Many of the loco-hauled passenger workings over GSW route between Glasgow & Carlisle utilised Class 25's during 1984 & 1985. Here 25190 stands at Glasgow Central on July 19th 1985, scheduled to work the 17:30 1M56 to Carlisle.
1965
The frames for D7540 & 7541 were laid down at Derby during 1965, with delivery to traffic taking place in April to the Nottingham Division (M16), one of a large continuous batch (D7521 - D7571) initially allocated here to replace steam on many of the area's freight workings, both in the Birmingham direction and northwards towards Tinsley. During October D7541 was moved to the London Division (M14) at Cricklewood.
1967
D7540 was noted briefly at Derby Works during October.
1968
During May D7538 - D7545 moved to Longsight (9A).
1969
Whilst the 7.35 Nottingham - Llandudno and 13.52 return was well known for Class 25 haulage, the 10.00 from Sheffield & 14.28 return occasionally featured pairs of Class 25's, so noted were 5198 & 5210 (14th) and 7540 & 7594 (21st).
1970
Derby Works was briefly visited by 7540 during February.
1971
The Liverpool Division (D08) became the next home for 7540 in January, though by July it was back at the Manchester Division (D09) along with recently transferred 7536 & 7539. At the end of the summer timetable (October), 7539 - 7541 returned to the Liverpool Division (D08), joining 7542 - 7545 already on allocation there.
1972
After a year in the Liverpool area it was back to the Manchester Division (D09) for 7540 during October, moving back with 7539. Having barely arrived here it was immediately off to the Birmingham Division (D02). By Christmas the Nottingham Division (D16) was now home, joined by sister 7539.
1973
7540 & 7541 moved north to Kingmoor in May.
1974
7540 made a short visit to Derby Works during May followed by a move south in September to Springs Branch, returning back to Kingmoor during November.
1975
Bescot again became 25190's home during February, though by March Willesden had acquired it, however its stay here was brief as it moved to Cricklewood during June. At this time a quick visit was made to Derby Works.
Far from home on August 14th was 25190 in charge of the 13.15 Euston - Stranraer parcels from Carlisle.
1978
On April 25th the 17.35 Northampton - Three Spires Junction freight derailed two wagons, damaging track for 1½ miles on the Northampton line, the two locomotives, 25117 & 25190 were not involved. During November 25190 entered Derby Works for a general repair including the fitting of
dual braking equipment. The locomotive was outshopped in February 1979.
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25190 awaits the paint shop at Derby on a miserable snowy damp January 21st 1979. This is 25190 despite it carrying the cab from 25189! |
1980
The continuing shortage of locomotives, partly caused by a backlog of repairs at the main workshops, led to Swindon Works receiving unclassified repairs for locomotive types it had not dealt with before. On March 9th collision damaged 31124 & 31154 were moved from Doncaster to Swindon. Likewise 25191 and 25236 were also received for repairs. During March approximately six hundred locomotives were awaiting attention of which only one third (about 160) were out of traffic for scheduled repair. For the Class 25’s fifty eight were laid up, the Class 31’s had thirty out of traffic, whilst for the Class 47’s one out of every five machines was awaiting some sort of attention. Eight Class 25’s had been out of traffic for at least three months (25035/42, 25113/147/177/191, 25234/252), obviously the aforementioned move of 25191 to Swindon was a start in repairing these bad ordered machines. To provide Swindon with a source of spares 25111/147/252 were withdrawn during March and consigned there (25111 was the first to arrive on May 6th), not surprisingly two of these machines were in the batch long overdue for repairs.
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In order to clear up a backlog of out-of-service locomotives Swindon started to recieve a wide variety locomotives previously not repaired there, this included a number of classes not previously repaired here. This included several Class 25's, 25191 being one of the fortunate ones, seen here on March 23rd 1980. |
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Other classes received here were work weary Class 31's, some Scottish 27's, bent ER 37's and a couple of 47's, amongst the regular diet of Class 08's. |
The continuing shortage of electric locomotives led to the novel use of pairs of Cricklewood's Class 25's on the heavy Kensington Olympia - Stirling Motorail service. 25180 & 25190 handled the down working on June 2nd, 25189 & 25054 up on 3rd, the latter pair were also used the following night. They worked as far as Crewe, coming south with the 23.40 ex Stirling.
25107 & 25191 worked the 13.40 Manchester Victoria - Llandudno Town on August 7th 1980.
