A Class 25 works through Newton on Ayr light engine on April 27th 1981. For a larger view of the picture click here. For notes on the identification of the locomotive in this photograph, please see the story towards the bottom of the page.

1963
D5201 was constructed at Derby Works between February & May 1963. A photograph of D5201 & D5202 by the Test House at Derby on May 19th 1963 shows the very ex-works pair displaying the 1T48 headcode. This was the headcode for the test train which would take the new locomotives, either singly or in pairs on a trip to Corby with a rake of coaching stock. D5201 would released to traffic during June, allocated to 18A.

1964
D5201 was transfered to 16D during February.

D5201, date and location unknown. Although somewhat grubby in this view it carries the livery as delivered when new from Derby Works. In particular the yellow warning with its covered upper corners and it extending all the way down to the buffer beam. Photograph courtesy Malcolm Braim

1965
D5201 was noted at Derby Works during April.

Strike one for D5201, most likely seen at Derby Works requiring attention to cab damage. It still carries its factory paint from delivery, though now much the worse for wear. Also one of the blue data panels has been affixed to the locomotive, in a rather odd position. Photograph courtesy Allan Wood.

During the high summer (July through September) a shortage of DMU's affected the 13.00 Birmingham - Derby, this led to many locomotive hauled substitutions, usually behinds Peaks or Type 2’s, locomotivess used included D7558 (July 7th), D5201 (July 8th), D5294 (July 9th) & D102 (August 8th).

1966
June 1st found D5201 in charge of the 14.27 Sheffield - Nottingham.

Derby Works was visited by D5201 during December.

1967
The 16.18 Leeds - Sheffield was worked throughout by D5201 on May 31st.

During October D5201 was transferred to Allerton (8F).

1970
5201 was present at Derby Works during January & February.

April 19th saw the opening of Crewe Electric Depot to the public. Amongst the regular electric stock were visiting locomotives 5084 & 5201, E26013 and HS4000 ‘Kestrel’.

On June 6th a Gourock - York return ‘Saga’ special was powered throughout by 5201 & 7634.

On August 22nd 1970 Wigan Springs Branch depot held an Open Day event, which was publicised by the BBC. 5207 was on hand to provide visitor with a short ride, whilst 5201 was used to allow visitors to see the cab and driving controls of a Class 25. Photograph courtesy Kestrel Railway Books (HS)

1973
5201 was noted at Derby Works during April.

Longsight became 5201's new home during September.

1974
During a visit to Derby Works between December 1974 and January 1975 25051 was fitted with dual-brake equipment.

On July 6th 25051 & 25049 worked 09.19 Manchester Piccadilly - Yarmouth as far as Lincoln Central, replaced here by 31150. The Class 25's returned with the balancing working, the 09.15 ex Yarmouth.

1975
On June 17th 25051 & 25053 brought the Royal Train empty stock back from Edinburgh to Wolverton.

1976
25051 was noted in Derby Works during February.

25051 was transferred to Cricklewood during October.

1977
Two weekends in August found 25051 on day trips to the seaside. On 6th it worked the 08.52 Leicester - Skegness forward from Nottingham with 25090, having replaced 25090 and 25267. They worked the return leg to Nottingham, being replaced here by the original pair. Two weeks later on 20th 25051 and 25067 worked the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth as far as Norwich, returning from there with the return leg, the 14.15 ex-Yarmouth.

1979

25051 was noted at Derby Works during April to June to receive an intermediate repair which included repairs to a damaged cab.

	25051 is stabled at Old Oak Common on March 23rd 1979 with collision damage to the cab. It is presumed the collision occurred whilst 25051 was handling a working to Acton Yard. Photograph courtesy Brian Daniels
	25051 sits at Deadmans Lane awaiting entry into Derby Works for some very obvious repairs.

On September 16th engineering works required the power to be off on the WCML between Rugby and Bletchley, during the morning 25051 was noted assisting two Class 310 locals services over the dead section.

1980

On June 21st 25051 & 25071 worked the 08.02 Walsall - Yarmouth as far as Norwich and return from there with the 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby.

During July 25051 was transferred to Bescot.

It was a round trip over the Cambrian lines for 25051 & 25242 on September 13th working the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Birmingham New Street and coming back with the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.

A wonderful portrait of 25051 (& 25095) at Crewe, date unknown. The condition suggests it is not too long out of Derby Works after its intermediate & collision repairs during the Spring of 1979. And its not yet received the dent on the driver's side of the cab which would stay with the locomotive until its withdrawal. Photograph collection of Rex Conway.

1981
On April 27th 25051 set out on the 18.35 Birmingham New Street - Norwich but got no further than Washwood Heath before failing and was replaced here by 31179. The next day the Class 31 hauling the 13.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich failed at Leicester, here 25051 took over as far as?

A Wellingborough - Aberystwyth and return mystery excursion was worked throughout by 25051 & 25182 on June 14th.

A Poole - Newcastle working on August 13th expired at Fenny Compton with a failed Class 47, the service was worked forward to Birmingham New Street by 25051.

