D7507, 7507, 25157
D7507, 7507, 25157
The last Class 25 broken up at Swindon Works

Photograph courtesy Chris Baines
25157 has just arrived at Preston with the 13.12 from Blackpool North on July 25th (?) 1981.

The eighteen year career of D7507/25157 was split between London Midland Region & Western Region depots.

Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 56 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 52 months.
Unofficially named 'City of Stoke on Trent'
The last main line locomotive to be scrapped at Swindon Works.

Allocations

D7507 was new to Toton on October 29th 1964. Further transfers were:

January 1965 to Nottingham Division (D16).
February 1968 to London Midland Midland Lines (LMML).
June 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
January 1972 to Laira (84A).
December 1972 to Bristol (82A).
September 1973 to Cardiff.
November 1973 to Bristol.
May 1974 to Cardiff.
May 1975 to Bristol.
February 1976 to Bescot.
February 1976 to Crewe.
July 1980 to Springs Branch.
October 1982 to Crewe.
Withdrawn October 30th 1982.

Renumbered May 31st 1974.

25157 was the 142nd Class 25 withdrawn.

After withdrawal 25157 was stored at Kingmoor until June 14th 1984 when it was moved (see details below) to Ashburys, then Bescot, Cocklebury Yard and finally to Swindon Works by July 25th 1984. The demise of 25157 was protracted, it was not broken up until the middle of March 1987, the last main line locomotive to be broken up there.

25157 Carlisle – Ashburys – Bescot June 14th/15th 1984.
25067, 25101/157/187 Wolverhampton (‘067) – Bescot – Swindon Cocklebury July 6th - 11th 1984.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works June 1972 (full repaint, blue/yellow)).
Noted Derby Works January & February 1978.

Highlights

1965
On January 15th D83, D5393 & D7507 were stabled at Kettering.

On the morning of October 2nd D7507 & D7554 were up light engines at Nottingham Victoria (0M08).

1967
On the morning of April 24th D7507 was at Stenson Junction with a brakevan.

A mid-day visit to Derby shed on June 29th produced:
ED2, ED4, ED5 - all withdrawn, the latter two were on-Works
12084
15001 - withdrawn
D60, D61, D83, D93, D97, D122
D2381, D2382
D2501, D2507, D2517 - all withdrawn
D3374, D3763, D3839, D3968, D4139
D5080, D5106 ex-works
D5189, D5200, D7507, D7588, D7591
D8170, D8180.

1969
On the evening of April 18th 7507 was noted at Nuneaton.

On September 27th the 10.15 Carlisle - Carlton freight with 1635 failed at Garsdale, 7507 was summonsed from Blea Moor to shunt the train into the siding at Garsdale to allow the Up 'Thames-Clyde' to pass.

1970
On the evening of January 30th 7507 was light engine at Stoke on Trent.

At noon on July 9th 1996 & 7507 were down light engines at Crewe.

On July 18th 7507 & 5230 worked the 08.15 Leicester - Blackpool North from Nottingham.

1971
On July 20th 7507 & 7516 worked the 09.00 Sheffield - St. Pancras as far as Nottingham.

At about 9pm on December 30th 7502, 7506 & 7507 were noted on the down through road at Newton Abbot on transfer to Laira from the LMR.

1972
During January 1972 7507 was transferred to Laira.

On January 7th the 4B10 15.52 Bristol - Plymouth parcels arrived at Exeter with 7095, this came off and was replaced by 7507.

On January 10th 7507 worked the 6B16 17.15 Lapford - Exeter milk tanks (two tanks).

On January 17th 7507 worked the 6B16 17.15 Lapford - Exeter milk tanks (two tanks).

At about 6pm on January 20th the 4B10 15.55 Bristol - Plymouth parcels arrived at Exeter with 818, this retired to the stabling point, with 7507 taking over the train. 818 was later noted on the 7B51 19.50 Newton Abbot - Exeter Riverside freight.

