D5228 stands at Crewe, date unknown.

1963
When Derby undertook redesign of the Class 25 bodywork, the batch of locomotives that would become D5223 - D5232 were transferred from Derby to Darlington. This allowed Derby to retool it's production line without causing major interruption to the Class 25 delivery schedule. These ten machines, including the three featured on this page were destined for service on the Midland lines north from St Pancras.

The frames for these machines were laid down during April with D5227 delivered in August to Toton (18A), whilst D5228 & D5229 arrived in September, both went to Cricklewood (14A) although D5228 spent a brief time at Toton (at least on paper anyway). These were boiler equipped machines, to what extent this affected their diagramming in the early years is uncertain, but when they were later transfer north of the border, their train heating capability proved most beneficial in the diagrams that they could handle.These three machines would be well travelled, being allocated to all regions but the Southern - though in their early days forays onto the Southern were no doubt frequent.

1966
D5227 was transferred to the Midland Lines (M16) during April.

Although Derby, Darlington & Glasgow bore the brunt of the early Class 25 repairs by the end of April Crewe Works had also started to accept Type 2’s for heavy repair, so noted in the last week of April were D5196, 5221/29/31/65, 7581/91.

1967
The New Year began with the continued removal of withdrawn steam locomotives from various locations. Dispatches from Colwick depot to Draper’s at Hull during February included D5227 dragging 48083/143/662 (27th) and 48388/672 (28th).

D5227 was noted at Derby Works during August. In September D5228 moved to the Nottingham Division (D16).

1968
In March D5229 - D5232 were transferred to the Nottingham Division (D16), D5227 (with D5226) moved to Willesden (D01) in October, by December 5227 (with 5225 & 5226) returned to the Nottingham Division (D16).

5228 was noted at Derby Works during September.

1969
5227 visited Crewe Works during January.

With the transfer of 5228 to the Nottingham Division (D16) during May 5227/8/9 were all together for a brief while.

A late summer excursion from Bedford to Southend on September 1st arrived with eight coaches behind 5223 & 5228.

1970
A little off the beaten track on January 16th was 5229 working an evening Norwich - Cambridge service, deputising for the more normal dmu. At this time some March crews were passed on driving the Class 25's allowing them to venture across much of East Anglia if more suitable power was not available!

The 16.25 York - Newcastle parcels was noted with a variety of power throughout May, with 5229 (14th), 5211 (22nd) and 5154 (26th), all LM machines!

1971
On April 1st 5228 deputised for the regular Class 31 on the 1E92 Birmingham - Cambridge, returning with the 13.00 working.

A number of Midland Line passengers had adventures on May 17th when 138 hauling the 17.05 St Pancras - Sheffield became a failure near Bedford. 5227 was used to push the train into Bedford, 5214 then took over for the run to Kettering, here 6812 continued for the remainder of the journey to Sheffield.

On June 16th 5233 & 5226 made a rare appearance working the 17.57 St Pancras - Nottingham.

1972
The three years spent together on the Nottingham Division ended early in 1972 when a major reshuffle of locomotives occurred to accomodate the gaps left by the withdrawal of the Western Region diesel hydraulic locomotives and the less than successful Scottish Region Claytons & North British products.

5227 moved to Newport (86B) in January, then to Bristol (82A) in July and finally Haymarket (64B) in October. 5228 & 5229 moved to Leeds Holbeck (55A) in April and then on to Tinsley in October.

Derby Works was host to 5227 during April.

	July 1st 1972 with an interesting line up at Leeds Holbeck. Photograph courtesy David Rogers.
	July 1st 1972 with 5229 at Holbeck, in blue livery, but still with the gangway doors intact. Photographer unknown.

On September 17th Barmouth received 5214 & 5228 working a mystery tour from the Huddersfield area.

1973

5228 stands at a very damp Saltley on April 23rd 1973. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

Page added December 17th 2004.
Last update January 22nd 2005

June 29th found 5401 failed prior to the departure of a Queen St - Edinburgh service. Queen St’s pilot 5227 was attached to the front to assist the rear unit, 5395 upto to Cowlairs box. Here 5227 was removed and the service continued with just the rear locomotive operating.

Just over a week later on July 7th 5229 made an unexpected trip to the seaside when it took over from a failed 394 at Sheffield on a Manchester - Skegness service, it is presumed that the Class 25 worked the return leg throughout?

1974
After eighteen months at Haymarket 25077 headed south to Bristol during May.

25078 was at Derby Works during August.

1975
An unusual working for 25077 was the 12.40 Cardiff – Weston Super Mare and 14.30 return on January 8th, normally a Type 4 working.

