25133 provides a fine detailed portrait during the corporate blue era, at an unknown location (maybe Skipton??)
on an unknown date, probably in the late 1970's.
1964
These locomotive were laid down at Derby during the spring of 1964 with delivery taking place during June & July to Toton as part of the large fleet of Type 2's being used to eradicate steam from the freight workings in the East Midlands. D5280 made its Corby test run with D5279 on June 10th 1964, D5281 followed on June 15th and D5282 on June 18th. In between the testing of D5281 & D5282 Class 47's D1745 & D1744 had been sent out to Corby with the test train.
During July D5280, D5281 & D5283 were transferred to Derby (16C). During August D5282 was transferred to Nottingham (16D), followed by D5283 in September and D5280 to Cricklewood (14B) in October.
D5280 spent much of September and October at Derby Works.
1965
D5281 was transferred to Saltley (2E) during April, whilst D5283 moved to the Midland Lines (ML) during July then to the Nottingham Division (M16) in November.
1966
D5283 was transferred to the Cricklewood Division (M14) during January. D5281 moved to the Midland Lines during April.
The greater versatility of the diesels was illustrated in the use of Burtons allocation which amongst other jobs handled the Burton - Banbury freights. In the first week of February D5281 was the training locomotive utilising six passenger coaches and a brake van as a load. By mid-February the Banbury Burton Toton freights would converted to diesel haulage using Peaks or pairs of Class 25s. These freights would also be used to incorporate the local workings from Nuneaton shed, allowing closure of that shed (on June 6th) and withdrawal of its few remaining steam engines. Freight on the Derby Birmingham line was at this time evenly split between steam & diesel haulage.
Late in the year D5283 suffered collision damage and was shipped off to the Brush Works at Loughborough for repair, it was not alone here as D5021 & D5218 were also present for collision repairs. In correspondence with BR's Chief Engineer (T&RS) Brush were instructed to repaint all three locomotives in the new corporate blue
livery, despite having considerable stocks of green paint on hand. Despite this instruction D5218 came out in solid Brunswick green. D5283 was transferred to the Midland Lines during December.
1967
During August D5283 moved to the Stoke Division (D05) along side many of the recently transferred Class 24's.
In September D5280 & D5282 moved to the Midland Lines.
Paired Type 2s were still frequently allocated to Midland passenger services, D5283 & 5198 worked October 17ths 12.30pm Manchester St Pancras and D5205 & 7575 arrived in London the next day with an early morning service from Leeds.
1968
During May D5283 was transferred to Allerton (8J).
The Manchester - Filey Camp summer service provided Type 2s with outings to the seaside, D5281 & D5195 made the trip on July 20th & D5211 on 27th. Going in the other direction the 20.22 FO Leeds - Holyhead had D5281 again in charge of nine coaches (19th).
The Liverpool Division received D5280 - D5282 during July, whilst in November 5280 - 5283 were transferred to the Preston Division.
1969
The summer only passenger workings between Newcastle, Ayr & Stranraer continued to feature Sulzer 2s. The 23.45FO Newcastle - Stranraer and the 13.50SO return working brought the following machines in July: 5188/5190 (5th), 5147/5281 (12th), 7555/7564 (19th) and 5182/5196 (26th). This service had seen Class 40s in 1968, though these had not ventured beyond Ayr due to lack of driver knowledge on the Stranraer line. Loads varied between nine & twelve coaches.
1970
5282 was noted under repair at Crewe Works during January.
1971
An Open Day on May 22nd at Carlisle Kingmoor diesel depot featured thirty three locomotives including four Type 2s, 5192, 5283, 7544 & 7554.
1972
5280 - 5283 were transferred to the Nottingham Division (D16) during April.
Toton based 5281 spent the last days of October working local trips out of Thornaby, due to a shortage of suitable locomotives on Teeside.
1973
More transfers took place with 5281 - 5286 moving to Springs Branch during July. For some the stay here was not long, 5281 & 5282 moved to Toton during August, whilst 5283 followed in September.
