Fantastic news!!

[yorkie]

It has been revealed at EOL that Class 37s are safe on the West Highland sleeper for the forseeable future. Some more drivers have started training on 37s and there are no current plans to switch to 67 haulage, the 67 plans are "dead" !

There will be more trips like this....

...next Summer....

Absolutely brilliant news!!!

 

[Max]

Great news

This hopefully means that these great locos will survive on regular passenger services for many years to come. I may have to beg to be allowed to go up there next summer

 

[yorkie]

This hopefully means that these great locos will survive on regular passenger services for many years to come. I may have to beg to be allowed to go up there next summer

I hope you're right, but I would NOT count on it at all. I am very happy that we're getting another Summer (by the looks of it), I wouldn't like to speculate what could happen in a few years' time.

 

[Techniquest]

Sweet! And, if I may be working-class again for a moment: Get in there my son! (heart-of-wessex will know I was saying that a fair bit on Monday)

37s on the FW sleeper sounds good, I'll have a chance at bashing one now when I'm awake for it! Properly awake that is, unlike last time! It might not be 417 next time too!

Thanks for the news yorkie!

 

[Guinness]

Next Summer Mr Chaz may come

 

[Jordy]

Next summer I MUST come, its simply not optional!! This is fantastic news, and I do hope Max is right and they are around for many years to come.

Jordy

 

[andrewmay]

This is certainly great news and provides me with another oppourtunity to go there in less of a rush and maybe on a sunnier day! I would love to have 37's running on this service for many years to come but knowing the railways I'm not keeping my hopes up.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[yorkie]

I'm already planning to go during half-term in June

 

[Dave A]

Yes. I won't miss it again! Might even be doing it twice! hock: :P

 

[yorkie]

Yes. I won't miss it again! Might even be doing it twice! hock: :P

I may do the journey there and back on the 37 and the Jacobite up there as one journey (warning: this is expensive, you're talking £70 to get there and £25 on top for the steamer, not including berths).

And another journey I may get the Highland Chieftain to Kingussie, taxi to Tulloch and then the 37 south from there. (This is lot cheaper as you only sleep one way and obviously don't have the steamer cost).

One in half term (early june), the other in Summer (late July).

I've done the trip a few times now, and each time I've thought 'This is my last', now I can't wait to go again. Yes, it's that good.

 

[Jim]

Yes. I won't miss it again! Might even be doing it twice! hock: :P

I may do the journey there and back on the 37 and the Jacobite up there as one journey (warning: this is expensive, you're talking £70 to get there and £25 on top for the steamer, not including berths).

And another journey I may get the Highland Chieftain to Kingussie, taxi to Tulloch and then the 37 south from there. (This is lot cheaper as you only sleep one way and obviously don't have the steamer cost).

One in half term (early june), the other in Summer (late July).

I've done the trip a few times now, and each time I've thought 'This is my last', now I can't wait to go again. Yes, it's that good.

"Dad... Can I go "

I am going to try my hardest ever to do 1 of these meets this year

 

[Techniquest]

You KNOW I'll be there! I'm already saving up! I'm planning now on going there in December, instead of doing the HC.

Once the dates are set yorkie, let me know them and I'll see if I can be there! I'll ensure I go actually, can't afford to miss them!

 

[Donny Dave]

I'm planning now on going there in December

Heads out will be interesting.

 

[Techniquest]

Indeed...

I might not though do it in December, I'm preferring to do the tour of London on the 17th and 18th of December instead. I'll ensure it's done before the end of the 37s though!

 

[Chris]

I was passing through Fort William last weekend and I must say it was great seeing the 37 & sleeper stock. Too many DMU's around now, not that i don't like them but they are everywhere! It was good too look in a cab window and actually see dirt and grease instead of shiny grey plastic!

 

[joy54.gen]

The amount of times I've gone up there thinking that they will be ending any day now, when all along they were staying for ages, I just hope we'll get some more great trips on Britains most beautiful line.

 

[Met Driver]

I'm hoping to include the Oban line when I next go. I'd like to do the Glasgow sleeper, followed by a unit to Oban, another back to Chrianlarich then up to Fort William (maybe Mallaig as well if timings permit), then the 37s back.

 

[Techniquest]

I'm definately hoping to do Oban and thus finish the lines in the West Highlands on my next visit across the border. I may do the same as you there Seth, although I doubt highly you'll get up to Mallaig and back in the same day too!

 

[joy54.gen]

I was gonna do Oban on decent traction last weekend, having only been there on a 156, but due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to make it there.

 

[Met Driver]

It would be great if the sleeper split at Chrianlarich with 37s taking a portion to Fort William and Oban, but I guess that's wishful thinking...

 

[yorkie]

It would be great if the sleeper split at Chrianlarich with 37s taking a portion to Fort William and Oban, but I guess that's wishful thinking...

Very much so. Even if the demand was there, and even if the extra loco was no problem, it would be impossible as the FTW sleeper is already at the minimum length it can be (with 1 lounge car and 1 seated car along with 2 sleepers), while the combined train at Euston is the longest it can be (so much so that Mk3s can't be used for the seated coaches).