20137

20137 (D8137) is a Class 20 diesel-electric locomotive, privately owned and a permanent resident on the GWR. It was built by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows in 1966, part of the second batch of 100 Class 20s ordered between 1966 and 1968 — a testament to the type's reliability at a time when other early Type 1 designs were proving troublesome.

As a product of the later build, D8137 was fitted with headcode boxes from new, unlike the earlier disc-fitted examples. The Class 20's distinctive single-cab layout, inspired by American practice, meant that pairs were commonly coupled nose-to-nose to give the driver a clear view of the road ahead. Designed to work light mixed freight traffic, the type was a familiar sight across the Eastern, Midland, North Eastern and Scottish regions throughout its working life.

20137 was purchased from British Rail at Wigan in 1994 and transferred to the GWR, where it was returned to service in 1995. It has been a mainstay of the railway's diesel fleet ever since, now wearing BR green livery. Fellow Class 20 member 20035 was later acquired as a source of spare parts to help keep D8137 operational.