Class 37 Running Weekend - Return of the Tractor - PBR - 06/09/25 + 07/09/25

The Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway had a diesel running weekend on Saturday 6th September, 2025 and Sunday 7th September, 2025, where the recent new addition to the railway's diesel fleet, privately-owned Class 37 D6729 (37029), was used to run trains over the weekend, giving the steam department time to prepare for the forthcoming Annual Steam Gala weekend.

37029 was bought in private from the Epping Ongar Railway in December 2024, and arrived at the PBR in that same month. 37029 ran on the railway several times throughout the 2025 season, including taking over for steam on one of the 'Extinct Express' events due to hot dry weather conditions, and making its debut in service during the Coal Train Weekend in May 2025.

In this video, it was the very first time in over 12 years that we have seen a Class 37 running passenger trains on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway in full, as the last time that a Class 37 had ran in service at the PBR was in May 2013 when 37219 worked top and tail with Austerity 71515 'Mech Navvies', until both 37219 & 37421 were sold off in January 2014 to Colas Rail.

37029 performed really well during the two running days, and because 2025 marks the 65th Anniversary of Class 37s, this was the best way to celebrate part of that special anniversary, with the other part being the upcoming 'Class 37s Diesel Bash Gala' at the Severn Valley Railway that will be happening in October 2025, from October 2nd to October 5th.

Filmed on
Saturday 6th September, 2025
Sunday 7th September, 2025

Filmed and Produced by
Thomas Coombes

(C) 2025 S.T.C Rail Productions