Wherry Lines’ Class 37 farewell

Any day now the wonderful sight and sound of Class 37s top-and-tailing two or three coaches on services between Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft will finally come to an end, as the new Stadler Class 755 bi-mode units enter service.

For the past five years, the chance to travel behind the 1960s vintage “tractors” has drawn thousands of enthusiasts to the charming Wherry Lines network, where an added attraction has been its now doomed mechanical signalling (featured in numerous of my past posts).

With the tractor era about to end, and the semaphores also due to make their delayed disappearance sometime in the coming months, though probably not until next spring, this seems a good moment to share a few of my favourite Class 37 photos from numerous visits to Norfolk over the past three years.

A crowd of Norwich City supporters wait at Brundall on 6 May 2019 to join the 13.17 Great Yarmouth-Norwich, which was in the hands of 37716/423, on the day that their team was celebrating promotion to the Premier League.

37716/423 approach Lingwood on 6 May 2019 with the 11.17 Great Yarmouth-Norwich

37419/405 pass Brundall’s up Acle line distant signal BL35 on 20 July 2018 with the 12.36 Norwich – Great Yarmouth, formed of only two coaches

37419 Carl Haviland and 37409 Lord Hinton (in large logo livery) arrive at Lowestoft on 24 July 2018 with the 19.02 service from Norwich

At a time when there were two “short sets” in use on the Wherry Lines, 68003/016 stand at Norwich on 17 March 2017 alongside 37425/423

37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob and 37423 Spirit of the Lakes approach Reedham Swing Bridge on 17 March 2017 with the 14.55 Norwich to Lowestoft

37423 “Spirit of the Lakes” (front) and 37425 “Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob” arrive at Reedham on 17 March 2017 with the 15.48 Lowestoft to Norwich

37405/558 arrive at Norwich on 21 December 2016 with a service from Great Yarmouth

37425/419 depart Oulton Broad North on 1 June 2018 with the 14.55 Norwich-Lowestoft 

The top photo shows 37423/716 passing Chapel Road Level Crossing’s down distant signal CR1 on 6 May 2019 with the 12.36 Norwich-Great Yarmouth. Later that day the same pair approach Cantley with the 14.55 Norwich-Lowestoft (bottom photo).