D7505, 7505, 25155
D7505, 7505, 25155


Photograph courtesy Roger Geach
25155 shunting at Wadebridge at 05.40am on the morning of July 4th 1977. This freight did not last much longer and although it was a regular Class 25 turn, because of the early morning time few people went and photographed it. By 06.00am it was all over with the freight on its way back to Bodmin Road.

The sixteen year five week career of D7505/25155 was split almost equally between London Midland Region & Western Region depots.

Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake equipped (September 1975).
Alpha/numeric headcodes '0000' retained to at least September 1978.
Final exhaust roof panel: raised 'L' shaped.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 62 months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 10 months.

Allocations

D7505 was new to Toton (16A) on October 22nd 1964. Further transfers were:

December 1964 to Burton (16F).
January 1965 to Nottingham Division (D16).
February 1968 to London Midland (Midland) Lines.
June 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
January 1972 to Laira (84A).
December 1972 to Cardiff (86A).
October 1974 to Bristol.
November 1975 to Cardiff.
May 1977 to Laira.
October 1980 to Springs Branch.
November 15th 1980 to unserviceable store at Swindon Works.
Withdrawn December 1st 1980.

Renumbered April 1974.

25155 was the 76th Class 25 withdrawn, one of seventeen Class 25s retired during December 1980.

25155 was broken up at Swindon Works by the end of September 1981.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works May 1967.
Noted Derby Works February 1968.
Noted Derby Works February 1971.
Paint Date Derby Works November 12th 1971.
Noted Derby Works August & September 1975 (dual brake equipment fitted).

Highlights

1965
Condition March: two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels, three-rung bogie mounted footsteps, straight sided sandboxes.

Locomotives stabled at Derby on the afternoon of December 5th included D5293, D7505, D7532, D7548, D7560, 44932, 48256, 48503, 48528, 48690 & 90652.

1966
Noted at Derby station on March 24th between 4.30pm & 7pm were about fifty train and locomotive movements involving diesel Classes 08/25/37/45/46/47. Class 25s and steam locomotives included:
D7528 shunting empty coaching stock
48350 up freight - oil tanks
D7548 down light engine
D7561 down light engine
D5188 Nottingham?? - Derby passenger (2P92)
D5299 empty coaching stock for Derby - Bakewell service
D5190 empty coaching stock for Derby - Sheffield service
48143 down light engine
D7584 up freight (5G52)
45211 up light engine
D7511 & D7565 down freight (9T44)
48672 down light engine
D7505 up light engine
48103 down freight, later retiring to the shed
48646 up freight
92008 up light engine
48752 down freight
D7572 shunting empty coaching stock
76043 down light engine
D5206 up local
D5204 Sheffield - Derby passenger (2M76)
48214 down special freight
48177 down movement with brake van
45224 down light engine
D7502 up light engine
D5223 up local (2P53)
D68 & D7583 19.45 Derby - St Pancras
Amongst the locomotives on shed during this period included 12039, D2504, D7514, D7572, D7581, D7585, D7646, E6022 & 48064.

During its operating career D7505/25155 handled a modest number of passenger workings. On May 21st 1966 the 08.36 Nottingham - Llandudno Town and return working were handled by D7505 & D5280.

On the afternoon of May 28th D5294 & D7505 were stabled at Hasland whilst D7637 & D7644 were passing on an up freight.

On Sunday September 18th noted at Colwich shed were D5265, D5267, D5290, D7504, D7505, D7516, D7521, D7557, D7563, D7577 & D7652.

1967
On the morning of July 13th D5261, D5273, D7505 & D7585 were stabled at Derby.

On the morning of July 19th D7505 was shunting parcels vans at Stoke on Trent.

1970
On the afternoon of March 9th 7505 was stabled at Derby.

1971
On July 23rd the seven coach 16.52 Nottingham - Manchester Piccadilly was worked by 7505, filling in for a diesel multiple unit.

On December 31st 7505 and 7574 werer noted on the through road at Exeter St Davids, was this the transfer move for 7505?

