Best and most predictable place I can find a Class 37 operating near London in July.

[FinchtheTTCfan]

I'm a transport enthusiast from Toronto Canada and will be visiting the UK, mainly London, for two weeks in July.

I’ll be mainly focusing on buses and the underground, but I’m also wondering where I could find a Class 37 and some other older locomotives in or close to London, and if there’s a way to track them by fleet number.

 

[Class15]

There is sometimes one stabled in Wembley Yard - visible from a London Northwestern Railway service between Euston and Harrow & Wealdstone.

 

[simonw]

I'm a transport enthusiast from Toronto Canada and will be visiting the UK, mainly London, for two weeks in July. I’ll be mainly focusing on buses and the underground but I’m also wondering where I could find a Class 37 and some other older locomotives in or close London, and if there’s a way to track them by fleet number.

You should be able to catch a class 57 at Paddington on the sleeper from cornwall, if you can get to Paddington early or late.

You might want to ask on wnxx forum for other info

 

[yorkie]

I'm a transport enthusiast from Toronto Canada and will be visiting the UK, mainly London, for two weeks in July....

do you know yet when these dates are?

 

[Iskra]

The links in this post, may be able to assist you in finding a potential charter train in your time period, but the chances of a Class 37 specifically do not seem high:

2025 Railtour links

Some useful links for people looking for information on up and coming railtours. Railway Herald: https://www.railwayherald.com/railtours UK Railtour info: http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/tours.html

www.railforums.co.uk

More specific train information including timings can be found on the RealTimeTrains website nearer the time

 

[Haywain]

I’m also wondering where I could find a Class 37 and some other older locomotives in or close London,

Is this to just see then sitting in a siding, see them working or to ride behind them?

 

[StephenHunter]

I'm a transport enthusiast from Toronto Canada and will be visiting the UK, mainly London, for two weeks in July. I’ll be mainly focusing on buses and the underground but I’m also wondering where I could find a Class 37 and some other older locomotives in or close London, and if there’s a way to track them by fleet number.

Stratford is good for freight stuff, such as Class 66s and 86s. The Suffragette and Goblin Lines have a lot of freight on them in general.

 

[Class15]

Stratford is good for freight stuff, such as Class 66s and 86s. The Suffragette and Goblin Lines have a lot of freight on them in general.

Class 86s don’t operate freight trains via Stratford anymore. Class 90s do though.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I don't know how far out of London you're prepared to travel, (does the old adage that "100 miles is a long way in the UK, and 100 years is a long time in America" also apply to Canada?) but many preserved railways publish their rosters. Here is the Severn Valley Railway:

https://svr.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SVR-2025-Diesel-Roster-for-Public-Issue-1.pdf

Because of a recent embankment collapse, the SVR's main steam depot at Bridgnorth is cut off from the rest of the line until late July, so it is currently running mainly diesels - the main diesel base being at the other (Kidderminster) end of the line.

Depending on the date in July, you can have your pick of classes 14 (D9551), 17 (D8568), 20, 37, 50, 52 (D1062), 117 (DMU). The class 37 is rostered for 12th, 13th, and 29th-31st. It may well be out on the 60th anniversary event (27th/28th) as well.

Check nearer the time of course, as rosters are subject to change, especially with machinery over sixty years old!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

There is usually a 37 stabled at Orient Way, visible and photographable from trains between Stratford and Lea Bridge.

 

[Magdalia]

There is a Network Rail Test Train, which I think is still usually hauled (or pushed) by a class 37, that does a sequence of tests in the Anglia area every 4 weeks.

The sequence was supposed to have started from Derby yesterday, but was cancelled. It is next due to run on week commencing 14 July.

The train is supposed to come up from Derby on Monday afternoon, and go back to Derby on Saturday morning. On evenings and nights it does its testing, in the mornings it rests, usually Tuesday and Wednesday at Ferme Park, Thursday and Friday at Cambridge.

If you are in London week starting 14 July then it should be possible for you to find somewhere to see it in action, assuming that it runs that week.

 

[FinchtheTTCfan]

Is this to just see then sitting in a siding, see them working or to ride behind them?

I don’t mind what they’re doing I mainly just want photos of them.

 

[FinchtheTTCfan]

There is a Network Rail Test Train, which I think is still usually hauled (or pushed) by a class 37, that does a sequence of tests in the Anglia area every 4 weeks.

The sequence was supposed to have started from Derby yesterday, but was cancelled. It is next due to run on week commencing 14 July.

The train is supposed to come up from Derby on Monday afternoon, and go back to Derby on Saturday morning. On evenings and nights it does its testing, in the mornings it rests, usually Tuesday and Wednesday at Ferme Park, Thursday and Friday at Cambridge.

If you are in London week starting 14 July then it should be possible for you to find somewhere to see it in action, assuming that it runs that week.

Ah ok thanks! I will be there that week so I could catch that given if it runs.

 

[FinchtheTTCfan]

do you know yet when these dates are?

July 7th-18th

 

[Haywain]

I don’t mind what they’re doing I mainly just want photos of them.

So somewhere that they can only be seen from a passing train won't be much help.

 

[Harpo]

This thread is an interesting reflection on the passage of time when just trying to see a (any!) class 37 is tricky.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (accessible via a short b train ride from London Marylebone) has a Class 37 which looks like it'll be operating some of their services in July. https://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/

They're even offering opportunities to drive it or ride on the footplate, if you've got the money!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

So somewhere that they can only be seen from a passing train won't be much help.

It's very easy to photograph the one that's usually stabled at Orient Way from on board the passing trains; here's 37 611 at that location taken from a 720.

 

[Haywain]

It's very easy to photograph the one that's usually stabled at Orient Way from on board the passing trains;

That's all very well if you know exactly where it's going to be and when you need to be ready to snap.

 

[Class15]

That's all very well if you know exactly where it's going to be and when you need to be ready to snap.

You can record a video and take a screenshot of the video maybe? I often do that on a phone, but it depends what kind of camera the OP is using.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That's all very well if you know exactly where it's going to be and when you need to be ready to snap.

You can see them long enough in advance, 20 to 30 seconds or so, to be able to aim and snap quite easily; they're nearly always in the same place as well. Also the 720s aren't particularly fast going past there - and if you do miss it you don't normally have more than 15 minutes to wait to get another train back to try again.

 

[Haywain]

You can see them long enough in advance, 20 to 30 seconds or so, to be able to aim and snap quite easily; they're nearly always in the same place as well. Also the 720s aren't particularly fast going past there - and if you do miss it you don't normally have more than 15 minutes to wait to get another train back to try again.

I'm glad that YOU know, but we should be trying to help the OP here, who is not local and may not be very familiar with our network.

 

[FinchtheTTCfan]

The links in this post, may be able to assist you in finding a potential charter train in your time period, but the chances of a Class 37 specifically do not seem high:

2025 Railtour links

Some useful links for people looking for information on up and coming railtours. Railway Herald: https://www.railwayherald.com/railtours UK Railtour info: http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/tours.html

www.railforums.co.uk

More specific train information including timings can be found on the RealTimeTrains website nearer the time

So somewhere that they can only be seen from a passing train won't be much help.

Yeah It’s not gonna work if I can only get one from on board a passing train. I need a proper good shot of one.