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5283 stands at Bescot on April 23 1973, a frequent visitor to the Birmingham area whilst allocated to the Nottingham Division (D16). Typical of the era it carries BR logos on each of the cabsides and carries a number at each end behind the cab doors.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer |
1974
On February 21st a Derby West Thurrock limestone special was hauled throughout by 5282 & 5210, the more normal power being Classes 45/47.
1975
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Its April 21st 1975 and 25130 heads south down Hatton Bank with an Eastleigh bound freight. On very rare occasions the Class 25's would work through to Eastleigh, but more likely they would be exchanged at Banbury, Oxford or Reading.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
The 07.35 Nottingham Llandudno was double headed on June 7th with 25129 & 25131!
Coventry commenced its holiday weeks on July 12th, few extras were run though 25122 & 25131 took one to Yarmouth. Norwich was to be visited by ten Class 25s this day!
1976
25130 & 25131 were noted at Derby Works during May.
Twenty wagons in a Tutbury Tring freight derailed near Leighton Buzzard on April 8th. The locomotives, 25124 & 25132 remained on the track, a broken spring being blamed for the derailment.
An east west cross country working which occasionally featured Class 25s was the evening Norwich Liverpool Lime Street parcels, 25134 was noted on May 4th and 25266 & 25269 the next day.
25131 rescued a failed Peak on September 7th working the 15.30 ex-St Pancras forward from Bedford to Nottingham.
1977
It was another trip across Cambrian metals on June 5th when 25131 & 25143 worked a Birmingham New Street - Barmouth special. 25143 had to be removed at Machynlleth after sustaining a broken fuel pipe.
25133 & 37033 arrived at Ipswich on the afternoon of August 9th with a heavy load of prefabricated track, both machines being replaced by a Class 31/37 combination!
Derby Works was busy repairing 25132 during November & December.
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On a very dull July 23rd 1977 25133 approaches Llandulas with the 07.30 Nottingham - Llandudno Town. Ironically the view below appears to show the same train, the headcode indicator positions and the position of the windscreen wipers is identical!
Photograph courtesy Larry Goddard. |
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On an unknown date 25133 heads through Abergele, perhaps with a Summer Saturday extra - (see text above)
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson. |
1978
A visit was made by 25133 to Derby Works during May.
June 11th saw a number of extra locomotive hauled workings over the Cambrian route including 25131 & 25310 running throughout from Wellingborough to Aberystwyth.
Class 31s were still first choice on the Birmingham - Norwich services, but Class 25s frequently substituted, on August 19th 25131 handled the 10.15 to Norwich, whilst 25115 assisted failed 31276 on August 9th.
Visitors to Kings Lynn off the Whitemoor freight have included 25131 on September 11th and 25264 the next day. 25131 had monumental railtour duty on September 16th working the AC/DC railtour six miles between Manchester Piccadilly & Stockport.
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On April 22 1978 25133 is photographed stabled at Thornaby awaiting its next turn of duty.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
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Its high summer in Derby and today (July 30th) its the liquid kind. In the midst of a particularly heavy downpour 25132 drops down onto the fuelling point. With weather like this it was not surprising that when visiting the Works much repair was required to fix body corrosion on the Class 25s. |
1979
Heavy snowfall and cold weather during the middle of February created many problems. Matters were not helped by a Manchester area dispute affecting dmu refueling leading to greater use of Type 4s (including 46020 & 46030) on the Blackpool Manchester services. February 23 found 25131 on the 08.10 to Southport, whilst 25042 was one of four diesels working the Manchester Oldham Rochdale Manchester circuit.
March continued to see the 15.15 Plymouth - Manchester receive mixed power from Gloucester, observed were 25095 (13th), 25133 (14th) and 25118 (22nd), the latter in charge of ten coaches.
May 7th's Burton - Skegness round trip featured 25131 & 25142.
The summer schedules also commenced at this time and again the 08.02 Walsall Yarmouth was in the hands of Class 25s, 25130 & 25135 noted May 26th, three days later the same pair worked a return Derby - Skegness 'Jolly Fisherman'.
