Double Class 37s on the Inverness Sleeper - 17th August 1992

[@JJthrashing]

Can’t beat the old days of BR great footage, I didn’t think back then that MK3 coaches were compatible with MK2 MK1stock only suited for HST services because they relied on the power cars for air conditioning,lights also thought they had different coupling systems back then ?

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

There are 2 types of MK 3's as those for HST's had different couplings and no buffers so could only operate in HST's. The buffer fitted MK3's could work with other MK1's and 2's as required and would need a ETH fitted locomotive to provide power for the air conditioning and lights etc. The sleeper trains at this time were provided with a generator van which you can see on the very back of the train as the pairs of 37s weren't ETH equipped!

[@andrewphillips9391]

Had a run behind a pair of 37s in the sleeper in 1993. There was a tsr on the climb to Drumochter summit and the locos opening up after it was a great way to start the day. Great thrash.

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

That would have been great to hear as was a big load for 2 37's. I managed half a dozen trips behind pairs of 37's on the Inverness Sleeper including 1 trip when the first pair broke down so another pair pushed on the back until Blair Atholl when they ran around and removed the first pair!

[@dangerousbrian1508]

Brilliant video, so atmospheric of an age when the railways were so much more interesting. Love the sleepers.

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Thanks Keith and I hope you are enjoying my other clips with more to come!

[@paulgerrard9423]

Great video. Brought back memories of my youth doing All Line Rovers. I was on this train from Crewe in the morning and then back out at night. Had the same pair of 37's 2 days later on sleeper to Aberdeen. Happy days

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Well fancy that. I used a few of those rovers over that period as well particularly the NSE ones as I was living in the London area in those days! I had a number of trips behind pairs of 37's on the Inverness sleeper including one northbound trip with 2 different pairs due to a locomotive failure.

[@TRSPomerania]

Thank you for that movie, enjoyed that very much! 2 x class 37s in 90s atmosphere, thumbs up! Best regards from Poland!

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Thanks again. You will find plenty of more 2x Class 37s in some of my clips particularly in the Cardiff ones so keep an eye out for my next Cardiff clip coming next!

[@TRSPomerania]

Paekok Station Master Thanks I will surely not miss it as I activated notifications from your channel, so I will know as soon as you'll add that. Cheers!

[@genesis070365]

Great memories 🤘👍

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Yeap

[@SteamboatWilley]

Great train there. I counted 15 coaches (including 4 GUVs and 2 BGs). No wonder it was double-headed!

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Yeap was always a big train the sleeper and if I remember at one stage during the 90's there use to be 2 sleeper trains 2 and from Inverness one of which was sleeper cars only and the other that was sleeper and seating cars!

[@lucypawpaw]

Great footage. Thanks for sharing.

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Thank you Richard and glad you enjoyed! I hope you have seen some of my other stuff!

[@CambriaJunction]

Thank you for posting this! As a teenager I used to go and watch this operation; rather more intetesting than today's equivalent. And a Valenta powered HST. Actually although I very clearly remember the period when the sleeper had double headed 37s, I've found it difficult to find very much record of this online in photos or videos. Great to see you have made this footage available.

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Thank you for that. I hope you have checked out some of my other stuff including this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqKnmoKCjbKjrM0

[@CambriaJunction]

I have yes, thanks. Also remember when that 37-hauled service with the green stock and observation car was running. In your description you describe it as departing for the far north line - but I remember it as running to and from Kyle of Lochalsh?

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Yes you are of course correct. I will change that!

[@the_plague99]

7:33 that hst set took off like nothing else!

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Was only being moved into the shed for the night I think so someone was in a hurry to get home!

[@BlackAndDeckerBoy]

Great video, great memories

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Thank you and I hope you have checked out some of my other stuff!

[@andyvauxv6]

You just can't beat class 37s, especially the one in the intercity livery

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Yes there was at least 2 painted in I/C livery for use on the sleeper trains. I had a few trips behind pairs of 37's on the Inverness Sleeper including 2 different pairs on the same trip after the first pair broke down!

[@djtrainspotter]

Awesome stuff!

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Thanks and I always have liked visiting Inverness. I have family up the highlands so made plenty of trips up there during that period and usually on the sleeper as well so managed a few trips behind pairs of 37's!

[@javelinjim4699]

Excellent clip. Brings back memories of getting my staff boxes in 1986 and just jumping on trains from Kent and seeing where I’d end up. Those GUVs, would they be Motor Rail?

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Those would have been the days! And yes Motor Rail vans being attached to the front! I think at Edinburgh they were shunted on to the rear of the train when the 37's were exchanged for an Electric loco for the rest of the trip!

