D6700
LIFE AS D6700
D6700 was released to traffic from the English Electric Vulcan Works on the 2nd December 1960, initially allocated to Stratford Depot. It spent its early days all over England with allocations at Stratford, Derby Research Centre, Haymarket, March, Thornaby, Toton, Gateshead, Tinsley, and many more. D6700 then renumbered as 37119 in 1974.
In 1981, she was allocated back to Stratford for a period, before again being transferred to Immingham.
37119 BECOMES 37350
A series of moves followed through the late 1980s and early 1990s. In March 1988, she had her last classified repair at Crewe before becoming 37350 on completion. In November 1988, she was transferred to Cardiff Canton and was later allocated to FPLW, (Freight Petroleum & Chemicals South Wales Pool) on the 1st January, 1989.
In 1994 she returned to the Eastern Region at Thornaby, allocated to FMDY - Trainload Freight North. She remained in this region for around 4 years, before heading up North and being allocated to Toton. Shortly after, she travelled up to the NRM (National Railway Museum) and received her first name 'NRM NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM'.
In 1999, she was allocated to WNXX - EWS - Locomotives for Storage based at Toton. However, D6700 was donated by EWS to the National Railway Museum in July 2001, where it became part of the National Collection. She then spent time at a few heritage railway lines, still remaining under the ownership of the National Railway Museum and was very well looked after.
NRM TO GCR
On the 11th February, 2022, an agreement between the NRM (National Railway Museum) and the HTG (Heavy Tractor Group) was created.
In a significant step for heritage diesel traction, a new loan agreement between the NRM and the Heavy Tractor Group (HTG) allowed D6700 to return to working order on the Great Central Railway. Final mechanical work and repainting were carried out by HTG’s industry partner, Loram UK, ahead of its return to regular operational use. D6700 continues to appear at diesel galas and on scheduled services.
Since then she has remained in traffic at the GCR, cared for by The Heavy Tractor Group, as well as being a guest loco for other diesel galas at heritage railways around the country.
