In a fine night-time view at Crewe on March 22 1986 25058 drifts through with a trainload of low-sided wagons, 25058 is now in its last year of operation on British Rail.

1963
D5207/08/09 were delivered from Derby Works during June, and allocated to Toton (18A) as one of the large fleet of Type 2's involved in the replacement of steam on the Midland Lines north of St Pancras. D5207 made its test trip to Corby on June 13th 1963 with D5206, whilst D5208 & D5209 made their test trip on June 18th 1963.

During July all three were transferred to Cricklewood (14A), although D5207 returned north to Toton (18A) in August. Initially the new Type 2's delivered from Derby would remain only briefly at Toton, to allow any faults that might appear in their running-in to be easily fixed before they were allocated further afield.

Their working life on British Railways followed a pattern, initially used to oust steam on the lines north of St Pancras they would later move to the north west for a similar purpose to oust steam from Cumbria and Lancashire. Several years later these three would be part of the transfers used to allow the withdrawal of some of the less successful Modernisation Plan diesel designs from the Western & Scottish Regions. After these transfers it was a case of gradual retrenchment, with most returning to the London Midland Region to work out their final days. Their longevity was extended by the fitting of dual braking equipment during Works visits in the 1970's, and being boiler equipped also enhanced their usefulness.

1964
A further move for D5207 during March was to Derby (16C), whilst D5209 was noted at Derby Works during October & November.

1965
D5208 was noted in Derby Works during May, by July it had been loaned to the Scottish Region for a month, performing regularly on the 09:30 Glasgow Queen Street - Kings Cross as far as Edinburgh. After its stint on Scottish metals it returned south being re-allocated to the Nottingham Division (D16).

1966
D5207 visited Derby Works during October, followed by D5208 in November for a classified repair, this locomotive had been transferred to the Midland Lines (M16) during October.

1967
D5209 & D5380 made a seaside run on July 1st working a Loughborough - Portsmouth excursion.

During December D5207 was moved to to 8F as part of a series of transfers by the LMR to oust steam from its final stronghold - the northwest.

1968
Further moves to the northwest included D5208 - D5211 moving to Longsight (9A) in February, then D5208/09/10 quickly moving on to Carlisle in March.

During September 5207 moved to the Preston Division (D10), followed by 5204 - 5209 moving to the Liverpool Division (D08) in November.

1970
During April two of the featured locomotives were at Works, 5207 at Derby & 5208 at Crewe.

On August 15th a derailment at Kirkconnel closed the GSW route with services being diverted via Beattock. A Kingmoor dmu and 5386 with three coaches maintained the local service between Kirkconnel and Carlisle. Diverted trains included 5209 & 5202 on the 1S28 Blackpool - Glasgow, the locomotives later returning light. 5209 was soon back in Scotland, on 24th it was noted on an Inverness - Edinburgh working coupled to 5336.

An Open Day at Wigan Springs Branch on August 22nd received coverage by the BBC and for a small fee visitors could take a cab ride in 5207.

During November 5208 & 5209 were transferred to the Manchester Division (D09).

1971
5208 was transferred back to the Liverpool Division (D08) in May.

On December 12th 5207 came to the rescue of 439 at Edge Hill shortly after the latter failed on an afternoon Liverpool – Euston service.

1972
During January 5207 & 5208 moved to the Manchester Division (D09), although 5207 soon returned to the Liverpool Division (D08) in February. 5209 also moved in January, though this was a little farther afield, to Newport (86B) - it spent six months here before transfer to Bristol (82A) during July. These moves to the Western Region were to assist in the removal of the hydraulic fleet, particularly examples of the NBL products and the Hymeks based in South Wales.

All three visited Derby Works during the year, 5209 in March, 5208 in October & 5207 in December.

Photograph courtesy David Rogers
I don't recall now what goodies Christmas 1972 brought, but a shoebox full of views like these would certainly not go amiss now. 5208 & 206 stand at Crewe on December 16th 1972, not a snowflake in sight.

1973
On March 7th 5209 worked the 11.25 Poole - Newcastle forward from Birmingham, how far north it worked is not recorded.

1974
A pre-season holiday excursion from Leamington Spa to Paignton on April 10th was hauled by 25057 & 25074.

After almost two years at Bristol 25059 moved to Cardiff in May, but returned to Bristol in October.

Works visits included 25058 at Derby Works from June to August for a classified repair, including the fitting of dual brake equipment. 25057 was also noted at Derby during August for a similar treatment.

1975
25058 was transferred to Springs Branch during January.

1976
25059 & 25152 were unusual visitors to Eastleigh on January 8th, arriving with a Westbury - Fareham stone train.

In May 25059 moved briefly to Crewe, then headed much further north to Haymarket.

25058 was in trouble on July 27th at Colwyn Bay whilst working the 12.42 Manchester - Llandudno, barely making it to Llandudno Jct where 25148 took over, which also worked the 18.42 return.

25058 was under repair at Derby from November 1976 to January 1977.