[@michaelfeeney8437]

Thanks for loading up this footage... Good work and an interesting watch. My only beef is that it that locos from this era were in such a scruffy state. No pride whatsoever from the depots they were allocated too.Apart from maybe Stratford. They were basically fuelled up sent out and worked into the ground. In this footage, I don’t think the IC livery suited the type 3’s. As for that Grey... it was neither nowt nor summat. Do you remember the Gateshead machines ? They invented a black livery !

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Your welcome and I hope you have seen some of my other stuff! These 37's were worked pretty hard at this time as the pair that same north on the Sleepers then went straight back south on the day train although they were regulary swapped over for another pair! I thought the IC Livery looked quite good on them especially when the whole train was matching!

[@justinobrien3593]

Good video it brings back so many memories of mooching around Traction depot around Sheffield/Birmingham/Manchester looking at filthy loco's that was thrashed into the ground! The only time they looked good was after an overhaul and new paint job sadly!!! But today's railways are very bland and boring 😴 unless we may see a bit of action at crewe when a few railtours are passing through! The 80s 80s was the best times for so many different liveries of class 20s/37s/47s and after 1992 most classes of locos was heading for the chop sadly I remember being at Bescot February 1987 there was at least 50 class 25s heading for vic berry's I was 15 but I wish we still had at least half of the old sulzer loco's in use on the mainline instead of all this Spanish tin-can shit of today!!! 😎

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

May 2020 and I find myself wondering if the sleepers will ever run again.....

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

I am sure they will run again at some stage as I am planning a trip on the new version in the future!

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

@@paekokstationmaster5032 I've done the new sleepers a number of times...be prepared to be disappointed/underwhelmed...

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne Well just planning 1 trip as a way to get from London to Inverness as part of a family trip!

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

@@paekokstationmaster5032 Good luck...stay safe

[@iainwalker8701]

what type of train was it came in at 6:42? That's the kind I always used to get from Aberdeen to Glasgow to go and see my gran.

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

InterCity 125 high-speed train. Generally, known as the HST. This one would have been running the "Highland Chieftain" service from London Kings Cross.

[@Pmjs]

I worked the sleeper from Aberdeen to Edinburgh Waverley.

[@glenc633]

What service would that Intercity rake of mk1 & 2s that the class 08 is shunting have worked in on? An internal service from Edinburgh perhaps?

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

That would have been "The Clansman" that ran from Euston to Inverness with the Electric loco being swapped for the 37's at Edinburgh maybe (forget now). Usually, the 2 37's that came up on the sleeper would take the Clansman back south to Edinburgh and then be swapped out or return north with the Clansman and then back south on the evening Sleeper!

[@philicheesesurfer]

The screaming HSE was great

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Can't beat the original powered HSTs!

[@philicheesesurfer]

@@paekokstationmaster5032 HST .Sorry and yes you are right that original sound is fantastic

[@ventureglen1601]

Concerned about the lack of eth for aircons and train heat?

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

There is a generator van on the rear that provides all the power etc to the train!

[@ventureglen1601]

@@paekokstationmaster5032 ahhhh

[@TheAudiostud]

May I ask why they would need to Double Head ? PSM really enjoying your postings pure nostalgia thank you very much

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

The sleeper trains are quite big and heavy and with some decent grades over the Highland mainline you would need a pair of 37's to manage. And in fact before the pairs of 37's they even had pairs of 47's on these trains!

[@TheAudiostud]

Thank you PSM

[@railfreightdrivergallagherGBRf]

Load 15 on it says it all!! JG.

[@felixthecleaner8843]

brings a lump to ya throat! +v

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Yes true and where did it all go? Those were certainly the days!

[@scotty87able]

not a desiro in sight.retro trains and cars

[@tommo01]

They are class 37s, not 37's. No apostrophe needed!

[@Comrade_Dyatolov]

These trains were way better than the junk were getting now...all to do with money and it was all thanks to margaret thatcher

[@paekokstationmaster5032]

Unfortunately, it's all about money and all this newer stuff will be far cheaper to operate and be much more reliable as well which is the most important thing for the operators!

[@leonbrown7710]

You can’t blame Margaret Thatcher for everything .... 🤣🤣🤣🙌🙌

[@Comrade_Dyatolov]

@@leonbrown7710 she abolished British rail. All our good trains were going to scrap

[@steveluckhurst2350]

@@Comrade_Dyatolov At the time British Rail needed abolishing! Just look at the state of the stock in this video.

[@tommo01]

They are class 37s, not 37's. No apostrophe needed!