1981
After just over six years at Cricklewood 25190 moved north to Toton during September.
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The southbound slow line on the Midland main line near Harpenden is host to this view of 25190 on a ballast working April 10 1981. |
1982
On May 20th 25117 and 25190 worked two round trips to Reading, initially taking the 07.20 Liverpool - Poole forward from Coventry returning with the 09.42 Poole - Newcastle to New Street. They then returned to Reading with the 09.50 Newcastle - Poole, coming back with the 17.05 Poole - Derby as far as New Street. The following week (28th) 25191 worked the 12.50 Carlisle - Glasgow Central throughout.
25190's passenger workings over the Cambrian lines seem few and far between, one of the few recorded workings took place on Saturday August 14th with 25207, working the 09.45 Wolverhampton - Aberystwyth (07.40 ex Euston), returning with the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. Presumably deputising for an unavailable dmu 25190 worked the 06.38 Bedford - St Pancras on September 21st. On October 6th 25190 sustained minor cabside damage after colliding with 25035 at Crewe depot's fueling point.
1983
25190's last transfer took place during March with a move to Crewe.
On April 22nd the Ellesmere Port - Riverside bitumen tanks ran behind 25240 & 25190,
Coventry lost its status as a crew signing on point on June 13th, 25190 became the last locomotive to leave, after completing its local duties it returned to Nuneaton. On August 21st 25191 & 25173 dragged one WCML service between Bletchley & Rugby due to the power being off for engineering work.
An unusual arrival at Follingsby on December 6th was 25191 on a freightliner working from Trafford Park. Two days later it assisted a failed 47459 between Leamington Spa & Banbury, here both were replaced by 25185 taking the ex Wolverhampton service all the way to Paddington! 25190 & 25269 worked the Carnforth - Preston leg of the returning 'Cumbrian Mountain Pullman' on December 10th. And on 14th 25191 was noted heading west through Port Talbot.
1984
The end of March saw much continued activity of Class 25's in the North East. 25181 worked a Tees - Scunthorpe freight (23rd), 25326 worked the Haverton Hill - Stevenston tanks (23rd), 25059 & 25064 Stranraer - Tyne Speedlink (28th) working back with the Eastgate - Carlisle cement, 25192 on local Tees duties (29th) & 25191 & 25205 on the Stranraer Speedlink and Carlisle cement workings (30th).
The aging DMU's on the Crewe - Lincoln service, already way beyond their best provided a number of diesel locomotives with additional passenger mileage, either dragging the DMU's or substituting with rakes of coaching stock. Typical of this was 25191 working the 14.20 Crewe - Cleethorpes as far as Derby on June 19th, two days later 25089 made a round trip between Crewe and Derby and for the remainder of the year diesel substitutions would continue, using Classes 20/25/31/47.
On July 3rd the Ellesmere Port - Severn Tunnel Jct bitumen tanks were hauled by 25234 & 25190, the latter became a failure near Shrewsbury. 47352 on the following Bristol parcels switched with 25234 to take the heavier train forward. A Northampton - Blackpool excursion on July 11th featured 25191 between Preston & Blackpool, the authorities sent it back on a returning Edinburgh - Manchester Victoria forward from Preston. The following day (12th) it was back in action on the Preston - Blackpool leg of an excursion from Birmingham. A week later it was more local action, firstly between Preston & Barrow on an ex-Crewe service returning south with the 18.21 Barrow - Liverpool.
Its July 25th 1984 and 25190 is handling a typical working with which they had become very familiar with. This view is taken at Barrow Docks, revealing a scene of desolation all to familiar to many parts of the railway network.
Photograph courtesy John Broughton.
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On July 25 1984 25190 works passed Salthouse Junction. This was the entrance to the lines leading to Barrow Docks. Photograph courtesy John Broughton.
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A round trip between Carlisle & Glasgow was worked by 25191 on August 21st, working the 06.05 ex Carlisle and the return 15.50 ex Glasgow Central.
The 16.20 Glasgow - Liverpool continued to use Class 25's for the journey south of Preston. Noted were 25072 (Aug 24th), 25229 (Aug 31st), 25210 (Sept 6th), 25190 (Sept 7th), 40009 (Sept 12th) and remarkably 20212 & 20219 (Sept 14th).
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Almost to the end of their lives the Class 25's were frequently found in pairs on the various oil train workings out of Stanlow. Here at Chester on October 1st 1984 25191 & 25201 go about their business.
