A fine view of 25247 at Elgin probably in the early 1980's.

1964
During September 1962 a report issued on the future plans for the British Railways network of workshops spelt doom for Darlington Works. Although still engaged in the heavy repair of steam and diesel locomotives and with orders to complete for Class 08 and Class 25 locomotives, the Works was still a busy place. Construction had just begun on the first of the Class 25/1's (D5176), with further orders in the pipeline. The frames for the last three of Darlington's new locomotives were laid down during April, being delivered to Toton (16A) between June & August, D7597 quickly moving to Derby (16D) in August and D7596 to Nottingham (16C) in October.

The new and the not so new at Darlington Works on August 9th 1964. The last locomotive built at Darlington Works, D7597 glistens under grey skies, shortly to go south to begin service at Toton. Photograph courtesy E Skinner.

1965
An unusual working for D7597 on March 17th was the hauling of three preserved steam locomotives from Derby to Hellifield for further storage. This former steam shed was now in the hands of the Curator of Historical Relics, Museum of British Transport and was a temporary repository for a number of venerable machines, both steam and electric. On the south coast the Type 2's made regular visits on excursions and specials, visiting Eastbourne during May were D7513 & 5291 (11th) and D7595 & 7574 (25th), both trips had originated on the ER. In June D7596 moved to Saltley (2E).

1966
D7595 was noted at Derby Works during February. During March the Carlisle - Appleby local became diesel hauled, usually by a Type 2, D7595 being so noted on March 19th. In April D7596 moved from Saltley to the Midland Lines (ML).

1968
D7596 spent much of April & May at Derby Works. In May all three locomotives were transferred, D7588/92/94/95/97 moved to Longsight whilst D7596 went to Holbeck (55A), by September 7596 was at Gateshead (52A). 7597 noted under repair at Crewe during September.

Not sure where this view came from, but a transitional view of 7597 with full yellow ends and the dark green livery with stripe.
1970

7595 & 7573 stand side by side at Newton Heath on August 15th 1970. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

1971
In October 7596 returned to Holbeck (55A).

1972
After a three month stint at Leeds 7596 returned to Gateshead (52A) in January! Its stay here was brief, by April it was part of the Nottingham Division (D16), then swiftly moved to the London Division (D01). On April 30th 7596 & 5237 were noted working over the NE/SW route with an excursion to Newcastle (from?).

1973
D7595 was at Derby Works April through June, during that time it was transferred to Toton. 7597 was noted in Derby Works during June. An eastbound working out of Manchester that frequently saw pairs of Class 25's was the Saturdays only 09.20 to Yarmouth, usually these were removed at Lincoln for an ER locomotive, on 9th 25247 & 25282 were exchanged for 37109. 25247 moved to Springs Branch during September.

7597 and crane sit in the sun at Wigan Springs Branch on October 13th 1973. Photograph courtesy David Rogers.

1974
25246 moved north to Haymarket in November.

1975
After six months at Haymarket 25246 moved across to Eastfield in May.

1976
From June to August 25246 was under repair at Glasgow Works. During October 25247 moved north to Eastfield and 25245 went to Bescot. On October 18th 25245 moved withdrawn 24026/31/44/76 from Crewe to Swindon.

Its June 5th 1976 and a dusty 25246 undergoes repair at Glasgow Works. Judging by the chalk marks on the nose end doors these will be removed and sheeted over during this repair. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

On December 4th 25246 & 37204 were noted assisting 86233 on the 23.00hrs ex-Euston in the Motherwell area due to a power failure.

1977
25247 was under repair at Glasgow Works during June whilst 25245 visited Derby Works in September.

1978
Local services in the Edinburgh area continued to see the dmu services supplanted by hauled stock. May 1st brought 25240 on an unidentified working into Edinburgh whilst later that day 25246 handled the 17.30 Edinburgh - Cardenden. On May 6th 25247 was noted in charge of the 17.10 Edinburgh - Newcastle, a working which seemed capable of being hauled by anything Haymarket could turn out, including dmu's. A Lincoln - Fort William 'Merrymaker' on June 3rd reached Cowlairs on time behind 47218, here 25062 & 25230 took over, only to be replaced at Dumbarton Central by 25246 & 27029. On the climb to Glen Falloch 25246 lost its coolant, being replaced at Crianlarich by 25232 which had been travelling south. Arrival at Fort William was over two hours late. On August 30th 25247 working the 06.22 Thornton Yard - Craiginches hit a GPO van stuck on a minor crossing at Barrowfield (Montrose). Fortunately no injuries occurred and the line was cleared within 1 ½ hours. September 23rd found 25245 & 25275 working a Birmingham N.S. - Paignton relief .

1979
March found 25245 allocated to Crewe. The seemingly ongoing shortage of Type 2 power in the London area found locomotives borrowed from distant depots with Eastfield's 25235 & 25247 noted on local workings towards the end of August/beginning of September. 25246 received minor attention at Glasgow Works during November.

	From December 1978 to February 1979 25245 was at Derby receiving its final classified general repair. Seen here on January 20th 1979 midway through its stay the bodywork is a patchwork of colours, a sign of much repair work on the corroded, rusted panels.
	For a number of years the Crewe - Cardiff service was in the hands of a variety of Class 25's. Seen here on October 1st 1979 25245 waits time with a northbound departure for Crewe. When these services were taken over by the Class 33's in June 1981 25245 worked one of the last diagrams. Photograph courtesy Steve Jones.

1980
June 23rd saw 25220 & 25245 haul the eight coach 10.00 Crewe - Cardiff service. Elsewhere doubled headed Type 2 working featured the (Fridays) 17.25 Glasgow Central - Stranraer and the next days 09.43 SO Blackpool - Stranraer, from Ayr. On July 11/12th 27012 & 25076 were noted, 25238 & 26032 on 18/19th, though 25238 was replaced by 25109 on the Ayr run, 25235 & 25079 on 25/26th, 25246 hauled the first leg on August 1st, 47353 did the second leg! 25246 was also noted on the 17.43 Glasgow - Ayr and 19.22 return on August 5/6th. 25245 received minor repairs at Derby Works in November.

1981
No withdrawals occurred in April but two machines were stored unserviceable, 25246 & 25305, on June 25th 25065 & 25246 made the long journey from Kingmoor to Swindon. The last day of May was officially the last day for the Class 25's on the Crewe - Cardiff workings. The Southern Region were intending to release Class 33's from discontinued van traffic workings to take over from the Class 25's, however a strike on the SR and continued operation of the van traffic permitted some Class 25's to remain on these workings until June 4th. Throughout the last week 25042/60/66, 25219/220/245 handled the diagrams although by midweek 25220 was replaced by 47099. On June 1st 25060 was replaced by 33022 on the 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff with others gradually taking over. The final Class 25 workings were on June 4th, 25245 on the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe and 25060 on 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff, the latter failing at Hereford, passengers being rescued by a dmu off a terminating Birmingham service.

	Valentine's Day 1981 finds 25247 dumped at Polmadie, with a wheel skate under the rear axle of the front bogie. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	Warrington is host to 25247 on July 26th 1981. Somewhere down the road one of its upper ventilators has been plated over, now sporting two instead of the more normal three. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	There aren't too many views of Coventry on this website, but here is 25245 in the pouring rain on October 4th 1981, the paintwork seemingly still glistening, despite having been out of Derby Works for two years. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

After six months in store at Swindon 25246 was officially withdrawn during October.

1982
At Swindon interest had been shown by London Transport in possibly acquiring three Class 25 locomotives, however nothing concrete materialised from this idea, although possibly 25246 & 25305 had been set aside in the North Yard following from this enquiry. Late April saw the brief return of Class 25's to Glasgow Works for minor repairs, so noted were 25059 & 25237 (N4) and 25247 (N1 - engine repairs). However by late May operational Class 25's would be gone for good from Glasgow Works. A surprising reinstatement at Swindon late in July was 25305, it had been out of traffic for sixteen months, parts were taken from 25246 to make 25305 roadworthy. 25247 was at Derby Works for N4 repairs September 1982 to January 1983, whilst here it was reallocated to Kingmoor. On November 22nd 25245 worked the 13.45 ex Glasgow returning with the 8.40 ex Carlisle the next morning.

