Class 37 in Birmingham tonight?

[sprinterguy]

At 9:30 tonight, I was walking up the new(ish) link road that takes you up to Star City in Brum where it runs parallel to the Birmingham to Derby/Nuneaton lines, between Lawley Street FLT and Washwood Heath yard, and heard a 37 on the other side of the treeline pulling out of the freight loop that leads from the FLT, heading towards either Derby or Leicester at a slowish pace.
I tried to have a look to see exactly what was what, but the foliage was too thck to see through and it was dark, so I saw nothing.

Anyone got any gen on this? Would love to know what a 37 was up to in Brum!

 

[the sniper]

I don't know about this visit, but one of Network Rail's 37's were in New Street on Monday or Tuesday (damn my crappy memory :P ) last week, I passed it at Proof House junction as I was heading into Birmingham from the cross city line and it was heading east, I presume on its way back to Bescot.

I assumed the 37 on that occasion had just dropped off a bunch of old wagons that have been left at Platform 1. They're being used to take stuff to and from the work site that the platform has become.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

I assumed the 37 on that occasion had just dropped off a bunch of old wagons that have been left at Platform 1. They're being used to take stuff to and from the work site that the platform has become.[/QUOTE]

The New Street platform trips go to Bordesley via Proof House, St Andrews and Tyseley with some running round activities.

 

[the sniper]

The New Street platform trips go to Bordesley via Proof House, St Andrews and Tyseley with some running round activities.

Ahh, thanks for that, I wondered where the wagons came from and went to.

 

[sprinterguy]

Have they started the remodelling work at New Street now then, or is this some unrelated work being done at the moment? Not often you get any type of freight activity in New Street!

I suspect that I witnessed one of the Network Rail yellow beasts, I seem to catch sight of them around that area more than anything else.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Have they started the remodelling work at New Street now then, or is this some unrelated work being done at the moment? Not often you get any type of freight activity in New Street!

I suspect that I witnessed one of the Network Rail yellow beasts, I seem to catch sight of them around that area more than anything else.

Platform one is currently shut for upgrade work, the train brings in the materials and sits in the platform for two or three days then takes out the scrap. The second train pre-loaded with more materials is brought in to replace it and so it goes on.

 

[sprinterguy]

It was there again tonight! Once again, 9:30 at night trundling up the slow line towards Washwood Heath, definitely a class 37, and I still wasn't able to find a vantage point. So it must be a scheduled working, so I assume it's wagons leaving new street from the remodelling work. Surprised I haven't seen anybody else mention more about it up til now.

 

[matt]

I am not sure what you saw/heard but I don't think it was a class 37.

 

[sprinterguy]

Well it is true that I'm not all that great at distinguishing between class 37 and 47 exhaust sounds, so it could be a 47 for whatever reason, but it just sounded more 37ish to me. But it is definitely NOT the usual 66, 67 or 70 deal