Out of Birmingham on August 4th 25124 & 25132 worked the 08.28 to Yarmouth, the next day the 09.15 to Taunton was powered by 25089.
An unusual sight on August 25th was 25133 dragging dead 25105 & 47107 up Lickey Incline and being assisted by the bankers 37158 & 37298!
September 4ths Southam trip proved a little strenuous for 25243 as it caught fire at the site of Marton station. 25131 & 25135 rescued the train several hours later.
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25131 drops down the north end of Derby station November 24th 1979. |
December 15th found 25132 moving snowploughs around the March area, taking a plough from March to Norwich, before running light to Ipswich to collect the plough for Cambridge. As there was no brake van available at Ipswich the trip was cancelled and the Class 25 returned light to March!
1980
There was a multitude of Class 25s in the area of Bushey & Oxhey station from February 17th onwards following the dramatic derailment there of the 16ths 20.25 Euston Manchester due to a track defect. The locomotive 87007 was the only part of the train to remain on the tracks, four of the MkIII coaches ended up on their sides, with one (M12162) bringing down the overhead gantries, which blocked the slow lines. Most fortunately there were only minor injuries. Three breakdown cranes attended, from Bescot, Finsbury Park brought in by 25279 & 25256, and Old Oak Common arrived behind 25152 & 25189. The slow lines were reopened late on the 17th, the dc lines late on the 19th, the fast lines by the 25th. Spoil trains used 25222 & 25243 and 25130 & 25173, this first pair returned with track panels on 21st, followed by 25256 on the re-wiring train. Because of the implications of this derailment the Class 86/0s regained their 80 mph speed restriction whilst the use of Classes 81 85 on air braked, air conditioned trains was permitted.
On March 20th Carlisle sent Eastfields 25001 south on the 12.20 freight to Severn Tunnel Jct, via the Settle & Carlisle. Progress was marred by its failure at Kirkby Stephen, being rescued by 40140. Both were replaced further south with the Class 25 receiving repairs in time to work the 21.45 Warrington Llandudno Jct freight. It faired little better on this, failing at Frodsham, requiring assistance from 25130. After a week at Chester it returned north with 25041 on the early morning Winsford Millerhill rock salt
25130 was noted at Derby Works during November & December for N4 repairs.
1981
31255 & 31273 working a southbound stone train on February 25th replaced 25133 & 25324 on the northbound Fletliner at Wellingborough, the stone train continued south behind 46047, one presumes there was a problem with the Class 25's.
April 25th's 'The Palatine' railtour from Euston to Buxton featured the use of 25130 & 25129 between Bescot, Buxton and Crewe, the intended pair of Class 25's (25033 & 25076) had been failed!
May 16th saw a veritable feast of Class 25s in passenger service in the Birmingham area. 25073 & 25134 worked an Old Hill York special, 25033 & 25314 took over from 46023 on a working from Skipton to ?, whilst 45013 gave way to 25056 & 25130 on a special from Newcastle. On May 28th 25131 worked the 19.28 Crewe - Cardiff.
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A wet June 27th 1981 finds 25133 at Llandudno Junction.
Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover |
For three weekends in a row 25130 was active on passenger workings. On July 18th it worked a round trip over the Cambrian lines with 25119, the following weekend the same journey was made, this time attached to 25164. On the 26th 25164 & 25130 arrived with day trippers from Gloucester, 25254 & 25278 from Lincoln, both specials having used Class 47s as far as Wolverhampton. And on August 2nd it was back over the Cambrian for another round trip, this time coupled to 25224.
25131 & 25036 worked a round trip over the Cambrian lines on August 22nd, out on the 04.10 from Shrewsbury and returning to Wolverhampton with a Euston bound service. Four days later 25131 worked the 13.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich, at least as far as Peterborough.
25131 & 25124 were active over the Cambrian lines on September 19th taking over an ex-Euston service at Wolverhampton and returning there with the 16.05 from Aberystwyth. A Bolton Bewdley excursion went forward from Birmingham New Street on September 27th behind 25131 & 25139.
