Mighty English Electric Class 37 Thrash! Pioneer D6700 Leaving Rothley at The Autum Diesel Gala 2026

British Rail Class 37 No. D6700 in BR Brunswick Green (The Windsorian)
Constructed by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire in December 1960 (works numbers EE 2858 / VF D554, accepted into traffic as the historic pioneer of the 309-strong Class 37 fleet, later TOPS-numbered 37119 and 37350 before entering the National Collection), D6700 is an iconic 65-year-old 102-tonne Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive curated by the National Railway Museum. Powered by a 1,750 hp (1,305 kW) English Electric 12CSVT 12-cylinder turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine driving six axle-hung traction motors, the locomotive produces a maximum starting tractive effort of 55,000 lbf (245 kN), an operational top speed of 80 mph (129 km/h), and carries 3,910 litres (860 imperial gallons) of fuel. Locomotive D6700 is immaculately turned out in 1960s British Railways Brunswick Green livery, featuring a fully green bodyshell with matching green exterior window surrounds, a contrasting slate grey roof, authentic split headcode nose boxes, small yellow warning panels, and early BR heraldic crests. For this passenger working, the locomotive proudly carries the historic cast metal The Windsorian express headboard mounted centrally on the nose between the split headcode boxes.

British Rail Mark 1 5-Coach Consist: Suburban Maroon & Carmine and Cream
Leading directly behind D6700 is an authentic five-carriage rake of preserved British Rail Mark 1 passenger stock, combining two non-gangwayed suburban carriages in BR Suburban Maroon followed by three gangwayed mainline corridor vehicles in Carmine and Cream ("Blood and Custard"). Directly coupled behind the locomotive is carriage M43289, a Mark 1 Suburban Lavatory Second (SLS) constructed at York Carriage Works in 1955 to Diagram 273 and turned out in British Railways Suburban Maroon. This is coupled to carriage E43043, a Mark 1 Suburban Brake Composite (CLC) built at Doncaster Works in 1954 to Diagram 282 featuring an open brake compartment, also finished in Suburban Maroon. The train continues with carriage E4630, a Mark 1 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) built at York Works in 1956 to Diagram 89, finished in authentic 1950s Carmine and Cream, alongside companion carriage E4830, a Mark 1 Tourist Standard Open also turned out in matching blood and custard livery. Bringing up the rear of the consist is carriage E21184, a Mark 1 Brake Corridor Composite (BCK) constructed at Swindon Carriage Works in 1957 to Diagram 171, combining passenger seating compartments with a rear guard and luggage brake van area in pristine Carmine and Cream.

Departing Rothley Station on the 12:35 Leicester North to Loughborough Central Service
Seen in 8K 16:9 widescreen departing Rothley station on the Great Central Railway on Saturday, 5th of September 2026 at 12:51, pioneer Class 37 No. D6700 powers the 12:35 passenger service from Leicester North to Loughborough Central. Accelerating hard out of the station platforms, the 65-year-old English Electric 12CSVT power unit opens up under load, making a thunderous racket as its deep, resonant engine roar echoes off the cutting walls. Emitting a fine haze of diesel exhaust, the pioneer locomotive leads the five-coach formation—comprising the two maroon suburban carriages and three blood and custard Mark 1s—charging along the double-track mainline through the cutting towards Quorn & Woodhouse and Loughborough on a warm, sunny autumn afternoon.

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