D7604, 7604, 25254
D7604, 7604, 25254

Photograph collection of webmaster.
7604 shunting the MOD Ruddington facility sometime during 1973. In later years the Ruddington facility was used for the storage of surplus military vehicles and familiar to many because of the vehicle auctions that took place from time to time. The facility was completely closed by 1985, eventually being totally demolished and now the grounds of Rushcliffe County Park. The wagons on the right have materials for the Hotchley Hill gypsum works.

The twenty year six month career of D7604/25254 included allocations to Eastern, Scottish & London Midland Region depots.

Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake fitted (Jan 1973).
Final exhaust roof panel: flush.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 105 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 32 months.

Allocations

D7604 was new to Tinsley (41A) on March 11th 1966. Further transfers were:

June 1966 to Barrow Hill (41E).
December 1966 to Haymarket (64B).
June 1969 to Nottingham Division (D16) on loan, made permanent July 1969.
May 1973 to Toton.
November 1980 to Springs Branch.
October 1982 to Crewe.
Withdrawn September 4th 1986.

Renumbered to April 20th 1974.

25254 was the 292nd Class 25 withdrawn, one of seven retired during September 1986.

After withdrawal 25254 was stored at Springs Branch until moved on May 24th 1989 to Leicester Humberstone Road and into Vic Berry's yard the next day. By the third week of June 1989 25254 had been scrapped.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Glasgow Works October 1968.
Noted Derby Works January 1973 (Classified, dual brakes fitted, repainted from green to blue livery).
Noted Derby Works February 1975.
Noted Derby Works October - November 1977 (Classified & full repaint).
Noted Derby Works April 1982.

Highlights

1968
On the afternoon of September 28th 7604 & 7608 were noted at Millerhill and 7605 & 7607 at Portobello.

1969
D7604's time at the Eastern & Scottish depots has so far produced no recorded passenger workings. The first recorded passenger working took place on July 12th 1969 with the roundtrip Nottingham - Llandudno Town.

On the morning of September 11th 7604 was light engine at Grand Junction, Birmingham.

1972
A rescue job took place on October 26th when Class 45 No.77 working the 18.00 Derby - St. Pancras failed at Finedon Road, 7604 dragged the service to its destination.

1973
On July 29th 7604 worked the 21.30 Leicester - Birmingham New Street.

On the afternoon of September 3rd 7604 was stabled at York.

1974
At about 7am on January 18th 7604 was noted at Manchester Victoria with an up tank train.

7604 worked a morning Bescot - Exeter Riverside freight on March 28th.

At least two roundtrips were made to Skegness from Leicester during 1974, on July 20th with 25259 and on August 10th with 25133.

At midday on August 28th 25099 & 25254 were noted coupled together at Exeter stabling point.

On December 21st 25112 & 40112 were noted at Manchester Victoria with the 6J63.

1975
On April 22nd a southbound loaded merry-go-round coal train was noted behind 31422 & 25254 at Glendon Junction, presumably deputising for a Class 47.

25254 & 25081 worked the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Walsall diagram on August 23rd.

On the afternoon of October 10th 25254 worked the 4L10 York - Bradford parcels.

1976
The summer dated roundtrip Nottingham - Llandudno Town was worked on July 17th.

1977
25254 was noted at York depot on February 12th. On the morning of February 14th 25254 was the York permanent way pilot.

On the evening of April 1st 25254 was stabled at York.

On June 4th 25254 & 25120 worked the roundtrip Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Walsall. The next day (5th) the same locomotives worked a Stroud - Barmouth day excursion forward from Wolverhampton, returning with the 17.30 Barmouth - Birmingham New Street as far as Shrewsbury. On June 8th 25254 was shunting wagons at Aberystwyth.

25125 & 25254 were noted at Frodingham on July 24th.

The 08.44 Leeds - Paignton was worked to Sheffield by 25254 on August 13th. It was a trip over the Cambrian line on August 21st with 25118 on the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth to Shrewsbury (assumed), and the return 17.30 ex-Barmouth from Shrewsbury.

On the morning of August 19th, 23rd, 25th & 27th 25254 was stabled at York.

On November 5th 25254 made a test run from Derby Works.

