Motive power in transition - a grubby, work stained D5187 is outshone by a smart looking Black Five No. 44682 at Nottingham on March 31st 1965.
1963
During the last quarter of 1962 Derby Works finally was able to lay down the frames for the first of a long line of Class 25's, begining with D5186. Prior to this Derby had been busily working on completing its order of Class 46's. The middle of March saw the delivery of the first of an order of thirty seven Type 2's from Derby Works (D5186 - D5222), initially delivered to Toton for further dieselisation of the Midland lines. Their arrival was most timely as the railways recovered from the extreme weather of January & February. With the mainline expresses and the principal fitted freights out of St Pancras being handled by the Peaks the new Type 2's took over many of the remaining freights, frequently found in pairs and using brake tenders. They were also joined in this task by the BRCW Type 2's.
Testing of the Derby Works built units included a run down to Corby attached to a string of coaches, the headcode used was 1T48, D5186 was noted on this working on February 15th & March 12th, whilst D5187 was noted on this working on March 15th.
1964
The locomotives were well travelled during 1964, in January D5187 moved to 2E whilst D5186 moved to Leicester (15A) during February.
D5187 visited Derby Works during September, at which time it was transferred to 16C, then on to 16D in October.
The continuing use of Sulzer 2's on the Aston 'Condor' service often found them pressed into service whilst laying over in Glasgow prior to the next evening's southbound working. They were frequently utilised on local passenger workings, a popular choice being the 11.25 Wemyss Bay - Glasgow service with examples noted in November being D5186/92/94, 7584/92/93.
1965
The Nottingham Division (M16) received D5186 in February, during June it returned to the Leicester Division (M15), along with D5187.
1966
D5187 was noted at Derby Works during May whilst D5186 was present during September & October.
1968
5186 was again at Derby Works during November, whilst here it was transferred to the Preston Division (D10) along with 5187.
1969
The New Year brought bad tidings for the Waverley route. The Type 2's had been frequent users of this route, but on January 4th the route was closed with BR expecting to save GBP 300,000 per annum after closure. The final week was not without its problems, the steam heating boilers of the various Type 2's continued to be unreliable, especially during this time of unusually bad weather. So affected was 5187 working the 09:20 Carlisle - Edinburgh on December 30th, 1968, remedial action by a fitter cured the fault, for on the next day it continued the passenger diagram, working the 07:06 Edinburgh - Carlisle and the 13.00 return.
5186 visited Derby during November at which time it was transferred to Willesden, joining 5185.
1970
Both 5186 & 5187 were at Derby Works during January.
5187 and 5297 were noted hauling the Stirling - Newton Abbot motorail on August 21st, a month later on September 28th 5187 was noted on the northbound service, this time with 5193, unfortunately its not recorded over what portion of the journey the Type 2's worked.
1972
5187 joined 5186 at Willesden (D01) during September.
1973
On January 13th Kings Cross was visited by 5186 & 5237 and 5641 & 5234 in charge of Leicester - Finsbury Park (for Highbury) F A cup tie specials.
Pairs of class 25's occasionally substituted for Class 45's on coal trains destined for the Kent area. May 14th found 5231 & 5246 on a Brent - Southfleet service and the return Betteshanger - Toton, 7557 & 5187 were used on 17th and 5272 & 5284 were used on 18th.
5187 moved north to Toton in September.
1974
The middle of January saw some unusual Class 25 passenger workings at Birmingham, on 17th 5292 arrived half an hour late with the 09.28 ex Southampton, the next day 5187 worked the 06.35 Birmingham - Leeds and 12.35 return.
Passengers on a Marylebone -York excursion on April 25th enjoyed the delights of being routed via Penistone and Huddersfield, the locomotives for the day were 25072 & 25036.
25036 returned to Willesden in May, then across to Cricklewood in August, it was at Derby Works during October & November, the repairs including the fitting of dual brake equipment. It was reallocated to Springs Branch in December!
1975
On January 18th 25037 worked a Spondon - Rosyth special including a sleeping car and officers saloon, during February it paid a visit to Derby Works.
March 12th saw the 06.43 Peterborough - Kings Cross arrive behind 31185 & 25037.
On April 4th two northbound services from St Pancras were Class 25 hauled, 25314 took the 17.13 to Leicester and 25285 & 25037 the 17.26 to Derby.
When the 12.20 Birmingham - Newquay failed at Totnes on July 26th 25037 was on hand to take over from Western 1012.
1976
On 18th February the 07.45 Cardiff - Newcastle arrived at its destination behind 25037 & 25239, presumably having deputised for a failure. The Type 2's returned south separately on parcels workings.
