Spot hire company Europhoenix has taken delivery of the three Class 37s – 37069, 37218 and 37423 – which were purchased from former owner Direct Rail Services at the end of last year.
The three locomotives were moved from DRS’ Crewe Gresty Bridge depot to UK Rail Leasing’s facility at Leicester on December 29, with Rail Operations Group’s 37611 Denise and 37901 Mirrlees Pioneer utilised to top-and-tail the convoy.
Europhoenix managing director Glenn Edwards told Railways Illustrated in early January that the company plans to return all three to service but has yet to carry out detailed assessments to establish the level of work required, but he hoped they would be reactivated sooner rather than later. Initial work will see the obsolete DRS branding removed from the bodysides.
37218 is operational and being utilised for shunting duties at Leicester, while 37069 and 37423 are currently unserviceable with some minor components missing, which will be replaced before they are reactivated. The Class 37/4 requires new wheelsets and Mr Edwards said it is possible it will move across to UKRL’s works at Loughborough to receive replacement wheelsets before returning to service.
Europhoenix already has six Clas