25078/79 moved from Tinsley to Springs Branch during March whilst 25077 moved to Laira during August and then to Cardiff in November.

1976
All three of the featured locomotives returned to the Scottish Region during 1976. 25078/79 moved to Haymarket in May whilst 25077 moved to Eastfield in October. 25078 did not stay long on the Scottish Region, by the end of May it gone south to Toton.

1977

Photograph courtesy Ian MawsonA workstained 25078 heads a lineup at Eastfield, date unknown.

25077 & 25079 were noted at Glasgow Works during April.

On August 10th 24112 came to the assistance of 40123 at Dalwhinnie working the 09.35 Glasgow/Edinburgh – Inverness service, whilst a little further south 25079 became a failure at Gleneagles on the 09.52 Dundee – Glasgow Queen St, rescued by 37149.

Visiting Scottish Type 2’s 25079 & 25083 were borrowed by Derby on September 18th to work a football special to Norwich.

1978
During May 25079 moved north to Inverness whilst 25077 & 25078 were noted at Glasgow Works during April. 25077 had sustained fire damage and was withdrawn the following month. It lingered briefly at Glasgow Works until cut up during September, the 15th Class 25 to be cut up.

An Open Day at Coalville on August 20th featured a selection of locomotives including 25079 & 40076 brought over specially from Derby Works.

1979
Travelers on February 16th’s 22.15 Euston – Glasgow were already running over two hours late when 47185 failed at Dumfries. 25034 was on hand and 25078 was added at Kilmarnock but as neither could provide heat the four and a half hour late arrival at Glasgow must have been some sort of blessing.

An adventurous weekend trip from Ealing Broadway to Aberdeen/Inverness March 16 – 18th proved too adventurous as it was curtailed at Aberdeen running over seven hours late, mostly caused by bad weather. The outward leg was taken over at Mossend by 27016 & 25079 to Aberdeen, the premature return from here featured 25026 & 25068.

During June 25078 visited Glasgow Works for N4 repairs.

	25079 at Aberdeen on February 24th 1979.
	25079 at Ayr on July 30th 1979. Photograph courtesy Martin Bray.

1980
Double headed Type 2's featured frequently on the (Fridays) 17.25 Glasgow Central – Stranraer and the next day's 09.43 SO Blackpool – Stranraer, from Ayr. On July 11/12th 27012 & 25076 were noted, 25238 & 26032 on 18/19th, though 25238 was replaced by 25109 on the Ayr run, 25235 & 25079 on 25/26th, 25246 hauled the first leg on August 1st, 47353 did the second leg! 25246 was also noted on the 17.43 Glasgow – Ayr and 19.22 return on August 5/6th, 25072 worked this turn on August 13th and came back on the 15th with the 17.25 Glasgow Central – Stranraer.

The 14.00 Glasgow - Carlisle stands at its destination on September 11th 1980 behind 25078. Photograph courtesy J Davenport.

1981
During February 25078/79 returned to Haymarket.

A short passenger turn for 25078 was May 9th's working of the Mossend - Glasgow Queen Street portion of an overnight Euston - Inverness service.

A fine study of 25079 at Polmadie on June 13th 1981. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

During July 25079 was active on a variety of Scottish passenger workings. It started on 6th (?) with the 01.05 Perth - Aberdeen, followed on the 15th & 16th with a Carlisle - Glasgow working. On 29th it was back to the early morning Perth - Aberdeen trip before closing out the month on the 30th's 05.55 Stirling - Edinburgh service. After July's busy workings August only produced 25079 on the 06.40 Glasgow Queen Street - Dundee on 21st.

October and November brought more Scottish passenger workings for 25079, principally noted on the Edinburgh - Dundee route, with the third week of November being particularly hectic.

25079 escaped from the Scottish Region during the first week of December and was used on 7th & 8th to work the 07.45 Manchester Victoria - Bangor & 11.12 return.

The year ended for 25078 with some passenger workings between Edinburgh and Dundee on December 5th & 10th. The working on the 5th was shortlived, 25078 failed and was rescued by a Class 20. On December 28th 25079 was on the Edinburgh - Dundee circuit for most of the day, working three trips.

1982
After a year at Haymarket 25078/79 moved over to Eastfield during March.

Considerable passenger mileage was run up by 25079 on March 8th, starting off with the early morning Mossend Yard - Glasgow Queen Street working off the 1S07 Euston - Inverness, two round trips then followed on the Queen Street - Dundee circuit. The next day was quiet for 25079, but on the 10th the day started with the 11.05 Perth - Edinburgh, three more similar trips ensued before ending with the 18.33 Arbroath - Dundee. The next day at least one Edinburgh - Dundee service was worked. March 27th was likewise busy, covering at least five workings between Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee & Arbroath.

