D5213, 5213, 25063
D5213, 5213, 25063


Photograph courtesy Roger Geach
25063 comes to the assistance of an ailing 50017 working the 10.05 Penzance - Paddington, seen here near Chacewater on November 14th 1976.

The seventeen year and five month service career of D5213/25063 was split between London Midland & Western Region allocations.

Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Boiler equipped.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 62 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 28 months.

Allocations

D5213 was new to Toton (18A) on July 6th 1963. Further transfers were:

August 1963 to Cricklewood (14A).
September 1963 to Cricklewood West (14B).
January 1965 to London (Midland) Division (D14).
June 1968 to London (Western Lines) Division (D01).
January 1972 to Newport Ebbw Junction (86B).
July 1972 to Bristol (82A).
May 1974 to Cardiff.
October 1974 to Bristol.
October 1975 to Laira.
January 1976 to Cardiff.
October 1976 to Laira.
December 1976 to Cardiff.
November 1977 to Crewe.
Withdrawn November 2nd 1980.

Renumbered February 1974.

25063 was the 54th Class 25 withdrawn, one of seventeen withdrawn during November 1980.

After withdrawal 25063 was noted at Cardiff Canton on November 14th and Crewe Diesel depot on December 15th, moving to Swindon Works by December 19th 1980, being broken up there during the first week of March 1983.


Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover
25063 at Swindon Works on April 26th 1982. The locomotive displays the cabfront white circles and the non-standard headcode panel.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works February 1966.
Noted Derby Works October 1966.
Noted Crewe Works July 1968.
Noted Derby Works March 1972
Noted Derby Works August 1975 (gangway doors removed, full repaint).

Highlights

1963
D5213 & D5214 were noted at Toton on July 6th.

Condition July: green livery with small yellow warning panels with curved upper corners, yellow paint covered the frame level stripe.

1964
On the afternoon of March 26th D5213 was southbound at Kentish Town with empty coaching stock.

Stabled at Cricklewood on Sunday November 15th were D5194, D5204, D5206, D5211, D5213, D5214, D5217, D5218 & D5219.

1965
On January 27th the 17.30 St Pancras - Leeds failed at Leagrave with D23. The train was rescued by D5213 but it is not recorded how far this combination worked.

1966
On January 16th D5213 was stabled at Crewe North shed.

On the morning of March 13th D5213 was at St Pancras with parcels stock.

On the late evening of April 29th D5213 was at St Pancras with the coaching stock of April 30th's 00.05 St Pancras - Bradford, to be worked by D106.

On the morning of June 12th D5213 was stabled at Cambridge Street.

On the afternoon of August 18th D5213 was at St Pancras with the coaching stock for the 13.05 St Pancras - Sheffield, to be worked by D44.

On the late evening of September 23rd D5213 was the St Pancras pilot.

About mid-day on December 1st D5213 was at Acton with a freight off the north London line.

1967
On November 3rd & 7th D5213 worked the 07.54 Harpenden – Moorgate.

1968
On March 4th D5213 07.54 Harpenden – Moorgate.

1969
On October 11th 5213 was noted at Cambridge Street (St Pancras).

With 5213 allocated to London area depots for nine years its reporting on passenger duties during this time was rare. On October 18th 5213 & 7651 worked a Luton - Brighton football special as far as Acton, here 6552 & 6555 took over.

1970
On two consecutive days in late November 5213 worked the regular Brent - Richborough block coal train throughout, Southern Region power was normally assigned to this working.

November: lined green, small yellow ends.

1972
5213 was noted at Bristol Bath Road on the morning of August 2nd.

At about 2pm on October 30th 5213 was noted on the down through road at Exeter with a ballast train.

On November 3rd 5213 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (eight tanks).

At about 2pm on November 4th 5213 ran light from Exeter stabling point to Tiverton and later worked the 6B73 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk.

5213 was noted at Exeter stabling point on November 6th.

5213 (Bristol 82A allocation) was on Exeter stabling point on December 22nd and later worked the 6B70 13.16 Exeter - Hemyock milk empties.

5213 was on Exeter stabling point on December 23rd and later worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk.

On December 30th 5213 worked the 15.55 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the return 17.55 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids.

1973
On January 2nd 5213 worked the 6B99 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans.

On February 1st 5213 was westbound at Bristol Temple Meads with a parcels train.

5213 was noted at Exeter stabling point on March 15th.

Although allocated to four Western Region depots between January 1972 & November 1977, for 5213 it was the time at Cardiff that produced the most passenger workings, particularly on the Cardiff - Crewe line. However on March 17th 5213 worked three roundtrip on the Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple service, ending the day with the 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

5213 was noted at Exeter stabling point on May 4th(pm), 5th & 7th.