On February 4th 7507 worked the 6B74 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk (five tanks).

At 8am of Saturday February 5th 1001, 832, 824, 7507, 7504 & 6534 were on Exeter stabling point.

On February 5th at 13.45 7507 ran light from Exeter stabling point to Tiverton Junction in order to work the 6B73 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk (six tanks).

On February 7th 7507 worked the 4B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans), then retiring to the stabling point.

On April 10th 7507 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).

On April 11th the 4B10 15.53 Bristol - Plymouth parcels arrived at Exeter with 5824, this retired to the stabling point with 7507 taking over for the run to Plymouth.

On April 13th 7507 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans), then retiring to the stabling point.

On June 20th 7507 was noted at Exeter St Davids in ex-works condition.

On June 22nd 7507 worked the 6B67 17.40? Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).

On June 23rd 7507 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk.

On July 22nd 7507 & 7577 worked the 7B34 19.40 Bristol Temple Mills to Ponsandane freight, the 1E21 10.30 Penzance to Bradford passenger service to Plymouth (see photo below), then light engines to Laira depot and ending with the 7B31 18.20 Plymouth Friary to Par freight hauled by 7507 & 7573.

Photograph courtesy Roger Geach
7507 & 7577 cross Saltash bridge with the 1E21 10.30 Penzance to Bradford passenger service, regretably as part of the diagram the Class 25s will be removed at Plymouth, the date is July 22nd 1972.

7507 & 5842 worked a Washwood Heath - Gloucester freight on September 15th.

On October 21st 7507 worked the 15.55 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the return 17.55 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids.

On November 4th 7507 worked the 15.55 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the return 2B99 17.55 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids.

On November 6th 7507 worked the 7B70 13.13 Exeter Riverside - Tiverton freight.

On December 8th 7507 worked the 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

1973
On February 27th 7507 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans. It later ran light up to Exeter Riverside to work the 6B70 13.15 to Hemyock.

February 28th was the day of a one-day ASLEF strike, stabled at Exeter (stabling point or Riverside) at midday were 30, 94, 141, 1007, 1027, 1028, 1053?, 1057, 1068, 1638, 1673, 1741, 3797, 4158, 4160, 7016, 7506, 7507, 7656, 7676 and five diesel multiple unit sets.

On March 1st 7507 worked the 2B84 20.55 Exeter St David - Newton Abbot. At Newton Abbot 7507 was added to the 1B94 18.00 Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads, the locomotive that worked throughout from Penzance is not known.

Photograph courtesy Tony Smith.
7507 at Chaloners Win on March 21st 1973 with what appears to be an empty continuously welded rail train. At this time the locomotive was allocated to Bristol.

On April 27th 7507 worked the 6B64 13.05 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Riverside.

On April 28th 7507 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans and later worked the 15.58 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the return 17.55 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids.

Photograph collection of webmaster.
7507 departs Weymouth on May 10th 1973, with what is believed to be the 19.30 Weymouth - Bristol.

On June 21st 7507 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans (four vans).

7507 was noted at Bristol Bath Road on July 4th.

On September 26th the following Class 25s were noted in passing:
Bristol Parkway: 7507 with freight 8B25 about 10.30am
Ebbw Junction Newport: 5182, 7502, 7516, 7517, 7518, 7521, 25080. 1000 & 1200 were also present.
Severn Tunnel Junction: 5189 & 7520.

On December 7th 7507 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

1974
On the morning of April 18th 25135 & 7507 were northbound at Washwood Heath whilst 25121 was southbound.

On May 10th 1974 the 21.00 Bristol Temple Meads - Glasgow Central with 45018 and fifteen coaches was assisted up Lickey incline by 7507 & 37217.

1975
On January 27th 25145 & 25157 were noted at Manchester Victoria with the 8X79.

At about 14.20 on February 18th 25157 was noted arriving at Exeter stabling point.

On the morning of March 27th 25157 was the York permanent way yard pilot.

