1963
D5234 - D5237 were constructed at Derby during the last quarter of 1963, all being released to traffic during December to Toton (16A). This batch of locomotives were the first to be delivered featuring the re-styled body work and two tone green livery similar to that carried by the Brush Type 4's (class 47's). The redesign principally affected two areas; the cab and the location of the air intakes. The gangway doors fitted to the earlier examples were rarely used, their presence certainly added to the complaints of noise and draughts in the cabs. The removal of the air filters to the cantrail was the result of a comparison carried out at Inverness between a batch of Derby built Type 2's and a batch of BRCW Type 2's, the tests targetting the air quality within the engine room.

The tests revealed the location of the grilles on the Derby designed build allowed for much more debris to reach the filters (especially the lower ones), clogging them quicker, leading to decreased air quality within the engine compartment, and so potentially affecting performance and engine wear. With over two hundred Class 25's still on the order books the redesign of these areas would result in a cost savings in the long run, in addition to a better working environment within the cabs, and providing less cluttered look to the locomotive's exterior.

One unique feature of these machines was their being equipped with steam heating equipment, all the following Class 25's would be without boilers.

D5234 & D5235 were sent out on their test runs to Corby on December 4th 1963. D5236 & D5238 went to Corby on December 10th, whilst D5237 went with D5239 on December 12th. Another test train went to Corby on this date in charge of D1697, some of the Loughborough built Class 47's were being accepted by Derby, whilst on December 16th Claytons D8565 & D8566 made the run.

1964
All of the group were reallocated during 1964, initially to other depots within the Nottingham Division (Derby 16C & Nottingham 16D). Two (5234 & 5236) were then sent on to Saltley (2E) during April. At this time much of the freight on the Derby - Birmingham line was still steam hauled, these transfers would allow for further driver training on the new diesels over this route and also the Birmingham - Leicester line. Whilst at Saltley these Type 2's were well travelled, on May 2nd D5236 was being used by Carlisle to handle an afternoon local round trip to Langholm & on May 16th D5234 hauled the 08.06 Newcastle - Birmingham.

1965
The only transfer for this group was during April when D5237 was reallocated to the Midland Lines (ML).

The 09.03 Leeds - Llandudno featured D5181 on June 19th & D5235 on June 26th.

1966
During April D5234 & D5236 returned from Saltley, now being allocated to the Midland Lines (ML).

1967
During the summer months Derby Works received D5234, D5236-5237 for a variety of repairs.

1969
5234 - 5236 were transferred to the Nottingham Division during May.

5237 was noted at Derby Works for a general repair during June.

The 07.35 Nottingham - Llandudno and 13.52 return featured pairs of Type 2’s, noted during June were 5298 & 5299 (7th), 7537 & 7533 (14th), 5236 & 5246 (21st).

1970
5237 was noted at Kings Cross on February 16th having arrived assisting 1578 on a service from Grimsby, where the Class 25 provided assistance from is not recorded.

May 25th found a Derby - Blackpool excursion in the hands of 5235 & 7651.

1971
Crewe commenced receiving Class 25's for heavy repairs during January, with 5234 and 7669 being new arrivals. Class 25's overhauled at Crewe were usually easily recognised by the position of the number, similar to that of Glasgow it was situated behind the cab door on the bodyside, though usually placed higher up than one shopped by Glasgow.

5236 & 5237 were both in Derby Works during September.

1972
5231 & 5237 were noted on January 15th passing through Northampton with an unidentified special. On April 30th 5237 & 7596 were noted on a special from the LMR to Newcastle.

5237 moved to the Manchester Division (D09) during June.

5236 & 5250 worked south from Birmingham on July 22nd with the 08.35 Birmingham - Portsmouth Harbour, presumably as far as Reading.

On September 1st 5236 handled a York – Manchester passenger service.

December 18th found 5234 on front line duty hauling the 1N31 Poole - Newcastle, noted 25 minutes late at Darlington.

1973
On January 13th 5186 & 5237 and 5641 & 5234 were noted working Leicester - Finsbury Park (for Highbury) F A cup tie specials.

5235 & 5535 were noted on the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth (as far as Norwich) on June 2nd.

Towards the end of the summer season three of the locomotives were transfered to the Scottish Region - 5235/5236 in August to Eastfield and 5234 to Haymarket in September. All of these moves turned out to be short stays, 5234-5235 moved to Tinsley in October and 5236 to Kingmoor in November.

A step back in time occurred early in October when a motive power shortage in Scotland saw a number of the Edinburgh - Aberdeen services reverting to pairs of Type 2’s. So noted on October 8th was 5116 & 5236 on the 10.30 to Aberdeen.

