‘Goyles' vs ‘Tractors'

While ‘37s’ and ‘31s’ were both powered by English Electric engines, former 1990s Derby Trainman Tim Helme found the ‘Tractors’ much easier to deal with than the ‘Goyles’.

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I ADMIT to never really warming to Class 31s, partly because by 1992 they had replaced the far more jovial Class 20s on all Derby shunt, trip, and engineering jobs, but mainly because they belched out thick, acrid clouds of choking exhaust fumes on startup or when idling.

Preparing or disposing of a single loco was tolerable. They were straightforward and generally did not cause any bother. But get several pairs on shed or double-heading an engineering train during a possession, and they waged war by attrition… and often won in my case.

Once in position, an engineering train in a weekend possession might not be required to move again for the duration, so if there was a pair of Class 31s chugging away at its head, the unfortunate train crew within would be subjected to a constant sweet, sickly smell, often for 12 hours or more (maximum working time regulations had yet to be introduced).

These fumes may have been partially invisible, but their effects were not. Coupled with the relative inactivity and unsocial hours, they really contributed to the wretchedness of your condition.

Having multiple pairs to deal with on shed was no different, save for one ‘small’ point. Whereas fumes from an idling loco may have been partially invisible, fumes from ones started from cold most certainly were not! My shed mate and I once started a pair each in the New Sidings at the rear of 4 Shed, and Derby station disappeared in a choking, oily fog for several minutes. It must have been a shock for any waiting passengers too, and the environmentalists would have loved it (not!).