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25036 passes Springs Branch on May 18th 1976 with the 1L00 Liverpool Lime Street - Oxenholme for use by the Duke of Edinburgh. This is possibly an ECS movement?
Photograph courtesy Tom Sutch |
1977
25037 was noted at Oban on March 4th in charge of an un-identified passenger working. By March 9th it was noted waiting departure with the 18.10 Glasgow Queen Street - Dundee.
25037 was noted at Glasgow Work during August.
1978
Photograph courtesy Graham Turner
A gutted 25036 takes its place in 8 Shop to have all its bits put back together - seen here surrounded by many of the bits and pieces needed by the shop forces at Derby to make this happen. June 11th 1978.
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With one cab removed and the various 'holes' covered with plastic sheeting 25036 undergoes some sort of de-asbestos treatment prior to moving to 8 Shop. Seen here June 6th 1978. Photograph courtesy Graham Turner. |
April 14th 25036 covered for a failed Class 47 on the 18.26 Preston - Liverpool. April 22nd found 25067 & 25036 on a St. Pancras - York railtour, the return trip using the ECML as far as Newark, where the freight only Bottesford branch was taken. 25037 was noted north of Leeds in charge of the 16.05 Nottingham - Glasgow on May 9th.
25036 moved to Springs Branch in June.
From October 1978 to January 1979 25037 was at Glasgow Works for a general repair including the fitting of dualbraking equipment.
 | Standing in the rain outside Wigan Springs Branch shed on a dismal Sunday afternoon December 9th 1978 is 25036. |
1979
A Stranraer - Warcop troop special was noted heading south over the Settle & Carlisle line on May 5th with 25037 & 27205 in charge, later returning over the same route with the ecs.
1980
25036 moved to Kingmoor during July.
 | March 9th 1980, 25037 at Haymarket at about 7.30 in the morning.
Photograph courtesy A Forster. |
 | A weekend exhibition of rolling stock at Carlisle Goods Yard brought a number of locomotives and wagons to the public's attention. Seen here on July 6th 1980 is 25036. Other locomotives present were a Class 40 & 87. At this time 25036 had just been transferred to Kingmoor. |
1981
 | The Haymarket Coal Yard trip on January 23rd 1981 arrives behind 25037.
Photograph courtesy A Forster. |
 | Its just after noon on on April 8th 1981 as 25037 rolls into Millerhill - a second home for Haymarket's fleet of Class 25's.
Photograph courtesy A Forster. |
25037 worked the 08.10 Dundee - Perth on June 1st & 2nd.
During June 25036 was in Derby Works for N4 repairs.
1982
February 6th's 14.25 Edinburgh - Dundee was noted in charge of 25037.
25036 moved south to Bescot in February whilst 25037 moved to Eastfield in May.
The 18.44 Glasgow - Dundee was hauled by 25037 on April 20th.
With 25036 allocated to Bescot it soon made a number of trips across the Cambrian line to Aberystwyth on the summer Saturday services, those reported are 25036 & 25044 on June 19th's 07.38 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth & return 10.07 to Euston as far as Wolverhampton, 25036 & 25323 on July 24th's 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton & 17.15 back to Shrewsbury and 25036 & 25067 on August 7th's 07.38 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth & return 10.07 to Euston as far as Wolverhampton.
25037 was transferred to Crewe during October. 25036 entered Derby Works for N6 repairs in September, the locomotive remained at Derby until December when 25036 was withdrawn.
On September 19th from early morning to mid afternoon 25037 & 25044 piloted two electric services in & out of Manchester.
1983
Photograph courtesy Mark Cook
I have no date for this excellent view of 25037 at Aylesbury, but it really doesn't matter, they were frequent visitors for many years, provided by either Willesden or Cricklewood for a number of local jobs in the area. And they followed in the footsteps of the Class 24's which frequently passed through on Great Central services to Leicester & Nottingham.
 | The unfortunate 25036 stands amid lines of other dismembered locomotives at Derby Works on November 26 1983, having surrendered a cab to repair 25035! In this undignified state 25036 was towed down to Swindon where the end came in June 1985.
Photograph courtesy Phillip Moore. |
1984
Visitors to Newcastle from across the Pennines included 25181 & 25037 on March 8th's evening Hardendale - Lackenby freight, returning later with the empties.
The Cambrian coast beckoned for 25037 during the summer of 1984, two early summer workings were 25037 & 25315 on May 26th's 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and return 10.10 to Euston as far as Wolverhampton followed by 25037 & 25195 on June 9th's 10.10 Euston - Shrewsbury from Wolverhampton.
