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Lost in Franch--Forty 37's in 2000
During 1999 and 2000 EWS sent 40 or so 37's to the South of Franch on contract to operate the ballast and construction duties during the building of the TGV route from Paris to Marsailles.based south on Montelimar at Eurre. These are some of the shots taken during a week long expedition to do just that.
37058 and 37376 sit on a high embankment at Donzerre awaiting a path back to base at Eurre.This was the '2nd Line' track laying gang dropping sleepers and positioning them ready for the CWR to be fitted. ..37058 died at Booths on 29 May 2009 and 37376 also died there on 18 February 2006.
..10 march 2000..
Standing at Les-Blaches nr Orange waiting their turn for the ballast drop are (In this shot) a total of six UK 37's ---------- 37515 37803 37891 37894 37074 37162 .Upon their return later in the same year all were stored and eventually scrapped.37891,being the final one to go in May 2011,scrapped at EMR-Attercliffe.EWS really needed a lesson in asset management but unfortunately never got it!
..10 march 2000..
Mainline-Blue 37074 is coupled with 37162 on a loaded ballast waiting to move into section to deposit the load.37146 and 37137 were on the rear.There was a red flag placed in the track just in front of 37074 but as the train was deserted we removed it,took our shots then replaced it! Location was next to the A7 Motorway at a location known as Espeluche.Although the skies were cloudless the temperature rarely exceeded 10 degree C.Spring is quite chilly around here so close to the Alps. All the engines in this pictures except 37146 were disposed of by 2006.37146 is now preserved at Kirkby-Stephen by the Stainmore Rly-Co.
..09 march 2000..
A pair of Transrail Big-T's 37683/37693 plods steadily along at Chateanea dropping yet another layer of ballast on the new TGV line.Location easy to work out from the foreground road furniture! 37693 is no longer in existance having met its end in April 2011 after over 10 years of storage after coming home for France in October 2000. 37683 has been more fortunate having been bought by DRS and now sports their 'Compass Livery.Currently at the Crewe Heritage Centre stored on public display but looking quite immaculate!
..09 march 2000..
The 1st line track laying train was usually triple headed as seen here at Donzare.It had finished its work for the day and was waiting in the queue to head back to the main depot at Eurre.37796 was leading with 37261 and 37196 behind.The train once it got rolling had to immediately attack an incline far steeper than the Lickey Incline back in the UK.The sound it made was pretty impressive. Only 37261 now survives,stored with DRS at Barrow Hill.The other two both got broken up in 2009 at Booths in Rotherham.
..09 march 2000..
Still with its InterCity Swallow livery reasonable intact 37685 paired with 37672 sit on ballast train at St Andeol north of Allen awaiting its turn to drop ballast. Note the Colas Track Machine.At that time a name that was pretty unfamilier to UK rail enthusiasts. Not any more!. 37685 still works in 2014 but unfortunately wearing West Coast Sludge Brown whilst 37672 died at T J Thompsons scrapyard as recently as December 2010.
..09 march 2000..
The new French TGV line from Paris down to the Mediterranean was a swansong for many of the 37's that were sent there to work for the contractors building this section of the line south of Montelimar.Here we see a triple header.This was the lead tracklayer putting down the first of the two tracks.It would push out all the way from Eurre-Depot each morning to the railhead.I suppose it employed three engines not because of the load but just to ensure it didn't actually fail.If it did the whole operation would have ground to a halt. The Engines used today were 37796/37261 and 37196.Only 37261 survives today (2012) in use with DRS. The location was a place called Lapalud north of Orange. ..09 march 2000..
Can it really be nearly 20 years ago we had an expedition to this area nr Orange in the South of France to picture the ex-pat Class 37's working to build the TGV-high speed line from Paris to the Mediterranean. This is the rail-head track laying train working on the first track to be laid on the new trackbed.It was heading back to base at Allen having used up all its supplies by the end of the day.As can be seen it was getting quite late with very long shadows and a reddish tinge from the sunset appearing in the sky. The lead pair were 37515/37803 with 37891 and 37894 on the rear.Sadly none of these 37's now exist.All being broken up for scrap between 2007 and 2011. Of note is the Triscastin Nuclear Power Station in operation in the far distance. A landmark which would easily enable you to pinpoint this location (If you are interested in TGV's of coarse!)
..08 march 2000..
Dutch liveried Split-Box 37046 paired with 37238 stand in the sunshine on the embankment at Pierrelatte waiting for the Turkish ballast team to arrive so it can discharge its load on the still bare sleepered track here.Note the 2nd line had up to then not been installed. 37238 was scrapped after returning to the UK,ending its days in Booths of Rotherham in March 2009 whilst 37046 fared little better.It lasted a further 6 months before being cut in the same scrapyard.
..08 march 2000..
A pair of Transrail liveried loco's sit on a brand new bridge over the D59 at Feverolles.South of Montelimar.At this time only one track had been laid with no ballast or overhead masts to spoil the view!.
..08 march 2000..
Transrail 37100 minus its watertank along with 37077 head a train of loaded french ballast wagons ready for another days work on the new TGV line.Here it is parked ready to go at Allen south of the Eurre Depot along with several other trainsets.All had double 37's on each end.If you saw the inclines on this line you would understand why.The track is dead straight but gradients make the Lickey-Incline look like a slight rise in the track! 37077 died in Jan 2010 at Booths after 10 years of disuse upon returning from this job but 37100 has fared much better.After a full overhaul it now runs around as Network-Rail 97301 and is currently very active.
..08 march 2000..
Double 37's each end was the norm on the ballast workings out of Eurre on the southern section towards Orange.Here a typical working with 37685/37672 leading with a distant pairing on 37696 and37708.This place was known as Couvent-de-Beauvoir.Note the steep gradients.No need for TGV's to worry about these with many thousands of HP available. Of these four 37's shown here only 37685 still survives in active service with West-Coast Rly-Co.37696 lies derelict at Long-Marston whilst 37672 and 37708 both were cut up a few years ago. ..07 march 2000..
37515 and 37803 stand at Allen with the '2nd line' track laying train ready to depart for the worksite at Donzare.These trains were sent out in the early morning from the main Base at Eurre after being reloaded with fresh supplies of sleepers etc overnight.The line being constructed was the new TGV line from Paris to the southern city of Marsailles.The nearest large town to the worksites was Montelimar in the Department of Drome.
..07 march 2000..
Originally numbered as D6771 this dutch 'split-box' sits in the sunshine at Pierreletta waiting to return to base at Eurre after dropping its load of ballast for the then single-line southbound track of this new TGV Line.It was repatriated in October 2000 after the contract finished but never worked again.Eventually going to its grave in October 2005 at CF Booth's at Rotherham. ..06 march 2000..
37037/37074 stand ready to do the ballast drop on this section of line that up to now has no ballast whatsoever.Several passes being required to bring the ballast up to the required depth.This location is Allen situated East of Montelimar.Mainline Blue 37074 ended up being scrapped at Booths of Rotherham in 2005 whilst 37037 now leads a pampered life preserved and fully restored as green D6737 on the South Devon Railway.