1972
On January 8th 7505 & 1010 were noted at Exeter with the 6A17 15.05 Penzance - Paddington milk & perishables, the Class 25 coming off the train at Exeter Riverside.

On January 13th 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk tanks (six tanks), the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids (two vans) and the 20.10 Exeter St David - Newton Abbot.

On January 14th 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (eight tanks).

At about 2pm on January 15th 7505 departed Exeter stabling point for Tiverton Junction to work the 6B73 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk tanks (seven tanks).

On February 18th 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (eight tanks). On February 19th 7505 worked the 6B64 16.35 Torrington - Exeter milk. It would later work the 2B84 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On February 21st 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk tanks.

On February 25th the 6A17 15.05 Penzance - Paddington milk and perishables arrived at Exeter with 7505 & 807, the Class 25 being removed and retiring to the stabling point.

On February 28th 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk and the 20.10 Exeter St David - Newton Abbot.

On March 10th 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (thirteen tanks).

On the early afternoon of March 11th 7505 ran light engine to Tiverton Junction.

On March 17th 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (11 tanks) and the 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On the early afternoon of March 18th 7505 ran light engine to Tiverton Junction. It later worked the 6B73 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk (11 tanks).

On March 20th 7505 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (ten tanks).

The 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot was worked by 7505 on March 24th.

On March 25th 7505 worked the 6B73 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk. On returning to Exeter 7505 was added to 6514 working the 17.55 Exeter St Davids - London Waterloo as far as Chard Junction, where it was removed to assist failed 7577 with 6A19 16.55 Chard - Morden Milk (six tanks), the Class 25s working to Exeter.

On March 27th the 6B65 20.20 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Central cement (20 Presflos) was worked by 7575 & 1685, with 829 added at St Davids to lead the train up to Central.

On March 30th 7505 worked 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (seven tanks), the 20.10 Exeter St David - Newton Abbot.

On April 4th the 20.20 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Central cement with twenty Presflos was worked by 7505 & 1059, 1006 assisted with the train up to Exeter Central, 7505 & 1059 later retired to the stabling point.

On April 10th the 6B65 20.20 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Central cement (20 Presflos) was worked by 7505 & 1017. 7505 retired to the stabling point and 1036 was added to the train to lead it up to Central.

On April 11th 7505 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids (two vans).

On June 3rd & June 10th (and also June 5th/6th?) 7505 & 7574 worked the 7B34 19.40 Bristol Temple Mills to Ponsandane freight, the 1E21 10.30 Penzance to Bradford passenger service to Plymouth, then light engines to Laira depot and ending with the 7B31 18.20 Plymouth Friary to Par freight. On June 10th 7505 handled the same diagram but now paired with 7574. On June 17th 7505 handled the same diagram but now paired with 7504.

On the evening of July 14th Exeter stabling point held at least ten locomotives: 15, 37, 48, 1047, 4015, 6523, 6543, 7503, 7505 & 7506. The locomotives were used on the following workings:
15: 7/15 03.50 0F76 down light engine
37: unknown
48: 7/15 00.24 0F76 down light engine; later noted on 1M00 08.58 Kingswear - Nottingham
1047: 7/14 19.40 Bristol Goods - Ponsandane; take over at Exeter
4015: unknown
6523: 7/15 14.41 6523 & 6543 up light engines
6543: see 6523
7503: 7/15 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple vans
7505: 7/15 6B19 04.30 Exeter Riverside - Barnstaple
7506: ?? to work 6B09.

On July 15th 7505 worked the 6B19 04.30 Exeter Riverside - Barnstaple vans, it returned with the 6B66 11.02 Barnstaple - Exeter vans. At about 2pm 7505 departed Exeter stabling point for Tiverton Junction and worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk.

On July 18th 7505 worked the 3B67 19.05 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids (two vans). On July 21st the 6A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington milk and perishables arrived at Exeter with 7505 & 1044. 7505 came off here and retired to the stabling point.

