‘The 37254 Fund’ was set up to continue the ongoing restoration and preservation of 37254 by way of providing volunteers and raising much needed funds to secure the future of the locomotive. ‘The 37254 Fund’ promotes the locomotive and the ‘Spa Valley Railway’ at various events across Britain and via the website. Not all of our members are able to work on the locomotive due to distances involved and other general commitments, however their support via membership of the fund is greatly valued. The Fund has been purchasing and overhauling components since the locomotive was preserved to enable the locomotive to continue in service long into the future. As the numbers of Class 37’s diminish it is becoming ever harder to source components and the Fund has formed good working relationships with companies that can assist us in our goal.

Our Bogie overhaul is well under way all traction motors have been removed in readiness for the next stages…

A quite significant day in the locomotives history occurred today (13/02/2009) as this would see 254 carry nameplates for the first time in her 44-year history. 37254 now wears the plates ‘Driver Robin Prince M.B.E’ measuring in at no less than 2.3 metres!

The 37254 Fund is very proud to see the nameplates worn on the locomotive and to be able to honour a true friend and railwayman in this way. An official naming ceremony will be carried out at a latter date when the weather is a bit finer…

There will be a charter train on 13th July at the Spa Valley Railway for my Stag Do, this will be a private charter however there will be some spare capacity on the train. If you fancy 12 hours of Class 37 thrash, real ale and summer sun then please go to the for further information. Tickets will be priced at £10 each and the remaining seats will be sold on a first come first served basis .

The 37254 Locomotive Group is both pleased and proud to announce that the locomotive which is based at the Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells, Kent is to

be named in a private ceremony a little later this month.

Robin Prince, a lifelong railway worker who is known to the Group (Robin has also visited a number of preserved railways) was awarded an M.B.E., in the Queen’s New Years Honours List, for his service to the railway industry. He has been a supporter of The 37254 Locomotive Group ever since the locomotive was purchased back in 2003 and has donated numerous fund-raising items and technical knowledge (as well as encouragement) to the Group.

Unfortunately Bob’s health declined recently, and the Lord Lieutenant of Kent presented Bob with his M.B.E. award at an informal ceremony – attended by Bob’s family and friends, present and former colleagues, and some hospital staff – on Friday 16th January. Sadly Bob died during the morning of Sunday 18th January.

Members of The 37254 Locomotive Group have discussed, over the years, the possibility of naming the locomotive if and when a suitable occasion occurred, and have agreed that Robin’s award of the M.B.E. would be an ideal occasion to name the locomotive – in line with the long-standing railway tradition of naming locomotives after railway staff who have completed meritorious service. Robin was asked if he would be agreeable to the proposal, and said that he would be very proud to have the locomotive named after him. The nameplates (one for each side of the locomotive, and being funded privately by former colleagues) are already being manufactured and will bear the inscription “Driver Robin Prince M.B.E.”

The 37254 Locomotive Group thought that it would be a very fitting gesture to name 37254 after Robin – a gentleman who has put so much into both the railway industry in his professional capacity and into other sectors of the community in his private life. On being informed of his award of the M.B.E. Robin said that he was “delighted and privileged and would like to accept the [M.B.E.] award on behalf of all railway people…”.