Join us for a full day at the GCR featuring the pioneering Class 37 D6700 and full mixed goods rake

About this event

We are pleased to offer a full day of railway photography at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire featuring the first Type 3 (Class 37) D6700 hauling an authentic early 1960s goods train. The train formation will comprise short wheelbase vehicles only, including vans and open wagons from the Railway’s extensive collection and should look perfect behind our locomotive which was restored to its original British Railways green livery by Loram UK and is now permanently based at the GCR.

The English Electric diesel-electric Type 3 Class was originally introduced in 1960 with the last member of the class being delivered during 1965. It was a design based on those which English Electric had supplied for export to overseas customers. They were constructed in seven batches by two manufacturers, these being EE at their Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows and secondly Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns in Darlington, and eventually numbered 309 locomotives. They were later designated Class 37 under the revised TOPS renumbering scheme of the early 1970s. The ‘Growlers’ were remarkably long-lived and some are still operational on the national network 65 years after initial introduction. Many locos have been modified over the years, refurbishments which have extended their working lives to an extent largely unparalleled with other classes introduced at around the same time, though a small number of Class 20 and Class 33s also remain main line certified.

As this is a goods only train, we will need to follow by road. We will do our best to ensure that as few vehicles as possible are on the road by arranging car sharing. There will be some short-distance walking along the track where locations are quite close together, and while this will not be too excessive, a modicum of mobility will be required, so do please ensure that you feel you are up to walking along the ballast. Photographically, we will concentrate on the best locations for diesel photography at the best times of day, when the sun (subject to availability!) is on or near to being fully on the front of the locomotive. Our intention is to use only one brake van and locate it at the rear of the train.

D6700 was the first member of the class to be completed in 1960 and later became 37 350 (there was no prototype as with some other classes). Being the first, upon withdrawal the loco was offered for preservation and is in full operational condition. It was donated to the National Railway Museum by the English, Welsh and Scottish Group when it was finally retired from frontline service in July 2001.

We would like to thank the custodians of the Class 37/3, the National Railway Museum, its operators the Heavy Tractor Group, and the host Great Central Railway for facilitating this event. The Great Central Railway remains the only preserved double track main line in Britain and will perfectly complement our 1960s locomotive and train formation. We will have a limited number of photographers to ensure comfortable conditions at the lineside. At least one catering outlet should be open during the day at the Railway, at Quorn and possibly also at Rothley; we will advise fuller details nearer the time.

Provisional start time is 09.00 hours from Loughborough, to be confirmed nearer the time. The train will comprise bauxite-liveried short wheelbase wagons and one brake van positioned at the rear of the train (rather than one at each end) and most if not all photography will be done with the locomotive facing south.

Event requirements

Equipment

• Spare batteries
• Camera
• Lense cloths
• Lenses
• Camera protection - rain covers etc

Knowledge

• All levels welcome

Fitness

• Medium