Class 37 nose modification.

[Ashley Hill]

Probably an easy question for those that know but why was the lower part of the noses modified around the buffer beam?

Photos John Woolley.

 

[hexagon789]

Probably an easy question for those that know but why was the lower part of the noses modified around the buffer beam?
View attachment 141956View attachment 141957
Photos John Woolley.

Primarily to make ot easier for a shunter to couple and also make it easier to fit ploughs.

Locos were modified beginning in 1979 I understand, the work generally (but not always) coinciding with the headcode box bring plated over. Though, the last to be so modified - 37116, only had its cowling done as late as 1996.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Ruined the appearance of them, IMHO. This was the first one I noted in modified form, hence why I took the picture.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Primarily to make ot easier for a shunter to couple and also make it easier to fit ploughs.

Locos were modified beginning in 1979 I understand, the work generally (but not always) coinciding with the headcode box bring plated over. Though, the last to be so modified - 37116, only had its cowling done as late as 1996.

Thanks for your reply

 

[Sultan1056]

Thanks for your reply

I had always thought, probably incorrectly, that it been done to make it easier to replace buffers.

 

[hexagon789]

I had always thought, probably incorrectly, that it been done to make it easier to replace buffers.

Could be another thing made easier by the alteration?

 

[Bigvernicus]

37's did have steam heat boiler which was fitted in the nose, and this was accessed via the front panels (doors) on the nose, once the steam boilers became redundant, the doors were not required and the nose was plated over when the steam heat boilers were removed, and a standard headcode box fitted. as regards modification to the lower panels was likely to assist the replacement of the buffers

 

[SuspectUsual]

37's did have steam heat boiler which was fitted in the nose, and this was accessed via the front panels (doors) on the nose, once the steam boilers became redundant, the doors were not required and the nose was plated over when the steam heat boilers were removed, and a standard headcode box fitted. as regards modification to the lower panels was likely to assist the replacement of the buffers

Really?!?

I thought the boiler was in the main part of the body, with the water tank underneath. Also, not sure how your logic applies to the later build which had central panels rather than split boxes (and therefore no nose doors) but still provided steam heat

 

[wolfman]

Really?!?

I thought the boiler was in the main part of the body, with the water tank underneath. Also, not sure how your logic applies to the later build which had central panels rather than split boxes (and therefore no nose doors) but still provided steam heat

Yes you are right,never worked a 37 with a boiler in the nose end.

 

[Cowley]

The boiler exhaust port being on roof at the opposite end from the radiator fan of course.

 

[43096]

37's did have steam heat boiler which was fitted in the nose, and this was accessed via the front panels (doors) on the nose, once the steam boilers became redundant, the doors were not required and the nose was plated over when the steam heat boilers were removed, and a standard headcode box fitted. as regards modification to the lower panels was likely to assist the replacement of the buffers

The boilers were in the main body of the loco and the two different front end designs were from new. Locos of both types had steam heat boilers.

 

[randyrippley]

37's did have steam heat boiler which was fitted in the nose, and this was accessed via the front panels (doors) on the nose, once the steam boilers became redundant, the doors were not required and the nose was plated over when the steam heat boilers were removed, and a standard headcode box fitted. as regards modification to the lower panels was likely to assist the replacement of the buffers

I really think you may have misunderstood something there
I'd be very surprised if there was room to fit a boiler in the nose, alongside the access passage

 

[37114]

37's did have steam heat boiler which was fitted in the nose, and this was accessed via the front panels (doors) on the nose, once the steam boilers became redundant, the doors were not required and the nose was plated over when the steam heat boilers were removed, and a standard headcode box fitted. as regards modification to the lower panels was likely to assist the replacement of the buffers

The nose doors were nothing to do with the boiler placement. The doors were originally installed to allow the crew to pass between locomotives when double headed but were a source of drafts and were rarely used so deleted on later locos.

The buffer skirts were removed for reasons mentioned earlier I.e. to aid buffer replacement, ease of coupling up, corrosion issues. They were generally but not always removed at the same time as the Headcodes were plated and there were locos that retained skirts yet had plated headcodes as well as glass headcodes but no skirts.

 

[The Puddock]

37's did have steam heat boiler which was fitted in the nose, and this was accessed via the front panels (doors) on the nose, once the steam boilers became redundant, the doors were not required and the nose was plated over when the steam heat boilers were removed, and a standard headcode box fitted.

As per all the other posts, what you've posted is not correct at all. The boiler in a 37 was located at the number 2 end of the engine room, between the generator and the control cubicle opposite the battery box. The nose ends contain the traction motor blowers, compressor and exhauster (at opposite ends).

 

[Cowley]

Ok, I think we’ve cleared up what’s not contained in the nose of a class 37. We can probably let that go now…

 

[m79900]

Have any preserved examples had the original style refitted?

 

[Cowley]

Have any preserved examples had the original style refitted?

Yes a few of them have. D6948 at Toddington for example:

 

[Ashley Hill]

D6737 at Buckfastleigh.

Photo-Adam Howard

 

[Cowley]

D6737 at Buckfastleigh.
View attachment 142008
Photo-Adam Howard

I’ve got that loco as my avatar and I’d forgotten that it has them.