ACC3152 accurascale – Railfreight Construction – 37414 – Class 37

The introduction of Class 156 ‘Super Sprinters’ on the West Highland from January 1989 and on the Far North/Kyle lines in the May triggered an exodus of Class 37/4s to freight work. By the end of that year, Laira, Motherwell and Tinsley had gained allocations, while Immingham and Thornaby both acquired three locos each in the middle of 1990, by which point half the sub class were south of the border. One of these was No. 37414, which was on china clay duties in Cornwall until transferred to the North Lincolnshire depot’s FABI pool that September. This loco, which retained its Western Region-style lamp irons at the No.2 end only, had been repainted in the Roundel triple grey scheme with Distribution decals in August 1989, but quickly swapped these for more appropriate Construction brandings after its move.