV3004]

I will give this a miss.

I need 5 of the locos advertised and I wondered if it was worth getting up at 05.00 to travel from Manchester on the train but now I have seen the timetable its rubbish.
If would have to be Friday to visit as NR Engineering work is messing with the timetable on the Saturday

I noticed neither 37263 or 37501 are working on the Friday and 37901 is doing one round trip - not worth £45 if they are not using all the locos
The visiting Mainline locos seem to get less work than those that can be had on their own railway.

37501 is only working on the Saturday and just doing two trips. Not great in my opinion but there’s obviously a reasoning/method behind it, whether it’s operational or something else……!

 

[Harpo]

Brings back East Anglian memories. Every train a 37 and the biggest rarest one drops out of the sky (usually accompanied by at least two people called Brazzel) and b——rs off again, missed by all the locals.

 

[Peter749]

The visiting locomotives typically need to be on air braked stock, and presumably have representatives of the mainline operators aboard.

Not disagreeing with that. Although a number are working with the Class 20 as a translator.

Some of the runs are top and tail so you get one engine out and a different one back without running round.
They could have done that with the Air Braked stock.

The priority seems to be runs with visiting locos from other preserved lines.
They have advertised visiting Mainline locos but they play second fiddle to the preserved locos.

 

[Harpo]

They have advertised visiting Mainline locos but they play second fiddle to the preserved locos.

Possibly a different proposition organising owners’ reps for mainline locos?