September 20th's unadvertised 02.15 Euston - Hemel Hempstead was worked by 25051. Four days later 25051 & 25178 were noted at the Motorail terminal at Kensington Olympia, no doubt set to work one or more of the services.

The 08.05 Birmingham New Street - Norwich service on October 27th set out behind 25051, quite how far it got is not recorded.

December 29th saw a Southport - Bewdley charter utilise 25051 & 25058 from Birmingham New Street to Bewdley, it is assumed this pair returned the charter back to New Street for electric traction onward.

1982
A late afternoon Manchester – Newcastle relief ran behind 25051 & 25152 on January 10th, one hopes the boiler in 25051 was operating. Six days later 25051 and now attached to 25140 was noted in the snow at Thornaby, see photo below.

25051 & 25140 at Thornaby on January 16th 1982. Interestingly two correspondents provided views whilst 25051 was laying over at Thornaby on this date, both are excellent, I just liked the close up detail on this one, including the painted over dent on the cab front. Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover.

February 22nd's 18.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich was worked by 25051 as far as March.

May 22nd's 18.37 Birmingham New Street - Norwich set out behind 25072 but this was replaced at Leicester by 25051 for the remainder of the run to Norwich.

On June 11th 25051 worked the 19.26 Bangor - Manchester Victoria throughout.

The 07.38 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth on July 24th was worked by 25051 & 25060, they returned with the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston as far as Wolverhampton.

During September 25051 was noted at Derby Works for N4 repairs.

1983
The year had only just begun when 25051 assisted the 08.04 Birmingham New Street - Norwich on January 8th from Leicester to Peterborough after the train locomotive 31217 was failed due to no heat. At Peterborough 31163 took the train forward.

Engineering work on March 6th on the WCML in Staffordshire saw the 23.55 Glasgow Central - Bristol Temple Meads diverted via Cannock and hauled by 25051 & 47432 between Stafford and Birmingham New Street. Three days later a recently instituted Banbury – Hull grain working which had attracted a variety of motive power featured 31217 & 25051.

On July 2nd 25051 hauled the 08.30 Glasgow Central - Blackpool on its last leg from Preston to Blackpool. Four days later 25051 had charge of the 21.44 Preston - Liverpool which was part of the 18.20 Glasgow - Manchester.

The Burntisland Bellower Railtour on October 1st whose return leg commenced from Edinburgh with a destination of Sheffield utilised 25051 & 25239 between Carlisle and Newcastle. The railtour went ahead behind 31291 & 31327 whilst the Class 25’s returned to Carlisle with an ecs working.

25051 was noted at Derby Works from December 1983 to January 1984 for N6 repairs.

1984
After the appalling service levels from the Class 25’s during the summer of 1983 over the Cambrian lines all locomotive hauled trains over this route were to be powered by Class 25’s supplied by Bescot, no longer would other depot’s Type 2’s be allowed beyond Wolverhampton/Shrewsbury. It appears that 25051 did not work any Cambrian Line services this summer.

On July 29th the 07.40 Euston - Liverpool required assistance between Bletchley and Rugby due to the power being off for engineering work, train engine 85017 was assisted by 25051.

Westbound at Manchester Victoria, August 14th 1984. Photograph courtesy Phillip Moore

1985
If 1985 was going to be the last year in service for 25051 it certainly covered a variety of routes on its final passengers workings. The first known passenger working of the year was on February 16th when it worked the 14.40 Euston - Blackpool forward from Preston.

25051 and an assortment of other locomotives at Bescot on May 6th 1985. Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond

With the start of the new timetable on May 18th the locomotive hauled services on the Shrewsbury – Aberystwyth line were taken over by Class 37’s with 37251 in charge of the 07.53 to Aberystwyth, 37124 & 37186 on the 07.35 ex Euston and 37235 on the 09.35 ex Euston. Stabled at Shrewsbury this day viewing these changes were 25051 & 25276, later used to take the 13.40 Aberystwyth – Shrewsbury on to Wolverhampton. The Class 37’s were provided by Severn Tunnel Jct, reaching Shrewsbury on a variety of Cardiff – Crewe workings.

A DMU failure on June 5th found 25051 and coaching stock covering the 17.40 Liverpool - Newton-le-Willows and the 18.20 return.

During July 25051 was transferred to Crewe, this would be its last transfer.

The middle of July was a busy time for 25051, on 11th it worked the 15.45 Carlisle - Newcastle due to a DMU failure, four days later (15th) it worked the 07.25 Barrow - Euston as far as Lancaster, doubleheaded with 47447. The next day (16th) it worked the 16.45 Euston - Blackpool forward from Preston. And finally on 19th when 47319 failed at Chester on the 08.20 Newcastle - Llandudno Town 25051 was on had to take the train onto its destination.

On August 30th 25051 worked the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle.

25051 was withdrawn during September.

1986
25051 was stored at Kingmoor from at least April 1986 to March 1987. On March 9th 25051 was moved from Carlisle, via Crewe & Bescot to Vic Berry’s Leicester for scrapping, however its bogies were to be returned to BR for re-use under Marylebone based 97252.

