24020, 24021, 24022, 24023

D5021, 5021, 24021 with notes also on 5020 and pictures of 24020/21/22

A badly faded view of 24021 and 24005/022/024 (not sure of the exact order) in store at Reddish December 29, 1975. This locomotive shows the retention of the gangway doors to the end of its career. It also did not carry the BR 'barbed wire' emblem, rather this machine retained the 'lion & wheel' logo to the very end, its just visible at the far end of the locomotive.
1959
Derby Works delivered D5020 & 5021 to Ipswich (32B) during July. The annual Horticultural/Flower show (open day!) at Derby on August 29th found new diesels D2, D3782 & D5021 on display alongside Britannia 70004 & 9F 92165. High winds plagued the east of England during the last week of October, on 27th D5020 was struck by a falling tree whilst on the East Suffolk lines.
1961
During March D5020 & 5021 headed south to Stratford, though their stay here was brief, by May they were both at Willesden (1A). The transfer of D5020/21 to Willesden (1A) during May completed the movement of sixteen Type 2's (D5020 - 5035) between the GE and the LMR. This was made possible by the newly arriving EE Type 3's and Brush Type 2's upwards from D5694, and permitted more of the local services out of Euston to be dieselized. D5020 recently transferred from the GE returned to its former haunts on August 7th in charge of a Bletchley - Southend excursion.
1962
D5020 visited Derby Works during April. D5021 stopped by for a stay in October & November.
1963
In May D5020 was noted ex-works at Derby. Travellers on a party special on June 16th from Hemel Hempstead to Hastings hauld by D5021 had quite an adventure when trying to make the return trip time. The locomotive became a complete failure prior to the return leg, which had to be cancelled due to no other power being available. Many passengers squeezed onto a similar special returning to Watford whilst D5021 was removed to St Leonard's depot for attention.
1964
D5020 was noted at Derby Works during May & July, D5021 stopped by in November.
1965
In January both moved to Camden (1B). D5020 was at Derby during April. As the year closed D5020 - 5024 moved north to Bescot (2F).
1966
D5021 was at Derby during May, with D5020 noted in the workshops during June & July.
1967
Between April and August the entire block of D5000 - 5049 moved north to the Stoke Division (D05), with D5010 - 5023 going during June.
1970
An odd combination was noted late in the evening of February 13th at Wolverhampton when Hymek 7021 failed on the down 4M02. Rescue came in the shape of 5021, taken from another down working.
1972
On February 16th 5021 & 5033 were noted at Bletchley on the northbound 'Clayliner'. Normally an electric working the diesels, along with others were used to ease the power crisis due to ongoing coal miners strike. 5021 & 5033 were again in action at the southern end of the WCML on February 23rd, in charge of an Eastleigh - Oldham empty van train. 5020 - 5023 moved to the Manchester Division in March. 5021 was noted at Derby Works during September.
1975
In the big purge of the Class 24's during the summer of 1975 both 24020 & 24021 were stored at Reddish in July and then withdrawn in August.

A gloomy close up of the old emblom still carried by 24021, and a 'Not to be moved' sign, a warning not heeded too much at Reddish, every trip we made there seemed to find the Class 24's in a different location somewhere on the depot's tracks. I suppose being in store here for over eighteen months would make movement round the depot very possible.

Another crappy view, this time on August 29th 1976 on the other side of Reddish depot. The paint has continued its fade into oblivion. Behind 24021 sits 24024.
The end came on February 15th 1977 when 24005/20/21/24 were hauled away to Swindon as the 9X45 04.38 Reddish - Crewe - Banbury - Swindon special freight. Final breaking up occurred during April 1977, alongside pioner 24005 (D5000).

For the photographs below click on the small image to get a full size picture

Whilst the four other Class 24's were in a line on the east side of the depot on December 29th 1975, 24020 alias 5020 was stabled around the front of the depot, displaying it pre-TOPS number. As usual one of the first items to disappear were the windscreen wipers.

Its the east end of Manchester Victoria on a dull day as 5022 wanders by.
Photograph courtesy EA Woods

On a frosty, foggy December 12th 1976 (perfect weather for an early morning drive from Derby to Manchester across the southern end of the Pennines on the A515/A6), 24022 keeps company with 24005 on the east side of the depot. Since most dead engine movements were limited to four locomotives at this time, one of the Reddish machines would get left behind. In this case it was 24020 which ended its days at Doncaster rather than Swindon.

On arrival at Swindon the former Longsight Class 24's did not linger long. As they had left Derby Works eighteen years early, and spent most of their workings lives close together, so they would end their days together at Swindon during April 1977.
Photograph courtesy Neil Phillips.

Page created February 25th 2000
Page last updated April 9th 2005
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	Whilst the four other Class 24's were in a line on the east side of the depot on December 29th 1975, 24020 alias 5020 was stabled around the front of the depot, displaying it pre-TOPS number. As usual one of the first items to disappear were the windscreen wipers.
	Its the east end of Manchester Victoria on a dull day as 5022 wanders by. Photograph courtesy EA Woods
	On a frosty, foggy December 12th 1976 (perfect weather for an early morning drive from Derby to Manchester across the southern end of the Pennines on the A515/A6), 24022 keeps company with 24005 on the east side of the depot. Since most dead engine movements were limited to four locomotives at this time, one of the Reddish machines would get left behind. In this case it was 24020 which ended its days at Doncaster rather than Swindon.
	On arrival at Swindon the former Longsight Class 24's did not linger long. As they had left Derby Works eighteen years early, and spent most of their workings lives close together, so they would end their days together at Swindon during April 1977. Photograph courtesy Neil Phillips.