This was a fine day for the Scottish thirty-seven group, and the srps diesel group, the Class 37261 'Caithness' locomotive power unit being lifted by Ainscough Crane Hire and installed .I hope its not to long before we see this popular Class 37 back in action once again.
Read on
BR Class 37261 – some History
New to Darnell on 20 January 1965 as D6961, seventeen years were spent in BR’s Eastern Region before 37261 migrated north to join 37025, first at Eastfield from 1982, and then Inverness in 1985. It was during it’s time at Inverness that 261 became acquainted with the ‘Caithness’ nameplates and gained popularity as a sterling powerful performer all over the Highlands. Following another spell in BR’s Eastern Region between 1991 and 1994, 261 returned to Scotland for a further four years before finally migrating to Toton in December 1998. After only a few months, 37261 was withdrawn from traffic by EWS in February 1999.
However, instead of heading for the scrapline like many other engines at the time, 37261 was given a lifeline and an eleven month trip to France. Upon its return, the erstwhile ‘Caithness’ was stored and initially sold to Ian Riley who restored it to working order and then to WCRC who regularly put it to work on the Royal Scotsman around Scotland. After a couple of years with WCRC, DRS bought the locomotive and operated it until 37261’s final withdrawal on 20 January 2014, exactly forty-nine years after being accepted to traffic information supplied by Scottish thirty-seven group, Publicity Director Neil McDonald.
Please visit the link below for an excellent collection of photos taken by srps diesel group member David Horne of 37261's restoration work and many other diesel group projects.
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