Not quite November rain, but definately a gloriously wet March 3rd 1979 as 25176 drifts through Manchester Victoria. Just behind the locomotive was the holding siding for the Manchester Victoria pilot and the banking locomotives for Miles Platting bank, a duty that was frequently in the hands of a Class 25. The cab front shows off the inability of the mechanised washing plants to completely reach all parts of the locomotive. The accumulated muck on the front would require a hose and long handled broom to do a thorough job!

1965
D7525 - D7527 were delivered from Derby Works to the Midland Lines during January 1965 as part of the large fleet used to remove steam from the Midland Lines northwards. D7526 was quickly transferred to Norwich (32A) in February and then to Finsbury Park (34G) in May. By June D7526 was back on the Midland Lines (ML) with her many sisters.

1967
An Open Day at Leeds Holbeck on September 30th, marking the twilight of steam in the area, especially the few remaining Jubilees, found the following Sulzer Type 2's on 'display': D5096, 5100/73/79, 5254/90, 7526/48/68-70/95 & 7625.

1968
D7525 visited Crewe Works during May, D7526 followed for repairs during September. D7527 visited Derby Works during August.

1971
7526 visited Derby Works during September, the following month Willesden (D01) became the new home for 7525 - 7528.

1973
Repairs were carried out at Derby to 7527 in January & 7526 during March.

1976
The summer holiday 'weeks' in a number of the Midland towns brought increased traffic to the regular services and the usual extras. Leicester's holiday period commenced July 3rd with a heavily strengthened London service and extras to Skegness with 25176 & 25178 and to Yarmouth with 25165 & 25280.

1977
25175 spent April to July at Derby Works, mostly spent in the yards. By the middle of July it was back in service being noted on a school special from North London to Southend on 13th.

1978
September & October for 25176 were spent at Derby under repair, and dual-braking (?)

1979

Its February 27th 1979 and ex-works 25177 drifts south near the site of Nottingham Road station, Derby. Three years later the shiny paint would be dulled, rust would be creeping round the sheet metal joints on the cab, and the end for 25177 would be many miles from Derby.

25177 received a general repair during January & February at Derby. A maintenance dispute brought many strangers into South Wales including a number of Class 25's. So noted towards the end of March were 25294 on the 14.46 Great Bridge - Llandeilo flats (21st), 25177 on oil tanks to Llandarcy oil terminal (April 2nd) as well as a number of light engine movements west of Cardiff, 25256 & 25312 (10th) and 25184 & 25194 (12th).

1980
25177 was back at Derby from February to May, undergoing collision repairs, it left the Works in October. On July 4th a Willesden - Salfords (SR) oil train was worked throughout by 25175 & 25309, returning at least as far as Acton with a train of empty stone hoppers for Westbury.

1981
A Liverpool - York special hauled by 850 'Lord Nelson' required the assistance of 25177 on Miles Platting bank on March 11th. In the early hours of April 8th a train of ammonia tanks partially derailed west of Hadfield station, with the ninth tank hitting the platform and becoming derailed. Two breakdown trains attended, 37128 from Tinsley and 25177 from Longsight (?), whilst 47214 arrived with empty tanks to transfer ammonia from the damaged vehicles.

On July 23rd Derby turned out 25177 & 25158 to work the 10.05 service to St Pancras, both were replaced at Bedford by a Peak after 25158 failed. On July 29th a trip from Derby to Aberystwyth used 25056 & 25270 interestingly being exchanged at Wolverhampton with 25149 & 25175! A working frequently bringing the Type 2's to the WR was the Ince - Bridgwater UKF, the empties returning behind 25175 on August 4th. A heavily loaded 15.02 Bristol - Manchester parcels on October 9th used 25177 & 25179,

1982
During May 25175 was stored unserviceable at Crewe, by August it was at Derby, now with approval to carry out generator repairs.

On July 3rd 25177 went for a romp across Lancashire and Yorkshire in charge of the 08.40 Manchester Victoria - Scarborough, the return working was covered by 40014. This was possibly 25177's last passenger working.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer25175 spent the first half of 1982 out of service, first at Crewe, then Derby Works. Seen here on August 14th 1982, generator repairs have been sanctioned so 25175 will run afew more miles.