Photograph courtesy Paul O'Garra. |
On December 18th travellers on the 07.28 Hereford - Birmingham New Street dmu had the delights of 25191 forward from Stourbridge Junction after the dmu failed.
1985
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Looks like its raining cats & dogs at Polmadie on May 25th 1985 as 25190 and a Class 27 wait for their next turns of duty. Looks like another fine liquid Bank Holiday weekend.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
On June 22nd 25191 & 25230 worked the 13.40 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury forward from Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton when the train was extended due to late running. Two days later tragedy befell 25191 working the Shrewsbury - Bristol vans after striking and killing a lady at Leominster. The police investigation delayed the following services, with 25191 held later at Hereford.
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A moody shot of 25191 as it crosses one of the many estuaries on the line from Carnforth to Barrow in Furness, seen here at Plumpton, May 17th 1985.
Photograph courtesy John Broughton. |
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An almost empty Wigan Springs Branch shed appears to only have 25191 in for attention on June 29th 1985.
Photograph courtesy Stephen Houlker. |
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Taken the same day as the opening shot on this page, 25190 stands at Kilmarnock on July 19th 1985 whilst the station work is completed. Photograph courtesy Richard Howat.
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25190 drops down onto its train at Glasgow Central on July 19th 1985. Many of the Type 2's diagrammed for these workings were not boiler equipped! Photograph courtesy Richard Howat.
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Another view of 25191 at Wigan Springs Branch on July 21st 1985, now accompanied by a pair of Class 20's.
Photograph courtesy Stephen Houlker. |
The performance of the Class 33's on the Crewe - Cardiff workings had started to deteriorate considerably, the extension of the services to Bangor & Manchester and their use on local workings may have interrupted their maintenance cycles. On August 16th an afternoon Bangor - Cardiff was noted behind 25190 whilst on 28th 25201 rescued 33004 on the 07.10 Manchester - Cardiff.
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A nice side view of 25190 at Crewe station on August 12th 1985.
Photograph courtesy Phillip Moore. |
The 07.30 Stranraer Harbour - Glasgow Central was worked throught by 25190 on September 30th. Another dmu failure on November 3rd found 25191 assisting the 13.00 Wolverhampton - Chester service forward from Shrewsbury.
Stanlow oil terminal on November 23rd provided a veritable feast of Class 25's with 25190 & 25192 and 25279 & 25325 on workings from Leeds and 25035 & 25072 from Dalston.
1986
The Severn Tunnel Jct - Exeter Cartics working frequently brought Class 25's into the West Country, towards the end of January 25057 was noted on 23rd & 29th, 25201 (30th) & 25190 (31st).
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 | Two views of 25191 & VDA 200959 at Low Moor crossing, Clitheroe on Tuesday February 11th 1986, with a return working from Castle Cement Works.
Photographs courtesy Stephen Houlker.
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Hindsight would reveal that the Class 25's now had less than a year to run. At BR's financial year end (March 31st) forty eight examples remained in service, allocated to Crewe and Kingmoor. Cutting up of the withdrawn examples continued at Swindon and Doncaster whilst 25190 was possibly the last working example to visit Derby Works, exchanging bogies from withdrawn 25200. The remaining examples were still widely traveled, occasionally substituting on passenger workings and a most definite choice for Railtour activity.
The 100th anniversary of the Mersey Railway was celebrated in early April. Part of the festivities included an Open Day at Birkenhead North depot on Sunday April 6th. Amongst the twelve diesel locomotives featured was 25907, 26027 & 33026. Services from Stanlow continued to see paired Class 25's, the Leeds tankers had 25034 & 25190 and 25201 & 25202 on April 18th.
During May 25191 moved to Crewe - its last transfer. An unusual working for 25191 on May 12th was to haul a broad gauge replica of 'Iron Duke' from Tyseley to Didcot.
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The day before 25191 had its adventures on the 'Coastway Crusader' (see below), sister 25190 was puttering around in Watford Yard on more mundane duties attached to TDM 395455.
Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. |
More adventurous was the F & W 'Coastway Crusader' excursion (1Z36) on July 27, from Wolverhampton to Bognor Regis/Littlehampton, via Bristol and Westbury. The trip started behind 50050, 45128 taking over at Birmingham for the run to Bristol. Here 25181/191 took over reaching Ludgershall, via Andover where 25181 failed with oil pressure problems. The machine was partially revived but unfortunately ran back down the branch with its handbrake on. At Andover and now with bad wheel flats the unfortunate Class 25 was detached and replaced with 33011 for the run via East Putney, Tulse Hill, Wimbledon and Epsom to Littlehampton. On the return trip it had been intended to replace the Class 25/33 combination with 37046/117 at Westbury, however in an unusual move 25191 remained on the train, tucked in behind the 37's, running in this fashion back to Bristol where 45128 was waiting for the run home. With 25181 having bad wheel flats it was hauled to Eastleigh using a wheel skate on August 5. This was its last trip however as it was condemned here and would be broken up by Vic Berry on site during July 1988.
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 | Two views of the 'Coastway Crusader' at Chichester (left) & Amberley (right). By this time 33011 had replaced the unfortunate 25181, looks like the day was somewhat overcast.
Photographs courtesy Paul Garvey.
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The 06.30 Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury local service was hauled by 25191 on August 12th. Due to engineering work 25191 was used to drag three services the short distance between Glasgow Central & Shields Road on September 28th.
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Workings from Carlisle still brought the class 25's into southern Scotland, workings they would handle until the very end. 25190 rests at Ayr on September 6th 1986, perhaps in between jobs from the Carlisle area. Photograph courtesy Paul Bettany.
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The limelight fell on 25191 on October 2, when it hauled 89001 on its first ever outing, from Crewe to Derby Research Dept.
A visit to Llandudno Jct on December 6th found 31176 present for driver training, with three of the 'old guard' present, 25191, 25213 & 25903.
For 25190 the Christmas week appears to have been spent in the Merseyside area. On the evening of 23rd 25190 was noted at Ellesmere Port, and again on December 30, this time attached to 25176.
1987
The last days of 25190
On the evening of January 8th 25190 arrived at Castleton CWR on the 6L58, then re-allocated to the 8X35 to Basford Hall. A mid-afternoon arrival at Manchester Victoria on January 11th found it allocated to the following morning's 1P55 02.28 Manchester Victoria - Barrow, presumably returning with the 5P55 to Red Bank. Breakfast time on 13th saw 25190 at Manchester Victoria on target MR84. The late evening of 16th was spent in the Stockport/Longsight area. January 24th & 25th were spent in the Llandudno area working the LB56 to Llandudno Jct (24th) and MC22 to Llandudno Jct (25th).
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The frosty morning of January 9th 1987 greets 25190 and its parcels train at Manchester Victoria.
Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. |
By 3pm on January 27th 25190 had reached Crewe Diesel Depot for an 'A' exam and attention to coolant leaks. Initially expected to be released by January 30th a decision was made on the afternoon of 28th not to effect repairs, leading to the withdrawal of 25190. By the middle of March 25190 had joined the deadlines at Basford Hall, it remained here until May 29th when it left, along with 25034/37/95 as the 10.50 9L37 to Vic Berry's, Leicester. By June 14th all that remained were the cabs!
The last days of 25191
25191 was noted at Crewe Depot over the New Year attached to 25059. It was noted stopped at Crewe on January 7th with flat batteries, these were fixed in time for its January 10th visit to Machynlleth attached to 25109, no doubt for permanent way work. By 17th it was back in the Crewe area, then to Carnforth on 24th & Skipton the next day. towards the end of the month it was at Toton for an 'A' exam with attention to its brake blocks and a low power problem.
The beginning of February found it back in the Crewe area, by the 11th it was at Manchester Victoria, then to Guide Bridge to work the 6K37 to Nuneaton Hartshill. For the remainder of February 25191 seems to have bee active mostly in the Crewe area. On 27th 25057 & 25191 were in charge of a Ravenhead Jct – Oakamole sand empties.
March began with 25191 in the Stoke area, by the end of the first week it had made a trip to Buxton. On March 16th it ran out to Llandudno to work the 9T77 11.50am to Crewe Gresty Lane permanent way train. It remained in the Crewe area until withdrawn from service on March 18th. It was one of six Class 25's to be withdrawn this day - 25191/265/279/313/903/910.
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For so long a mainstay on the North Wales passenger & freights here is 25191 at Rhyl on what I believe is its last working during March 1987.
Photograph courtesy - its in my archives somewhere, I'll track it down - sorry! |
25191 would escape the scrappers torch and be sold to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway during August 1987.
Undated Views
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A wonderful undated view of 25190 at Holyhead, apparently rescuing a Class 47 that has left the rails.
Photograph courtesy Colin Webb/Collection of Steve Morris. |