The diagram 7B34 19.40 Bristol Temple Mills to Ponsandane freight, the 1E21 10.30 Penzance to Bradford passenger service to Plymouth, then light engines to Laira depot and ending with the 7B31 18.20 Plymouth Friary to Par freight was worked by 7573 & 7505 on July 29th/30th & 7503 & 7505 on August 5th.

On September 16th 7508 & 7505 worked the 7B34 19.40 Bristol Temple Mills to Ponsandane freight, the 1E21 10.30 Penzance to Bradford passenger service to Plymouth, then light engines to Laira depot and ending with the 7B31 18.20 Plymouth Friary to Par freight. On September 29th 7505 was noted shunting china clay wagons in St Blazey yard.

1973
At about 1.30pm on June 15th 7505+7520 were noted in Severn Tunnel Junction yard and later noted passing Newport High street with a down freight (8A94).

1974
Condition March: blue/yellow livery, three-rung bogie mounted footsteps, through steam pipe still fitted.

On April 20th 25155 was noted passing Margam with a down freight (6V91).

On May 26th 25324 & 25155 were noted at Yarmouth with an excursion, possibly from Derby.

On October 25th 25155 was noted at Exeter stabling point. It later worked the 6B18 13.05 Exeter Riverside - Whimple and returned with the 6B58 15.05 Whimple - Exeter Riverside and 17.00 Chard Junction.

On October 26th & 28th 25155 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On December 10th 25155 was noted at Exeter with the 4B10 16.05 Bristol - Plymouth parcels.

1975
A Hookagate - Newport welded rail train arrived at Hereford behind 40177 on June 14th, 25155 & 25156 took the train forward to Newport, the Class 40 returned northwards light engine.

On July 18th 33007 failed at Sherborne on a Waterloo - Exeter St. Davids working, 25155 & 25093 dragged everything to Exeter. Three months later on October 18th 25155 & 25139 were noted arriving at Edinburgh on a day excursion from Manchester Victoria, did they work throughout or just forward from Carstairs?

On October 3rd 25155 made a test run from Derby Works.

The snag sheet for October 3rd recorded:

25155; October 3rd 1975; 1C59 11.45
Load Speed Amps Volts Notes Other
1 27 850 - - FTR
2 36 850 - - -
3 41.5 840 - - -
4 49 900 - - -
5 62 900 - - -
6 69 950 - - -

Speed noted: Looms 50mph, Spondon 58mph.

Track circuit block fit No.2
Loco paint
Knecht fuel filter bowl leak
No.2 cab driver's side door won't stay shut
No.1 cab bulkhead door seal
No.2 cab heater cover
Straight air brakes to adjust - too high
AWS to seal.

1976


Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
During the early 1970's Class 25s were transferred to South Wales to cover a number of duties including their use in pairs on the heavy iron ore trains. These arduous workings brought about a multitude of failures, usually related to the motors or the electrical control equipment. Seen here at Ebbw Jct on July 25th 1976 is 25155.

On October 2nd 25155 hauled an InterCity diesel multiple unit as the 06.30 Crewe – Cardiff passenger, this route was frequently seeing locomotive hauled substitutions due to the poor reliability of the diesel multiple units, with many being away at Works.

1977
Cardiff’s diagramming of Class 25s on freight duties ended in early January although they were still much in evidence in the Newport area handling the Machen stone trains and the Uskmouth branch trips – 25155 being noted on January 21st. At this time Newport drivers were being trained on the Class 31’s, 31296 being the first, and used on the early morning Newport - Bristol parcels.

At 08.00 on February 26th 24133, 25094, 25125, 25134, 25154, 25155 & 25159 were stabled at Crewe diesel depot. Later that day 25155 would work the 19.19 Crewe - Cardiff.

25155 was handling the Uskmouth trip on March 22nd.

On April 30th 25155 was stabled at Exeter.

On May 10th 25155 worked the 6B75 21.10 Exeter City Basin - Exeter Riverside (18 Texaco tanks and brake van).

On May 28th 25155 was noted at Exeter stabling point. It left the stabling point at about 5.00pm headed for Crewkerne to rescue the 1V13 13.00 Waterloo - Exeter which had failed behind 33017 due to loss of amps. The service arrived at Exeter about 90 minutes late.

At 8pm on June 3rd 25155 & 25080 were up light engines at Plymouth.

On June 17th 25155 & 25223 worked the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods to Plymouth.

On July 4th 25155 worked the Wadebridge freight and was also noted at Liskeard on the Moorswater clays at about 9.30am.

On August 15th 25155 was noted shunting clay hoods at Liskeard.

On the afternoon of September 17th 25155 was noted at St Blazey.

On September 23rd 25155 worked the 11.10 Plymouth - Penzance. Later 25155 worked the 15.20 Penzance - Paddington vans to Plymouth, here 50007 took over. 25155 then worked the 04.20 Stoke on Trent - St Blazey clay from Plymouth?

On the afternoon of October 26th 25052, 25080, 25155 & 25223 were stabled at Laira.

At 4pm on October 28th noted at Plymouth were 25215 up light engine and 25155 down light engine.

On December 30th 25216 & 25155 worked the 20.55 St Blazey - Temple Mills goods to?

1978
On January 13th 25224 & 25155 were noted at Plymouth with the 20.55 St Blazey - Temple Mills freight.

On February 10th 25155 & 25216 were noted at Exeter with the 7M56 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle (28 wagons and brakevan).

On the afternoon of March 4th 25155 was noted at Laira.


Photograph courtesy Roger Geach.
On April 11th 1978 25155 arrives at Liskeard Goods yard with loaded clay wagons from Moorswater.

On April 29th 25155 was stabled at St Blazey.

On May 4th noted at St Blazey were 25155, 25207 & 25225.

On May 12th 25155 & 25052 were noted at Newton Abbot with clay wagons for Fowey. On May 18th 25155 worked the 07.55 Plymouth Friary - Keyham freight.

On June 28th 25155 worked the 16.40 Plymouth - Paignton.

On the afternoon of July 3rd 25206 & 25155 were on an up goods at Plymouth.

On the afternoon of July 5th 25207 & 25155 were on an up goods at Plymouth.

On July 21st 25155 worked the 16.05 Truro - Plymouth Friary goods and the 19.55 Plymouth Friary - St Blazey goods.

On July 23rd 25155 & 25207 worked a nine coach Penzance - Barnstaple excursion throughout, returning to Exeter with the 12.28 ex-Barnstaple, then laying over before working the 18.00 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple, returning in the path of the 19.06 Barnstaple - Exeter before continuing on with the excursionists to Penzance.

On July 28th 25080 & 25155 were noted at Exeter with the 7M86 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle freight (21 wagons and brake van).

On the morning of September 2nd 25057, 25155, 25223 & 33108 were stabled at Exeter shed.

On September 2nd the 08.25 Paddington - Barnstaple arrived at Exeter St Davids with 47096 and was worked forward by 25155 & 25058. At Barnstaple 25058 continued with the regular passenger diagram whilst 25155 would later work the 18.00 Torrington - Exeter milk.

On the afternoon of September 3rd 25155, 25223, 33021 & 47198 were stabled at Exeter shed.

A surprising visitor on the 15.55 Bristol - Plymouth parcels on September 7th was Haymarket based 25011, which worked as far as Exeter, replaced here by 25155.

On September 9th 25155 was noted at Exeter stabling point during the early afternoon, it would then work the 13.40 Exeter - Barnstaple and the return 15.52 Barnstaple - Exeter.

On September 11th 25155 was noted at Exeter stabling point during the morning, it would later work the 17.30 Paignton - Exeter St Davids and the 18.45 Exeter St Davids - Paignton.

On September 12th 25155 worked the 6B71 16.25 Torrington / 18.40 Barnstaple - Exeter Riverside milk/vans.

