37088 (ex-D6788) BR Blue

Ticking off two big boxes on many customer wishlists is 37088 which responds to the calls for more Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns-constructed locomotives and for a run-of-the-mill 1970-80s BR blue split headcode machine. Originally completed at Darlington in January 1963 as D6788, the Type 3 was first allocated to Gateshead but would also call Hull Dairycotes, Tinsley and York home before the end of the same decade. Renumbered under the TOPS system in February 1974 it moved to March in October 1976, losing its bodyside water filler and associated steps around the same time along with the changeover to domino headcodes. Still with an operational boiler the Class 37 saw regular use on Liverpool Street-Cambridge-Kings Lynn/Ipswich/Norwich services as well as freight and inter-regional and summer-dated passenger diagrams. While many of its colleagues started to see their bufferbeam cowling removed from the late 1970s, this particular example survived until its last classified repair under BR in February 1984. It was transferred to Eastfield just over a year later where it gained a car-style headlight for use on the West Highland line.

                  In July 1986 it became part of Motherwell’s dedicated Ravenscraig fleet. This saw it lose its boiler but receive a new Class 37/3 number 37323 and British Steel-themed name Clydesdale after the tube works in Mossend which sadly closed in 1991. It reverted to 37088 in September 1989 to avoid confusion with the new CP7 bogie-fitted Class 37/3s and was one of the lucky recipients of the much derided General Grey scheme in June 1990. It somehow retained this appearance until June 1993 and was the last Class 37 to have its livery amended with the yellow Civil Engineer’s ‘Dutch’ band. This look was further improved in 1995 with the addition of Transrail ‘big T’ logos which complemented the red nameplates nicely. It was in this condition that it was stored in June 1996 and officially withdrawn just over two years later. It was scrapped at CF Booth, Rotherham, in October 2002. Note that as well as the distinctive  ‘split’ cantrail grilles, our model correctly omits the small grab handles either side of the nose doors, a unique RSH feature usually missed by manufacturers.