British Rail Class 37

English Electric Type 3
British Rail Class 37

British Railways Class 37

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric at Vulcan Foundry and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Build date 1960–1965 Total produced 309

Specifications Configuration Co-Co AAR wheel arr. C-C UIC class Co'Co' Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m) Minimum curve 4 chains (80 m) Wheelbase 50 ft 8 in (15.44 m) Length 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m) Width 8 ft 10 1⁄2 in (2.71 m) Height 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) Loco weight 100 long tons (102 t; 112 short tons) to 105 long tons (107 t; 118 short tons) except 37/7 and 37/9 class - ballasted to 120 long tons (122 t; 134 short tons) Fuel capacity 890 imp gal (4,000 l; 1,070 US gal) increased to 1,690 imp gal (7,700 l; 2,030 US gal) on rebuild Prime mover Built: English Electric 12CSVT 37/9: Mirrlees Blackstone MB275Tt or Ruston RK270Tt Generator Original: Main: English Electric EE822, Aux EE911/5C Rebuilt locos: Main: Brush BA1005A alternator, Aux: Brush BA606A Traction motors English Electric DC traction motors Transmission Diesel electric MU working ★ Blue Star Train heating 37/0: Steam 37/4: Electric Train Heat Remainder: None Train brakes Vacuum, Dual, or Air

Performance figures Maximum speed 90 mph (140 km/h) or 80 mph (130 km/h) with regeared CP7 bogies. Power output Engine: 1,750 bhp (1,305 kW) Tractive effort Maximum: 55,500 lbf (247 kN) Continuous: 35,000 lbf (156 kN) @13.6 mph (22 km/h) Loco brakeforce 50 long tons-force (498 kN)

Career Operators British Rail Colas Rail DB Schenker Direct Rail Services West Coast Railway Company Numbers D6700–D6999, D6600–D6608; later 37001–37308 Nicknames Tractor, also Syphon, Growler or Slugs Axle load class Route availability 5 except subclass 37/7 RA 7

The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan.

The Class 37 became a familiar sight on many parts of the British Rail network, in particular forming the main motive power for Inter-City services in East Anglia and within Scotland. They also performed well on secondary and inter-regional services for many years. The Class 37s are known to some railway enthusiasts as "Tractors", a nickname due to the agricultural sound of the diesel engine of the locomotive.

As part of the large scale dieselisation brought about by the British Rail modernisation plan a need was identified for a number of type 3 locomotives of power output 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) to 1,999 hp (1,491 kW). English Electric had already been successful with orders for type 1 and type 4 diesels, and had produced locomotives of similar power to that which was required for railways in East Africa. A design based on the exported locomotives was put forward and accepted. The design was for a general purpose locomotive and initially found service in British Rail's Eastern Region.

There was no prototype. British Rail first placed an order for 42 Class 37 locomotives in January 1959. The first of these was delivered in November 1960, entering service on 2 December, with the last of this original batch complete by mid-1962, by which time subsequent orders had been placed. The last of the 309 built was delivered to the Western Region on 9 November 1965.English Electric split the construction between their Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows, and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns of Darlington. The 309 locomotives produced in total were originally numbered in the range D6700-D6999 and D6600-D6608. The bodywork bears a strong family resemblance to other English Electric designs such as the Class 40 and Class 23 'Baby Deltic'.