Project 3-60
Turning back the clock 60 years

 The genesis of Project 3-60

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In December 2013, Class 37003 was withdrawn from service after a leaking cylinder liner was discovered. Further inspection revealed that several others would also need replacing, and it was decided that all twelve liners should be changed in one go. Work soon began to strip down the power unit.

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As the project progressed, the true scale of the task became clear — and it wasn’t just the power unit that needed attention. The locomotive’s bodywork was also showing its age. By 2016, an idea emerged within the committee: why not fully rebuild both the power unit and the bodywork in time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Class 37s — and of 37003 herself — in 2020?

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From this idea, Project 3-60 was born.

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What is Project 3-60?

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Project 3-60 set out to restore 37003 to her original, “as-built” condition to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Class 37s. The longer-term aim was to chart the locomotive’s evolution through her various guises — effectively taking her through a full “three-sixty” of her working life.

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To allow this major programme of work to proceed, 37003 was moved to UKRL, Leicester, in August 2017.

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The story so far

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As is often the case with heritage restoration, progress was not without its challenges. In April 2019, the project was halted after cracks were discovered in the power unit’s main crankshaft — damage that jeopardised the integrity of the engine itself. Without a replacement crank, the project risked being brought to an abrupt end.

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Fortunately, the Group learned of a 1967-built English Electric 12SV Mk2 power unit available for spares — one of four due to be cleared from an industrial site earmarked for redevelopment. On 13th July 2019, the committee approved the purchase of the block and crank from this engine, with the intention of rebuilding a complete power unit using components from 37003’s original engine.

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The old power unit was lifted out on 1st August 2019, stripped of reusable parts, and preparations began for the fitting of the new block. Work progressed steadily as funds allowed, until March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic halted all activity and delayed transport of the new block until August 2020, ending any chance of completing the rebuild before the 2020 anniversary.

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As it stands:

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Following delivery of the replacement block, the committee reassessed the project and agreed a comprehensive plan with UKRL for the rebuild of the power unit and associated overhaul work. The locomotive was also lifted for bogie inspection to ensure she would be mechanically sound upon her return to service.

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Since then, steady progress has been made — culminating in a major milestone: the fully overhauled power unit has now been fitted into 37003, and all testing has been successfully completed.

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On Thursday, 23rd October 2025, 37003 was moved to Brush Loughborough, ready for onward movement by road back to her home at Dereham on the Mid-Norfolk Railway, where she will soon be reunited with the Group and continue her post-restoration journey.

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How you can help

 

The unforeseen cost of sourcing and rebuilding a replacement engine has significantly increased the financial demands of Project 3-60. As a registered charity, the Class 37 Locomotive Group relies entirely on membership subscriptions, merchandise sales, and donations to fund this vital work.

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If you would like to see an original-build Class 37 returned to her former glory, please consider supporting our efforts — by becoming a member or making a donation. Every contribution brings us one step closer to keeping this unique piece of railway history alive.

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For the latest progress updates, visit our Latest News page.