D7610, 7610, 25260
D7610, 7610, 25260


Photograph courtesy Roger Geach
25260 & 37019 at Broxbourne Junction on Tuesday August 28th 1979 with the 09.56 Whitemoor - Temple Mills special freight.

The sixteen year career of D7610/25260 started with eighteen months allocated to Eastern Region depots, followed by the remainder allocated to London Midland Region depots.

Built BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Carried green livery with TOPS numbering.
Final exhaust roof panel: raised 'L' shape.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 89 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 55 months.

Allocations

D7610 was new to the Tinsley (41A) on April 7th 1966. Further transfers were:

December 1966 to Barrow Hill (41E).
October 1967 Springs Branch (8F).
June 1968 to Liverpool Division (D08).
January 1969 to Birmingham Division (D02).
January 1971 to London Division (D01).
May 1971 to Birmingham Division (D02).
May 1973 to Bescot.
Withdrawn December 13th 1982.

Renumbered March 1st 1974.

25260 was the 158th Class 25 withdrawn, one of eight retired during December 1982.

After withdrawal 25280 was stored at Etches Park from at least February 3rd 1983 to July 1985 and moved to Swindon Works on July 24th 1985. It survived the closure of the Works and was dragged across to Cocklebury Yard on June 3rd 1987 with 25093, 25126/134/161/164/180/193, 25207/208/260, 25306/327. It then moved to Humberstone Road, Leicester on June 5th 1987 with 25126/134/164 and into Vic Berry's yard three days later. It was broken up by the middle of July 1987.


Photograph courtesy Adrian Healey
25260 at the arrival siding alongside Derby Works on February 3rd 1983. It would remain here until July 23rd 1985 when 45060 hauled 25093, 25105/164, 25234/248/260, 25312/319 as the 9X12 17.05 Derby Works - Swindon Works.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works July & September 1966.
Noted Crewe Works March 1970.
Noted Crewe Works June 1975 (Classified assumed, repainted into blue livery?).

Highlights

1966
On June 16th a very clean D7610 was noted on a seven coach passenger service displaying headcode 1M89.

1967
On the morning of May 27th D7610 was stabled at Holbeck.

On the afternoon of August 12th D7610 delivered the final AM11 Class 311 electric multiple unit No.110 for the Glasgow suburban system, being noted northbound over G&SW route.

On November 18th noted at Springs Branch were D5262, D5263, D7610 & D7636.

On the evening of December 23rd D7610 & 73125 were noted at Manchester Victoria on the Wigan - Leeds vans.

On December 29th D7610 was on freight 5F04 at Manchester Victoria.

1968
On the afternoon of January 7th D7610 & D7639 were stabled at Springs Branch along with D2558, D2578, 12003, 12004, 12070 and twelve steam locomotives.

On the early afternoon of April 10th D7610 was northbound at Crewe Gresty Lane with a freight.

On the afternoon of April 20th D7610 was stabled at Springs Branch.

On July 3rd D7610 was noted at Preston on a down freight (6P01).

1969
On the morning of July 3rd 7610 was northbound at Crewe with empty coaching stock.

1970
On the afternoon of September 20th stabled at Wolverhampton HL station were 7564, 7567, 7610, 7613 & 7641.

1973
The early passenger workings for D7610 appear to have slipped unreported into the pages of history, such that the first known so far was an unidentified working on August 19th 1973 with 7610 & 5228 handling a passenger train between Dundee & Perth.

Condition September: green livery with full yellow ends.

The failure of a three-car multiple unit during the afternoon of November 14th saw 7602 & 7610 assist the 13.50 Chester - Wolverhampton service and the return working, the 16.35 Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury.

1974
On the afternoon of August 15th 25260 was stabled at York.

1975
On August 9th the 11.58 Newcastle - Paignton was worked as far as Exeter St. Davids by 25136 & 25260 where they were replaced by 47055 (or did 47055 come on at Bristol? with the Class 25s sent light engines to Exeter). Later that evening the 1O24 19.20 Exeter St. Davids - Basingstoke departed behind 25136, 25260 & 33032. The Class 25's are assumed to have come off no later than Salisbury, the purpose of this move is not certain.

On the morning of August 14th & 15th, the afternoon of August 17th and the morning of August 18th 25260 was stabled at York.

1976
On July 31st 25260 & 25272 worked the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton (assumed).

On August 2nd 25260 worked the 18.39 Shewsbury - Aberystwyth and the next day's 15.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. On August 15th an Alfreton - New Hadley via Shrewsbury special was noted changing locomotives at Birmingham New Street with 47477 giving way to 25121 & 25260.

During the third week of August 25260 had 'USS Enterprise' chalked in large letters on the non-BIS side, between the number and the BR emblem, being so noted at Wolverhampton on August 21st.


25260 at Wolverhampton on August 21st 1976 and suitably named 'U.S.S. Enterprise'.

