Heads-up!
Class 37 Penzance Parade
Karl Hewlett
Early Wednesday morning before 9am, there is a chance of seeing no less than four class 37's in the Penzance area. With the class 175 drag using class 37's 512 and 501 arriving this afternoon, there is also a test train due down overnight arriving at Penzance 06:20am hauled by class 37's 099 and 175. The times for this are:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U59591/2026-01-13/detailed.
The class 175 drag leaves at 09:25am:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K49920/2026-01-14/detailed
This won't go to Penzance station unfortunately where the test train is stabled, but a brisk walk along the coast path for a couple of miles, as said before 9am, should allow you to see both trains! The return working for the test train is:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U59586/2026-01-14/detailed.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U59591/2026-01-13/detailed.
The class 175 drag leaves at 09:25am:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K49920/2026-01-14/detailed
This won't go to Penzance station unfortunately where the test train is stabled, but a brisk walk along the coast path for a couple of miles, as said before 9am, should allow you to see both trains! The return working for the test train is:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U59586/2026-01-14/detailed.
Many thanks Karl, great to see so many classic workhorses in the Duchy. Including 37142 at Bodmin, there are no fewer than five class 37's in Cornwall this morning - when did that last happen?
Class 37 photos from yesterday can be viewed below...
Class 37 photos from yesterday can be viewed below...
'Special Delivery'
Classic Traction to Penzance
Colin Pidgeon, Bill Elston, David Tozer, Clive Smith, Mark Lynam, Jon Hird, Jamie Burns, Joe Birchall, Owen Brown & Jonathan Harbage
Tuesday 13th January saw a pair of Europhoenix class 37's deliver a Class 175 DMU to Long Rock.
37512 and 501 set off at 01.22 from Ely and were due to arrive at Penzance at 18.33 due to the 45 mph Class 7 speed limit.
The train returns today, 14th January, (minus the class 175) as 5M57 0925 Penzance T.& R.S.M.D. to Derby R.T.C.
37512 and 501 set off at 01.22 from Ely and were due to arrive at Penzance at 18.33 due to the 45 mph Class 7 speed limit.
The train returns today, 14th January, (minus the class 175) as 5M57 0925 Penzance T.& R.S.M.D. to Derby R.T.C.
37512 t&t 37501 pass through Swindon on 7Q86 Ely Papworth Sidings to Penzance T&RSMD with 175010 for GWR between the barrier coaches. 13.01.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Details of recently-repainted 37512 at the head of the train. 13.01.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
37501 in its British Steel blue livery on the rear of the train at Swindon. 13.01.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
At last it ran, 7Q86 ecs movement from Ely Papworth sidings to PZ t/t by 37512 and 37501, both of which were in Thornaby Depot large logo Railfreight livery, seen passing Creech in poor light. 13.01.2026, copyright Bill Elston.
37501 on the rear at Creech. 13.01.2026, copyright Bill Elston.
37512 & 37501 westbound on:7Q86 01:30 Ely Papworth Sidings to Penzance T&RSMD taken in the gloom. 13.01.2026, copyright David Tozer.
37501 on the rear at Exminster. 13.01.2026, copyright David Tozer.
Grey Railfreight large logo liveried 37512 thrashes through the gloom at Dawlish with the 7Q86 01.30 Ely Papworth Sidings to Penzance T&RSMD class 175 move with 175010 between the barrier vehicles and light blue Railfreight large logo liveried 37501 on the rear. 13.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
37501 on the rear at Dawlish. 13.01.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
37512 runs through Plymouth. It was booked to stop here for around 45 minutes, but carried on straight through. 13.01.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
37501 on the rear of the train at Plymouth. 13.01.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
The ensemble are pictured approaching Respryn. 13.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
37512(608) and 37501 pass through Respryn. The train was due to be held at Plymouth for 45 minutes which would have meant its journey through Cornwall would have been under the cover of darkness. Luckily that stop was omitted, and it was just over an hour early at this point. 13.01.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Passing St. Austell, we see 37512 (Leading) in BR Large Logo Grey/retro Railfreight grey. 13.01.2026, copyright Jamie Burns.
37501 (Tailing) in BR/British Steel Blue livery. 13.01.2026, copyright Jamie Burns.
The pair of veteran locomotives make a great noise as they power through St. Austell. Click the video above to play. 13.01.2026, copyright Jamie Burns.
37 512 and 37 501 approach Truro on their way down to Penzance with a Class 175 and barrier vehicles, their gentle rumble as the coasted down the 1 in 78 providing a welcome change to the swish of a DMU. 13.01.2026, copyright Joe Birchall.
175010 in the middle of the consist. 13.01.2026, copyright Joe Birchall.
37501 on the rear approaching Truro. 13.01.2026, copyright Joe Birchall.
Here is 37512 and 37501 at Truro heading for Penzance.It was chaos at Truro, because the two trains behind the 37’s were able to overtake on the up line. This caused a bit of panic as passengers were then heading for the up platform to catch their trains to Penzance. 13.01.2026, copyright Jonathan Harbage.
The waiting train is passed by a Crosscountry Voyager heading for Penzance. Click the video above to play. 13.01.2026, copyright Jonathan Harbage.
Passengers wait for the Falmouth unit as 37512 waits to depart Truro. 13.01.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
With a puff of black exhaust, 37512 departs Truro for Long Rock. 13.01.2026, copyright Owen Brown.
37512 makes a nice noise as it departs for Penzance. Click the video above to play. 13.01.2026, copyright Jonathan Harbage.
Many thanks all - a nice selection of photographs of an interesting working. Hopefully we will see some more pics tomorrow of the return trip.
The Railtour Calendar
new fixtures added
Readers may wish to check out the Railtour Calendar, to which a number of exciting new railtours have recently been added.
Saturday June 27th is looking particularly interesting - if everything promised materialises, Penzance will see no fewer than 3 loco-hauled railtours!
Click here for the Railtour Calendar.
Saturday June 27th is looking particularly interesting - if everything promised materialises, Penzance will see no fewer than 3 loco-hauled railtours!
Click here for the Railtour Calendar.
Kept in the loop
Tim Hughes
66563 in Lostwithiel Down Goods Loop with Mondays Westbury - St. Erth ballast train. 12.01.2026, copyright Tim Hughes.
Many thanks Tim - he was there for a while!
Class 60's at work
Michael Adams & Michael Forward
A picture from Michael Adams shows 60034 working through Newport on 20 August 1981 with another load of iron ore from Port Talbot to LLanwern steelworks. Llanwern long since closed but the loco. survives, in store at Toton depot. Copyright Michael Adams.
60068 'Charles Darwin ' easing through Oxford on 17 November 1992 with more East Midlands coal for Didcot power station. Pits now closed also the power station, who would have thought it?! Copyright Michael Forward.
Many thanks to the both of you for the photographs of these super machines.
The Flying Banana
Steve Widdowson & Colin Pidgeon
43013 & 43062 at Swindon on the RMT 1Q15 Leicester LIP to Landore via Swindon & Kemble. 13.01.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
43013 & 43062 at Swindon on the RMT 1Q15 Leicester LIP to Landore via Swindon & Kemble. 13.01.2026, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
43013 arrives at Worcester Shrub Hill with the NMT. 13.01.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
43062 alongside a GWR IET at Worcester. 13.01.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
Many thanks Colin, and thanks to Ken Mumford for sending them in.