A FORMER War Department 0-4- 0DM, owned by members of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR), is being restored for use on the Derwent Valley Light Railway (DVLR). War Department No. WD 37 (later 70037) was one of a batch of 0-4-0DMs supplied by the Drewry Car Co in 1941. It was built by English Electric (Dick Kerr works No. 1195)/ (Drewry No. 2164), powered by a Gardner 6L3 engine of 153bhp.
It was moved from the NYMR in June 2021 to the DVLR’s headquarters at Murton Park, York for restoration to working order. This is being financed by NYMR’s York Area Group (YAG) and the work undertaken mainly by DVLR volunteers. When completed the loco will remain on loan to the DVLR, and after being fitted with a vacuum exhauster will be used on passenger trains.