Last Darlington-built Type 3 returns home
Class 37 goes green for display in home town museum.
ONE of the last diesels built in Darlington was welcomed back to the town on August 8, when delivered to Head of Steam, Darlington Railway Museum (RM Aug. p80).
Class 37 No. D6898 (37198) was the last loco built by English Electric/Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns at Springfield Works, Darlington in 1964. It was withdrawn from main line use in 1999 and placed in store until sold for preservation in 2004. It passed to Network Rail in 2008 for spares for their Type 3s.
NR has donated it to the museum, and is believed to be the first time they have gifted a loco for preservation. It has had a full aesthetic refurbishment and appears as it did when released from the works on April 28, 1964.