Borrowed (I think) from a posting on 'abpr', regret the photographer's name escapes me
No doubt where this is, after construction at Darlington, various repairs at Crewe, Derby & Glasgow it is left for Swindon to return it from whence it came.
1983
The 18.30 Barrow - Liverpool utilised a number of locomotives over the New Year, 25236 (Dec 28th), 25245 (Jan 6th) & 40084 (Jan 8th). For 25246 there was no more, being broken up at Swindon during January. The end came for 25247 during July, it was soon at Swindon Works, being quickly broken up during November.

Its March 1983 and 25247 is on ballast duty at Blea Moor, possibly having just picked up a load of ballast from nearby Ribblehead? 25247 is in its last few months of service, allocated to Kingmoor Depot. Photograph courtesy E A Woods.

1984
25245's varied passenger workings in 1984 began with two failures. Whilst working the 17.15 Manchester Victoria - Blackpool North on February 7th it became a failure at Preston, being replaced by 47199. A month later on March 8th 25245 again failed at Preston, this time on an early afternoon Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria working! A week later on March 14th 25245 worked a morning Manchester - York service, the following day it worked a morning Manchester - Bangor service, returning eastwards on a Scarborough service, but only as far as Manchester.

A busy weekend in April found 25083 & 25245 amassing over 770 miles of passenger mileage. The weekend began on April 21st with the pair managing a round trip Wolverhampton - Aberyswyth excursion (from Manchester). The next day began with a short hop between Coventry & Birmingham New Street on a Scarborough bound excursion. Little time was spent at Birmingham as they took over a Blackpool bound excursion from Leamington, returning all the way back to Leamington, some good sustained speeds were managed over the WCML. Seeking out more holiday resorts the next day the pair took over a Derby excursion at Shrewsbury bound for Tenby via the Central Wales line. The Class 25's were taken off at Llanelli for refuelling, 47140 covering the final miles into Tenby. After refuelling at Landore the Class 25's rejoined the train at Llanelli returning home via Cardiff and Birmingham.

On May 12th 25076 & 25245 were used on the RTR 'Ten Counties' railtour between Walsall & Marylebone. Two weekends later on May 26th 25202 & 25245 worked the 10.10 Euston -Aberysywyth forward from Wolverhampton, bringing the return working back to Shrewsbury. A more mundane working occurred on August 10th covering for a failed late afternoon DMU between Derby & Crewe. A down 'Speedlink' service was noted on September 25th through Huddersfield behind 31156 & 25245. North of the border on October 16th the 17.40 Carlisle - Glasgow Central was entrusted to 25245.

Further railtour duty on December 1st saw 25089 & 25245 working the RTR 'Buxton Bullett' between Bescot & Stockport.

1985 & 1986
February 2nd found 25245 working a round trip between Carlisle & Glasgow Central. The 06.05 Carlisle - Glasgow Central was covered on February 6th whilst another afternoon round trip over the GSW took place on February 27th. 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. Class 25's briefly returned to the 15.02 Manchester - Bristol parcels at the beginning of May, 25201 (1st), 25245 (2nd) & 25302 (14th). On May 6th 25201 & 25245 worked the 16.40 Nottingham - Barrow, returning on the diagrammed 21.50 Barrow - Crewe as far as Preston.

The last of our trio - 25245 - was withdrawn in June and stored at Crewe. On April 14th - 16th 1986 25119, 25226/245 were hauled as the 9Z34 Crewe - Warrington (picking up 25044 here) - Doncaster Works. By July 1986 25245 was no more.

Undated Views

	Several years have gone by since the previous view, seen here at Polmadie 25246 has acquired a coat of grime and dirt. This view shows the hinged ventilators, indicating the locomotive is dual braked. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	An overnight excursion from Derby has dragged yours truly to Aberdeen. A swift move was made south to capture some haulage between Dundee - Perth - Stirling. Here 25247 waits time, the next leg of an afternoon of classic Scottish haulage.
	Two Class 27's sandwich 25247 at Eastfield. The bodywork of 25247 certainly looks like it has seen better days! Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Page added July 21st 2002
Page updated August 5th 2006

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