Published on 5th February 2023
Sunday 5th February 2023 was a day of great excitement amongst railway photographers and enthusiasts alike.
Four factors all aligned to provide the largest lineside gathering of people to view one train since the 90’s. It could have been likened to 'twitchers' with a rare bird sighting. Sunshine, a weekend, heritage Class 37 locomotives, and snow ploughs were enough to fill virtually every railway bridge and viewing location between Taunton and Highbridge.
The annual snow plough test (provided by Direct Rail Services for Network Rail), always brings local interest as it’s not every day you see snow ploughs being used on the mainline. Taunton has two large drift ploughs (ADB 965223 ZZA & ADB 965235 ZZA) which are kept at Fairwater Yard, Taunton been a ‘strategic location’ for the southwest. Should an overwhelming quantity off snow fall in the southwest then these ploughs would be used to clear the track.
Direct Rail Services provided a pair of heritage Class 37 locomotives for the 2023 snow plough test, they arrived on Saturday 4th February light engine from Tonbridge Yard. No.37601 was hired in from Europhoenix/ ROG to work with No.37419, they arrived at 19:24 stabling in Fairwater Yard for the night. After a short delay locating a key on Sunday 5th February the pair were eventually coupled up to the snow ploughs and prepared for a test run to Highbridge Loop and back. No.37419 lead No.37601 as 7Z21 11:22 Fairwater Yard – Fairwater Yard via Highbridge Loop, running around 30 minutes late. In the event the pair actually ended up reaching Weston-super-Mare before returning to Taunton around 13:30. Bridges and lineside locations were packed with photographers, video cameras, step ladders, camera poles and joe public (many of whom had stopped their afternoon stoles to view this unique and colourful working).
In terms of locomotive histories both No.37601 and No.37419 have an interesting story to tell. No.37601 was built as D6705 outshopped on the 12th January 1961 allocated to March Depot. It has carried four numbers during its life starting with D6705, then being renumbered to 37005 in 1974, later it was renumbered and repainted as 37501 ‘Teeside Steelmaster’ in 1986, and became 37601 in 1995 where it was to become part of the ill-fated European Passenger Service. 601 remained with EPS until 2007 when DRS acquired the locomotive. DRS operated 37601 for 10 years, before Rail Operations Group (ROG) took over ownership in 2017. The loco has carried three names during its lifetime ‘Teeside Steelmaster’, ‘Class 37–Fifty’, and ‘Perseus’
No.37419 was built in June 1965 as D1991 allocated to Cardiff Canton as its first depot. Under BR Tops it became 37291 in 1974 and was chosen to be rebuilt with electric train heating in June 1985 where it became 37419. In 1990 the loco received its classic ‘Intercity’ livery (the same livery it has been repainted into in 2019). The loco remained with EWS until 2010 until DRS took over ownership in 2011. 37419 has only ever carried one name which is the current name applied Carl Haviland 1954-2012.
Don't forget you can also look back at previous snow plough tests in our dedicated gallery below.
To view the gallery, please click here.