Blea Moor was a poor place for 47455 to fail whilst working a charter on October 30th. The train had stopped to detach pilot 31115 (from Hellifield), but was unable to restart, ninety minutes passed until 25189 & 25176 arrived taking the train on to Culgaith, where they were replaced by 37048 for the run to Carlisle. New traffic flows of gas pipes in November brought pairs of Class 25's from Leith South to St Helens or Warrington, the trains of twenty six bolsters required banking between Garswood & Shaw Street. Noted on November 3rd were 25176 & 25078 banked by 25109 whilst the next day produced 25059 & 25180 banked by 40090. 25177's career came to an end when it was retired in November, quickly being moved to Stratford for rerailing exercises, other Type 2's present here were condemned 25214 ETH vehicle 24142.

1983
March would see 25177 used, with 40092 in rerailing exercises at Temple Mills yard after which it would languish at Stratford, prior to dispatch to Swindon.

During July and August 25175 was at Derby for repairs.

Photographs courtesy Gary Thornton (all three top row), Paul O'Garra (left & center bottom row) & John Powell (right Bottom Row)

Its July 9th 1983 and the engineers at Stratford Open Day have 25177 on display as an example of how rolling stock is rerailed/lifted back on to the tracks. With the locomotive on its side there is ample opportunity to explore parts of the locomotive not normally visible. One traction motor is missing.

A wandering ballast working caused problems on the Oxford - Bletchley line on October 4th. The up Oxford line was already closed due to out-of-gauge track, all traffic using the down line, including the ballast working behind 25175. Having cleared the single line section it was then decided to return the train to Aylesbury using recently arrived 25080. This locomotive derailed whilst changing tracks, the scene cleared by the Bletchley rerailing team later that evening with the ballast train being towed away by 25175!

For 25176 December 1983 & January 1984 were spent at Derby, with unclassified repairs made to the power unit, a visit to Derby by this time was a risky venture as many Class 25's went in for minor repair work and were condemned following the discovery of more serious woes. Many that found themselves in this unfortunate position did provide many spares to keep the ever dwindling fleet running a little longer.

1984

During December 1983 & January 1984 25176 spent time at Derby Works for power unit repairs, seen here on January 14th. Class 25's visiting Derby Works at this late stage in their working lives risked the possibility of withdrawal following discovery of other needed work that would then exceed the cash limits set for repair work on the Class 25's. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

25175 moved to Crewe during January, not that this had much impact on its duties, for on February 1st it assisted 47157 throughout on the 14.48 Inverness - Aberdeen service.

The majority of 25176's passenger miles during 1984 were short hops in the Preston area, the first occurring on February 17th with a Preston - Blackpool North job, taking forward the 18.05 from Euston.

25175 dragged an EMU between Rugby & Coventry on April 8th, power being off for engineering work. Swindon finally received three Class 27's from Scotland for repair at the end of April, they were noted arriving at Gloucester on April 26th behind 25176. A week later, on May 1st 25076 & 25176 were unusual power for a Lackenby - Scunthorpe special. May 17th & 18th found 25175 working three passenger trips in the Preston area, a round trip to Manchester Victoria (17/18th) and a Preston - Blackpool turn (18th).

25177 made its final journey during June 5th - 14th from Stratford to Swindon, accompanying it were 08550, 40092 as the 9Z28 Stratford - Swindon.

Things were still happening though for 25175, it worked the 07.25 Glasgow Central - Carlisle service on June 28th.

On July 31st 25176 surprisingly worked the 07.25 Glasgow - Carlisle with 25207, it returned alone on the 12.40 ex Carlisle. The Ditton BOC - Broughton Lane tanks continued the use of a Class 25 & 40 combination, during August noted were 25178 & 40181 (4th), 25176 & 40155 (9th), 25213 & 40192 (13th), 25181 & 40044 (17th) and 25201 & 40028 (22nd), incursions by 47's becoming more frequent, by October they would be the norm. A trip to the seaside took place on August 18th when 25175 & 25044 worked the 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Shrewsbury, coming back with the 14.00 to Shrewsbury, which was extended to Birmingham, the Class 25's going as far as Wolverhampton.