1974
The only transfer in 1974 was that of 5236 to Longsight in March. Although these Type 2's were oddities in terms of their bodystyling & being boiler equipped, this technical difference did not affect the issuing of TOPS numbers for them, they were numbered in order with the remainder of the Class.

On November 5th the 06.43 Peterborough – Kings Cross arrived behind 31108 & 25085.

1975
During 1975 all were reallocated; Cardiff took 25084 & 25085 in March.

25084 & 25085 were in Derby Works for repair between April & June.

During the summer 25084 - 25087 were all transfered to Eastfield, 25086/87 in July & 25084/85 in August.

On December 6th Type 2’s were in charge of a number of football & rugby specials in the Edinburgh area including 25087 & 25235

25084 at Eastfield, date unknown. It did not visit Glasgow Works until December 1979 and was only transferred to Eastfield in the summer of 1975, so with a still working headcode indicator this must be shortly after its arrive on the Scottish Region. Photograph courtesy E A Woods

1976
April 5th found 25085 working the 09.10 Edinburgh - Inverness via Ladybank & Hilton Jct.

An unusual duty for 25062 on July 9th was to inspect the line between Inverness and Carr Bridge for effects from a major forest fire in the Daviot Moor area. Having reached Carr Bridge it was used to pilot 40072 on a northbound passenger service, at Tomatin the pilot rejoined 25086 on a southbound working. Damage to the railway property was minimal, mostly burnt grass and shrubbery.

25238 & 25085 were noted at Oxford on August 5th on the long distance Leith - Yeovil pipe train, presumably the Class 25's came off at Oxford. Two days later 25085 was noted at Leicester.

1977
On January 14th 25084 came to the rescue of 86251 working the 1M37 12.35 Edinburgh - Manchester. The Class 86 stalled near mp70, the Class 25 pushing the train into Abington loop, where fitters were able to revive the electric enough for it to continue south.

On April 8th (Good Friday) the 1S51 07.18 York - Aberdeen began its journey behind 40059, being replaced at Edinburgh by 25044 & 25084.

Glasgow Works outshopped 25087 during April - on May 16th it was noted on the 08.01 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street.

The paint fairly glistens as 25087 awaits release back into traffic from Glasgow Works, seen here on April 2nd 1977. BR's blue and yellow at its finest! Photograph courtesy Ron Halestrap

25087 hauled the 17.10 Edinburgh - West Calder on July 18th.

The 17.20 Edinburgh - Dundee was worked by 25085 on September 12th.

Passengers on November 18th's 9.40 Edinburgh/10.05 Glasgow - Inverness had a variety of power north of Perth. The heavy train started out with 40166 & 25087, at Dalwhinnie 26045 replaced the Class 25, on reaching Carr Bridge 40166 failed leaving the Class 26 to continue on alone, arriving in Inverness almost four hours late!

December 29th found 25084 coming to the rescue of a Class 47 on the 08.45 Aberdeen - Kings Cross after its partial failure at Stonehaven. The Type 2 was removed at Dundee as it was vacuum braked only, limiting speed to 50 mph. The next day it was the turn of 25087 to assist a passenger service when 47454 expired on the 09.30 Glasgow - Euston via Dumfries.

1978
25086 & 25087 were transferred to Haymarket during February.

On March 31st 25086 replaced a failed 27009 at Dundee whilst working the 19.35 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen, unfortunately the Class 25 proved to be as equally unreliable by expiring at Arbroath, the train terminated with passengers transferring to an ex-Kings Cross service.

On May 6th 25247 was noted in charge of the 17.10 Edinburgh - Newcastle, a working which seemed capable of being hauled by anything Haymarket could turn out, including dmu’s. This was also the day of the Scottish Cup Final between Glasgow Rangers & Aberdeen at Hampden Park, with five specials scheduled. The 09.30am left behind 25072 & 25087, the 10.00 had 25227 & 25033 whilst the other three featured 40167, 40063 & 40159.

The 8M36 Tyne Yard - Carlisle freight was hauled by 25085 on October 25th.

25085 stands at Millerhill on October 14th 1978. Photograph courtesy A Forster

1979
The 08.15 Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street was worked throughout on July 21st by 25065 & 25086.

25085 was noted in Glasgow Works on August 19th.

25085 was noted on the 15.57 Dundee - Glasgow Queen Street on September 21st.

On November 30th 25087 worked the 17.07 Edinburgh - Newcastle.

The winter of 1979/1980 found Glasgow Works giving intermediate repairs to 25084 - 25086.