In the early hours of September 16th 25057, 25155, 25206 & 25225 were stabled at Exeter shed. Later that day 25155 worked the 2B99 18.03 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids and was later noted stabled at Exeter shortly after midnight.

On September 17th 25155 worked the 17.55 Paignton - Exeter St. Davids.

On September 26th 25155 worked the 2B44 19.30 Exeter St. Davids - Paignton (nine coaches).

On the afternoon of September 29th 25155 was stabled at Exeter shed.

Condition September: still displaying four digit headcodes at No.1 end

On October 11th Laira based 25155 was at the sugar beet plant at Ely. On October 21st 25155 was noted at Exeter St Davids with about seven milk tanks from Torrington.

1979
On January 3rd 25155 & 25207 worked the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods to?

On January 12th 25057 & 25155 worked the 18.00 Truro - Plymouth Friary goods and the 6V53 Stoke - St Blazey clay empties from Plymouth?

On March 23rd 25155 & 25048 worked the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods to?

On the afternoon of May 18th and the morning of May 19th 25155 was noted at Laira.

On the morning of May 28th & 29th and the afternoon of May 31st 25155 was stabled at Laira.

On June 1st 25155 was noted at Laira.

On June 13th 25155 worked an Exeter St. Davids - Paignton service. The 08.25 Paddington - Barnstaple on June 16th was worked forward from Exeter St. Davids by 25155. On June 23rd 25155 was noted at St Blazey.

On July 6th 25206 & 25155 were noted at Exeter with the 04.24 Stoke - St Blazey empty clay working.

On the morning of September 8th & 12th 25155 & 25225 were noted at Laira. On the morning of September 29th 25155 was noted at Laira.

1980
On the evening of January 4th 25155 & 25080 were at Plymouth with an up goods.

The evening St Blazey - Longport china clay train was worked by 25223 & 25155 on February 15th.

On the morning of March 28th 25155 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On April 8th 25155 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

25155 & 37299 formed a strange partnership for working the 'Penzance Pullman' railtour over a number of Cornish branches on April 26th. The railtour originated at Paddington, celebrating the end of normal express passenger locomotive hauled services between Paddington & Penzance. The Class 25/37 combination took over from 50028 at Plymouth, then proceeding to Saltash - Lostwithiel - Par - Goonbarrow Junction - St Dennis Junction, then returning to Par and then westward to Penzance. After running round the train at Penzance the 25/37 combination returned the railtour to Plymouth, where 50028 took over for the trip back to London.

25155 was noted at St Austell on July 6th. On July 16th 25155 was noted at Par with loaded clay hoods.


Photograph courtesy Andy Hoare.
After many years of work in and about the East Midlands the transfer of 25155 to the West Country brought a whole new set of workings. Of trips to the furthest south-west station in the country, local passenger workings along the scenic coastline of Devon & Cornwall and dealing with the Devon banks on china clay workings. Its July 19th 1980 at St Austell and 25155 needs a touch-up to the cab front paint job.

On the morning of September 8th 25155 & 25225 were noted at Laira.

All but one of the WR Class 25s were either withdrawn or transferred to the London Midland Region on October 6th, Laira kept one for the St Blazey – Truro – Penzance trip working, by November 3rd this too had been taken over by a Class 37. Likewise the Scottish Region sent eight machines to the LMR and withdrew five more. The LMR itself condemned seventeen machines and placed six into storage. A number of these transferred machines on arrival at their new depots were found to be only fit for scrapping, 25155 was in this category.

On October 2nd 25155 worked the 18.58 Exeter St. Davids - Paignton. The final passenger working for 25155 took place on October 4th working the 13.45 Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple and the return 15.52 to Exeter St. Davids. On October 7th & 9th 25155 was noted shunting at Laira depot. Shortly after this 25155 was transferred to Springs Branch.

25155 was sent down to Swindon Works, being stored then on November 15th and officially withdrawn on December 1st.

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

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

31/1779
flk 0221

Page added August 17th 2013.
Last updated February 29th 2024.

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