1977

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer

From November 1976 to January 1977 25058 was at Derby Works under repair. Seen here on January 8th 1977 surrounded by various parts and other locomotives familiar to Derby, the locomotive would soon be out on the road again.

During its overhaul at Glasgow Works in the late summer of 1977 25059 was fitted with dual braking equipment and had its gangway doors sheeted over. Nearing the end of its overhaul 25059 is seen on October 29th 1977 awaiting a repaint.

The Penistone branch was visited by 25057 with a railtour on January 22nd.

25057 & 25075 worked a Liverpool - Bangor Easter excursion on April 11th. The Liverpool area was certainly no stranger to Class 25’s on passenger workings, they were frequently to be found working the non-electrified portion of Liverpool - Glasgow/Edinburgh services, often loaded to eleven coaches. So noted was 25057 on the 09.41 to Glasgow and 25060 on the 18.05 ex Edinburgh, both on April 8th.

25059 was at Glasgow Works from August - October for repair which included the fitting of dual brake equipment (see photograph above).

Blackpool North was the starting point of an enthusiasts special, LCGB's 'The Hadrian Rail Tour' on October 29th, taken out by 25047 & 25057, headed for Carlisle (via the S&C) and Newcastle. After running round at Carlisle braking difficulties were experienced on the run to Newcastle. Here the Type 2’s were replaced by 37111 for a circuitous run to York, where the Class 25’s regained control. They made very heavy weather of the run over Copy Pit, stalling at Cornholme and reaching the summit at walking pace!

1978
During a spell of really wintry weather 25058 failed on February 18th's 12.22 Crewe - Cardiff being rescued by 40177. On April 29th the 16.00 Crewe - Cardiff failed at Donington behind 25058 (or maybe 25055), coming to the rescue was one of the few remaining Class 24's, 24047 which took the train as far as Hereford where 47358 was on hand to take the train forward.

During May 25057 & 25058 were transferred to Laira whilst 25059 moved north to Inverness. As all three were now dual braked with operational boilers they were useful locomotives for handling secondary passenger workings over the branches in the Far North and South West as well as handling the more modern air braked only freight stock.

1979
Derby Works received two of the locomotives for intermediate repairs, 25058 during June & July and 25057 from December 1979 to February 1980.

	June 23rd 1979, just before noon at Millerhill, 25059 stands between two of its Scottish sisters. photograph courtesy A Forster.
	September 13th 1979, 25057 leads the 11.08 Paignton - Exeter past Dawlish, the tide is in and the summer season is almost over. 25057 would spend one more summer season in the West Country. photograph courtesy J Davenport.

On November 10th 25057 & 25058 worked the F&W 'Yorkie' Plymouth – York railtour throughout.

1980
All three locomotives were transferred during 1980, 25059 moved south to Haymarket during January whilst the other two returned to the LMR, 25058 to Bescot in October and 25057 to Longsight in November. For the latter two this would provide one last summer in the south-west, generally most visible on the local passenger services out of Exeter, frequently noted on the services to Paignton & Barnstaple.

A familiar location finds 25058 heading east with a local service at Teignmouth on June 4th 1980. This would be the last summer for the Class 25's on these services centered on Exeter. Photograph courtesy Dave Homer.

A glimpse at the TOPS report at midday on November 25th revealed 25057 was arriving at Springs Branch and 25058 was at Tinsley.

Two views illustrating one of the unusual features of the Class 24/25's, the ability to remove the cab as a single component. Here one cab from 25058 has just been removed revealing all the assorted internal fittings attached to the bulkhead.

Photograph courtesy Martin Bray/Phil Trotter
Its February 23rd 1980 at Derby Works and 25057 receives its last coat of fresh blue & yellow paint whilst in BR service.

1981
A look at the TOPS information for late afternoon on January 15th found 25057 on the 6T44 to Ashburys whilst 25058 was on the 8J34 Aberystwyth - Coton Hill freight.

Photograph courtesy Andy Key
Its the last day of January 1981 and 25059 is stabled at Inverness depot with two Class 26's.

The 'Easter Tommy' railtour from Liverpool to Lincoln via the Woodhead route utilised 25057 & 25083 for the out and back Liverpool - Guide Bridge legs on April 21st. Two days later 25058 worked the 18.35 Birmingham - Norwich as far as Leicester, 31209 took the train forward. 25058 quickly returned to Birmingham covering for a failed dmu.

25058 visited Derby Works during April for an N4 repair.

On May 2nd 25058 & 25214 were noted on the Birmingham New Street - Bridgnorth leg of a charter from Worthing, which had arrived at New Streeet behind 33056. The following day 25057 hauled a Bolton - Birmingham International day excursion throughout. Between 4th & 9th 25058 covered four trips on Birmingham New Street - Norwich passengers workings, its return workings are not recorded, possibly parcels or other non-passenger movements. At this time these Birmingham - Norwich workings were the longest scheduled regular passenger workings for the Class 25's, a trip of 174 miles. In between these cross country workings it covered the 06.30 Peterborough - Kings Cross on 7th.

On June 1st 25057 worked the 08.40 Carlisle - Glasgow Central and 12.40 return and on June 16th it powered the 17.42 Manchester Victoria - Bangor. This same date 25058 was yet again covering a Birmingham - Norwich working. By June 28th 25058 was on the other side of the country working the 14.44 Holyhead - Manchester Victoria throughout.

Bescot's 25057 was definately being borrowed on July 20th when it worked an afternoon Kilmarnock - Stranraer Harbour passenger service. The Crewe - Cardiff services continued to be dominated by the Class 33's with few substitutions, however 25058 was noted on July 25th's 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff and 25221 on 27th's 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.

On August 21st a relief Carlisle - Ayr and return was worked both ways by 25059.

The two recorded uses of these three on the summer dated Cambrian passenger workings began on August 22nd when 25058 & 25194 worked the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Wolverhampton, returning with the 18.00 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton, and 25057 & 25240 handling the same turns on September 5th.

On September 25th the Bletchley - Bedford branch found 25058 towing a dmu on the 09.10 service to Bedford and 10.00 return.

Scottish ramblings for 25059 continued during October, on 10th it was observed on an Edinburgh - Dundee working, by 28th it had migrated to a late morning Perth - Edinburgh service. And on Halloween it made three trips over the Edinburgh - Dundee route.

The 03.47 Willesden - Bescot freight running behind 25193 & 25058 became partially derailed at Bletchley on October 23rd. A burned off journal caused most of the train to derail, only the locomotives and some hundred ton oil tankers remained on the rails. AM10's 087 & 092 standing in the station sustained minor damage, luckily the fast lines remained open, though it would take three days to clear and repair the slow lines.

December 29th found a Southport - Bewdley charter starting out with 25056 & 25219 changing to 25051 & 25058 somewhere (Birmingham New Street?) in the West Midlands.

	Its been a year since 25057 was released from Derby Works, its February 21st 1981 as 25057 and friend await their next turn of duty from Newton Heath. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	Revealing all the telltale signs of a Glasgow repair, number behind the cab door and blue star coupling symbols inside of the lamp brackets, 25059 waits for action at Polmadie on June 7th 1981. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	Although the Eastern Region grew increasingly unhappy about Class 25's running over their metals there was little they could do about it when received on inter-regional workings. Here 25057 lays over at Thornaby on December 13th 1981. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

1982
The first passenger run in 1982 for 25058 was on March 23rd covering for a failed dmu on the 18.00 Birmingham - Derby.

25058 & 25177 at Cockshute on February 6th 1982. Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover.

Class 25’s could still be seen at Glasgow Central on passenger workings, principally the 8.40 from Carlisle (via GSW) and 12.40 return. Noted in March were 25057 (6th), 25219 (9th, 11th, 18th) and 25062 (15th), 25027 (24th & 25th) although 25219 was declared a failure on two of the days! April saw 25218 used on 2nd, whilst Classes 26/27 were well represented.

On April 20th 25058 & 25084 took over a Norwich - Weston super Mare excursion forward from Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads.

Late April saw the brief return of Class 25’s to Glasgow Works for minor repairs, so noted were 25059 & 25237 (N4) and 25247 (N1). However by late May operational Class 25’s would be gone for good from Glasgow Works.

On June 1st with the Pope at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow many specials ran including 25057 handling an eight coach special from Cumbernauld to Corkerhill, other specials used almost every class the Scottish Region had available. June 24th found the same locomotive on a morning Ayr - Glasgow passenger, whilst on 30th perhaps because of the NUR action 25057 worked the 21.05 Edinburgh – Kings Cross as far as Newcastle, replaced by 40025 with the Class 25 returning north on a parcels working. By July 3rd 25057 had reached Leeds, allowing it to be used on the 16.05 to Carlisle.

25059 was still out and about on the Scottish Region, on August 4th it worked the 07.00 Ayr - Glasgow Central followed by the 11.55 to Carlisle.

On the summer dated Cambrian passenger workings, on August 21st 25058 & 25206 worked the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street, returning with the 17.15 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. This same pair were active the next day on the 08.45 Birmingham - Aberystwyth forward from Shrewsbury, returning with the 18.15 to Euston as far as Wolverhampton. Whilst laying over at Aberystwyth they worked a round trip to Machynlleth.

A short working for 25057 occurred on September 15th when it dragged a morning Derby - Crewe service forward from Blythe Bridge after the dmu failed. On September 26th 25058 & 25157 worked the 13.45 Crewe - Cardiff throughout.

The Settle & Carlisle was traversed by 25057 on September 28th whilst working the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle, being used the next day to work the 10.00 Carlisle - Leeds & 16.05 return, the southbound working was generally a Class 47 turn but Holbeck seemed to send back a Class 25 on many occasions. The 28th's southbound service had been hauled to Leeds by 47459, no doubt Holbeck could better utilise it elsewhere rather than send it back to Carlisle on an undemanding secondary passenger working. 25057's last passenger working for 1982 occurred on October 4th hauling the 15.13 Manchester Victoria - Barrow and coming back with the 18.30 Barrow - Liverpool.

During October 25059 returned to the LMR, Longsight was now its new home.

Another gas pipe project in November brought pairs of Class 25’s from Leith South to St Helens or Warrington, the trains of twenty six bolsters required banking between Garswood & Shaw Street. Noted on November 3rd were 25176 & 25078 banked by 25109 whilst the next day produced 25059 & 25180 banked by 40090.

Bescot had been 25058's home for two years when this view was taken at Aylesbury on 20 October 1982. The locomotive was busy marshalling its train, the local goods to Princes Risborough. Photograph courtesy Mark Cook.

1983
On New Year's Day 25059 was pressed into service to assist a Leeds - Manchester Victoria dmu forward from Todmorden.

The 09.03 Cambridge - Birmingham New Street became a failure at Leicester with 37028 on February 2nd, 25058 took over but it too failed at Nuneaton, 25136 assisted for the remainder of the journey. On March 4th 25058 worked the 18.18 Birmingham - Norwich as far as March.

The third week of March found 25057 busy with passenger workings in the Preston area, covering a couple of Manchester - Blackpool turns on 18th and the 22.47 Crewe - Blackpool forward from Preston on 19th, 21st & 22nd. These short journeys contrasted with the use of 25057 & 25083 on April 2nd's day excursion from Manchester Victoria to Aberystwyth. Three days later it was off to Llandudno Junction on the 17.45 ex Manchester Victoria. One more passenger working during April for 25057 was 18th's 18.18 Birmingham New Street - Norwich as far as March.

From June to November 25058 was under repair at Derby Works for collision damage (see views above).

Photograph courtesy Andy Key
25057 at Sheffield Midland on July 19th 1983, the photographer has captured how platform 8 has some curves to it. Many an evening was spent at Sheffield Midland in your webmaster's early spotting days as we made frequent trips to Doncaster to watch the comings and goings of the ECML traffic. The return trip home meant the usual bog into Sheffield and then the wait for a westbound NE/SW service behind the inevitable Peak or Brush Type 4. On one occasion a Class 40 showed up, a brief word with the crew indicated they were getting used to this somewhat unusual power, when we left the train at Derby the Class 40 was still on whistling merrily as it headed out to New Street.

Class 25’s filled in on a couple of turns on the Birmingham – Norwich services early in July including July 6th's 16.14 to Norwich behind 25057 after the failure of booked 31421 at New Street, the Class 25 worked through to Norwich.

25059 & 25044 were used to rescue August 23rd's 17.10 Bangor - York at Chester after 45050 failed, all three were replaced at Manchester Victoria by 25262.

	25058 stands at Saltley on 26 February 1983. Still allocated to Bescot 25058 could be found on all sorts of workings in the Midlands including a variety of passenger trains, both scheduled and extras. It was occasionally found working the Birmingham - Norwich service at this time. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	Three months after the Saltley view 25058 is at Etches Park, showing signs of collision damage. A buffer is missing, the front skirt is misaligned and a close inspection of the cab shows that it is now drooping. At a time when minor repairs could spell instant withdrawal 25058 would survive a prolonged Works visit. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

1984
Passenger workings for 25057 began early in the year, on January 27th it worked the 06.10 Carlisle - Glasgow Central and 15.50 return. A month later on February 26th it worked the 12.40 Carlisle - Glasgow.

March 10th found 25059 & 25218 working the DAA Tours Northwest Rambler #3, over the Stoke - Leek Brook Jct - Stoke route. Two weeks later 25057 worked the 02.35 Euston - Bletchley passenger/staff train.

The end of March saw much continued activity of Class 25’s in the North East. 25181 worked a Tess – Scunthorpe freight (23rd), 25326 worked the Haverton Hill – Stevenston tanks (23rd), 25059 & 25064 the Stranraer – Tyne Speedlink (28th) working back with the Eastgate – Carlisle cement,

The first two weekends in April had seen a number of Class 25’s busy in the Euston area, shepherding electrics around engineering works between Euston/Camden & Willesden. On April 1st 25209/213/218/256 were in action whilst 8th saw 25057, 25209/218/236 used.

RESL's ‘Easter Highlander’, a twelve hundred mile enthusiast railtour over the weekend of April 20 - 22 provided typical ‘25’ haulage though of a mediocre nature. Diagrammed to handle the St Pancras - Derby portion the trip commenced behind 25042 & 25057, only for the latter to lose power almost immediately, becoming a total loss at St Albans. Heroic efforts by 25042 took the train to Bedford where 31118 was added for the run to Derby. On the return leg 25057 & 25202 were waiting at Derby to relieve 40028 for the run upto St. Pancras. All was not well with 25202 which expired, again at St Albans. Here the train was cancelled and the hapless excursionists transferred to a following service from Sheffield hauled by 45131.

The Ditton – Broughton Lane BOC tanks continued with its familiar pair of Classes 25 & 40, so noted were 40196 & 25254 (April 28th), 40155 & 25059 (May 5th) & 40001 & 25209 (May 15th) whilst an extra working on April 29th produced 25249 & 25262.

25058 & 25209 handled a round trip Oldham - Llandudno Town excursion on May 12th. In the last week of May 25059 rescued the rolling wreck of 31159, which had failed at Leeds with the 26th's overnight Shrewsbury - York mails. Not content with this fine duty it spent the next day with 25258 on the WCML taking the 15.55 Carlisle - Euston from Preston to Crewe and later that day working the 18.27 Blackpool North - Euston as far as Preston. Wanting more passenger haulage it worked three trains on May 31st, taking out the 06.30 Preston - Barrow, coming back with the 08.20 Barrow - Liverpool and finally the Preston - Liverpool leg of the 16.20 ex Glasgow.

At least four trips were made on the summer dated Cambrian passenger services. The first was 25058 & 25076 on June 23rd's 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the return 17.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury followed by 25057 & 25237 on the following weekend's (June 30th) 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth & 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston as far as Shrewsbury. July & August were devoid of these machines but September 8th produced 25032 & 25059 on the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the return 17.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. On the last day of the summer timetable for the Cambrian services, September 15th, 25034 & 25058 handled the 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Wolverhampton, returning with the 14.00 to Shrewsbury.

Photograph courtesy Mark Bennett
As mentioned in the text above 25057 & 25237 made a visit to Aberystwyth on June 30th 1984. Here the locomotives and train are seen at Aberystwyth on a dull looking day.

25057 and some hauled stock covered for a failed DMU on an evening Manchester Victoria - Southport round trip on August 24th. Two days later the 10.30 Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield received the delights of 25057 after the booked junk in the shape of 31296 was declared a failure before starting.

Stretching its legs in Scotland 25059 worked the 14.45 Glasgow Central - Carlisle on September 23rd.

On November 4th three Class 25's were present at Severn Tunnel Jct, their booked workings being 25058 to Bescot, 25284 - Gloucester and 25322 - Mossend. Three days later 25058 came to the rescue of 45136 which had failed at Miles Platting whilst in charge of the 15.10 Bangor - Scarborough, the Type 2 taking the service as far as York.

It was railtour duty for 25034 & 25057 on November 16, kicking off the weekend's RESL 'The Grampian Highlander', covering the first leg from St Pancras to Derby, here 46026 took over for the run to Newcastle, the Class 46 was deputising for D200/40122, and this run would be the last train ever worked by 46026! More passenger duty occurred for 25057 when it rescued 47119 at Bolton on November 30th's 15.20 Glasgow - Nottingham, both locomotives were replaced at Manchester Victoria.

December opened with 25059 working the last leg of the 4th's 11.00 Scarborough - Bangor which arrived at Llandudno Jct behind 45126 (failed) and 40181. 25059 returned with the next part of the diagram - the 17.32 Bangor - York, working as far as Manchester Victoria via Wigan. Deputising for a dmu 25058 worked the 07.34 Manchester Victoria - Liverpool Street on December 21st, also working this day was 25057 on the 12.28 Birmingham - Peterborough service. This had been a reasonable year for haulage behind 25057, covering seventeen recorded passenger/excursion workings with a total of 1,105 miles.

1985
The year was only five days old when 25058 filled in on a roundtrip Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield passenger working, on the outward trip the Class 25 was replaced at Sheffield by another locomotive for the remainder of the journey to Hull, being used later in the day for a trip back across the Pennines. The failure of a dmu on January 17th found 25057 covering the 06.00 Crewe - Derby.

Engineering work is the order of the day at Prestatyn on January 6th 1985. Nearest the camera are 25059 and 47201, in the distance is 25078. Photograph courtesy John Powell.

Two failures in February brought more haulage for 25058, rescuing 86252 on 9th between Stoke & Stafford, three days later assisting a Class 47 between Standedge Tunnel and Manchester Victoria.

On March 21st 25057 worked the morning Baglan Bay service, returning in the afternoon with a freight from Margam.

The failure of the late night Dumfries - Carlisle dmu at Dumfries on April 22nd could have easily seen the service cancelled, however 25059 was on hand to take the train out.

	25058 sits out a damp, overcast March 23rd 1985 at Springs Branch depot. Photograph courtesy Stephen Houlker.
	A view from the other end of a very damp 25058 finds 20113 & 25257 also present in front of Spring Branch depot, March 23rd 1985. Photograph courtesy Stephen Houlker.

On May 1st & 2nd 25212 & 25058 were noted on the Ellesmere Port - Severn Tunnel Jct bitumen tanks, in between these workings May 1st's 19.39 Crewe - Cardiff was handled. The following weekend on Saturday 4th an LNER Railtours charter from Euston to Aberyswyth utilised 25058 & 25078 between Wolverhampton and the coast. This was expected to be the last occasion for a charter to have Class 25 haulage over this route. The good westbound run saw twenty-two minutes recovered, with a six minute early arrival at Aberystwyth. On the return run with a promise of a challenging ascent of Talerdigg, all was not well at Llanbrynmair when thick black smoke started issuing from 25058. This occurred at the foot of the climb, 25078 began the ascent, dropping to about 15mph, the locomotive began to slip severely with speed dropping to walking pace. With a stall imminent 25078 fortunately regained its feet and started to accelerate, cresting the summit in good order and reaching Shrewsbury without loosing any more time. 25058 had sustained a broken crankshaft, a life-threatening failure for any Class 25 at this time, fortunately repairs were forthcoming.

Short passengers duties for 25057 in May included May 9th's 16.45 Norwich - Birmingham New Street which expired at Leicester behind 31413, a week later 25057 rescued the 12.02 Great Malvern - Birmingham New Street dmu at Stourbridge Jct, in both cases 25057 completed the journies into Birmingham.

25057& 25145 pass through Watford Jct on May 19th 1985 was a ballast train. The locomotive is certainly in need of some bodywork repairs and a repaint, but it would soldier on this condition until the end. Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.

Transfers in May, the first for quite a while involving the Class 25’s saw Longsight’s allocation of four machines (25057/316/321/324) moved to Crewe, joining them in July was 25058.

The failure of 86205 on July 22nd’s 01.15 Holyhead – Euston at Kings Langley saw 25057 coming to assist, but when the Class 25 attempted to return north light engine it too failed!

Repairs must have been swiftly applied to 25058's power unit as it was noted on August 22nd's 09.20 Lancaster - Carlisle from Barrow, assisting a failed dmu. The following day 25059 & 25206 worked a relief (from Exeter) between Carstairs & Edinburgh.

With the power off south of Bletchley 25057 dragged a Stirling - Euston service to the capital on the afternoon of August 30th. Continuing its wanderings 25057 worked September 8th's 09.08 Llandudno - Scarborough as far as Manchester Victoria.

25057 & 25058 worked a Blackpool - Edinburgh day excursion forward from Carstairs to Edinburgh on September 16th. A week later 25059 was also having adventures in the north, covering the 10.43 Carlisle – Newcastle passenger after the diagrammed dmu failed.

Class 25’s over the Central Wales line continued with October 5th’s special from Kidderminster to Tenby hauled throughout by 25037 & 25059. Even on the day it was uncertain as to what this motive power would be, and it was made more interesting by the train receiving a relief driver & pilotman at Llanelli rather than a locomotive change as in prior years. As there was no way to refuel the locomotives at Tenby, the return trip was via Cardiff where surprisingly another pair of Type 2's 25296 & 25282 were waiting to take over. Some days were very, very good............

The 25057 & 25058 combination re-surfaced on October 9th taking an afternoon Liverpool - Scarborough forward from York, despite the ER's known aversion to these fine machines. Remarkably they returned with the 17.55 Scarborough - Liverpool working through out despite a lack of heat, arrival being thirteen minutes late at Lime Street. By the time the train reached Leeds word had reached the rail enthusiast community of this fine working, with BR gaining additional revenue as admirers joined the train for the slog across the Pennines.

October 22nd's sand train from Oakamoor hauled by 25058 & 25213 became derailed north of Stoke on Trent station. 25058 ended up overhanging a city street, kept from falling by its attachment to 25213! The errant Type 2 was returned to the rails the following day.

Well if Class 31's can make a break for it onto the North Circular at Cricklewood there should be no reason why Class 25's can't go awandering too. With thanks to Phill T for making this available.

Photograph courtesy Martin Bray
One end of 25058 rests on timbers pending the arrival of a bogie following its adventures just north of Stoke on Trent station. Despite the continued steady withdrawal of Class 25's during 1985 somehow 25058 avoided withdrawal yet again.

One final passenger working for 25058 during 1985 involved the rescue of 45136 on November 8th whilst working the 15.10 Bangor - Scarborough, the Class 25 assisting between Manchester Victoria & York.

The year ended with the Shrewsbury - York mail again in trouble, 47538 requiring assistance on December 4th from 25059, which worked the train from Shrewsbury to Crewe.

1986
25059 provided assistance from Prestatyn on January 4th to an ailing 47531 on the 01.00 Holyhead - Crewe. Also in January 25057 rescued two passenger services, firstly assisting an HST between Stone & Stafford on January 7th and then a dmu between Stourbridge Junction & Langley Green on 10th. By late January 25057 was noted in the Exeter area, working early morning Cartics from Severn Tunnel Jct on 23rd & 29th.

Working west on a very stormy and windy March 20th was 25059 on a Sellafield – Bridgwater nuclear flask train. Record wind gusts were recorded this day at Edinburgh (110mph) and Cairn Gorm (173mph), on the 24th the high winds for the first time closed the M4 Severn Road Bridge. On March 27th 25058 assisted a WCML service between Leighton Buzzard & Bletchley, making a reverse move due to an obstruction on the track. Short trips in April for 25058 included April 12th's Preston - Manchester Victoria leg of the ex 18.15 Glasgow and April 15th's 07.40 Manchester Victoria - Bangor as far as Chester - a Class 47 taking over here. On May 1st 25059 came to the rescue of a failed 31432 at Guide Bridge whilst in charge of a Manchester - Hull service, the Class 25 working as far a Sheffield.

The Divisional Manager's Saloon is hauled through Foxfield on April 16th 1986 by 25058. Photograph courtesy Kevin Hughes (RCTS Archives #HU01525).

It was obvious that the Class 25’s had a very bleak future, which automatically made them a popular choice for the enthusiast railtour market. May 5th saw F & W Railtours ‘Valley Explorer’ (1Z26) run from Crewe to Barry Island - Cardiff Penarth Curve - Leckwith Jct - Bridgend - Margam, then Margam - Bridgend - Aberthaw - Barry - Cardiff, including a number of valley freight lines. The 450 mile round trip was handled successfully by 25109 & 25057 being noted on time at New Street on the return leg. When a Newcastle - Llandudno Town service arrived at Manchester Victoria on May 23rd with 37216 leading a failed 45124 both were replaced by 25057 for the remainder of the journey. It returned with the 15.16 to York, replaced at Chester by 47458.

Another broken Class 47 allowed 25059 to work the 09.24 Liverpool - Glasgow as far as Preston on June 8th.

Whitemoor still continued to use any Class 25’s that strayed into their territory, putting them to good use on their local trip freights. In July the Bury St Edmunds job used 25035 (11th) and 25059 (22nd). Two more passenger trains in trouble were assisted by 25057 in July. On 12th a St Pancras bound HST hit cows near Kibworth, 25057 was used to drag the HST back to Leicester, whilst three days later a similar working expired at Glendon Junction, 25057 dragged the HST to Bedford where the service was terminated. By 26th 25057 was back in the Preston area, taking an ex Euston service forward to Blackpool and returning to Preston with a Dundee bound train.

25057's last recorded passenger working occurred on August 29th and again was rescuing a failure, this time dragging emu 304 045 from Kidsgrove to Stafford.

September 4th's 07.40 Glasgow - Carlisle was worked by 25058. Following this the remainder of 25058's 1986 passenger workings were short hauls, two between Preston and Manchester Victoria (October 27th & November 3rd), again taking forward the 18.20 ex Glasgow. The final working for 1986 was assisting a Class 47 forward from Runcorn on a Liverpool - Crewe service on November 9th.

The southbound Gulf Oil tanks were still bringing Class 25’s into Hereford, where they were changed for Class 37’s, so noted on October 28 was 25059 and November 4th with 25278. On Armistice Day 25059 rescued a failed Carlisle - Sunderland dmu, dragging back the dmu about a mile between Broadwath & Wetheral where the passengers were transferred.

1987

This would be the last year of service for the few remaining members of the Class 25 fleet. That three consecutively numbered machines had reached this point was quite remarkable, especially in the light of the woes that had befallen 25058 over the last couple of years.

25057 - the last three months
25057 was at Carlisle on Christmas Eve 1986, on January 2nd it made a round trip to Ayr, then a trip to Penrith on January 4th, noted at Stoke on January 8th, by 11th it was attached to 25035. It visited Etches Park on January 17th for attention to the brake blocks, and was back at Carlisle by January 24/25th, it moved south to Newton Heath by January 27th, remaining in the area at least until January 30th.

On February 11th it was at Machynlleth, by 12th it was back at Shrewsbury, 15th at Crewe, 17th at Longsight, where it worked to Nuneaton Hartshill then the 7H56 to Guide Bridge. An 'A' exam was carried out at Crewe on February 18th, remaining in the Crewe/Stoke/Chester area until March 3rd. 25057 & 25191 were noted on February 27th in charge of a Ravenhead Jct – Oakamole sand empties.

After March 3rd it worked to Stanlow, then to Aberystwyth, arriving back at Stanlow by 4th. It then remained in the Birkenhead/Ellesmere Port area until March 14th when it was called to Basford Hall, being withdrawn on March 15th.

25058 - the last two months
On the afternoon of December 28th 1986 25058 was present at Downhill Carriage sidings, following the New Year 25058 was in the Warrington area. It worked January 5th's (?? date uncertain) 22.07 Derby - Crewe covering for a dmu failure and was noted on the evening of 8th at Crewe.

Three days later 25058 was stopped at Carlisle for an 'A' exam, which was succesfully completed by the evening. Its return to service was greeted by very heavy snowfalls, the 13th's duties included the 6M80 16.45 Carlisle to Dumfries. When 47539 failed on January 16th's 13.55 Carlisle - Glasgow 25058 was available to take the train forward to Glasgow. Later that afternoon 25058 was noted at Corkerhill being prepared to work the 6Z49 to Warrington Bank Quay.

A week later (24th & 25th), 25058 was working local jobs in the Ayr/Kilmarnock region. By the 27th 25058 had reached Tyne Yard, being diagrammed to work the 6S81 21.55 Tyne Yard - Mossend. On 29th 25058 was handling local traffic in the Motherwell area before reaching Polmadie to work the 1M65 22.37 Glasgow Central - Nottingham as far as Carlisle. After working in the Carlisle area on January 30th & February 1st 25058 reached Crewe during the evening of February 2nd, was taken out of service and condemned the following day.

