A Sunday morning, August 22, 1976, at Saltley produces a good selection of locomotives including
this line up of Class 25's headed by 25065 and 25074. The morning sun shows off the
'standard' BR corporate blue. Also highlighted is the revised
fuel/water/battery housings which were changed from D5176 (25026) onwards.
1963
Constructed at Derby Works during the second quarter of 1963 D5215/16/17 were delivered to Toton (18A) in July and August. D5215 & D5216 made their test run to Corby together on July 9th 1963. On July 30th D5217 & D5218 made their test run to Corby. All three were quickly moved to Cricklewood (14A) in August.
1964
For D5215 October & November were spent at Derby Works receiving repairs to accident damage, joining it there in November was D5217.
1965
Derby was again visited by D5217 in August.
1966
D5216 visited Derby Works during November.
1967
Another visit to Derby for D5217 occurred in February.
1969
A visit to Cricklewood at the beginning of February found 5216 awaiting movement to Derby Works for the repair of collision damage.
1970
March 7th saw another of the Luton Town football specials receive Class 25 haulage destined for Rochdale with 5217 & 5220 handling twelve coaches, though their performance at heating the train was inadequate. No other power could be found so they remained with the diagram. Gatwick Airport was host to two specials from Leicester on March 11th & 12th, hauled by 5219 & 5222 and 5216 & 5222, the empty coaching stock beginning the day at Etches Park.
Photographer unknown at this time
During its long stay at Cricklewood 5216 received the corporate blue livery of the 1970's
here featuring the numbers on both cabs and the 'barbed wire' symbol in the central position. The nose end doors have yet to be plated over, the standard two rows of four grilles are featured on the left side and the boiler room grill does not yet carry a blanking plate.
The gas holders in the background reveal this can only be St Pancras station.
During October 5215 again returned to Derby Works for repairs.
1971
5217 visited Derby during February.
1972
On October 17th 5217 came to the rescue of an ailing 83 on the 19.05 St Pancras - Sheffield, taking over at Napsbury.
1974
On October 5th a Marylebone - Ruabon excursion set out with 25067 & 25066, however trouble befell 25067 en route with the machine becoming a total failure at Wolverhampton. 47195 came to the rescue with the two Cricklewood Class 25's visiting the delightful environs of Bescot for the rest of the day.
1975
In January 25065 was transferred to Toton. On March 29th a Bletchley - Lowestoft excursion arrived at Norwich behind 25065 & 25083.
The new summer season began on Saturday May 24th with the Derby - Yarmouth in charge of 25065 & 25073, on the 26th this same pair powered a Nuneaton
- Whitley Bay excursion. Another visit was made to Derby during September.
Repairs were carried out to 25066 at Derby during October.
1976
In October 25065 was transferred to Springs Branch but almost immediately ended up back at Derby Works for accident repairs,
not being released until February 1977.
25066 was pressed into service on April 29th's 17.05 Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton service due to a shortage of dmu's.
25065 moves off for its next turn of duty, Millerhill June 30, 1977.
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Its July 15th 1976 and Bristol is the location of this view showing 25066 passing by Bath Road Depot with a single wagon loaded with lineside cabinets.
Photograph courtesy P Wilmott. |
During October 25066 moved to Springs Branch.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer
25066 at Millerhill on October 30th 1977. The nose end doors have now been sheeted over, the boiler room grill is now a solid plate and with this being the right side the ventilators show the typical top row with three, the bottom row with four.
1977
25067 was back at Derby during February.
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On April 9th 1977 the Wirral Railway Circle ran an excursion to recognise the closure of Liverpool Exchange station. The tour ran with 25066 and five coaches from Liverpool Exchange to Manchester Victoria. It is seen here at Bromley Cross.
Photograph courtesy E A Wood. |
1978
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On a chilly February 19 1978 25065 sits in the snow at Haymarket depot. The winter of '78 proved to be a tough one, at the end of January much of Scotland succumbed to heavy snowfalls with major disruption to all forms of transport. The lines out of Inverness saw a number of services trapped in snowdrifts. The cold weather returned with a vengance in Scotland on February 12th,
it would not be until February 23 before a thaw set in.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
March 11th saw four military specials run from Rosyth to Ludgershall. All changed locomotives at Newcastle, 1Z72 arrived behind 40030
and left with 25066 (HA) & 25232 (ED), this pair had brought in 1Z73 surrendering that to 47273. A strange maneuver assuming it is reported properly,
which would suggest that the pair of Class 25's were the only machines to make the whole trip, but having worked two separate trains!
The 16.50 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh, regularly diagrammed for MkII vacuum braked stock, resulted in quite a variety of haulage including
Inverness Type 2's, examples noted during April were 26018 (4th), 26021 (17th) and 25065 (14th).
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.
June 11th saw a number of extra locomotive hauled workings over the Cambrian route. 25150 & 25263 were in charge of the regular Birmingham - Barmouth, a special from Plymouth to Aberystwyth had 25067 & 25277 from Birmingham, 25131 & 25310 ran throughout from Wellingborough to Aberystwyth, whilst a Bristol - Porthmadog had 40004 from Birmingham.
December 5th found 25067 & 25114 in charge of the 39 vehicle 21.50 Northampton - Willesden freight, whilst passing through Tring thirteen of them derailed, three overturning, closing the slow lines for four days.
1979
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The southbound West Coast Postal accelerates away from Aberdeen with 25065 in charge on July 18th 1979. This working was more normally in the hands of Classes 26/40, today however, Derby's finest will rattle & roll down the east coast coast of Scotland as far as Dundee before heading inland.
Photograph courtesy Mike Cooper. |
On October 10th the 13.40 Glasgow - Carlisle was powered by 25027 & 25065.
