Syphons?

[truckman060473]

I just dug out an old VHS tape called "Syphon Celebration" which is about the class 37. It reminded me of a question I wanted to ask years ago. What is the connection between the class 37 and the word syphon?

 

[starrymarkb]

They suck?

 

[sprinterguy]

They suck?

Surely you're treading dangerous ground there

It stems from the Western Region originally, but I don't know any more than that: They're a funny bunch over that neck of the woods

One story is that it originates from the "Syphon" wagons that used to be employed on Cornish China Clay trains, which were 37 hauled.

 

[truckman060473]

I agree, the class 37 do not suck! How dare you! lol - It is my 2nd favourite loco behind the class 47

 

[Keith Jarrett]

The nickname "Syphon" was around long before the 37s started working in Cornwall on the china clays. The story that I heard behind the nickname was that Syphon G was rhyming slang for English Electric Type Three with the similarity being both the old GWR Syphon G and the 37s having a large number (for the Western Region) of bodyside grills.

 

[Darandio]

The original GWR codes are here http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/stockcode.htm

I agree with sprinterguy, a funny lot over that way, especially to see some of the codenames they came up with.

 

[Rugd1022]

The nickname "Syphon" was around long before the 37s started working in Cornwall on the china clays. The story that I heard behind the nickname was that Syphon G was rhyming slang for English Electric Type Three with the similarity being both the old GWR Syphon G and the 37s having a large number (for the Western Region) of bodyside grills.

The nickname was definitely around long before they worked the clay traffic, I remember some local lads referring to them as Syphons at New Street in '73, and the first 37 didn't arrive in Cornwall until early '78.

Also known as 'chunkies' by some folk.