DRS 37425 SRM
'The return of the Mirrlees Pioneer' The highly unlikely story of the now unique 37901 'Mirrlees Pioneer' has taken over 20years to rebuild and involved the locomotive passing through numerous owners. New as D6850, and later renumbered as 37150, in 1986 the locomotive was selected alongside 37148, 37249 and 37124, to become test beds for the proposed Class 38 locomotive, and became 37901-904. These locomotives were given a general overhaul, and fitted with the Mirrlees MB275T engine and Brush alternator, addition of ballast to become RA7, alongside reworking of the roofline to accomodate the Mirrlees engine; this stands out as this projects above the original rooflines of the Class 37. 37901 when released was renamed as 'Mirrlees Pioneer' reflecting its role within this research programme which would ultimately be cancelled. Following the buy out of the British Rail freight divisions by English Welsh & Scottish Railways, 37901 was stored as a failed locomotive in 1998. The locomotive was purchased for preservation and moved to Llangollen in North Wales in late 2003, subsequently moving to the Severn Valley Railway in 2008. Following a brief reported period in Colas Railfreight ownership from May 2016 to October 2018, Europhoenix bought the locomotive to complete the restoration of the locomotive including with its Mirrlees engine in June 2022, the better part of three years following purchase; a restoration which was lengthened due to the effects of Covid-19. After all the years, 37901 'Mirrlees Pioneer' is pictured in the bright sunshine at the Barrow Hill Roundhouse 150th anniversary, itself delayed by 2years due to Covid-19. #37901 #MirrleesPioneer #Class37 #Tractor #Europhoenix #RailOperationsGroup #ROG #BarrowHill #BarrowHillRoundhouse