25059 - the last three months
25059 was at Crewe on Christmas Eve 1986 attached to 25191, on January 8th it was working the Croft Quarry to Gresty Lane, then to Nuneaton, leaving there with the 6Z36 to Severn Tunnel Jct. By January 10th it was at Willesden handling a local job to Bletchley (10th) and Bedford (13th). Having made it over to the Midland main line it was used to rescue a failed Class 45/1 at Wellingborough which had been in charge of the 14th's 07.00 St Pancras - Nottingham, assisting all the way to Nottingham.

About the above working John Elliott (from Australia) writes: I was on the St Pancras - Nottingham train on the 14th which I caught at Leicester. I do seem to recall however that 25059 came on at Bedford? That day was a terrible day - absolutely freezing. School was closed so I decided to go out and get some pictures at Loughborough station (I lived in the town at the time) but it was too cold to hang around so I caught a train to Leicester and went round the depot taking pictures. It was so cold that the new battery in my SLR froze and I had to warm it up in my coat after each photo! All the locomotivess on the shed were running to keep them going, many with huge icicles down their sides. After that I headed back to the station and there still hadn't been a train up from London until just after I arrived when 25059 came in dragging 45106 which was dead and the 1M10 set of 4 Mk1 SKs. The guard mentioned that the road from Bounds Green had frozen and no stock could get into St Pancras to work north so as the only stock available came off M10 that was used north with presumably the Peak that worked the overnight?

I got on the train as I knew that the days of the Class 25's were numbered plus it was far too cold to stay on Leicester station - but not as cold as being on the train! As this was so rateable I stayed on to Nottingham where we arrived after 1pm! There 25059 and 45106 disappeared to the depot and the train was worked back by 47475 which I did to Leicester (to warm up) and my notes show that I returned to Loughborough behind 31281 dragging the then new 150101?

Still on the Midland on January 20th 25059 was used between Leicester & St Pancras assisting failed 47449 on the 22.54 ex Nottingham. It is also reported that having been released from its train at St Pancras it proceeded to Cricklewood and was promptly used to assist a failed 31423 on the 21st's 00.05 St Pancras - Derby, which it worked through to Derby. It was at Saltley on January 23rd, handling Northampton & Rugby jobs on the 25th. It was stopped at Bescot on January 29th for an 'A' exam, then it was back to Northampton (30th) for the 3G20 to Curzon St & 4H05 to Manchester Piccadilly. On February 10th Longsight sent it out on the 6K36 to Nuneaton, then north to the Manchester area taking up the local workings to Barrow. It visited Rugby on February 14th, Willesden by 17th staying in the London area until the evening of the 22nd, when it worked the 20.25 5P03 to St Pancras for the 1P32 to Derby. February 28th found it at Crewe for the 3K02 to Liverpool Lime Street.

Machynlleth was visited on March 3rd, then back to Crewe to pick up the 8G12 with 25109 to Bescot, March 6th - 8th were spent in the Crewe/Chester area, but by 14th 25059 was at Motherwell remaining here until 16th, working back south with the 6Z15 to Carlisle and on to Carnforth & Crewe by 17th. It was noted at Buxton by March 18th where it was withdrawn on 20th. Four days later on the evening of 24th it was restarted to drag 37689 & 47089 to Crewe, the next day it was at Basford Hall, out of service.

25059 at Crewe on March 17th 1987, having just arrived with the 8X40 Carnforth - Crewe prefab train. After dropping its train 25059 returned to Crewe depot to refuel. Photograph courtesy Tom Sutch.

After withdrawal
All three locomotives ended up at Basford Hall pending disposal.

25057 was present by March 15th, 25059 by March 20th & 25058 by March 22nd. All remained until the middle of July when a clearout began, with the locomotives destined for Vic Berry's at Leicester. All moved as the 9L37 Basford Hall - Leicester, Humberstone Road, then they were tripped as the 9T16 Humberstone Road - Vic Berry's yard. The first to move was 25057 on July 14th, moving with 25035/109/265, being tripped to Berry's on July 24th with 25265/313.

25057 & 25176 at Vic Berry's Leicester yard on June 5th 1988. Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover.

Two moves on July 16th sent 25042/058/285/910 & 25059/323/902/904 to Leicester. 25058 was tripped to Berry's on July 24th, by August 10th 25058 was on the infamous heap at Berry's, it remained 'intact' until the end of October 1988, by Christmas 1988 it was partly cut up and by the end of January 1989 nothing remained of 25058.

25059 was tripped into Berry's Yard with 25910, it remained here until October 9th 1987 when it left for preservation as the 6X53 09.30 Vic Berry's - Keighley (KVWR).

(With thanks to Neil Cannon for making available the TOPS reports for 1987 & to Alan Baylis for his books on the 1984/85 Class 25 passenger workings and other resources).

Undated views

	D5207 and two-tone D5037 at Warrington, date unknown. Photograph courtesy John G Ashley.
	A fine portrait of 25058 at Crewe near the end of its career. The locomotive has gained the name 'Castell Criccieth', neatly painted on its side. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Page added October 25th 2004
Last updated March 17th 2009

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