Perhaps a final chance to recreate a line-up of five Direct Rail Services Class 37s at York Holgate Works, fresh from the end of the Railhead Treatment Train services in mid-December, was too good an opportunity to pass. The organiser of this special charity fundraising event, Chris Gee, details the work involved in turning an idea into reality, and the many considerations required in advance of the event.
All photography: Chris Gee (unless stated)
Having an idea is easy. Putting it into practice – well, that can be just that little bit harder. Back in the autumn of 2022, I’d had half an idea about arranging a photographic charter with Direct Rail Services’ (DRS) Class 37s at York Holgate Works. I did nothing with it at the time and just filed it away alongside the many other ideas I have that don’t see the light of day.
Towards the end of October 2023, as the autumn season was well underway, the same idea popped back into my head. The Class 37s were back on the York-based railhead treatment trains and there remained the possibility that autumn 2023 could well be their last year on these circuits. I also have my own retirement plans for 2024 and realised that this might be my last chance to celebrate the Class 37s on the RHTTs at York. And sometimes, if you really want something to happen, you must make it happen yourself. Could I plan an event like this in less than six weeks?
The rail industry has a number of assets that are marketable and sometimes doesn’t always realise that opportunity. As an enthusiast myself, I knew there was great interest in the DRS Class 37 fleet operating during the autumn 2023 RHTT season – and I also know that railway photographers will pay to attend a well-organised photographic event.
Regular readers might already be aware of the great work that some Network Rail employees – like Jerry Dickinson and Mark Brid