Condition July: blue/yellow livery, three rung bogie mounted footsteps, straight sided sandboxes, no blanking plates, hand/footholds plated over, minor scrape damage to drivers side No.1 cab and high level dent from radiator back to the middle of the bodyside.

On September 20th 25157 worked the 1B99 08.10 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids and later the 6B70 17.05 Hemyock - Exeter milk (three tanks).

On September 23rd 25157 worked the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On September 24th 25157 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On September 30th 25157 worked the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On October 19th 25157 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On October 20th 25157 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On October 21st 25157 worked the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

At 7pm on October 23rd 25157 was noted on shed at Exeter.

On October 27th 25157 worked the 8B89 14.45 Exmouth Junction - Exeter Riverside and was also noted with the 7B08 up coal at Exeter St Davids.

On October 28th 25157 worked the 7B08 Chard Junction - Exeter Riverside.

On October 31st at about 9.30am 25063 was noted with coal for Exmouth Junction, being banked by 25157.

On November 3rd 25157 worked the 8B89 14.45 Exmouth Junction - Exeter Riverside.

On December 12th 25157 was noted at Exeter St Davids with the 4B10 15.53 Plymouth -Bristol parcels.

At 6.30pm on December 11th 25157 was noted on Exeter shed.

At 2pm on December 20th 25157, 25160, 25161 & 25224 were noted on shed at Exeter.

1976
On the afternoon of May 4th 25157 was stabled at York.

25157 was on empty coaching stock duty at Liverpool Lime Street on July 24th.

On October 1st 25157 was northbound at Trowell with a lengthy mixed freight (8E80).

December 7th 1976 saw 24040/59/89/135 moved as a Crewe - Swindon Works dead engine movement via Banbury hauled by 25157.

Photograph collection of webmaster
25157 passes 40155 at Holywell Junction on April 18th 1977.

1977
A short working on May 20th saw 25157 work the 00.13 Stalybridge - Manchester Victoria, being the portion off the 21.50 York - Shrewsbury.

A roundtrip (?) day excursion on August 14th saw 25157 & 25081 handle a Birmingham New Street - Barmouth. A week later on August 21st 25157 & sister 25156 worked the 16.09 Holyhead - Euston to Crewe. On August 26th the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Crewe was worked by 25157.

1978
On February 17th 25157 made a test run from Derby Works.

The snag sheet for February 17th recorded:

25157; February 17th 1978; 3F01 Nottingham
Load Speed Amps Volts Notes Other
1 27 850 - - -
2 34 870 - - -
3 38 880 - - -
4 45 950 - - -
5 56 950 - - -
6 62 - - - -

No.1 dimmer switch reversed
AWS to seal
Radiators unbalanced, B glass leaking
Governor top leaking
Tacho generator blanking plate leak
Ballast cover screws to fit.

The 09.42 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria, 13.30 Manchester Victoria - Llandudno Town, 16.42 Llandudno Town - Crewe, 20.30 Crewe - Bangor and the 22.45 Bangor - Llandudno Junction were worked by 25157 on August 9th & 11th 1978, a daily passenger mileage of 349 miles.

Photograph collection of webmaster
25157, 25150 & 08069 at Chester on October 7th 1978. As well as the great variety in this view, also passing through Chester on this day was the 'Conway Consort' railtour which featured 40113 in both directions.

25157 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on October 18th.

The 'Welsh Wonder' railtour on November 25th 1978 from Paddington to Blaenavon saw 25157 & 25225 diagrammed for the first leg to Severn Tunnel Junction, 46001 was used as a pilot from Reading due to issues with the Class 25s. After coming off the train at Severn Tunnel Junction, the three locomotives ran light to Bristol Bath Road. This tour was repeated on the following Saturday, December 2nd, with 25052 & 25225 providing more solid performance between Paddington and Severn Tunnel Junction.

On December 17th 25157 was noted at Chester depot.