The snag sheet for November 5th recorded:

25254; November 5th 1977; time 12.07 Derby
Load Speed Amps Volts Notes Other
1 30 800 - - -
2 49 725 - - -
3 - - - - -
4 - - - - -
5 - - - - -
6 - - - - -

Horn tones to adjust
A crankcase securing screw leak?
B side bus? radiator drain leak
No.1 driver side door seal u/s
Fuel filters to clean
Main generator flashover, brush box 2 o'clock dropped onto ?? damage to check and repair as necessary
Wheel slip light issue
No.1 B/C blowing through.

Ex-works 25254 was noted at Leicester with a parcels working on November 12th.

1978
On the evening of January 12th 25254 was stabled at York.

On the morning of June 30th 25254 was stabled at York.

On Tuesday July 4th 25254 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and the return 12.10 Norwood to Willesden.

On the morning of July 5th & 7th 25254 was stabled at York.

On July 22nd 25254 & 25133 worked the 09.19 Manchester Piccadilly - Yarmouth to Lincoln Central, returning with the 09.15 ex-Yarmouth. The same two locomotives on July 23rd to 26th made round trips to Skegness, from Derby (23rd) and Leicester (24th, 25th & 26th).

On Monday July 31st 25254 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and (presumably) the 12.00 Norwood - Willesden.

On Wednesday August 2nd 25254 worked the 12.25 Willesden to Norwood and (presumably) the 14.10 Norwood - Willesden. On the morning of August 4th 25254 was stabled at York. At about 3pm on August 8th 25254 was noted with a southbound permanent way train at York. On the morning of August 10th 25254 was stabled at York. During the late afternoon of August 12th 25254 was noted at Carlisle station.

On September 12th 25254 was noted at Walsall with an engineers train.

1979

Photograph courtesy Roger Geach.
25254 passes Elstree with a permanent way train on February 23rd 1979.

On a snowy March 16th 25254 was northbound at Wigston Junction with a Ford car train.

25178 & 25254 were stabled at Nuneaton on the evening of July 15th. On July 26th 25254 & 25318 were southbound at Finedon Road with possibly a Mountsorrel - Elstow or Radlett stone working.

On the afternoon of August 10th 25254 was noted at Acton with an up coal train.

The 03.55 Rugby - Didcot parcels was worked by 25254 on September 28th and instead of returning light engine worked the morning Poole - Manchester forward to Birmingham New Street.

On the morning of November 1st 25254 was northbound at York with a parcels train.

December 12th was a poor day for Class 25 reliability in the Northampton area. A Tring Cutting – Dam Mill mgr train which went forward from Northampton with 25285, after 25254 had been cut off here, got no further than Althorp before expiring. 25284 pushed the train to Rugby, ran round and took the train on to its destination.

1980
25254 was stabled at March on March 23rd. The early afternoon Peterborough - Crewe parcels was worked by 25254 on March 24th.

On May 27th 25254 was light engine at Wellingborough.

25254 was stabled at Toton on June 28th.

Seaside resorts were the order of the day for 25254 during 1980. On July 5th 25254 & 25258 worked the Walsall - Norwich - (for Yarmouth) - Derby diagram. The next day the same pair worked a Leicester - Skegness round trip. A week later on July 13th 25254 & 25269 worked a roundtrip Berkhampstead - Scarborough day excursion throughout?

An 'E' exam was carried out at Toton during July 1980.

The 16.10 Whitemoor - Temple Mills freight was normally a Class 37 turn (via Cambridge and Lea Valley), however on September 3rd 25254 & 25320 worked the train and probably went back on the 20.45 Temple Mills - Whitemoor, both handled by March men. A visit to the Cambrian lines took place on September 20th with 25254 & 25256 working the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with 17.55 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton.

1981
1981 saw a varied set of passenger workings for 25254. On March 7th the 09.50 Edinburgh - Plymouth failed at Derby behind 47556, 25254 took the train to Birmingham New Street. At Birmingham on the same day a power failure saw 25254 assist the 16.30 Birmingham New Street - Euston as far as Birmingham International.

The 05.35 Cardiff - Crewe was worked by 25254 on May 18th. Between May 25th & 31st 25254 & 25243 were busy on the motorails between Kensington Olympia & Willesden.

