SRPS / LSL Class 37s in Fife, April - May 2026

 

On 29th April, there was a test run to shake down a set of 7 SRPS Mk 1 coaches following fitment of CDL (Central Door Locking), seen to the east of Dalgety Bay station,


37403 Isle of Mull was leading 5Z25 11:14 Bo'ness Jn Exchange Sdg - Lochgelly, which then proceeded as 5Z26 via Dunfermline, Longannet, Alloa, Stirling and Falkirk back to Bo'ness. While 37025 had been expected in earlier planning, it was under repair at Bo'ness with parts awaited.

37401 Mary Queen of Scots + 37403 passing Aberdour with 'The Garrison Growlers' 1Z37 06:01 Glenrothes with Thornton - Fort William, 1st May.


37401 had worked north from Carlisle Upperby to Bo'ness on the previous day. Delivered as D6968 on 17th February 1965, later 37268.


Passing the signal box, now used as an artist's studio.


37403 was delivered as D6607 on 22nd October 1965, later 37307.

FO 3150 was the last coach in a rake of 8, all with visible CDL lighting except for exempt RB 1730, seen coupled adjacent.

SRPS Winter Diesel Gala, 29th December 2025 Part 3: Resident fleet

 

Starting the day, seen about the time of sunrise, 26038 has been started to work 1M37 09:00 Bo'ness - Manuel.   


37261 sits on accommodation bogies while its restoration steps forward.


37403 Isle of Mull returning with 1M42 11:30 Manuel - Bo'ness, seen at Corbiehall.


The dmu, led by 51405, 2M44 12:30 Manuel - Bo'ness.

26038 was added to the rear of 1M47 14:00 Bo'ness - Manuel, with some reports that 37403 was poorly.

D3558 (08443) and North British D2767.

Bo'ness TMD-Home of The SRPS Diesel Group 

Special workings in Fife, 9th & 10th May 2025

 

In the Swietelsky variation of HNRC orange, 37405 passes Aberdour with the outward working of 0Z95 07:14 Grangemouth - Grangemouth, running via Leven to Dundee.


Returning later, after a second visit to Leven, approaching Dalgety Bay station.

20132 + 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea leading 1Z67 06:33 Leven - Oban.


The SRPS Railtours train was operated by Locomotive Services.


Running through the onetime location of Donibristle Halt.


37403 Isle of Mull on the rear.

Coaching stock reported as:
35185 AB2/1
3112 AD1/1
3150 AD1/1
80043 AK5/1
5912 AC2/F
13227 AA1/1
5991 AC2/F
5366 AC2/A
1863 AN2/1

Bo'ness Diesel Gala, 28th December 2024 6: Class 37s

 

37403 Isle of Mull awaits its turns outside of the Diesel Shed. The Class 117 dmu vehicle is spares donor 51372.


37403 after joining the rear of the train, connected to provide ETH.


37403 departing on the rear of 1M57 14:30 Bo'ness - Manuel, which was 66310's first passenger working.

37261 is now on accommodation bogies as restoration continues by the Scottish Thirty-Seven Group.

The bogies look like those from a Class 314 emu.

"Bo'ness Xmas Explorer" 30th December 2024

37403 Isle of Mull + LSL push-pull set + 47712 (as 47709 The Lord Provost)
1Z47 0810 Bo'ness Jn Exchange Sdg- Edinburgh - Kirkcaldy - Dunfermline - Alloa - Stirling - Glasgow Queen Street - Perth - Motherwell - Carlisle - Crewe

The first SRPS Railtour since March 2023, operated by Locomotive Services.

Running through Aberdour on a blustery day.

DBSO 9707 leading the push-pull set.

47712 on the rear of the train.

Heading away in the Burntisland direction, the 1E15 Azuma was just around the corner.

Bo'ness Diesel Gala, 28th December 2024 3: 47712

47712 was posing as 47709 The Lord Provost on one side, and 47711 Greyfriars Bobby on the other.

Ready in the platform at 08:16 at Bo'ness, attached to the push-pull set.


Another angle at the same time.


The 08:45 to Manuel was worked as a push-pull, controlled from the DBSO. Seen after arrival at Manuel, and awaiting coupling up to guest loco 70806.

Arriving at Bo'ness with 2M50 10:35 Manuel - Bo'ness

Once again waiting in the platform.

In the sidings after relief as train heating loco by 37403.

SRPS Diesel Gala, 29th December 2023. Part 3: SRPS locos on the train

 

Just on sunrise, at 08:44, 27001 comes off the shed at Bo'ness to start the day.


It then attached to the stock, although the coupling up took some time to accomplish.


37403 Isle of Mull on the rear of the train, as it is shunted forward before running back into the platform.


37403 returning back into Bo'ness on a middle of day working from Manuel, in a low sun at the more northerly latitudes.


The locomotives then swapped ends, here 27001 is coming off the train.

37403 departs from Bo'ness with a train for Manuel.

SRPS Diesel Gala, 29th December 2023. Part 1: Class 70s

70807 and 70813 courtesy of Colas, from local layover at Grangemouth, seen on Facebook on arrival at Manuel. Both saw their first passenger workings.

70813, coupled next to 27001, departing from Bo'ness.


The same working returns, with 70807 leading 37403 Isle of Mull into Bo'ness. Both 70s came off at this point, to allow classic traction run up the hill for the next move.

70813 and 70807 were then posed in the station.

70807 has lost its lamp iron at this end/

70813 then moved forward to go into the yard area.


70807 was moved into the short platform next to 47643.

SRPS Diesel Group on Facebook

Eastern Scotland Miscellany, June 2023

 

66746 with 'Royal Scotsman' 1H79 13:45 Edinburgh - Keith, Hillend, 5th June.

Passing Aberdour at 04:49 on 8th June, 37403 Isle of Mull was on its second demo for GBRf on the sleeper, 1A25 Edinburgh to Aberdeen. This is now expected to be a monthly refresher, to allow 37403 to cover when the class 73/9 fleet is poorly.

73966 was only working as a translator, with 37403 providing the ETH throughout.

The cement empties now seem to only return in their later path these days, 6B36 19:25 Craiginches Aberdeen C.Ra - Oxwellmains Lafarge Colas, 70817 seen passing Aberdour at 22:09 on 14th June.

803001 of Lumo at Edinburgh, 19th June.

397008 was awaiting departure as 1M89 14:12 Edinburgh - Manchester Airport.


802214 would shortly depart as 9N14 14:10 Edinburgh - Newcastle. The rumour is that these units may go to LNER to release the Class 91 + Mk 4 sets.


43274 leads the NMT towards Aberdour, 19th June.

43290 on the rear. Both power cars were LNER regulars here until 2019.

66743 1H89 13:45 Edinburgh - Boat Of Garten, approaching Dalgety Bay, 21st June.