The Preservation Years - 2003
37324 handled all of the GWR's Class 37 requirements at the beginning of 2003 whilst '215 was out of service. No major problems were experienced and the opportunity for regular maintenance tasks was undertaken with inspections of the bogies, traction motors and brake rigging etc. A few repairs were carried out including the replacement of a brake cylinder that was leaking air past the seal.
37324 leaves Toddington in pouring rain - 25/7/03. Photo by Peter Smith.
Some of the winter running included crew training and familiarisation with the new line that had been laid from Gotherington to Cheltenham Race Course. The loco was also used for the official visit by the Railway Inspectorate when the line was finally passed for public use.
A second storage van was acquired in which to keep more of the spare parts that have been accumulated. This is mainly to be used for '324 spare parts. Minor maintenance taks during the year included the fitting of a new cab drop-light window after the original one shattered when the mechanism gave way and the fitting of some new pipework and valves to allow the bed plate to be drained easily. 
37324 & 37215 pass Manor Farm - 24/10/03. Photo by Alan Grigg.
37324 also stood in for '215 at the Spring 'Thomas' event. We had to modify the faces boards so that the mounting brackets would fit on the nose end clips of the split box locomotive.
37324 sits in the North headshunt at Toddington - 09/7/03. Photo by Kev Jarvis.
The steam heat boiler inside 37324 is now fully operational and we are in the process of deciding whether or not the loco should have a very costly and disruptive insurance inspection. A decision will be finalised during 2004.
37324 & 37215 pass through the cotswolds - 11/7/03. Photo by Tim Farmer.