VERY RARE & PROBABLY UNIQUE VISITOR TO BRIGG

Railway enthusiasts gathered at Brigg station to see a very rare and probably unique visitor yesterday afternoon (Thursday, September 1, 2022).
A Class 37 diesel, of a design dating back to the late 1950s, travelled the Brigg Line while hauling a single inspection carriage named Caroline, understood to have Network Rail staff and also some train enthusiasts aboard.
This configuration formed a one-off special train as far as our local line is concerned.
Workhorse locos from the English-Electric company, Class 37s used to be spotted on the Brigg Line decades ago, hauling freight, and were sometimes employed on passenger duties and mail/newspaper trains, but never with a single coach in tow.
Back in the 1960s, these locos were known to spotters by their wheel arrangement (described as Co-Co) and were afforded a Type 3 mid-power classification by British Railways.
Yesterday's special train set off from York - still a major rail centre - and was bound for Immingham via Wrawby Junction and Barnetby.
On the way back it used the alternative route through Scunthorpe.
In some pre-publicity, the Branch Line Society promoted the visit to the Immingham Bulk Terminal as being the highlight of the September 1 outing.
The full route and times can be viewed here...
The footbridge provided a good vantage point for some of those who gathered on Brigg station to watch the train cruise through around 1.30pm yesterday.
Others opted to remain at ground level, on both platforms.
In decades past, private railway companies, and later British Railways from 1948, used to operate what were known as officers' or inspection saloons so managers could tour their domain and take a close look at tracks and the infrastructure.
These tended to be formed of one plush coach (kept for this purpose) hauled by a steam loco which was cleaned and polished for special duties.
The weather again being warm and sunny yesterday, Brigg Blog reflected on the fact that no Saturdays-only passenger trains have operated on our local line since January 2022, having been suspended by the train operator due to staffing issues.
So throughout this particularly hot and sunny summer, local users of public transport have been denied the opportunity to take an early morning train to Cleethorpes to spend a Saturday at the east coast resort before returning to town about 8pm.
The suspended timetable is due to be reviewed in December 2022.

PICTURED: The Class 37 survivor (above) passing through platform one at Brigg station yesterday, with a close-up view of Caroline seconds later (seen below).