In 1986, four Class 37s, numbers 150/148/249/124, were converted to test the Mirrlees MB275T engine and Brush alternator for the proposed Class 38, and were numbered 37901-4. These were followed in 1987 by 37905/6, converted from 37136/206, and fitted with the alternative pairing of a Ruston RK270T engine and GEC alternator. All six locomotives were fitted with new bogies, and had ballast weights to increase their overall weight to 120 tons. Although intended as a testbed for the Class 38, the two power units fitted were those considered for the Class 60, which was eventually delivered with an enlarged version of the Mirrlees MB275T. They all had modifications similar to that of Class 37/7, including new nose grilles, removal of the central bodyside windows and 4 fire extinguisher ports. However, 37901-904 had a heavily modified central roof section, consisting of flat panels rather than the curved sheets of the original. All 6 had a new exhaust port fitted, replacing the two of the original design. All six Class 37/9's were delivered in Railfreight Grey livery and operated as part of the British Rail Trainload Metals sector, being based in South Wales and hauling trains normally rostered for the much more powerful Class 56 such as the Port Talbot - Llanwern Iron Ore tipplers. During the late 1990's, use of the Class 37/9's declined due to availability of the newer and more powerful Class 66's and problems maintaining such a small number of non-standard locos, with all six officially designated as being in storage in 1999.
This was not, however, the end of the sub-class. In July 2000, 37906 was designated as part of the EWS heritage fleet but has since been sold into preservation, joining 37901 and 37905. 37902 was sold to Direct Rail Services (DRS) in 2003, but was scrapped and cut up in 2005 after a review by DRS. 37904 was cut up at Booth's, Rotherham in November 2004 and 37903 was scrapped at Crewe Diesel Depot in April 2005. They were numbered as:
37901 - 37906
Categories & Keywords
Category:Transportation
Subcategory:Trains
Subcategory Detail:
Keywords:37/9, 37901, 37902, 37903, 37904, 37905, 37906, Class 37, Co Co
