The locomotive was delivered new to Landore depot, Swansea. It was renumbered 37307 in 1974, and was selected in 1984 as one of twenty five locomotives which were converted to work passenger trains in Scotland. Refurbishment for this role required the replacement of the main generator by an alternator and the provision of electric train heating (ETH). Thus modified as a class 37/4, the locomotive was renumbered 37403, and transferred to Glasgow Eastfield depot. From Eastfield, 37403 worked the West Highland and Oban lines, and was appropriately named Isle of Mull in January 1986. In November 1988, the name was changed to Glendarroch, a fictional place from the then current STV series Take the High Road.
Increasing use of diesel multiple units on passenger trains and declining freight traffic reduced the need for locomotives, and Eastfield depot closed in 1992. 37403 was transferred to Motherwell. It was renamed Ben Cruachan in February 1994, and continued to work the west highland routes. The locomotive was transferred to Toton in 1997 and resumed duties in South Wales. Other than a spell from November 1998 to June 1999 when it returned to Motherwell to haul the ScotRail Fort William sleeper trains, 37403 remained in England and was put into store in 2000. It was subsequently sold to Bedale Railway Engines Ltd. (BREL). SRPS bought the locomotive from the BREL liquidator in 2008, and it was moved by rail to Bo'ness, where it arrived on 14 November 2008.
Full details of 37403's service history is available at the Class 37 Locomotive Group website, and details of work at Bo'ness will be found soon at the SRPS Diesel Group website. A public appeal has been launched to support purchase and return to service - we welcome your practical support of this project, which can make a real difference to when 37403 returns to service.