On the morning of May 17th 5213 & 5275 were stabled at York.

5213 was noted at Exeter stabling point on September 8th, 11th & 15th.

On September 15th 25063 worked the 08.32 Barnstaple - Exeter St. Davids.

On September 19th 5213 was the Exeter St Davids pilot.

5213 was noted at Exeter stabling point on November 17th, 19th, 20th & 22nd (locomotive was active in the Exeter area during this period).

1974
On January 22nd 5213 rescued the 16.30 Paddington - Penzance west of Taunton, dragging 1013 and its train to Exeter St. Davids.

5213 was noted at Exeter stabling point on February 9th.

On February 11th? 38 was scheduled to work the 21.00 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Riverside and return on the 04.00 to Ponsandane or the 02.50 to Avonmouth, but if the Avonmouth was a light load it would be handled by 5213.

On February 14th 5213 was scheduled to the 04.30 Exeter - Barnstaple.

On February 16th 5213 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans (one van).

On March 6th 25063 was stabled at Gloucester.

On April 3rd 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On May 7th & 9th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

During May 1974 two very different passenger workings were noted. On May 11th a Watford Junction - Barnstaple excursion arrived at Exeter with 47334 and was taken forward from Exeter St. Davids by 25063. The passengers reconnected with the train at Taunton. Eight days later (19th) the Lickey bankers, 25063 & 37217 assisted Class 45 No.69 and the 21.00 Bristol Temple Meads - Glasgow Central up Lickey incline.

On June 1st 37222 & 25063 were noted at Birmingham New Street at the back of a passenger train, were they the Lickey bankers having rescued a train (both locomotives were allocated to Cardiff).

On December 17th 25063, 25171 & 25224 were noted at Exeter stabling point.

On December 18th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point, with 25224 & 25171. 25063 would later work the 2B99 15.55 Exeter - Barnstaple.

1975
At about 1pm on February 17th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On February 26th 25063 and an inspection saloon worked from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe (??), the line was lifted later that year.

On March 12th 25063 worked the 2Z15 22.15 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple, being a portion off the 1Z15 19.00 Paddington - Plymouth charter with 1043.

On March 14th 25063 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (one tank).

On March 16th 25063 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans. Later in the day 25063 worked the 6B18 milk empties to Chard.

Condition April: gangway doors still fitted.

On April 7th 25063 was at Lawrence Hill goods yard.

On April 13th 25063 was north of Wolverhampton with an overhead equipment maintenance train.

On June 7th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On August 27th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point, very ex-works.

On August 28th 1056 & 25063 worked the 7B73 15.05 Whimple / 17.00 Chard Junction - Exeter Riverside. Earlier in the day 1056 had worked a ballast train to Westbury.

On August 30th 25063 worked the 2B99 12.05 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids and the 15.58 Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple.

Another rescue job took place on September 1st when 25063 & 25153 came to the assistance on the 07.40 Leeds - Penzance between Bridgwater & Exeter St. Davids when 45011 failed with fire damage.

On September 9th 47501 on the 10.50 Paignton - Leeds failed in the Taunton area, 25063 dragged everything presumably as far as Bristol.

On September 22nd 25063 & 25168 were noted up light engines at Exeter St Davids. On September 27th 25063 worked the 15.58 Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple.

On October 2nd 25063 worked the Chard - Exeter Riverside milk.

On October 6th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On October 7th 25063 worked the 6B71 19.10 Barnstaple - Exeter vans.

On October 8th 25063 worked the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On October 14th 25063 worked the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On October 16th 25063 worked the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On October 18th 25063 was parked in Barnstaple goods yard.

On October 22nd 25063 worked the 8B73 15.05 Whimple / 17.00 Chard Junction - Exeter Riverside and was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On October 26th 25063 was at Cold Harbour (Culm Valley) with five milk tanks.

On October 31st at about 9.30am 25063 was noted with coal for Exmouth Junction, being banked by 25157. Later 25063 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk and the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

1976
On January 27th 25063 worked the 12.45 Cardiff - Taunton.

On March 6th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On April 30th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On June 19th 25063 worked an afternoon Barnstaple - Paignton service.

On August 6th 25063 and brake van were noted at Cardiff station.

On September 7th 25063 hauled 24055/56/60/136 as the 9X75 06.45 Crewe - Banbury – Swindon Works.

On October 2nd 25063 & 25227 wworked the 08.25 Barnstaple - Exeter St. Davids.

On October 23rd & 27th 25063 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On November 1st 25063 worked the 6B71 18.45 Barnstaple - Exeter vans.