Photograph courtesy Steve Jones
25195 & 25037 wait for time at Wolverhampton on June 9th 1984 as they prepare to depart with a train load of holidaymakers, tourists and Type 2 enthusiasts bound for Aberystwyth, on what appears to be a gorgeous summer's day. Happy Memories!
25037 was back on the Cambrian for two further workings; 25037 & 25048 on July 21st's 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton returning on the 14.00 to Shrewsbury and 25037 & 25230 on August 25th's 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton returning on the 14.00 to Shrewsbury.
 | Happier times for 25037 & 25230 as the leave Shrewsbury on August 25th 1984.
Photograph collection of Ian Hammond |
As 1984 drew to a close Derby Works contained only two Class 25's under repair, 25037 with electrical problems - present from December 1984 to February 1985 - and 25234 for power unit repairs.
1985
The dispute which had led to the cessation of the breaking up of locomotives at Derby created the build up of a considerable quantity of condemned locomotives littering the Works. During 1985 this matter was dealt with by moving the Class 40/45 to Doncaster and the Class 25's to Swindon. This included 25036 which moved as the 9X12 Derby - Swindon on February 4th & 5th as part of the convoy containing 25036/049, 25150, 25228/253/277 25304/317/320.
During March Derby finally released 25037 after receiving a main generator from 25049, which had been withdrawn with collision damage. Its sister 25234 had been stopped here for power unit repairs but was withdrawn following discovery of more serious problems.
The monopoly of Class 47's on the 15.02 Manchester - Bristol parcels eased during the summer months with many Class 25's noted. On July 12th 25037 was taken off this service at Hereford to provide assistance to an ailing 33012 working a Bangor - Cardiff service.
Class 25's over the Central Wales line continued with October 5th's special from Kidderminster to Tenby hauled throughout by 25037 & 25059. As there was no way to refuel the locomotives at Tenby, the return trip was via Cardiff where 25296 & 25282 were waiting to take over.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer
Its November 3rd 1985 and times they are a changing at Toton. A fine portrait of 25037 as it awaits some sort of attention, parked behind it is a sign of the new order, a Class 58 sporting 'Railfreight' decals.
Over the Christmas break the only Class 25's in South Wales were 25037, 25288 & 25906 stabled at Severn Tunnel Jct.
1986
 | A work stained 25037 keeps company with some equally dubious looking locomotives at York on March 2nd 1986. By this time the Eastern Region were not happy about the operation of Class 25's on their metals and would endeavour to send them back to the LMR as soon as possible. Its a pity the LMR didn't do that with the 31's. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
On January 23rd 25037 arrived at Tyne Yard with a morning freight from Stranraer, the Type 2 then being diagrammed to work the 23.05 to Mossend
 | Its a sign of the times that in this view at Springs Branch on June 28th 1986 there are four Class 20's present. However front and center for a little while longer is 25037 with 20147 behind it.
Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover. |
On August 24th F & W ran their 100th tour, a re-run of their first trip in 1973. The 'Snowdonian II' (1Z37) starting at Paddington used 25201 & 25037 for the 296 mile round trip Wolverhampton to Pwllheli. An oil leak troubled 25201 but on board surgery kept the machine running. The next day proved to be the wettest August Bank Holiday on record with most of the country receiving at least an inch of rain, with some areas getting much more. Aber (N Wales) received over five inches, elsewhere high winds and flooding caused difficulties.
25037 was called upon to assist the 18.52 Carlisle - Sunderland dmu on October 13th. The service was terminated at Newcastle, the dmu was taken to Heaton, the Class 25 returning light to Carlisle.
25037 was at Gloucester on the afternoon of Dec 23rd, by New Year's Eve it was allocated to trip 9L74.
1987
By January 8th 25037 was at Crewe with a loss of power, after rectification it was noted arriving at Northampton in the early morning hours of 10th, where it was stopped with power unit problems. The locomotive was moved to Crewe early on January 19th and withdrawn later that afternoon.
By March 22nd 25037 was noted in the condemned lines at Basford Hall.
On May 29th 25034/37/95 25190 were moved as the 9L37 10.50 Basford Hall - Vic Berry, Leicester, 25037 was in Berry's yard by May 31st and broken up by June 14th.
With thanks to Alan Baylis for details of the 1984/85 passenger workings and Neil Cannon for the 1987 detail and to the many photographers who contributed views for these fine machines.
 | With a train load of coal destined for Whitemoor, D5186 approaches Peterborough on an overcast day, date unknown.
Photograph courtesy collection Ian Hammond. |
 | 25036 in well worn green livery backs on to coaching stock at Longsight, date unknown.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson. |
