Western Region 68s 1975 - 1979

I worked on the Western Region between mid 1975 - early 1979 as a secondman at Southall until Aug 1977, then at Reading. Southall drivers signed the Class 37's, the only Western Region depot east of Swindon at that time to do so. This was because most of the loco work at Southall was on oil trains coming from the Thames Haven (Purfleet) area on the Eastern Region or Hoo Junction on the Southern. The Eastern Region trains (usually to or from Ripple Lane) would sometimes have 37's rather than 47's hence Southall knowing them. I've found eighteen entries in diaries I kept that were with Class 37's. I didn't keep note of reporting number or time of train, only my booking on time.

03/02/76: 37215 booked on 06.23, relieved oil tanks at Southall station, and worked to Staines West oil depot (central heating oil) at the end of freight only branch from West Drayton. You would wait for the tanks to be emptied, parking loco in old derelict station as not allowed to remain in oil depot. Worked tanks back to Southall oil installation (they were usually combined with tanks there to go over in evening to Ripple Lane.

13/02/76 37260 book on 17.50, worked oil tanks Southall oil installation - Ripple Lane via Acton Wells Junction, Gospel Oak, South Tottenham, Barking.

04/03/76 37111 book on 06.23, relieve oil tanks at Southall station on Ripple Lane - Newbury Racecourse oil installation. Light engine Newbury Racecourse to Southall (getting to 90mph at Midgham)

16/03/76 37081 book on 06.23, worked what I noted as Parkeston - Morris Cowley freightliner (might have been carflats?) forward from Acton Yard, running round at Hinksey Yard I think. This was an Oxford turn but they didn't know 37's. We had an Oxford driver pilot my driver on the Morris Cowley branch. We returned light engine, first to Oxford station to drop pilot, then on to Southall depot where we left loco on shed.

25/03/76 37265 book on 10.05, relieve oil tanks at Southall station to work to Staines West. Empty tanks worked back to Southall oil installation.

22/04/76 37264 book on 10.05, relieve oil tanks at Southall station to work to Staines West. Empty tanks worked back to Southall oil installation.

06/07/76 37130 book on 08.30 relieve Ripple Lane - Thatcham oil tanks at Southall station. Colthrop Mill (Paper Mill) oil siding was on up side so go as far as Newbury Racecourse to run round. Light engine Colthrop - Reading West Junction via avoiding line to change guards. Light engine Reading West Junction - Colthrop Thatcham. Work empty oil tanks Colthrop Thatcham - Ripple Lane as far as Southall.

28/09/76 37215 book on 10.05, relieve oil tanks at Southall station to work to Staines West. Empty tanks worked back to Southall oil installation.

16/11/76 37265 book on 08.50, relieve oil tanks at Southall station to work to Staines West. Empty tanks worked back to Southall oil installation.

04/12/76 37060 book on 22.00 (03/12/76), worked Thatcham - Ripple Lane from Acton Yard at 00.30 to Ripple Lane via Acton Wells Junction, Gospel Oak, South Tottenham, Barking. Light engine Ripple Lane - Southall depot via above route, left on Southall shed.

07/12/76 37180 (W.R. loco) book on 22.00 (06/12/76) towed dead 47060 Southall depot - Old Oak Common depot. Light engine Old Oak Common - Southall depot.

07/02/77 37265 book on 08.20, relieve Ripple Lane - Newbury Racecourse oil tanks at Southall station. Light engine Racecourse to Newbury station to crossover and back to oil siding to pull out empty tanks and then propel these to Newbury Goods Yard. Leave these then light to Racecourse to put loaded tanks into siding, light back to goods yard for empty tanks and work forward to Acton Yard.

12/07/77 37259 book on 09.30. Light engine Southall Depot - Southall Yard. Oil tanks Southall Yard - Southall oil installation (other end of station opposite side of main line). Shunt Southall oil installation. Light engine back onto Southall depot.

31/03/77 37019 book on 08.20. Oil tanks Southall Yard (ex Ripple Lane), work to Newbury Racecourse (running round at Newbury station. Liht engine Newbury Racecourse - Southall Yard, pick up oil tanks (also ex Ripple Lane) and work to Staines West. Light engine Staines West - Southall depot.

02/06/77 37060 book on 08.20, relieve Ripple Lane - Newbury Racecourse oil tanks at Southall station. Light engine Racecourse to Newbury station to crossover and back to oil siding to pull out empty tanks. Shunt made at Racecourse this time. Oil tanks Newbury Racecourse - Southall oil installation to stable.

30/06/77 37091 book on 08.55 to cover Oxford turn (due to 37 booked). Parkeston - Morris Cowley freightliner + cartics worked forward from Acton Main Line (relieving at station) - Morris Cowley (presumably we ran round at Hinksey for Kennington Junction to access branch). Oxford driver pilotman on branch. Light engine Morris Cowley - Oxford station to drop pilotman, then light engine Oxford - Southall Depot and put on shed.

18/07/77 37142 (W.R. loco) book on 03.22 Cover turn due to lack of OOC knowledge of 37's. 37142 had worked previous day's Swansea - Paddington parcels. Light engine Old Oak Common depot - Acton Yard, then work Acton Yard - East Usk Junction partially fitted freight as far as Swindon Transfer Yard. Consist, cement presflos, scrap and a milk tank for Swindon, coal empties for East Usk.

15/02/79 37215 I'd transferred to Reading not long after last job and Reading drivers didn't know 37's except one who'd retained knowledge after transfer from another depot. 37215 had been failed and left on Reading depot by a Southall driver with low amps. We took it light engine Reading depot - Swindon Holding Sidings from where it was to be worked to Bristol Bath Road for attention. Surprising it wasn't sent back to the Eastern Region!

That was my lot as far as 37's (called by some at Southall 'Sixty-Eights' after their old numbers.

Paul Carpenter