* Tapton, Chesterfield, 6th April, 2016. (old 5327+342)and another 'blast from the past' from over 7 years ago 6th April 2016 and a busy main-line station is shown south of Sheffield. This is close to the junction of the Midland Main Lines to Sheffield and the 'Old Road' lines via Barrow Hill, to Leeds. It was interesting enough, though not seasonal at all, to provide this year's 'Xmas Card 2023' subject. Another momentous two years have passed and a wish now for improving days as 2024 unfolds, though, I'm not hopeful so far...
A 7 year old telephoto view, taken from the Tapton foot-bridge showing the 'traction-action' at a busy, north-end, of Chesterfield station and the interesting activity going on there. On the left two class 37s are on the 'Up Goods' with 37254, 'Driver Robin Prince M.B.E.' hauling fellow class 37, green liveried 37057. The pair are about to pass a freight move, waiting at the down line goods signal at the back of the station; this is a D.R.S. class 66, 66302, awaiting its path north. And departing the station to the the south on the up fast, an East Midlands class 158 passenger service, heading for Nottingham. Having come along the down fast, a class 56, 56081 is crossing over onto the up fast, wrong-line, to take the northern cross-over just in front of the foot-bridge to gain access to the lines onto the 'Old Road at Tapton Junction. The 56 is producing more clag as it hauls its train of Empty Coaching Stock along from the Leicester L.I.P. and, just behind the 56, is another 37, 37884, ex-D8404, 'Gartcosh', whatever that may be, and built in 1963; so, quite a trio of ancient class 37s passing through the old Chesterfield Midland station. There can't have been many times, if any where this happened in the recent past and not quite sure where I would have pointed the camera if I had been on the station platforms, the shots may well have been more of a problem there, getting all the action into one shot. Unlike here where the overview is much the better, albeit where fairly stark over-head light is spoiling things a bit and the station is just a little too far for the 135mm end of my tele lens. 56081 and 37884, itself with Europhoenix, Silver and Blue livery with Red & White Phoenix Logos, is hauling an ECS set on the Leicester L.I.P. to Barrow Hill L.I.P., 5Z07 working. Te set was operated by the ROG, 'Rail Operations Group' with coaches- a Mark III, HST Set - M12092, M10206 & M11074, a Mark II Set, M3374 & M1254 and with two Barrier Coaches at the back, No.s ADB975875 & ADB977087.
Some information about the class 37s in this view-
Number: 37254
Class: 37/0
Depot: W - Withdrawn from Service
Pool: WNYX - DBS Fleet Management Unit Stored Classes 08/09
Livery: DC - Departmental - Dutch Yellow Style - Grey with Yellow Band
Builder: English Electric Vulcan Foundry
Built: 05/01/1965
Works Number: E3511/D942
Withdrawn: 31/01/1999
Disposal Date: Unknown
Disposal Details: Unknown
37254 Renumbered: from D6954 on 31/12/1973
Number: 37057
Class: 37/0
Current Allocation Details
Number: 37057
Class: 37/0
Depot: BH - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Museum
Pool: HNRL - Harry Needle Rail Ltd - Locomotive Fleet for Lease
Livery: GB - Green - B.R. Style
Builder: English Electric Vulcan Foundry
Built: 05/10/1962
Works Number: E3049/D711
37057 Named: 12/11/1989 un-named: 26/04/1996: Viking
37057 Named: 25/04/1996: Viking
37057 Renumbered
From D6757 on 31/12/1973
Number: 37884
Class: 37/7
Depot: HQ - Headquarters New on Acceptance or Waiting Decision
Pool: EPUK - Europhoenix Locomotives for UK use
Livery: EX - Europhoenix - Silver and Blue with Red & White Phoenix Logos
Builder: Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd,Darlington
Built: 07/11/1963
Works Number: E3361/8404
37884 Named: 31/08/1992, 'Gartcosh'
37884 Notes
Withdrawn 31/03/2012 Sold to EMR Kingsbury 17/12/2012 Re-registered 31/08/2013
37884 Renumbered: From 37183 on 01/11/1988
37183 Renumbered: From D6883 on 31/12/1973
A Very Happy Xmas to One and All. More in 2024, in what is to be hoped, in many respects, to be a better year than recent times have been...