Undated Views

25051 at Speke Jct. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson

The reason for the creation of this page is somewhat bizarre - creating new pages is usually prompted by the featured locomotive undergoing a significant event in its career, or the arrival of a photograph that just begs to have a wide audience. In this case it was a photograph that prompted the page, but it was of further interest when the photographer asked if the locomotive could be identified - the number was not visible in the photograph, the photographer having misplaced his notebooks that contained all the locomotive sightings.

The initial request was tabled until some free time could be found. Fortunately there were two things in our favour, the date of the photograph was known - April 27th 1981, and the photograph showed that the locomotive had hinged air filters meaning it was dual-braked.

The date was important because it was after both Derby Works & Glasgow Works had ceased classified repairs on the Class 25's. Thus details and paint jobs were very unlikely to change for the remainder of the Class 25's service lives, thus making photo comparisons much more certain. Additionally the differing styles in the way Derby & Glasgow outshopped their locomotives, plus individual differences - in particular the array of paraphenalia carried on the cab fronts would greatly assist in identification. The choice of locomotives that it could be was initially from a total of eighty seven locomotives, numbered 25026 - 25082 & 25218 - 25247.

Twenty four locomotives from this batch had already been withdrawn prior to the date of the photograph - these were 25026/029, 25030/031, 25040/043/045/046/047, 25052/053/055, 25061/063/065/068, 25070/074/077, 25222/223/225, 25232/238, reducing the number of possibilities to sixty three Class 25's.

The photograph showed the locomotive as having a boiler water tank - this would therefore exclude 25032 & 25242 - bringing the possibilities down to sixty one examples.

The hinged air filters clearly visible in the photograph indicate this is a dual braked Class 25 - this would eliminate the following locomotives: 25027, 25038/039, 25041/042, 25067, 25071/073/075, 25080/081, 25219, 25220/224 - reducing the number of possible examples to forty seven.

Derby Works and Glasgow Works differed in the painting styles when outshopping Class 25's - perhaps the most noticeable difference by Glasgow was the positioning of the locomotive number on the bodyside behind the cab doors. Derby in contrast always placed the number on the cabside beneath the drivers window. Additionally Glasgow began to use larger numbers which were carried by many of their Class 25's. Another Glasgow difference was the positioning of the blue star coupling code inboard of the buffers, Derby would always place them close to the cab corners. Some Glasgow locomotives were also outshopped where the skirt along the cab front above the buffer beam was not flush - there was a slight indentation where the cabs doors had once been.

Class 25's eliminated by all three of these differences were: 25229, 25231/234, thus leaving forty four possible examples.

Class 25's eliminated by the number and blue star coupling code positions were: 25028, 25034/035/037, 25044/049, 25050/059, 25062/064/066, 25072/076/078/079, 25082, 25226/227/228, 25230/233/235/237/239, 25240/241/244/246/247. This batch clearly identifies the former Scottish Region allocated examples that had received repairs at Glasgow, with these Class 25's eliminated fifteen possibilities remained.

25033 was also eliminated due to its number position, this left fourteen possible candidates and it is presumed that these had last been outshopped at Derby.

The cab front was next checked for detail differences - over the years the lamp brackets and other attachments found on this series of locomotives underwent change, particularly when the gangway doors were sheeted over. The locomotive in the photograph had two obvious distinguishing features - the majority of the brackets had been removed from the cab front and the electrification flash and the marker lights were in perfect vertical alignment. This was generally not the case particularly with the electrification flashes.

A careful study of the bracket positions on the remaining locomotives eliminated 25048, 25054/056/057/058, 25060, 25243. This reduced the number of possibilities to seven locomotives.

Several of the remaining locomotives had the electrification flashes in the wrong place, this eliminated 25036 & 25069, leaving just five candidates.

The alignment of the electrification flashes on 25236 was very similar to that of the locomotive in question but on close examination 25236 carried no paint date on the secondman's side of the cab front, the mystery Class 25 did have a paint date visible - four locomotives left.

Several of the locomotives left had obviously seen Royal Train service, they carried a small circular metal plate low down in the center of the cab front - this had been used for the two-way radio communication equipment carried on these Royal workings. 25221 & 25245 were eliminated because they were still fitted with the circular covers, leaving just two examples: 25051 & 25218.

Assuming all the above detail identifications are correct it is interesting to note that both 25051 and 25218 received classified intermediate repairs at Derby Works at the same time, in the spring of 1979. This would provide little help therefore in identifying differences affecting paint styles or other minor differences that varied over time. However 25218 received collision damage at Stonebridge Park, and surprisingly went to Swindon Works to have a replacement cab fitted. It was outshopped from here with a partial paintjob, to the replacement cab only. This is not noticeable in the view of the photograph at the head of the page because unfortunately it was the far cab that had been replaced - what a pity! From the photographic evidence accumulated the differences with the condition of the battery box handles and the style of the sandboxes carried by each locomotive suggest that the view is of 25051.

Unless of course you know different?

With thanks to Alan Baylis for the majority of the passenger workings.

Page added June 24th 2007
Last updated November 19th 2009

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