CLASS 20
Vintage Trains ran numerous ‘Polar Express’ journeys between Birmingham Moor Street and Dorridge during December, powered by No. 7029 Clun Castle ‘top and tailing’ with a Class 20. Although No. 20142 Sir John Betjeman was used on December 1 and again the following day, it was No. 20189 that did the bulk of the work through to the final trips late on December 23.
The Locomotive Services green duo of Nos. 20096+20107 Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020 were in action on December 6 taking Blue Pullman Mk 3 Trailer First (TF) No. 41108 from Crewe to Eastleigh Works via Oxford. Next day they powered the 5Z44 09.47 from Eastleigh Works moving TF Nos. 41149/166/187 to Crewe between the translator vehicles.
Their shunting work at Peak Forest over, Nos. 20007+20205 returned to Midland Railway - Butterley on December 22, having been in the Peak District since arriving there early on October 17.
CLASS 37
With high output ballast cleaner wagons (HOBC) in tow, Nos. 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach and 37901 Mirrlees Pioneer hauled the 6Z37 12.00 Stapleford & Sandiacre-High Marnham on December 1. Both Type 3s retired to Derby RTC later that day and 37901 resided there at least until the year end. Meanwhile, No. 37418 was used for other 6Z37s such as the 13.22 Doncaster Up Decoy-Derby RTC on December 9, the 12.22 York Engineers' Yard-Gascoigne Wood six days later hauling a set of JNA wagons and a final trip for the year on December 30 with five MRAs from Doncaster to Derby RTC.
One of the Harry Needle Railroad Company Type 3s recently repainted into orange livery, No. 37607 made its first outing as such on December 6 hauling the 3Q15 22.10 Derby RTC-Darlington test train. Next day the Type 3 and stock reached Slateford and over the following 10 days covered much ground in Scotland reaching Dalwhinnie early on December 10 and Stranraer the following day. Meanwhile its orange counterpart No. 37405 had a quiet month with much of it spent stabled at Coleham depot, Shrewsbury, although there was a journey to Midland Road, Leeds, for