1977
The Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Walsall passenger diagram was worked by 25260 & 25271 on June 18th.

On July 3rd a Weston-super-Mare - Barmouth day excursion was worked from/to Wolverhampton - Barmouth by 25260 & 25323.

The Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Walsall passenger diagram was worked by 25260 & 25124 on August 27th.

A Marylebone - Kidderminster day excursion on September 10th was worked out (via Bicester) and back (via Worcester/Oxford/Banbury/Bicester) by 25260 & 25253.

1978
On July 7th (6th?) 25260 & 25302 went on a lengthy trip out & back with a Nottingham - Barry Island day excursion, for a total of 349 passenger miles. Near the month end on July 30th the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth and the return 17.45 Barmouth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25260 & 25263.

25260 was noted at Gloucester depot on August 18th. The last week of August was a busy one for 25260. On August 23rd it worked the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe. Three days later (26th) 25260 & 25161 worked the 10.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. On September 9th the 10.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25260 & 25302.

On the afternoon of November 18th 25074, 25102, 25260 & 25282 were stabled at Saltley.

1979
On May 28th 25260 worked a Worcester - Leeds passenger service.


Its June 9th 1979 and 25260 is deep inside Toton shed as an organised visit for a group of enthusiasts takes place.

On August 10th 25260 worked the 11.30 Cardiff - Crewe and the 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff.

On August 11th 25260 worked the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.

25260 was noted passing Bescot light engine on August 21st. On the afternoon of August 29th 25260 & 25276 were stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction.

On the morning of November 10th 26260 was at Birmingham New Street.

1980
The majority of the passenger workings for 25260 during 1980 involved Cambrian turns.

On May 31st the 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the return 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25260 & 25267. The next day (June 1st), a Euston - Aberystwyth charter was worked roundtrip Wolverhampton - Aberystwyth by 25260 & 25261. As a change from Cambrian metals on June 13th 25260 & 25131 worked over the NE/SW route with the 13.34 Birmingham New Street - York and the 17.26 York - Birmingham New Street. On June 25th 25260 was noted shunting 85020 into the maintenance shed at Bescot.

On July 5th The 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25260 & 25269.

On September 22nd 25260 ran light engine from Lea Marston to Saltley.

1981
25260 was stabled at Saltley on January 10th, still displaying the '0000' headcode display.


Photograph collection of webmaster.
Manchester Victoria 25260 no date.

25260 & 25272 were busy on the weekend on June 13th/14. On 13th they worked the 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, returning with the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton. The next day (14th) they worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth and the return 18.00 Aberystwyth - Euston to Nuneaton.

On July 15th 25260 was stabled at Walsall station. On July 27th 25260 worked a Swindon - Gloucester service.

On August 4th 25260 was noted eastbound from Holyhead with a mixed freight.

On the morning of September 10th 25260 worked the Holbeck 9K57 tripper, running light from Holbeck to Hunslet, then Armley Moor - Hunslet - Healey Mills - Hunslet then light engine back to Holbeck.

On September 12th 25260 was noted at Saltley.

1982
Following the heavy snow storms of early January travel was impacted in many areas, including west Wales and the Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth line. High winds in the area caused a lot of drifting along the Dovey Estuary, the snow at Borth Station was above platform height. On the Cambrian Coast Line a diesel multiple unit was sent out to examine the route but became derailed due to compacted snow. A Class 25 equipped with miniature snowploughs, possibly 25260, was sent out on January 8th from Shrewsbury to clear the snow on the line to Aberystwyth. On January 9th 25260 was noted at Aberystwyth with a two-car multiple unit set (56360 & 51176) forming a service back to Shrewsbury. The Class 25's cab front and running gear was caked in snow, suggesting its use to support the diesel multiple unit was a wise move. This operation continued at least until January 11th when 25260 and a three car set were in use. During this period there was only one Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth round trip per day.

On May 15th 25260 was stabled at Springs Branch.

25260 worked the 09.50 Manchester Victoria - Llandudno Town and the 14.20 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria on June 27th.

25260 was stabled at Springs Branch on July 10th.

On August 4th (?) 25260 was noted at Warrington Bank Quay with a trip working to Arpley, ten wagons mostly filled with scrap. On August 20th 25260 worked the 17.30 Glasgow Central - Carlisle. A week later on August 28th 25260 & 25321 worked the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.

On September 5th 25260 was stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction, the No.2 end still retaining a working four-digit headcode.


Photograph courtesy collection of Roger Geach.
25260 at Bescot on September 22nd 1982, complete with working headcode.

On October 22nd 25260 was noted at Leamington Spa on a freight. 25260 was stabled at Banbury on October 23rd.

25260 was retired on December 13th 1982, but would not be scrapped for another four and a half years.

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Page added November 17th 2012.
Last updated May 12th 2023.

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