UNDERGOING repairs at Barrow Hill since January 2019, after just over a year of service with its then new owner HNRC, No. 37609’s main line exile came to an end on November 23, when the bright orange repainted Class 37/6 was sent out on an 0M38/0M39 shakedown run to Worksop and back.
Still allocated to COTS, the original plan for it to leave in the company of No. 37405 (transferred from HNRL to COTS) and head back to work with Colas Rail were scuppered by the non-availability of the recently acquired Class 37/4, also now repainted in the same Class 20/3-inspired livery. In related news from this small sub type, No. 37606 has joined LSLO from MDBL.
At the start of the period under review, No. 37069 at Eastleigh was one of five Direct Rail Services Class 37s that had been stopped for repair or store, along with Nos. 37402 and 37407 at Kingmoor, plus Nos. 37423 and 37424
