The Class 37 Locomotive Group is one of longest established diesel preservation groups in the country, and traces its history back to 1984 when a group of like-minded Class 37 “Bashers” based around Norwich and Ipswich formed a group called the East Anglian Syphon Bashers (EASB).
The Class 37 Group formed
By the end of 1985, the EASB had metamorphosed into the Class 37 Group, with 'Splitbox' as the Group magazine. Things rapidly progressed over the next couple of years, including a trade stand being set up, 'Splitbox' scooping the national railway press with the BR launch of the 'Triple Grey' Railfreight livery, and, crucially, the launch of the official Preservation Fund at the Midland Railway Centre’s 1988 Diesel Gala.
‘Syphon!’ magazine, Open Days and Railtours
To counter accusations of favouritism towards the early build locos, the Group’s monthly magazine changed its name in 1988, ‘Splitbox’ became ‘Syphon!’ (no “panel-ist” discrimination here!) which it continues to present day (produced quarterly). The Group was very active in its early days with sales department visiting events and galas to carry out fundraising to buy their own Class 37. Several classic railtours operated, including 'The Felixstowe Phoenix' breaking the loco-hauled drought on the Cromer branch, and the Settle Syphons' setting a believed Class 37 passenger speed record of 109.25mph!
37003 - our own loco at last! And restoration work begins
Years of fundraising and hard work by Group members paid off when, in 1998, our bid for 37003 from EWS was successful (at second attempt) albeit without power unit - it had been stripped for spares by its owner! The rest of the locomotive was sitting on a nice set of cast CP7 bogies (where the Group volunteers discovered upon inspection, these were originally with 50149 during its freight trials in the West Country in 1980s!) usually fitted to Class 37/3 onwards.
After being declared asbestos free at the MC Metals, Glasgow, 37003 was moved to the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM) in Chappel, who had plans to extend their running line across the magnificent brick-built Chappel Viaduct and ultimately heritage train passenger operations on full stretch of the Marks Tey to Sudbury branch line on some Sundays.
Major restoration work began on 37003, from the ground upwards, which included retro-fitting buffer skirts. A number of spares were acquired from C.F. Booths to complete the loco, particularly the cabs. Repainted into BR Green and the mountings for the original 1963 nameplates, 'The 1st East Anglian Regiment', were uncovered!
However, EARM’s plans to use the Sudbury branch on Sundays sadly failed to progress due to high costs of red tape and safety regulations (such as mainline certification for locos and stock, despite one-train operation within the branch line!) but the Group had carried on with restoration work on the locomotive at EARM site in Chappel.
After a visit to the Wigan CRDC in July 2002, the Group acquired the power unit from 37073 and was fitted into 37003, after several months of hard work, 37003 was soon started up at Chappel for the first time in preservation on 18th October 2003. As the EARM’s efforts to secure a running line had not been successful, thoughts soon turned to whether it was a suitable long-term base (see ‘The second chapter’ below).
The evolution of the Group
C37G had close links with Class 37 Locomotive Association, which owned 37075. At the time they were in the opposite position to the C37G, in that they had a good working team but few members, whereas the Group had many members but very few in the working party. The C37LA went on to form a Limited company, Corporate Blue Traction Ltd (CBT) whose shareholders bought 37075. Discussions between the C37G and C37LA led to the two groups being merged by a vote of the membership to become the CLASS 37 LOCOMOTIVE GROUP, as it is known today.
History of Group’s links to other Class 37s
In 2004, a number of committed C37LG working members had combined their financial resources and formed Bedale Railway Engines Limited (BRE Ltd), which secured 37198 and 37275 from EWS, later followed by 37414, 37505 and 37905. It was envisaged from the outset that the locomotives owned by BRE Ltd would be under the custodianship of C37LG and the original focus was to hire out Class 37s to heritage and community railways, thus earning income for upkeep of the locos. However, due to saturation of 37s in the preservation arena led BRE Ltd to change their focus towards commercial market and as such, did not fit in C37LG’s aims and objectives of preserving Class 37s, both organisations agreed to go their separate ways in late 2007.
The second chapter - 37003 in north-east England
After negotiations to find a home post-EARM, the Group moved 37003 to the Wensleydale Railway, in north-east England, in January 2004.
Finally, six years after purchase by the Group, 37003 seemed to have the prospect of regular work, and she was used on Wensleydale PW trains in 2004 and hauled her first passenger train on 23 October 2004, followed by successful peak-season Summer trains in 2005.
Following a change of traction policy by the Wensleydale Railway board to concentrate fully on heritage DMU operation, no duties available for 37003 (and other locos) so the Group moved 37003 to fledging Weardale Railway in August 2006, where it had worked a number of passenger trains that year, which included rescuing timetabled ‘Santa Specials’ when a steam loco was failed in service.
However, since ECT Ltd took over Weardale Railway operations they changed their priorities, which meant 37003 went further down in ‘pecking order’ behind ECT-owned locos and the Group decided it was in best interests to concentrate on wholly heritage railway focus, moving to the Locomotion Shildon (part of the National Railway Museum) in December 2007, where 37003 currently resides and is in full working order, and is expected to be visiting some diesel galas around the country soon.
Membership and volunteering with the Group
Members receive our high-quality magazine, ‘Syphon!’, with exclusive articles and photos, four times a year as well as access to members-only egroup, where they hear about Group’s activities and news before they are made public. We are justifiably proud of our skilled, enthusiastic and friendly volunteers, which we believe would be a credit to any railway. We have good relations with several sources of spare parts, other groups & individuals. Many of our people possess vital mainline railway experience and knowledge, but equally plenty of our regular volunteers began with no experience and believed they had no special skills – we proved them wrong!
The Present and Future
With our small but dedicated people forming the Committee and team of working volunteers looking after our locos 37003 and 37175, we have plenty to offer to members, with the ‘Syphon!’ magazine, touring diesel galas with our publicity and sales department, as well as plenty of opportunities to get involved to work on our Class 37s at NRM Locomotion Shildon and Bo’ness. The Committee is also exploring options for visits to diesel galas at other railways around the country. Contact us about membership and volunteering opportunities.
© The Class 37 Locomotive Group 1997 - 2008