March 7th 2026

7/3/2026

A rare 'split box' visitor
Richard Giles

Having seen Craig Munday's and follow up contribution items on 'split' head-code box Class 37 visitors to Cornwall, I would like to add views of this loco 37019 which may well rank as the 'rarest' or at least Top 5 if ever a list was compiled!

Close now to 36 years ago, Rail-freight Distribution livery, Tinsley (Sheffield) based 37019 saw several days of use in Cornwall having seen scheduled attention at Laira Depot, Plymouth, part of a number 'over hauled' here around the time and put to task on freight work within the County as a sort of test (presumably mechanical work having also taken place as the depot had a home based fleet at the time) prior to the return to their home depots.

On 23rd March 1990, 37019 is found and first seen near Nanpean Wharf propelling 2 china clay 'Tigers' loaded at nearby Drinnick Mill heading towards the Burngullow branch line and the unusually shaped brick built 'shunters' cabin here, where (second view) the loco is seen with a formed train from Parkindillack - St. Blazey Yard, the day's assisting branch 'shunt' loco Rail-freight red-stripe grey 37675 'William Cookworthy' being also visible. The third image shows another unusual feature for this loco, a modified sealed beam second end viewable as the train nears Foxhole heading for the mainline at Burngullow Junction.

37019 with 37675 William Cookworthy at Drinnick Mill, near the unusually shaped shunters cabin, with wagons for St. Blazey. 23.03.1990, copyright Richard Giles.

Roy Hart writes to say:

What Richard describes as the 'shunters cabin' is in fact the former Station Master's office, goods office and signal box. Until 1966 it contained the electric token instruments for the sections to St Dennis and Burngullow as well as the annett's key instruments which held the keys to the ground frames which worked the various points. The signals (4 of them) were operated from a tiny hut outside the office, so small that the nameplate DRINNICK MILL SIGNAL BOX had to be cast as two parts!

Yes, Drinnick had a station master -until about 1960.

Thanks Roy - interesting info!

Tinsley allocated RfD 37019 near Nanpean Wharf with 2 loaded china clay tigers. 23.03.1990, copyright Richard Giles.

Tinsley allocated RfD 37019 near Foxhole with a Parkandillack - St.Blazey yard wagon move. 23.03.1990, copyright Richard Giles.

Many thanks Richard. Not only do your photos show the rare visitor very well, they also provide a great view of 'clay country' in busier times. Brilliant photographs - thanks once again.

Re: 37019
Craig Munday

Many thanks for Richard's excellent 37019 pictures. I was a Relief Signalman in East Cornwall at the time. I met Richard way back in the day, and we've been friends ever since.

I grabbed this morning shot at St Germans of 37019 shooting through with CDAs bound for Marsh Mills. The Olympus OM10 couldn't arrest the movement sadly and the front is not sharp. The sun was not kind at St Germans on a bright morning, so these were hit and miss. The revised end was facing East as can be seen. In the days before Gen there was no way of knowing when this would return. I do wish I'd been more adventurous with my photography back then of course! My shift finished at 14.00 and I ought to have hunted down the returning loaded train.

37019 speeds through St. Germans with empty CDA's for Marsh Mills. Copyright Craig Munday.

Many thanks as always Craig, a super follow-on from Richard's images.

More split boxes!
Michael Adams

At Oxford on 11 November 1992 Michael Adam's photographed 37101/37013 storming through with some inter-modal flats. Copyright Michael Adams.

An excellent photo, well done to Michael Adams for capturing it and thanks to Michael Forward for sending it in.

MORE split boxes!
Roger Geach

There's been quite a lot of interest in 37024. It was very much a Eastern Region freight loco for much of the 1970s.

Seen below on 11.07.1979 passing Broxbourne Junction on the 1726 Cambridge to Liverpool Street, at the time a rare visitor on passenger as it was an Immingham freight loco at the time.

When it worked down to Devon it was a Tinsley based loco, what a great sight to see in Cornwall back then.

37024 passing Broxbourne Junction on 11.07.1979. Copyright Roger Geach.

Continuing todays theme nicely - many thanks, Roger.

Stored EMU's on the move
Steve Widdowson

57303 hauled 701045 from Long Marston to Wimbledon Park today (05.03), seen passing Besford Bridge in Worcestershire. 05.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.