At least five trips were made to Aberystwyth, on June 13th with 25194, June 20th with 25088, July 25th & 26th with 25278, the latter date being a day excursion originating from Gloucester and August 1st with 25262.

On September 2nd 25254 arrived at Holbeck at 22.15 off the K58 turn.

On September 3rd 25254 arrived at Holbeck at 11.50am from Doncaster on an unknown working.

On September 5th 25254 was north of the border working the summer dated 10.35 Stranraer Harbour - Kilmarnock and the return 13.43.

Photograph courtesy Dave Smith.
25254 at Nuneaton on March 25th 1981 with its train of Ford cars being routed from the Down slow to the Coventry branch in order to reach Gosford Green. The MAT transporter wagon carries a selection of new Ford Capris, Cortinas and Fiestas, which like the locomotive pulling them have probably been recycled several times over since this picture was taken.

On December 11th 25251 & 25254 worked the Leith - Heysham pipes.

1982
On February 9th 25254 was stabled at Holbeck. On February 12th 25254 & 25285 worked a Rylestone - Hull Tilcon stone train. On February 26th 25254 handled the 15.15 Manchester Piccadilly - Harwich Parkstone Quay to Sheffield.

25254 was stabled at Springs Branch on March 28th.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
25254 at the Test House, Derby Works on April 24th 1982.

On the afternoon of May 15th 25254 was stabled at Holbeck.

On August 14th 25289 & 25254 were noted eastbound through Chester with bogie oil tanks. A short rescue job on August 24th saw 25254 assist 86256 on the 09.15 Glasgow Central - Bristol Temple Meads between Preston & Winwick Junction (via Newton-le-Willows) because of an overhead line failure.

The next three passenger workings were north of the border, with 25254 working the 17.22 Carlisle - Glasgow Central on September 4th and the 12.50 Carlisle - Glasgow Central and 17.30 return on September 6th. The 19.25 Bangor - Manchester Victoria on September 20th was worked forward from Llandudno Junction by 25254.

On the afternoon of October 14th 25254 was stabled at York.

On the late afternoon of October 15th 25254 was stabled at York.

25254 was noted at Tyseley on October 22nd.

On December 30th 25285 & 25254 were northbound at Crewe with a mixed freight.

1983
On July 28th 25254 worked the 4V20 15.10 Manchester Piccadilly - Bristol Temple Meads.

On August 24th 25253 & 25254 worked a Oakamoor - St Helens sand train.

On August 31st 25254 was eastbound at Skelton Junction with ICI limestone empties for Tunstead.

25254 was noted westbound at Manchester Victoria on September 15th and was the Manchester Victoria banker on September 17th & 20th.

Only one passenger working has been identified for 1983, on November 17th working the 18.20 Glasgow Central - Manchester Victoria between Lancaster & Preston dragging 86232 due to overhead line damage.

On the afternoon of December 13th 25254 was shunting at Luton.

1984
On February 19th 1984 the 10.00 Euston - Wolverhampton was diverted between Rugby & Nuneaton due to engineering work and hauled by 25254 & 31287.

The Ditton – Broughton Lane BOC tanks continued with its familiar pair of Classes 25 & 40, so noted were 40196 & 25254 on April 28th. On April 29th 25254 was noted at Manchester Piccadilly on empty coaching stock.

25254 & 25284 worked a Oakamoor - St Helens sand train on May 9th.

25254 was northbound at Carlisle with a freight on June 26th.

25315 & 25254 were noted on the 14.56 Ellesmere Port - Severn Tunnel Junction on July 31st. The result of 33001 catching fire on August 7th on the 17.20 Cardiff – Manchester near Moreton on Lugg led to 25254 & 25269 on the following Severn Tunnel Junction – Mossend freight being split up. 25269 replaced 33001 on the Manchester service whilst 25254 took the Class 33 back to Hereford. 25254 was at Saltley on August 27th.

Two Cambrian line workings followed, on August 11th with 25282 and on September 1st 25254 & 25298 worked the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury but extended to Euston due to troubles earlier in the day. 25254 was noted at Leicester on August 25th and at Saltley depot on August 27th.