1980
An intermediate repair for 25065 was carried out at Glasgow during February & March.
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No doubt as to the identification of this locomotive. The view was taken sometime in 1980 so is presumed to be before its entry into Glasgow Works for repair & repaint. |
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Its March 1980 and 25065 receives its final intermediate repair. The number placement behind the cab and the large numerals reveal it to be Glasgow Works undertaking the repair. Despite this repair 25065 had less than a year left in service.
Photograph courtesy Martin Bray. |
25066 at Polmadie on March 15, 1980 just prior to entering Glasgow Works.
25066's final classified repair, an intermediate, was carried out at Glasgow Works during March - June. During November
Toton became the new home of 25066.
1981
25067 moved to Toton, only its second transfer, whilst 25065 was withdrawn in February.
March 14th found a Bewdley - Paddington special in the hands of 25067 & 25075 throughout.
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This view captures the rather unusual view of 25067 & 25075 at Paddington on March 14th 1981 having arrived on a special from Bewdley.
Photograph courtesy Mark Cook |
In March another transfer returned 25066 to Cricklewood. On April 20th, (Easter Monday) saw 25081 & 25066 handling a Melton Mowbray - Southport mystery
excursion and on May 25th a Leicester - Llandudno Bank Holiday excursion utilized 25066 & 25050.
May 31st was officially the last day for the Class 25's
on the Crewe - Cardiff workings. The Southern Region were intending to release Class 33's from discontinued van traffic workings to take over from the
Class 25's, however a strike on the SR and continued operation of the van traffic permitted some Class 25's to remain on these workings until June 4th.
Throughout the last week 25042/60/66, 25219/220/245 handled the diagrams although by midweek 25220 was replaced by 47099. On June 1st 25060 was replaced by
33022 on the 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff with others gradually taking over. The final Class 25 workings were on June 4th, 25245 on the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe and
25060 on 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff, the latter failing at Hereford, passengers being rescued by a dmu off a terminating Birmingham service.
25066's stay at Cricklewood was brief as withdrawal came in June whilst 25065 & 25246 reached Swindon from Carlisle Kingmoor on June 25th.
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25066 at Toton on July 29th 1981 equipped with a fearsome looking snowplough. 25143 is on the right.
Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover. |
1982
25065 was broken up at Swindon in January whilst 25066 was noted at Toton, being moved to Derby during February. Still active 25067 was transferred to Cricklewood during February.
The use of Class 33/1's on the Cardiff - Crewe route was rare, if they did show up they tended not to complete the diagram, as happened to 33104 on March 26th. After spending a day and a half on the regular diagram 33104 jumped ship onto the 15.02 Manchester - Bristol parcels, leaving the 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff in the hands of 25067.
On the North Wales mainline April 24th found Type 2's in abundance on Manchester - Bangor passenger workings. 25093 worked the 7.42 Manchester - Bangor and 11.03 return, the 9.42 (and 13.38 return) & 17.42 Manchester - Bangor had 25067, whilst 25120 powered the 15.42 Manchester - Bangor, on the 19.25 return working 25086 took over at Llandudno Jct.
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On September 22nd 1982 25067 had been assigned to duties in the Aylesbury area. However these were abruptly stopped when the locomotive derailed one bogie whilst shunting. Seen here having split the points 25067 awaits the re-railing crew.
Photograph courtesy Mark Cook |
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Moments earlier 25067 had been busily going about its daily duties, seen here marshalling a parcels vehicle towards the parcels facility.
Photograph courtesy Mark Cook |
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Another view of the errant 25067 awaiting assistance from the rerailing crew. In fact 25067 only had a few months left in service, withdrawal would come in December. Ironically withdrawn 25067 was used, with 25202, as part of an exhibition at Kidderminster Goods Yard in May 1983 to publicise the improved Birmingham - Worcester service. A similar use was made of 25067 during October 1983 for a 'Rail Week' at Wellington. After a final trip to Swindon good news came in September 1985 when 25067 was successfully tendered for, reaching Alton for preservation at the Mid Hants Railway in November accompanied by 27007.
Photograph courtesy Mark Cook |
The end of active service for this trio came when 25067 was withdrawn in December.
1983
25066 had spent a year dumped in Derby Works, being stripped of spares before the remains were scrapped in February, just a few months short of her 20th anniversary.
In the second week of May an Open Day at Kidderminster Goods Yard included 25202 and 25067 (withdrawn) as well as Tyseley dmu set TS417 along with a number of other exhibits. The displays were to publicize the service improvements between Worcester & Birmingham.
Withdrawn 25067 moved from Bescot to Wellington on October 11th as one of the exhibits for a 'rail week'. This may have been similar to a rail week at Wrexham from October 1st that included withdrawn 40106 and was part of the advertising campaign to highlight the new Chester - Shrewsbury - London service.
1984
25067, 25101/157/187 were moved as the Wolverhampton ('067) - Bescot - Swindon between July 6th - 11th.
1985
The GWR 150 celebrations intended for Swindon Works obviously never took place due to the impending closure of the Works. Closure notices officially appeared late in September whilst Vic Berry, Leicester had been called in for the removal of scrap from parts of the site. One piece of good news however was the successful bid for 25067 for preservation, the Type 2 awaiting movement from Swindon to its new home.
After a wait of several months the first preserved Class 25, 25067 made its way from Swindon Works to Alton (for the Mid Hants Railway) on November 26/27th, accompanied by 27007.
Undated Views
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Crewe is host to 25065 on an unidentified passenger working, date unknown.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson. |
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No date or location of this fine view of 25066 - the view dates prior to its visit to Glasgow Works during 1980.
Photograph collection Ian Hammond. |
