Motherwell 37/s on WHL

[scottishlocos]

All

 

Did any of the ML metals pool 37's ever make it on th WHL i know they did later on but am thinking of the period between 1986 and 1990

I am aware that lack of RETB probably prevented this from happening but i think there were some portable RETB units

 

Dave

[mjkerr]

FMGM pool
There was too much demand on the Ravenscraig traffic at the time, so I checked all of the following (passenger use)
I can only remember a few 37/0 being utilised at short notice, where a 37/4 was not available
The arriving loco would be swapped at Springburn in preference for the ED based loco, allowing the original loco to return to Mossend (and not be stranded)
However, there are a few exceptions, see ***
As you can see 37111 was called up at short notice to rescue the northbound sleeper and then returned back southbound on the next passenger train

37010 no
37026 / 37320 no
37037 / 37321 no
37040 no
37046 no
37049 / 37343 no
37051 no
37088 no
37092 no
37097 no
37099 / 37324 no
37108 / 37325 no

37111 *** 14/01/1986 1S07 assist, 1T12 with 37412 *** / 37326

37137 / 37312 no
37145 / 37313 no
37152 / 37310 no
37156 / 37311 no
37190 / 37314 no
37201 no

[GordonC]

Where were the locos based that worked the aluminium traffic to or from Fort William? Was it always Eastfield Class 37s?

 

I'm assuming those trains would work from or stop off at Mossend Yard, so with the proximity of Motherwell depot, I would have thought they'd make occasional appearances. Mjkerr - Was your list just showing use on passenger trains?

[mjkerr]

Where were the locos based that worked the aluminium traffic to or from Fort William? Was it always Eastfield Class 37s?

 

I'm assuming those trains would work from or stop off at Mossend Yard, so with the proximity of Motherwell depot, I would have thought they'd make occasional appearances. Mjkerr - Was your list just showing use on passenger trains?

The majority of locos that operated between Dalmuir - Oban / Fort William were Eastfield based, and by 1986 to 1990 would be 37/4

This gave a lot more ETH reliability in that all the locos were identical, rather than risk a non-ETH 37/0 having to deputise southbound

Once the sprinters were introduced the (remaining) 37/4 locos were reallocated to Motherwell

 

Almost all the WHL freight operated to/from Mossend, with a few exceptions

Equally, the 37/4 would run light to/from Eastfield for one specific working, but sometimes would wait at Mossend after a southbound working to work the next northbound working

There was also a Friday only afternoon Glasgow QS - Oban that would use two 37/4, to position one for a southbound freight (I don't remember an equivalent southbound passenger service)

 

Sadly the c37lg.co.uk show mostly only passenger trains, but with some freight workings

However, if an unusual 37/0 had worked north of Dalmuir I am sure it would have been recorded!