Class 37s

[Helvellyn]

So a few questions on Class 37s I'm hoping people can assist with!

Q. Which locos were series 1, 2 and 3?
I know that D6700-D6818 were series 1 locos, and that D6600-D6608 were series 3 locos, but where was the split between series 2 and series 3 with D6819-D6999?

Q. What were the differences between series 2 and 3 locos?
I'm assuming there was something because I've seen reference in a number of sources that the Class 37/4 locos were all refurbished from series 3 locos on purpose.

Q. What was the original intent with the refurbishment plan?
135 locomotives were refurbished out of 308, but I've read that originally the whole class was due to be refurbished. It was gradually cut back but I wonder what light people can shed on this? What was the split planned to be at original times?

• 37401-37431 - series 3 locos fitted with Brush alternator and ETH.
• 37501-37521 - series 1 locos fitted with Brush alternator.
• 37667-37699 - series 2 or 3 locos fitted with Brush alternator.
• 37701-37719 - series 1 locos fitted with Brush alternator and ballast weights.
• 37796-37799 - series 1 locos fitted with GEC alternator and ballast weights.
• 37800-37803 - series 2 locos fitted with GEC alternator and ballast weights.
• 37883-37899 - series 2 locos fitted with Brush alternator and ballast weights.
• 37901-37904 - series 2 locos fitted with Mirrlees engine, Brush alternator and ballast weights.
• 37905-37906 - series 2 locos fitted with Ruston engine, GEC alternator and ballast weights.

Platform 5 books for 1987/88 show proposals to also have Class 37/5 locos fitted with GEC alternators (series 1 numbered 37599 downwards; series 2 or 3 numbered 37600 upward).

I have seen (again in Platform 5 books) suggestions that 37501-37535 and 37654-37699 were planned.

Q. Would the locos in the Class 37/3 sub-class (with refurbished CP7 bogies) have been part of the refurbishment scheme if it had not been curtailed?
22 locos (37350-37359 being series 1; 37370-37381 being series 2 or 3) gained refurbished bogies at Crewe as part of overhaul in 1988. Would it be safe to assume these would likely have become Class 37/5 or 37/7 if the refurbishment scheme had continued?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yes, it was intended that the entire class would be refurbished and the idea was that all the number series would meet up in the middle.

Financial pressures dictated otherwise; the refurbishment was curtailed less than half way through and that's why we ended up with a contender for the messiest numbering system ever.

 

[Helvellyn]

Yes, it was intended that the entire class would be refurbished and the idea was that all the number series would meet up in the middle.

The plans seem to have varied year by year: -

• The 1986 Platform 5 combined volume shows: -
  • 37401-37423 complete;
  • 37424-37431 under conversion.
  • 37501-37506 under conversion;
  • 37507-37515 planned;
  • 37585-37615 planned (GEC alternators);
  • 37685-37697 planned;
  • 37698-37699 under conversion.
• The 1987 Platform 5 combined volume shows: -
  • 37401-37431 complete;
  • 37501-37516 under conversion;
  • 37517-37524 planned;
  • 37593-37609 planned (GEC alternators);
  • 37675-37682 planned;
  • 37683-37699 converted;
  • 37701-37704 converted;
  • 37705-37714 planned;
  • 37784-37813 planned (GEC alternators);
  • 37884-37893 planned;
  • 37894-37899 converted;
  • 37901-37904 converted (Mirrlees engines);
  • 37905-37906 converted (Ruston engines; GEC alternators).
• The 1988 Platform 5 combined volume shows: -
  • 37401-37431 complete;
  • 37501-37520 complete;
  • 37521-37535 planned;
  • 37590-37609 planned (GEC alternators);
  • 37654-37668 planned;
  • 37669-37699 converted;
  • 37701-37709 converted;
  • 37710-37722 planned;
  • 37782-37795 planned (GEC alternators);
  • 37796-37803 converted (GEC alternators);
  • 37804-37818 planned (GEC alternators);
  • 37873-37886 planned;
  • 37887-37899 converted;
  • 37901-37904 converted (Mirrlees engines);
  • 37905-37906 converted (Ruston engines; GEC alternators).
• The 1989 Platform 5 combined volume has the refurbishment scheme complete, withe the final figures of 35 37/4, 54 37/5, 44 37/7 and 6 37/9.

 

[Taunton]

One of the more humorous comments I recall from some years ago was :

"Is the man who devised the Class 37 renumbering plan feeling better yet".

 

[EbbwJunction1]

One of the more humorous comments I recall from some years ago was : "Is the man who devised the Class 37 renumbering plan feeling better yet".

Alternatively (if he'd still been alive!), maybe the British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston (1784 - 1865) would have said: “Only three people have ever really understood the Class 37 Renumbering Scheme — the Prince Consort, who is dead; a German professor, who has gone mad; and I, who have forgotten all about it."