1982
During February 25130 & 25131 were transferred to Cricklewood.
On March 1st 507022 was moved to Allerton for wheel turning by 25130.
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Six days after taking 507022 to Allerton 25130 is noted at a somewhat damp Newton Heath.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
During April 25132 was transferred to Longsight & Carlisle Kingmoor became 25133's new home. On May 8th an eleven coach Sutton Coldfield - York school special utilised 25044 & 25133, the latter failing en route, 25044 successfully reaching York unaided.
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25132 makes a fine sight at Saltham Jct on April 11th 1982 in charge of what appears to be an empty goods train.
Photograph courtesy J Davenport. |
On May 22nd 25130 was out on the North Wales main line, working the 07.45 Manchester Victoria - Bangor and 11.57 return.
The visit by the Pope to various venues at the end of May led to many extra services being laid on to handle the large crowds. On May 31st the Pope visited Manchester, a half hourly service provided from Blackpool, with Class 40s predominating, although 25032, 25130/189 & 25282 were also noted.
25130 & 25090 worked a round trip Derby - Skegness on August 1st and a Burton - Skegness the following day.
Possibly 25130's last passenger working was on September 1st working the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle.
During November 25133 was transferred to Toton. The following month 25130 (6th), 25131 (6th) & 25132 (20th) were all withdrawn, 25130 was at Springs Branch, 25131 at Toton and 25132 at Crewe.
After its withdrawal at Toton 25131 was renumbered 97202 for use by the C.M. & E.E.. It was renumbered back to 25131 in January 1984 and then promptly withdrawn again.
1983
The last transfer for 25133 occurred during January with a move back to Kingmoor.
Bewdley received two excursions on May 22nd, a dmu from Four Oaks
and 25133 & 25135 from Warrington. The 08.01MO Crewe - Cardiff and 11.40 return featured more Type 2's, 25302 on June 6th, 25133 June 13th and 25242 on July 4th.
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25131 has been withdrawn for about seven months as it sits in the sun at Toton on July 30th 1983, with at least one buffer missing.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
25133 was withdrawn from Carlisle Kingmoor during August, finally reaching Derby during October for strippping prior to
breaking up. However the cutters at Derby became embroiled in a dispute, leaving an ever increasing quantity
of withdrawn machines waiting an uncertain fate.
1984
25131 was withdrawn for a second time during January.
On March 29th 25132/135/136/143 moved as a Crewe Gloucester for onward forwarding to Swindon.
On June 27th 25130/141/179/188 made the journey from Springs Branch Swindon. Two weeks later 25131 (97202), 25144*/25153* were dispatched Toton Cricklewood* - Swindon July 10th-12th.
25132 was broken up at Swindon during November.
1985 - 1987
After almost eighteen months rotting at Derby Works the vast majority of the condemned locomotives were made roadworthy for one last move, the Type 2's for Swindon and the Type 4's to Doncaster. Thus on February 3rd - 4th 25133 and eight other Class 25's made the move to Swindon. A number of these machines were broken up very quickly but 25133 escaped the cutter's torch, witnessing the works closure in March 1986!
25130 was broken up at Swindon during January 1987.
Although Vic Berry, Leicester had been contracted to clear the
site of all scrap, it would be awhile until 25131 & 25133 made a move. On May 26 1987 eleven locomotives, including 25131 & 25133 were moved from the Works to Cocklebury Yard, making
the final journey to Berry's Leicester yard on June 2nd - 11th. From Oxford to Leicester 20019 & 20197 hauled the motley consist.
Vic Berry finally cut up at their Leicester yard 25131 in June 1987 and 25133 in July 1987.
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Its June 1987 and 25133 is just about done in 1978. With the tools of the scrapman's trade clearly evident this unusual view reveals a little of the construction of the Type 2's.
Photograph courtesy Paul Biggs. |
Undated Views
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An undated view of 25130 believed to be photographed at Luton.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson |
