D7509, 7509, 25159
D7509, 7509, 25159


Photograph collection of webmaster
25159 heads east with a lengthy parcels/newspaper train towards Bolton station on September 6th 1980.

The sixteen year career of D7509/25159 was split between allocations to London Midland Region & Western Region depots.

Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: ?? months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 4 months.

Allocations

D7509 was new to Toton on November 5th 1964. Further transfers were:

January 1965 to Nottingham Division (D16).
April 1968 to London Midland (Midland) Lines.
June 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
January 1972 to Laira (84A).
July 1972 to Ebbw Junction (86B).
May 1974 to Cardiff.
July 1975 to Bristol.
February 1976 to Toton.
February 1976 to Crewe.
Withdrawn November 2nd 1980.

Renumbered March 1974.

After withdrawal 25159 was stabled at Crewe Diesel depot (noted December 15th 1980) being moved to Swindon Works during December 1980, and broken up there by the middle of March 1981.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works May 1967.
Noted Derby Works February 1968.
Noted Derby Works December 1971, paint date DY 20-1-72.
Noted Derby Works April 1975.
Noted Derby Works July 1976.

Highlights

1966
On February 24th Burton shed was host to 44 locomotives, 21 steam (all in service) and 23 diesels comprised of D9, D135, D143, D1650, D2384, D3572, D3586, D3778, D4150, D5202, D5212, D5293, D7509, D7511, D7514, D7532, D7533, D7536, D7538, D7542, D7544, D7567 & D7594.

1967
On the afternoon of January 19th D7509 was at Bedford with an up freight.

Stabled at Derby on June 1st were D5002, D5183, D7509, D7521, D7579 and visitors 12059 & D9505.

On the morning of July 18th D7509 & D7510 were stabled at Derby.

On the evening of July 19th D7509, D7510 & D7524 were stabled at Derby.

Condition October: two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels, no blanking plates, hand/footholds present, straight sided sandboxes, three rung bogie mounted footsteps, engine exhaust in original position.

1968
On the afternoon of July 19th D5371 & D7509 were southbound at Claydon / Fenny Compton with a freight (7H13), later returning north with the 7P08.

1969
On August 16th 1969 7509 worked the 07.35 Nottingham - Llandudno Town and 13.52 return. On September 6th 1969 7509 worked the 07.00 Derby - Yarmouth as far as Norwich.

1970
On the evening of June 30th 7509 was stabled at Crewe holding sidings.

July 11th 1970 saw the annual Keswick Convention, with one through special running from Euston hauled by 371. To create a path for this train the 16.25 Penrith - Keswick diesel multiple unit and 17.05 return were cancelled, however two coaches and 7509 were added to the special at Penrith, the Class 25 being placed on the rear. Upon return to Penrith 7509 was removed and the train proceeded north to Carlisle as a local.

1972
During January 1972 7509 was transferred to Laira.

On January 29th 7509 was noted on Exeter stabling point, presumably recently outshopped from Derby Works.

On February 25th 7509 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk and the 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.

On February 26th 7509 worked the 6B19 14.55 Exeter - Chard Junction, returning as far as Exeter with the 6019 16.55 Chard Junction - Morden South milk (four tanks).

On February 28th 7509 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).

On March 17th the 4B17 15.05 Penzance - Paddington perishables (23 vans) arrived at Exeter with 7509 & 1051, the Class 25 came off here and retired to the stabling point.

On March 18th 7509 worked the 6B74 16.35 Torrington - Exeter milk (13 tanks).

On March 20th the 6B65 20.20 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Central cement (20 Presflos) was worked by 7508 & 1598, at Exeter St Davids 810 was added to train to lead it upto Exeter Central.

On May 1st the 4A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington perishables arrived at Exeter with 7509 & 1018. Here 7509 came off and retired to the stabling point.

On May 12th the 3A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington perishables (nine vans) arrived at Exeter with 7509 & 810, the Class 25 came off here and retired to the stabling point.

On May 19th 7509 worked the 6B67 19.10 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (three vans).

On May 26th the 4A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington perishables (seven vans) arrived at Exeter with 7509 & 1020, 7509 came off here and retired to the stabling point.

On May 27th 7509 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter Riverside freight (six vans). 7509 later worked the 6B70 Exeter - Hemyock milk empties and the return 6B70 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk (five tanks).

On May 29th 7509 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (three tanks).

On June 1st 7509 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans). After retiring to Exeter stabling point it would later depart light engine to Laira.

At about 2pm on June 2nd 7509 ran light from Keyham to Exeter stabling point and later worked the 6B17 17.15 Lapford - Exeter milk (five tanks), which ran very early as these turns frequently did. Later that day the 4B10 15.58 Bristol - Plymouth parcels arrived at Exeter St Davids with 7647 which came off the train and was replaced by 7509 with seven vans.

On June 3rd 7509 worked the 09.51 Exeter St Davids - Barnstable, the 12.18 Barnstable - Exeter St Davids, the 15.55 Exeter St Davids - Barnstable and the return 17.55 Barnstable - Exeter St Davids.

On June 7th the 4A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington perishables (13 vans) arrived at Exeter with 7509 & 1041, the Class 25 came off here and retired to the stabling point.

On June 9th 7509 piloted Class 46 No. 141 between Exeter St Davids & Plymouth on the 1B58 21.05 Bristol Temple Meads - Plymouth.

On June 14th the 4A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington perishables (13 vans) arrived at Exeter with 7509 & 1687, the Class 25 came off here and retired to the stabling point.

On June 15th 7509 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).