1979
On March 3rd 25157 was noted shunting the breakdown train at Springs Branch depot.

On April 11th 25157 worked the 16.00 Crewe - Cardiff.

July 1979 was an active month for 25157, being noted on the Crewe - Cardiff services on July 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th. On July 23rd & 24th 25157 & 25131 worked a roundtrip Leicester - Skegness each day.

Photograph courtesy Martin Margerrison
25157 & 25131 at Skegness on July 23rd 1979.

The Mondays Only 05.49 Toton - Eastleigh freight was worked by 25157 on November 2nd.

1980
On May 11th 25157 was noted at Abergele with a ballast train for Llandudno Junction.

On May 24th 1980 25157 & 25264 worked the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the return 17.55 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton.

On July 7th the 15.07 Plymouth - Manchester Victoria was worked from Gloucester to Birmingham New Street by 25157 & 25299, hopefully with a pair of Class 25s on this working there was a vigorous ascent of Lickey incline. On July 21st 25157 & 25187 were in charge of the 07.20 Newcastle – Leeds parcels.

25157 worked the 00.10 Manchester - Redhill vans to Didcot on October 7th, returning with the 02.40 Redhill - Manchester vans. On October 12th 25157 took 13001 from Tinsley depot to Barrow Hill, in order to attend the Open Day.

On a very wet November 19th 25157 was the Manchester Victoria banker.

1981
On April 8th 25157 worked an Ayr - Carlisle (?) parcels train.

A heavy load of rail hauled by 25157 was noted at Bromford Bridge headed in the Saltley direction on April 15th.

The 08.39 Cleethorpes - Doncaster on May 26th was worked by 25157.

The Healey Mills breakdown crane was noted at Wakefield on June 22nd with 25157.

Class 25s continued to be frequent visitors in the Bristol area, parcels workings being frequently handled, the 15.04 from Manchester was noted with 25157 on July 14th. On July 25th the 13.12 Blackpool North - Preston was worked by 25157 and locomotive hauled stock, covering for a failed diesel multiple unit.

Photograph courtesy Steve Rickett.
25157 passes through Bridgwater with empty mineral wagons sometime during December 1981.

1982
25157 was noted stabled at Bescot on a snowy January 16th. A week later on January 23rd 25157 was noted climbing Lickey incline hauling 46040, 45029 and 08838, with help from the Lickey bankers, 37068 & 37188. The Peaks and Class 08 were en-route from Swindon Works to Derby Works.

25157 was noted at Manchester Victoria on February 19th with a parcels train.

March 23rd saw 25157 on a local trip working in the Warrington area.

1982 was the last year in service for 25157, a mixture of passenger workings were handled, beginning on June 5th with the 20.52 Sheffield - Derby worked by 25157 & 25297.

25157 & 25143 were noted passing through Chester with a ballast train on July 1st. 25157 was stabled at Springs Branch depot on July 10th. On July 20th 25157 passed through Bentham with a single wagon engineers train.

On August 14th 25157 & 25213 worked the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Derby diagram with the Norwich - Yarmouth legs featuring the Leeds & Sheffield portions of their Yarmouth turns. 25157 was noted at Leamington Spa on August 28th with a short engineers train. The 18.32 Birmingham New Street - Norwich was worked to Leicester by 25157 on August 29th.

25157 was noted at Guide Bridge with an engineer's working on September 2nd.

On September 3rd the 09.42 Manchester Victoria - Bangor was worked by 25157 to Chester where the Class 25 was failed and replaced by 25124. The final recorded passenger working for 25157 took place on September 26th with 25058 on the 13.45 Crewe - Cardiff.

25157 was withdrawn on October 30th 1982.

Condition Final: blue/yellow livery, blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds plated over, three-rung bogie mounted footsteps, straight sided sandboxes.

Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover
25157 out to pasture at Kingmoor on September 15th 1983, it looks like the fuel tank is missing.

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

41/3474
flk 1116 (3)

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

Page added August 24th 2013.
Last updated July 20th 2022.

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