1980
January appeared to be a rough month for 25087, it was recorded at Haymarket for various repairs - battery repair (9th), traction motor repair (11th), it was noted across town at Millerhill on 13th & 14th - the latter for battery recharging, then being noted on Haymarket for generator flashover repair (21st). By 26th it was observed at Inverness.

	A closeup cabside view of 25085 reveals a plethora of numbers, data panels and worksplate, seen at Millerhill January 2nd 1980. Photograph courtesy A Forster.
	25087 at Millerhill on May 22nd 1980. Photograph courtesy A Forster.

The 17.24 Edinburgh – Dundee from February 11th used hauled stock, so noted were 25086 (15th) and 25240 (19th).

25085 was in charge of the 1A53 17.12 Glasgow - Ayr on April 25th.

On July 10th 25010 & 25085 worked the Perth - Kensington motorail as far as Mossend. The next day 25085 came to the rescue of an ailing 47210 working the 17.40 Edinburgh – Inverness. The Class 25 was sent from Perth to push the failure from Stanley Junction to Murthly, here detaching the failure before heading out alone to Dalwhinnie where 47040 was added to the train for the run to Inverness.

Transfers in 1980 took these locomotives away from the Scottish Region, most had spent at least four years north of the border - 25084 went to Kingmoor in October, whilst Springs Branch received 25085 in October and 25086 in December.

On September 22nd 25087 was placed to store due to wear & tear, the following week (29th) it was withdrawn at Millerhill, the first of this group to be taken out of service.

A Shrewsbury - Edinburgh excursion on November 1st was worked in both directions by 25050 & 25086 on the non-electrified Carstairs - Edinburgh leg.

1981
25085 was transferred to Toton during January.

Engineering work at the south end of the WCML led to diesel substitutions, on March 1st 25085 covered one brief working between Stonebridge Park and Euston whilst the 20.45 Barrow - Euston was worked forward from Bletchley by 25084 on 3rd and 25085 on 8th.

Between February 9th & 11th 25087 was towed from Millerhill to Swindon Works with 25010, 25011 & 25023. Part of the journey was undertaken using 25010 to haul the consist. 25087 was broken up by the end of March.

The 10.00 & 19.28 Crewe - Cardiff were worked by 25086 on February 17th.

Dead engine moves featured a number of Class 25’s - on April 1st. 25195 hauled 40110/116 from Springs Branch to Gloucester, picking up 40032 in the Manchester area. 25086 brought 25172, 40017/137/161 from Carlisle to the Birmingham area, both trains eventually destined for Swindon Works.

April 25th found 81017 on fire at Canley Halt working a 07.56 Coventry – York special. 25084 arrived from Coventry to propel the train to Birmingham International where 86237 took over.

Some lucky 'BedPan' commuters had the delights of 25058 & 25085 on the 07.40 Bedford - St Pancras service on May 5th. On the last weekend of May (30th/31st) 25086 & 25075 worked a roundtrip each day over the Cambrian route to Aberystwyth, interestingly on the 'English' side the start/end was different each time, the 30th's day started at Shrewsbury, coming back to Wolverhampton, the 31st started at Birmingham and came back to Nuneaton.

25085 was transferred from Toton to Kingmoor in May.

The 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff was worked by 25085 on June 26th, the next day it worked the 17.10 to Crewe.

25085 at Perth on August 22nd 1981 with a short train. This may be the 10.14 Perth - Motherwell, which later failed at Gleneagles and required the assistance of 20121. Photograph courtesy Gary Thornton

Parcels workings continued to bring Class 25's to the Bristol area, the 15.04 from Manchester had 25157 on July 14th, whilst the 12.10 Penzance – Glasgow left behind 25062 on August 10th and 25085 the following day. On August 22nd 25085 was diagrammed for the 10.14 Perth - Motherwell, it only got as far as Gleneagles before requiring the assistance of 20121.

A short trip for 25085 was working the 14.05 Blackpool - Crewe as far as Preston on September 5th.

The failure of 45009 at Derby on October 15th whilst working a Newcastle - Bristol service led to 25085 taking over as far as Birmingham - this may have been 25085's last passenger working.

1982
The 18.15 Birmingham - Norwich on February 17th was diagrammed for 25084, by Washwood Heath the Class 25 was losing power, 31216 was added here for the run to Leicester. The last day of February produced some considerable mileage for 25086 when it worked a Derby - Newcastle football special out & back.

25085 was retired during March, possibly whilst at Derby Works with an engine defect.

Cleethorpes was host to two unusual machines on April 8th. Firstly 50030 filled in for a failure on the 06.20 service to Kings Cross whilst the 08.26 to Doncaster was hauled by 25086, normally a Class 40 working.

