Class 37 Diesel Double Header
- Thread starter Ryewolf
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- Steve, Coventry, England
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Strange seeing this, About two weeks ago I was shown a short video of a type 37 in Coventry, probably from the early 70s.
Looking at it, I thought this looks different to a type 37, then discovered that SA also had a type 37, but built by General Electric in SA.
The SA version is also diesel-electric, but about twice the HP, and the biggest difference is the sound, it has quite a growl as it has a two stoke engine I believe.
I know little about trains, except to get in one end of a journey and out the other, but I do remember travelling from Truro to London on steam, and later on diesel-electric, and when I arrived in SA in 1972, was surprised to see all the overhead wire for electric trains, and on returning to the UK in 2022, found the same had happened here
Though I am told now that electric trains are rarely used in SA, no electricity, or cables stolen!
Photos like this bring back loads of random memories, as well as being a great photo
Looking at it, I thought this looks different to a type 37, then discovered that SA also had a type 37, but built by General Electric in SA.
The SA version is also diesel-electric, but about twice the HP, and the biggest difference is the sound, it has quite a growl as it has a two stoke engine I believe.
I know little about trains, except to get in one end of a journey and out the other, but I do remember travelling from Truro to London on steam, and later on diesel-electric, and when I arrived in SA in 1972, was surprised to see all the overhead wire for electric trains, and on returning to the UK in 2022, found the same had happened here
Though I am told now that electric trains are rarely used in SA, no electricity, or cables stolen!Photos like this bring back loads of random memories, as well as being a great photo
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- Steve, Coventry, England
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"That sounds more like a Deltic which has a two stroke Napier engine and looks like a larger version of a 37. They have a distinctive growl. I've not heard of the SA version although some 37's do sometimes have a different power unit to the English Electric ones."
The series are both named 37, but the units are different, the SA one has an EMD 645 engine.
I happened to know there was a type 37 in SA, as a friend used to drive one, I didn't know about the UK one until a short while ago, I don't suppose there's much connection between them apart from the series number.
"I'm glad I didn't have to pay for fuel for either of these as the hold 900 gallons.. each..."
The SA one held about 1700 gallons
I wonder how far either could travel on a full tank
The series are both named 37, but the units are different, the SA one has an EMD 645 engine.
I happened to know there was a type 37 in SA, as a friend used to drive one, I didn't know about the UK one until a short while ago, I don't suppose there's much connection between them apart from the series number.
"I'm glad I didn't have to pay for fuel for either of these as the hold 900 gallons.. each..."
The SA one held about 1700 gallons
I wonder how far either could travel on a full tank
