Regional Railways Class 37 Numbers 37425 & 37424! Thrashing Out of Wakefield Westgate Station

Colas Rail Class 37/4 No. 37425 (Sir Robert McAlpine / Concrete Bob)
Constructed by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire in 1965 (originally entering service as D6998, renumbered 37298 under TOPS, and rebuilt at Crewe Works in 1985 as electric train heating sub-class 37425), 37425 is a 61-year-old Co-Co heavy mixed-traffic diesel-electric locomotive operated by Colas Rail on nationwide infrastructure monitoring and charter duties. Powered by a 1,750 hp (1,305 kW) English Electric 12CSVT 12-cylinder turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine driving English Electric traction motors, the 102-tonne locomotive produces a maximum starting tractive effort of 55,000 lbf (245 kN), an operational top speed of 80 mph (129 km/h), and an onboard fuel tank capacity of 3,910 litres (860 imperial gallons). Locomotive 37425 is immaculately turned out in retro 1990s British Rail Regional Railways livery, featuring a light and dark blue bodyside band separated by a crisp white stripe, dark grey upper body, and full high-visibility yellow warning ends. It proudly carries cast bodyside nameplates reading Sir Robert McAlpine / Concrete Bob, honouring the pioneering civil engineer who constructed the West Highland Line extension to Mallaig including the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Colas Rail Class 37/4 No. 37424
Built by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows in 1965 (entering traffic as D6997, renumbered 37297, and converted to Class 37/4 specification at Crewe Works in 1985), 37424 is a 61-year-old Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive operated by Colas Rail. Fitted with an identical 1,750 hp (1,305 kW) English Electric 12CSVT power unit, the locomotive delivers 55,000 lbf (245 kN) of starting tractive effort, an 80 mph (129 km/h) top speed, and a 3,910-litre (860 imperial gallon) fuel capacity. Locomotive 37424 is presented in classic 1970s British Rail Corporate Blue livery, complete with full yellow warning front ends and gloss-black cab window surrounds and upper nose tops. The locomotive historically carried the nameplate Isle of Mull during its celebrated career on the Scottish Region and remains an iconic mainline classic.

Network Rail Infrastructure Track Monitoring Test Train Coaching Stock
The train conveys a specialized 5-vehicle departmental recording rake operated for Network Rail, marshalled in reverse order and formed of vehicles numbered 977969, 999606, 9803, 6262, and 96604. The consist features Ultrasonic Test Unit (UTU) recording coach No. 977969, Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) track assessment coach No. 999606, departmental brake runner No. 9803, staff and auxiliary electrical generator coach No. 6262, and Driving Brake Standard Open brake-force runner DBSO No. 96604. All carriages are turned out in Network Rail's signature high-visibility Network Rail High-Impact Yellow livery with dark grey window surrounds and orange safety lining. Having completed its northern run-around and reversal at Wrenthorpe Sidings, the train operates the return southbound leg of its overnight infrastructure monitoring duty, heading from Wrenthorpe to Derby RTC (Railway Technical Centre) via Wakefield Westgate.

Powering Out of Wakefield Westgate Station Towards the 99 Arches Viaduct
Seen in 8K 16:9 widescreen powering out of Wakefield Westgate station on the southbound return leg of its track monitoring run from Wrenthorpe Sidings to Derby RTC, Colas Rail Class 37 No. 37425 (Sir Robert McAlpine / Concrete Bob) roars in retro Regional Railways livery as she accelerates south towards the iconic 99 arches railway viaduct (Wakefield Westgate Viaduct). Delivering massive English Electric 12CSVT diesel thrash into the night sky, the 61-year-old tractor hauls the 5-car Network Rail test rake (977969, 999606, 9803, 6262, 96604) with classmate Class 37 No. 37424 trailing on the rear in BR Blue on a warm summer's night on Friday, 21st of August 2026 at 22:55.

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