Between September 3rd & 6th 25176 worked four passenger trains out of/through Preston, a Blackpool - Manchester Victoria on 3rd, a Preston - Blackpool hop ex Birmingham on 4th, assisting a southbound electric to Warrington on 6th when the power was off, then returning to Preston to work a round trip to Blackpool North. Its last passenger working of 1984 was on October 11th, double headed with 25181, assisting an electric from Euston to Watford due to the power being off. During November Cricklewood lost its four remaining Class 25's (25048, 25176, 25244 & 25311) to other LM depots, 25176 moving to Carlisle Kingmoor. These re-allocations left the London area depots without any BR/Sulzer Type 2's on allocation.

On November 7th 25175 did more dragging on the WCML, this time assisting 86252 between Nuneaton & Birmingham New Street.

1985
A very short run took place for 25175 on January 28th when it assisted failed 27020 between Mossband & Gretna Jct on the 06.05 Carlisle - Glasgow Central service, 47157 replaced both locomotives.

The Ellesmere Port - Severn Tunnel Jct bitumen tanks were noted with 25175 & 25048 on February 5th and 25044 (8th), Class 47's were now diagrammed for this working.

Passenger workings for 25176 in 1985 were scarce. The first came on March 28th dragging a diverted Euston - Liverpool service between Warrington & Lime Street. More Scottish haulage occurred for 25175 on April 10th when it took the 12.05 Bristol - Edinburgh service forward from Carstairs.

On April 23rd two pairs of Class 25's were noted at Chesterfield, the morning Arpley - Parkeston Speedlink behind 25175 & 25032 and the late evening Bristol - Newcastle parcels with 25201 & 25245.

	The 6H33 Widnes - Earles cement on May 3rd 1985 passes through New Mills Central behind 25175 & 25032. As detailed above this pair of locomotives had been together since at least April 23rd. Photograph courtesy Stephen Houlker.
	The driver's desk for 25175 taken sometine during May 1985. Photograph courtesy Michael Kaye.

June 1st's 'Blackpool Boomerang' railtour gave the chance for 25175 & 25198 to show their mettle over 169 miles between Healey Mills - Blackburn - Blackpool - Bolton - Ashburys - New Mills - Sheffield. When the Class 25's joined the tour it was already running about an hour late, a little time was gained until 25198 expired at Manchester Victoria. The threat of the local banker, a Class 31, joining the train was thwarted by the speedy repair of 25198, both 25's making a spirited ascent of Miles Platting bank.

The 12.00 Euston - Blackpool was worked forward from Preston on July 8th by 25175. Later that month, on the 22nd 25176 was in charge of the 12.40 Carlisle - Glasgow.

When the 10.10 Holyhead - Euston failed at Chester on September 3rd behind 47453 it was left for 25176 & 25200 to drag the whole ensemble to Crewe, this pair were later noted on a Ravenscraig - Llanwern coil train. The run of the mill Bolton - Swansea 'Llandore Lodger/Swindon Ambassador' railtour on September 21st, which included admission to Swindon Works & Llandore Open Day became a hot ticket when two Class 25's were diagrammed for the working. On the day 25034 & 25175 handled the 512 mile journey; Bolton - Stockport - Birmingham - Didcot - Swindon - Severn Tunnel - Cardiff - Swansea - Llanelli - Central Wales line - Shrewsbury - Crewe & return to Bolton. This was the last passenger working for 25175.

Late in 1984 25176 moved north to Kingmoor, leading to possible passenger duties, in the summer months on the Carlisle - Dumfries - Glasgow service. At an unknown date (presumably in 1985) 25176 stands at Glasgow Central with just such a working. Photograph courtesy Richard Howat.

On the North & West route on December 4th 25176 became a failure on a northbound freight, rescued by 31134 and dumped temporarily at Hereford.

When 56105 failed on an afternoon York - Tees coal empties on November 28th, 25175 & 25201 were provided for the remainder of the trip. They later returned south on an evening salt working to Reading. Just over a week later on December 5th 25175 was withdrawn at Crewe.