Another failure on November 14th 1976 saw 25063 assisting a Penzance - Paddington service between Redruth & Plymouth after 50017 failed (see image at top of this page).

Christmas at Tyne Yard found 25063 & 25220 (both LA) laying over after they worked the 3E07 21.40 Bristol - Sunderland parcels of December 23rd.


Photograph collection of webmaster.
Ebbw Junction shed looking westwards with 25063 present. 25063 spent almost six years allocated to the WR depots of Bristol, Cardiff & Laira.

1977
On January 14th, 15th, 18th, 27th & 31st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On February 5th, 14th 20th, 22nd & 26th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

25063 worked a Machen stone train on March 22nd.

On May 28th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On June 8th, 22nd & 25th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On July 6th, 8th, 9th, 13th 14th, 17th, 20th & 22nd 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

Also on July 20th 25063 was noted on a Cardiff - Bristol Temple Meads service.

On August 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 11th, 28th & 29th 25063 was noted on Crewe - Cardiff services.

On August 24th 25063 was noted on the 10.50 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth.

The Gwili Railway Preservation Society chartered a railtour roundtrip from Swansea to Paignton on September 18th. Motive power provided was 25063 throughout, definately a rarity for the Class on passenger work at Swansea and Tondu.

On September 20th, 22nd, 24th & 29th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On October 1st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On December 31st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

1978
On January 21st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On February 9th, 18th & 25th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On March 12th & 21st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On April 1st, 6th & 15th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On April 6th 25063 worked the 11.30 Cardiff - Crewe service.

On June 2nd, 3rd, 14th, 24th & 25th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On July 1st (with 25132), 4th, 5th, 8th & 9th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On August 5th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 29th & 31st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On September 2nd, 4th & 5th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On October 7th & 8th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On October 17th 25222 & 25063 were northbound at Crewe with coal wagons.

On November 10th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

A variety of freezing wintry weather conditions on December may have been partially responsible for multiple failures in the Crewe area, one of which on December 18th? was 25063 hauling the 11.30 Cardiff - Crewe, assistance being provided by 47017, arriving over an hour late at Crewe.

1979
25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service on January 3rd, 4th & 11th.

On a wintry February 15th 25042 & 25063 were noted passing through Crewe station with snowploughs at each end with large quantities of snow on the ploughs.


Photograph collection of webmaster.
25042 & 25063 pass through Crewe station on February 15th with snow covered ploughs.

On February 17th, 18th, 22nd & 26th 25063 was active on the Cardiff - Crewe service.

On March 5th & 30th 25063 was active on the Cardiff - Crewe service.

On April 4th & 11th 25063 was active on the Cardiff - Crewe service.

On May 12th, 13th, 15th, 22nd & 23rd 25063 was active on the Cardiff - Crewe service.

On May 15th 25063 worked the 06.03 Crewe - Cardiff and later failed at Newport with the 15.08 Cardiff - Crewe, 37258 took the service forward.

On June 27th 25063 failed south of Hereford with the 06.03 Crewe - Cardiff, being rescued by 37289.

On the evening of July 6th 24081 & 25063 were noted passing Crewe station with a down freight.

On July 27th 25063 failed on the 12.25 Crewe - Cardiff, being rescued by 37305.

25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff services on July 18th, 19th, 21st, 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th & 30th.

On August 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 29th, 30th & 31st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

The 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe was worked by 25063 on August 25th, the southbound leg, the 12.20 Crewe - Cardiff had been worked by 40112.

25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff services on September 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th & 10th.

On September 8th 25063 & 25073 worked the 11.30 Cardiff - Crewe and the 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff.

On September 22nd 25063 was stabled at Warrington Arpley.

25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff services on November 3rd, 7th, 8th, 10th & 11th.

1980
On January 3rd 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On February 8th, 22nd & 25th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On March 14th & 15th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On April 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 25th, 26th & 27th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On May 3rd, 13th, 23rd, 24th & 31st 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On July 24th & 26th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

On August 13th 25063 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff service.

25063 was withdrawn on November 2nd 1980.

Distinguishing Features
No.2 cab front: two white circles next to the marker lights: January 1978 (but no earlier than the summer of 1977) until withdrawn.
No.2 cab headcode panel: non-standard panel, smaller than normal dots: May 1979 until withdrawn.

A builders plate from 25063 sold at auction during January 2013 for £250.
A builders plate from 25063 sold at auction during May 2013 for £220.

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

Resources:
1970s Western Region information courtesy online notebooks of Sean Greenslade.

171/21599
flk 0522 (1)

Page added April 28th 2013.
Last updated January 1st 2023.

Back to 25062
Forward to 25064

Return to Picture menu