Class 37
English Electric Type 3
For most of their careers Class 37s, as they became on TOPS, were never particularly common on the South Eastern Division, or indeed on the Southern Region in general, mainly due to the presence of the native Class 33s of Hither Green and Eastleigh. The Class 33 fleet had been arriving at Hither Green since 1959, monopolising freight diagrams, and EMUs were available for passenger diagrams. Plus, the EE Type 3s had been destined for the Eastern, North Eastern, and Western Regions from the outset, thus were never produced with the Southern network in mind. The weight of the Class 37s also limited their usefulness on a number of crucial freight routes, being 105 tons 1 cwt compared to the Class 33's 77 tons. However, the type's presence on the South Eastern Division began to become noticeable after 1987, when Railfreight was divided into the TrainLoad sectors. Construction sector-liveried Class 37s appeared on a small number of aggregate workings in North Kent (stabling at both Stewarts Lane and Hither Green), and after 1991, those locomotives which had been absorbed into the ''Dutch'' fleet of the Civil Mechanical & Electrical Engineering (CM&EE) department could be seen on infrastructure trains throughout the county. Then, in 1994, it was announced that twelve Class 37/5 locomotives were to be selected for conversion to haul the diesel legs between Swansea/Plymouth and London of the proposed ''Nightstar'' sleeper service through the Channel Tunnel. These would be re-geared for 90 MPH running, be fitted with modified couplings, and come complete with a generator vehicle to provide carriages with electric train heating (ETH), whilst being re-designated Class 37/6. The first Class 37/6s arrived on the South Eastern Division in mid-1996 by means of a test run with the proposed ''Nightstar'' stock from Washford Heath in Birmingham to Dollands Moor, the latter at which two top-and-tailing Class 92 electrics took over for the run through the tunnel. In 1999 this project was formally abandoned, despite the stock having been finished. The ''Nightstar'' carriages had been going into storage at MoD Kineton after completion from 1997 onwards, and of the twelve Class 37/6s, nine were sold on in 1999 to freight operator Direct Rail Services, with the remaining three being retained to drag failed Class 373 formations. This function they can still be seen undertaking on the Tonbridge to Ashford route, more often than not for refreshing drivers' route knowledge.
When the oil flow from Grain was still in evidence, a few Class 37s of the TrainLoad Petroleum sector did appear at Hither Green and indeed No. 37890, part of this sector's pool, was named ''The Railway Observer'' at the depot on 23rd February 1994. Stock re-allocations of what became the EWS fleet after February 1996 saw an increase in Class 37 workings in North Kent, especially after Class 66 arrival in 1998, when a number were displaced from Toton. These locomotives were stabled at both Hither Green and Hoo Junction, wearing an array of liveries ranging from ''Mainline'' blue, faded ''Dutch'' and two-tone grey ''Transrail'', with EWS red and yellow following shortly afterwards. Many locomotives were not repainted into the new colours, however, retaining their British Rail colours to the very end. These Class 37s did not seem to roam far and by observation, were usually found running Hoo Junction to Hither Green ''trip'' freights - Class 37s from other depots on longer distance freights did still frequent the North Kent Line, however. By 2005, Nos. 37047 and 37109 were the last two remaining Class 37s at Hoo Junction; former Hoo Junction stablemate No. 37203 had returned to Bescot Yard in the previous couple of months, where it was withdrawn. The Hoo Junction pair were subsequently withdrawn from service in April 2005 and put into ''cold'' storage at Hither Green, where they still remain.
South Eastern Division
Following on from the previous page, the second locomotive of the SERCO formation is seen
at Dartford on 23rd January 2006, No. 37411. Both of these locomotives appear in vintage
liveries as a result of being employed on the final locomotive-hauled services on the Rhymney
line in South Wales. SERCO BR Mk 2f vehicles are the only regular locomotive-hauled passenger
stock seen on the North Kent Lines. There are, of course, the occasional charters. David Glasspool
The 12th August 2004 was certainly an eventful day for Class 37 workings. This time, No. 37114
''City of Worcester'' is seen hauling a departmental train from Hoo Junction, through Stone Crossing
station on the North Kent Line, in the now pleasant weather. At time of writing (2005), this locomotive
was in store at Bescot Yard. David Glasspool
Another picture taken at Stone Crossing on the North Kent Line, this time on 1st July 2004,
showing ''Mainline'' liveried Class 37 No. 37203 passing through with a departmental service
from Hoo Junction, bound for Hither Green. David Glasspool
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