On June 16th 7509 worked the 6B67 19.10 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).

On June 20th 7509 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk.

1974
On January 22nd, 25th & 26th 7509 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

A roundtrip Derby - Skegness on August 18th was worked by 25159 & 25259.

1975
The Lickey banker, normally a pair of Cardiff based Class 37s was in the hands of 25159 & 37299 on February 1st, they were called upon to assist an ailing 46047 on the 10.06 Edinburgh – Plymouth, being noted at Cheltenham an hour and a half late, all three still heading west! (37220 & 25159 were also reported as the Lickey bankers on January 15th).

On May 1st 25159 made a test run from Derby Works.

The snag sheet for May 1st recorded:

No.1 end leading, recordings from No.2 end.

25159; May 1st 1975; 1M51 Derby 9.41
Load Speed Amps Volts Notes Other
1 29 900 - - -
2 37 900 - - -
3 44 920 - - -
4 52 940 - - OVR in
5 66 970 - - -
6 73 1,000 - - -

No.1 cab DSD pedal very sensitive
AWS No.2 issue
Red fault light bright (No.1 cab?)
No.2 rocker cover seal
No.3 Bicera bad leak, slight on others
Engine governor leak
Radiators unbalanced B side low
Oil leak A crankcase door
Nos. 4 & 6 fuel pump leak
Turbo-charger joint issue
Charge air low
Speedometer reading high, 5mph at 50.

On May 10th the 21.00 Bristol Temple Meads - Glasgow Central with 47089 were banked up Lickey incline by 25159 & 37206. Another Derby - Skegness roundtrip was worked on May 24th with 25159 & 25212.

On October 23rd 25162 & 25159 were noted at Exeter in the Up direction with the 7Z69 loaded ballast train.

A derailment in Ely West Yard saw October 29th's 14.47 Whitemoor - King's Lynn freight diverted via Ely to clear Ely traffic affected by the derailment, 25159 was in charge of the freight.

At about 7pm on November 12th 25159 was stabled at Exeter depot.

1977


Photograph courtesy Larry Goddard
Its about 6.30pm on May 10th 1977 as 25159 heads east along the North Wales mainline with a short parcels train. By this time 25159 was allocated to its final depot, Crewe Diesel.

June 4th found Leeds Holbeck short of power to handle the 09.35 Carlisle - Nottingham, all they had available was 25124. To this machine was added 25159 borrowed from a parcels train, this fine pair then making the run to Nottingham and returning with the 15.52 to Glasgow, being relieved at Leeds by 47467.

The NE/SW route beckoned on July 16th with 25159 & 25101 in charge of the 08.50 Birmingham New Street - Paignton, 25101 failed at Wellington leaving 25159 to drag it and the train on to Paignton. Reportedly the same locomotive returned north with the empty coaching stock. On July 23rd the 1J20 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth was worked forward from Wolverhampton by 20152 & 20175 with 25154 & 25159 handling the Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury portion.

25159 was noted at Springs Branch on August 11th. 25159 worked a Derby - Lincoln mail on August 18th.

1978
25159 was noted passing Kidsgrove on February 13th with a short eight wagon freight, possibly a Crewe - Stoke trip.

25159 was stabled at Chester on May 13th. On May 15th (?) 1978 25159 worked the 10.00 Crewe - Cardiff. 25159 was noted at Northwich depot on May 20th.

On June 26th 1978 25159 worked 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. The next day (27th) 25159 worked the 20.30 Crewe - Bangor and 22.45 Bangor - Llandudno Junction.

On August 17th 25073 & 25159 were noted northbound through Crewe with a loaded sand train.


Photograph courtesy Barrie Hughes
25159 on the south curve at Croes Newydd on August 25th 1978.

On September 9th 25159 & 25043 were noted at Birkenhead North with a hopper train.

On October 25th 25159 & 24063 were noted with two wagons and a brakevan en-route to BIS Oakamoor?

1979
Late into March the two remaining Class 24s 24063 & 24081 were still soldiering on, observed on the Oakamoor sand train were 24063 & 25159 on March 29th.

On April 21st a continuously welded rail train was noted at Hereford with 24081 & 25159.

On the afternoon of June 8th 25159 was noted stabled at Wolverhampton.

On June 26th 25159 worked the 19.30 Crewe - Cardiff.

On June 27th 25159 worked the 05.35 Cardiff - Crewe and the 10.00 Crewe - Cardiff.

On June 28th 25159 worked the 05.35 Cardiff - Crewe, the 10.00 Crewe - Cardiff and the 15.08 Cardiff - Crewe.

During the early morning of July 14th 25159 was noted northbound through Crewe with a coal train.

The final recorded passenger workings for 25159 took place on August 23rd with the 19.30 Crewe - Cardiff and August 24th with 25159 working the 15.10 Cardiff - Crewe and the 19.28 Crewe - Cardiff. On August 27th 25159 was the Manchester Victoria pilot.

1980
Because of the implications of a recent derailment the Class 86/0s regained their 80 mph speed restriction whilst the use of Classes 81 – 85 was permitted on air braked, air conditioned trains. Despite these alterations the northern end of the WCML saw a number of electrically hauled freights substituting with diesel power including the use of Class 25s. So noted were 25095 on February 20th's late evening Willesden – Runcorn freight and 25105 & 25159 on February 21st's mid-day Carlisle – Severn Tunnel Junction freight.

On July 18th 25159 was noted in the siding at Radway Green.

25159 was withdrawn on November 2nd 1980.

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

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Page added August 25th 2013.
Last updated February 18th 2023.

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