1986
March saw two Class 31's (31259 & 31271) transferred to Carlisle, allowing 25176 & 25278 to be transferred down to Crewe. This was the last transfer for 25176.

During May Swindon finally cut up the remains of 25177.

By the summer Class 25's arriving at Hereford from the north were usually turned round here due to the diminishing number of South Wales crews trained on them. On June 4th 25176 and 25265 arrived on separate freights and were taken off, though 25265 remained in the area on permanent way workings. October 26th's afternoon Manchester - Bristol parcels was hauled by 25176. November 21st found 25176 rescuing a late night Birmingham - Euston emu after it failed at Denbigh Hall Junction, 25176 was on hand to drag the failure to Bletchley, 25176's last passenger working.

For 25176 the last week of 1986 was spent mostly in the Chester/Wirral area.

1987 - 1988
January 23 - 26 saw 25048, 25145/175, 25231, 25303 move from Crewe - to Vic Berry's, Leicester, by April 25175 was all gone.

On January 8 & 9th 25176 was again on local Chester jobs, though by the 13th had migrated to Warrington. By breakfast on 17th 25176 was at Crewe Depot requiring attention to a traction motor armature, expected release was the evening of January 19th. On 24th 25176 was still in the Crewe area, allocated to the 3K02 05.00 Crewe - Liverpool, returning to Crewe for more local work on 25th.

The evening of January 27th saw 25176 at Manchester Victoria, scheduled for the following day's 1P55 02.28 Manchester Victoria to Barrow, returning with the 5P55 empties to Red Bank. After being noted at Bolton in the early evening of the 29th the loco repeated its previous day trip to Barrow (30th).

A short time was spent at Newton Heath depot on January 31st before moving to Manchester Victoria.

February 10 - 12th were spent in the Crewe - Shrewsbury area before reaching Machynlleth on the morning of the 14th. Bescot was reached on the evening of the 17th on the 7G25, returning to Crewe light engine late on 18th. By the early morning hours of February 21st 25176 was at Holbeck, allocated to work an empty stock special to Longsight Carriage Sidings (5Z97). After reaching Manchester Victoria it was off light engine to Edge Hill to bring some stock back to Manchester Victoria. Again the 1P55 to Barrow and return empties to Red Bank was handled on the morning of 24th. Later that day it was back at Manchester Victoria on the 1H07.

25176 was noted at Longsight on February 28th & March 2nd, on the latter allocated to the 0K36 light engine to Guide Bridge to collect the 6K36 to Nuneaton Hartshill. By the early morning of 5th it had arrived at Liverpool Lime Street on the 1F54, being then allocated to the 8X31 to Bury. On the morning of 10th the locomotive returned to Longsight for attention to the valve and rocker gear. Although repairs were expected to be completed by the end of the day, they did not occur, with 25176 now consigned for scrap after a service life of twenty two years.

25176 remained at Longsight until July 27th when it made an unusual trip (9L45) to Ashburys Yd, returning to Longsight on August 1st!! Its final journey began on November 26 1987 when it was moved as 09.41 9K13 to Crewe South Yard, then on December 12th tripped to Basford Hall. Two days later it was off to Bescot as the 9X12 06.41, followed by the 9D15 12.03 Bescot to Toton, being detached at Humberstone Road on December 17th. The next day Leicester stabling point was its next port of call, spending the Christmas break here. On January 6th 1988 it was collected by the regular Bescot - Toton freight to spend a day at Toton. It travelled south on January 8th in the 8G15 Toton - Bescot freight, being detached at Leicester. It was tripped to Humberstone Road on January 21st, then into Vic Berry's Yard on January 25th. By July 1988 25176 was no more.

(With thanks to Neil Cannon for making available the TOPS reports for 1987).

	25175 date & location unknown. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	25176 date & location unknown. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	The page opened with a view of 25176 at Manchester Victoria, so it closes with a view of 25177 at the same location. This view shows the method for sheeting over the boiler room grille by a similar sized patch, others had the whole panel from frame to roof level resheeted. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Page added October 16th 2001
Page last updated November 12th 2006

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