1985
Similar to 1982, the passenger workings for 1985 had a northern flavour. The 10.09 Barrow - Nottingham on January 1st was worked to Manchester Victoria by 25254, being replaced here by a Class 31/4.

A diesel multiple failure on February 12th saw 25254 work the 08.18 Melton Mowbray - Leicester and the 09.30 Leicester - Peterborough. 25254 was noted at Bristol Bath Road on February 16th.

25254 was stabled at Stonebridge Park on March 9th.

25259 & 25254 were light engines at Crewe station on April 2nd. North of the border on April 15th 25254 & 25300 worked the relief 12.05 Bristol Temple Meads - Edinburgh forward from Carstairs. 25254 was noted passing through Edinburgh Haymarket westbound with wagons on April 24th.

On May 1st 25254 was noted passing Hereford & Llanwern with bogie oxygen tankers.

25254 was stabled at Tinsley on June 16th.

On July 3rd 25254 was noted with the afternoon 3V20 Manchester - Bristol parcels. On July 5th 25254 worked the Holyhead - Red Bank empty vans. 85007 came to the assistance of 25254 & 25325 at Leighton Buzzard on July 17th after both the Type 2’s failed on the afternoon Kings Cross – Tring cement empties.

Overhead line damage on August 30th saw the 07.27 Wolverhampton - Euston diverted via Bletchley to Bedford with 25254 assisting.

25254 worked the 7J02 10.12 Bescot - Blodwell Quarry empty hoppers on September 11th.

Late September and early October included several workings in Scotland. On September 27th the 11.00 Stranraer Harbour - Euston failed at Kirkconnel behind 47407, 25254 assisted to Dumfries where 47151 took over. On September 30th 25254 worked the 13.45 Glasgow Central - Carlisle, whilst the next day (Oct 1st) 25254 took over the 06.55 Preston - Glasgow Central from Carlisle because the booked Class 47 had failed earlier at Preston. A week later on October 8th 25254 worked the 14.00 Carstairs - Edinburgh (portion off the 07.47 Cardiff - Glasgow) and the 18.10 Edinburgh - Carstairs (portion for the 18.10 Glasgow - Manchester).

The final passenger working for 1985 took place on November with the 09.25 Lancaster - Liverpool between Lancaster & Preston after the Class 87 failed. 25254 and another Class 25 were noted westbound through Leeds on November 29th was bogie oil tankers for Stanlow.

1986
25254 was stabled at Allerton on January 19th.

1986 was the last year in service for 25254, a number of passenger turns were handled. The failure of 85040 at Wigan North Western on March 6th 1986 whilst working the 11.00 Stranraer Harbour - Euston saw 25254 take the train to Crewe.

On May 29th 25254 was at Preston with a ballast working.

On June 3rd 25254 worked the 21.42 Preston - Liverpool Preston Liverpool (portion off the 18.15 Glasgow - Manchester).

On June 14th 25254 was noted working the Holyhead RTZ - Humber empties, normally a Class 47, very rare for a Class 25. On June 21st 25254 was parked on the London Road curve, Derby. On June 23rd 25254 was noted at Frodingham.

Photograph courtesy John Turner (via RG).
25254 at Nuneaton with a spoil train circa July 1986.

On July 17th 25254 was noted at Northampton with a train of track panels. 25254 was on empty coaching stock duties at Crewe on July on July 27th. A Blackpool North - Preston turn was worked on July 28th 1986 (to Euston or Stranraer?). 25254 was north of the border for its final two recorded passenger workings, on July 31st with the 17.55 Carlisle - Glasgow Central and on August 1st with the 07.40 Glasgow Central - Carlisle.

On August 9th four locomotives were at Rugby for permanent way work, including 25254 and 45012. 25254 was noted with ballast wagons at Bangor on August 17th. 25254 was light engine at Manchester Victoria on August 18th. On August 22nd 25254 & 25279 were eastbound at Leeds with the Hunslet - Stanlow oil empties.

September 2nd saw 25254 & 25266 noted at Leeds with westbound oil tankers (Hunslet - Stanlow empties?).

25254 was withdrawn on September 4th 1986.

flk 1221
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Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

Page added July 4th 2013.
Last updated May 11th 2023.

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