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The loco travelled firstly to Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway. It was stabled here from Tuesday evening until departing east on Thursday at around lunch time. Whilst at Kidderminster the loco was stabled alongside two former Western Region hydraulics, Diesel Traction Group’s Class 42 “Warship” D821 Greyhound, the first mainline diesel preserved privately, and the Western Locomotive Association owned D1062 Western Courier.
Having left the SVR, the convoy which consisted of the 47 hauling 50 035 Ark Royal, D1062 Western Courier, 37 906 with 6737 on the rear, travelled via Bescot, Walsall, Nuneaton, Leicester, and Peterborough to the Nene Valley Railway. 6737 is seen “under the wires” at Nuneaton during a crew change.
The convoy was routed via the Nene Valley in order to drop off the 50 and 52. This saw 6737 travel over much of the Nene Valley and it is pictured at Wansford prior to undertaking a couple of shunt moves required to get the 47 on the correct end of the formation.
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th saw the Mid Norfolk Railway run the Class 37 Golden Jubilee Gala. 6737 lined up alongside a further 11 members of the class in what was a most memorable event. Throughout the event loco’s were changed on a regular basis and this led to an ever changing scene in the loco holding sidings. On the Friday 6737 is seen at Dereham along with Network Rails 97 301, fellow green example D6729 from Barrow Hill, and 37 219 from the Chinor and Princess Risborough Railway.
The event saw the MNR’s new passing loop at Thuxton in use for the first time. 6737 is the centre of attention as it waits in the up platform with its train of blue and grey coaches.

A regular and popular feature was the pairing of fellow green example D6729 with 6737. The pair is seen entering Dereham with an empty stock working on the Sunday morning prior to working the 09.30 service. The Sunday was notable in so much that in addition to 6737 working away from home, D7612 was in action on the G&WR, 3205 on the SVR and 1369 on the C&PR – four SDR loco’s all working away from home on the same day – surely a record?
After a very successful stay at the Mid Norfolk, on Monday 6737 was off on its travels again, this time by road. On a very damp Monday morning the loco was loaded at Dereham onto the Heanor lorry.
Final destination was Sheringham on the North Norfolk Railway. This made it five railways in under a week for the loco – SDR, SVR, NVR, MNR and NNR. 6737 is due to stay on the NNR for around 12 months and is expected to work passenger trains on Saturday’s 9th and 16th October, with a possible further date in November.
Once again I'm extremely grateful to Andy for supplying the images and report (Ed)
Photographs strictly Copyright © Andy Matthews |