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); the 17.42 Manchester – Bangor utilised 25067, whilst 25120 powered the 15.42 Manchester – Bangor, on the 19.25 return working 25086 took over at Llandudno Jct. The same day (24th) a St Pancras – Bewdley special worked forward from Birmingham behind 25050 & 25199, whilst 25058 & 25084 took over a Norwich – Weston Super Mare excursion also from New Street. By May 2nd 25084, now attached to 25221 worked out and back from Wolverhampton to Aberystwyth, with a charter that had originated at Euston.

25086 moved to Kingmoor in May.

Some varied passenger mileage was racked up by 25086 during June. It worked a Leeds - Carlisle service on 10th, a late afternoon Manchester - Blackpool service beyond Preston, coming back with a Manchester Victoria service throughout (15th). On 26th it was joined by 25213 to work a round trip Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, the return trip being worked to Wolverhampton.

25084 took over the 02.10 Manchester Piccadilly - Cleethorpes at Sheffield on June 17th, returning with the 08.26 to Doncaster. Four days later it traversed the Settle - Carlisle route with the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle. It was then recorded north of the border during the latter part of July working Glasgow - Carlisle services on 19th & 23rd.

25086 came to the rescue at Nuneaton of an ailing Norwich - Birmingham service on August 6th. A similiar event occurred on 16th, but in the other direction assisting 31108 between Nuneaton and Leicester, where 25326 was waiting to take over.

25084 was also working the GSW route in September handling a round trip each day on 9th, 15th & 17th. By October 1st it had migrated to the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle. The next day 25086 was in charge of the 10.20 Manchester Victoria – Newcastle service.

Surrounded by the wreckage of its sisters 25085 stands in the scrapping area at Derby Works on September 4th 1982. The locomotive would linger here until May 1983 and would become the last complete locomotive to be scrapped at Derby by BREL staff. Photograph courtesy Paul Bettany

25086 transferred to Bescot in November.

It was a round trip over the Settle & Carlisle for 25084 on November 23rd working the 08.57 Leeds - Carlisle and 15.37 return. Four days later it was time for a thrash along the North Wales coast with 25084 working the 07.45 Manchester Victoria - Bangor.

1983
The Annesley Annabis railtour on April 2nd utilised 25048 & 25084 between Bescot and Annesley colliery.

Somewhere in deepest, darkest Nottinghamshire, well Bulwell actually, 25084 & 25048 with the above mentioned railtour pause for the obligatory photographic stop, April 2nd 1983. Photographer unknown

The first day of February saw 25086 assising 31413 on a Birmingham - Norwich service between Croft Sidings & March.

25086 was transferred to Crewe in March.

April was the last month for the scrapping of locos at Derby Works by BREL staff, 25085 was the last complete locomotive to be cut, a start was made on 25261 but a dispute halted cutting on this locomotive.

On May 2nd 25083 & 25086 were in charge of a Manchester Piccadilly - Aberystwyth day excursion. Three days later 25086 worked the 17.35 Leeds - Sheffield, four days later (9th) 25084 handled the 16.02 Leeds - Carlisle. 25086 (with 25220) was off again on May 14th bringing back a Euston - Amwlch charter between Rock Ferry & Wolverhampton.

25084 had been active in Scotland during July, being noted on passenger workings between Carlisle & Glasgow on 15th, 18th, 19th & 22nd, completing almost seven hundred miles of passenger mileage.

On August 16th 25086 was noted on the ECML at Newark hauling 46011 northwards, later returning south with 47295 & 47430. On the last day of August the 23.59 Sheffield - St Pancras was worked to Derby by 25086.

September 18th found Severn Tunnel Jct depot using two Class 25’s on local workings, 25199 on the morning local to Hereford and 25084 to Gloucester. Two days later 25084 was busy between Blackpool & Manchester Victoria working three services. These may have been the last passenger services hauled by 25084.

25086 worked the 17.15 Manchester - Blackpool and 19.14 return on October 3rd.

25086 was withdrawn during October ending its days stored at Newton Heath.

25084 was withdrawn during December.

1984

25086 stands withdrawn at Newton Heath on August 12th 1984. Photograph courtesy Phillip Moore

1985
On February 19th 25084/86, 25270 were moved from Newton Heath to Swindon Works for scrapping.

1986
During June 25086 was broken up at Swindon Works, 25084 suffered the same fate here in July.

Undated Views

25086 on a short freight at Aylesbury, date unknown. Photograph courtesy Mark Cook.

Many thanks to Alan Baylis' "Class 25's Action '84" book.

Page added September 20th 2001 (originally featuring 25083 - 25087)
Page updated April 30th 2011 (information on 25083 removed to a separate page)

Return to Picture menu
Return to Home Page