For much of April 25079 continued criss crossing Scotland on passenger workings, highlights included 1st's 20.50 Carlisle - Perth and the 12.40 Glasgow Central - Carlisle on 24th & 26th. Passenger activities decreased in May being noted only on 17th & 28th.

25078 handled few passenger workings in 1982, one of the few recorded was on July 30th when it was noted in charge of the 12.50 Carlisle - Glasgow Central.

It was off to the seaside on June 19th when 25079 & 25186 worked the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Birmingham New Street, returning with the 16.05 to Shrewsbury.

The surplus of Type 4’s and the recently arrived Class 31’s on the Midland did not prevent the use of the Class 25’s on some odd workings during August. On 11th 25079 rescued an ailing 45145 on an afternoon St Pancras - Nottingham passenger whilst on 17th the 12.35 Northfleet – Toton mgr featured 25034 & 25079, other pairs also handled the Toton – Acton workings.

At the start of the winter timetable 25078 moved south to Crewe whilst 25079 transferred to Springs Branch.

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.

1983
Early morning duties called for 25078 to work the 02.35 Euston - Bletchley on February 6th.

April 30th saw the closure of Reddish depot, with 25078 being the final locomotive repaired there, having received attention for loss of power problems. On May 28th 25078 & 25242 worked the 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Wolverhampton returning with the 14.00 to Shrewsbury.

The annual Open Day at Coalville was held on June 5th with a considerable quantity of attractions, several in support of the 150th anniversary of the Leicester & Swannington line. Over fifteen different steam & diesel classes were present including 25078 and freshly out-shopped (from Derby) 27014. Several days later on June 10th 25079 worked the 10.16 Barrow - Nottingham as far as Preston, here it was replaced by 25277!

The last Sunday in July and the first Sunday in August found 25079 assisting the electric services between Bletchley & Rugby whilst engineering works caused the power to be turned off. On July 31st 25079 & 25276 assisted one northbound service, whilst on August 7th three southbound services were assisted with 25201. This day is believed to be the last time 25079 hauled any passenger workings.

25079 was withdrawn on August 28th and was noted on September 29th making its final journey to Swindon. It was broken up during December.

1984
A continued shortage of dmu’s in the Newcastle area created a number of locomotive hauled workings, 25078 being noted on a Carlisle – Newcastle service on April 6th.

On August 9th 25218 & 25078 came to the rescue of 47354 which had failed south of Hereford on a Severn Tunnel Jct – Walton freight. August 24th found 25078 on passenger duties between Preston & Barrow. On September 3rd the failure at Edge Hill of 47609 on a Liverpool - Glasgow Central service found 25078 deputising as far as Preston.

New Year's Eve found 25078 in charge of the 11.41 Manchester Piccadilly - Hull service, the Class 25 being replaced at Sheffield.

1985
The third week of April (23rd - 26th) found 25078 on a variety of secondary passenger services in the Preston area, including workings to Carnforth, Crewe & Manchester Victoria.

On May 3rd 25078 covered the Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury leg of the 17.40 ex Euston. The next day one of the last diagrammed Class 25 workings over the Cambrian occurred when 25058 & 25078 worked the 'Cambrian Coast Express' railtour, the 06.59 Euston – Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton. The return working proved eventful for 25058 when it suffered a crankshaft failure, leaving 25078 to climb Talerddig unassisted.

May 29th's 16.35 Carlisle - Hull was worked by 25078 & 31441, the Class 25 coming off at Leeds. Possibly the last passenger working for 25078 occurred late on August 8th when it assisted a dmu between Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham New Street.

25078 was withdrawn during on September 22nd, being noted dumped at Toton in November.

1986/1987
25078, 25195, 25257/287 were moved as the 9Z34 Toton – Doncaster Works on March 3rd. Shortly after this move cutting up ceased at Doncaster and the locomotives were eventually moved to Goole for storage pending sale to a scrap merchant.

These locomotives were eventually purchased by Vic Berry's, Leicester, with 25078 endings its days there during May 1987.

A dinged, patched & rusted 25078 awaits its fate at Doncaster Works on April 27th 1986. Photograph courtesy Paul Bettany.

With thanks to Alan Baylis for details of the 1984/85 passenger workings.

Page added December 17th 2004.
Last update January 22nd 2005

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