D7633, 7633, 25283, 25904
D7633, 7633, 25283, 25904

The twenty one year and five month career of D7633/25283/25904 began with one year allocated to Sheffield area depots, the remainder being allocated to a variety of London Midland depots, particularly in the north-west area.

Built: Beyer Peacock, Manchester, No.8043.
Dual brake equipped (at least by June 1972, most likely during its 1969 visit to Derby).
Angled strip at bottom of cab doors.
Final exhaust roof panel: flush.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 98 months.
Preserved.

Allocations

D7633 was new to Tinsley (41A) on October 30th 1965. Further transfers were:

April 1966 to Wath (41C).
October 1967 to Springs Branch (8F).
June 1968 to Liverpool Division (D08).
August 1972 to Birmingham Division (D02).
December 1972 to London Division (Western Lines) (D01).
February 1973 to Liverpool Division (D08).
May 1973 to Springs Branch.
October 1982 to Crewe.
November 1985 to Kingmoor.
Withdrawn March 23rd 1987.

Renumbered to 25283 February 27th 1974.
Renumbered to 25904 November 12th 1985.

After withdrawal 25904 was stored at Basford Hall Yard until moved with 25059, 25323 & 25902 on July 3rd 1987 to Leicester Humberstone Road Yard and into Vic Berry's Yard on July 6th 1987. 25904 left Vic Berry's yard on December 16th 1987 for preservation.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works September & October 1969.
Noted Derby Works June 1972.
Noted Crewe Works January & February 1974 (full repaint, to blue livery).
Noted Glasgow Works December 1978 (Classified).
Noted Derby Works July, October & November 1983 (N6 repairs, bogies).

Highlights

1966
On February 20th Derby shed was hosted to 70 locomotives including 25 steam (all in service) and fourteen Derby Type 2s: D5001 (for Works?), D5097, D5211, D5261, D5270, D7513, D7516, D7547, D7558, D7564, D7568, D7589, D7601 (brand new) & D7633.

1968
On the afternoon of April 24th D7633 was southbound at Crewe with a freight.

D7633 & D7541 were noted on a late evening Edge Hill - Godley Junction freight on June 14th.

On the afternoon of September 16th 5193, 5251, 5256, 7609 & 7633 were noted around Springs Branch.

1969
On the afternoon of August 5th 1735, 7633 & 414 were light engines at Crewe.

1971
Mid-morning on June 26th 7633 was noted passing Stalybridge with up empties.

At about 5.30pm on September 9th 5204 was noted passing Ordsall Lane with an up freight (9T96).

1972
Condition: June 1972 two-tone green livery with full yellow cabfronts, 'D' prefix still present, already dual brake equipped.

Any passenger workings handled by D7633/25283 during its first eight years appear to have escaped documentation. The first recorded working took place on September 16th 1972 with 7633 & 5224 working the 14.30 Yarmouth - Walsall from Norwich.

1973
At about 6pm on April 16th 7633 was noted passing Miles Platting with a down freight.

One other passenger working prior to renumbering took place on July 15th 1973 with 5190 working a Wellington - Southend excursion to Nuneaton.

Photograph courtesy Tom Sutch.
A wonderful study of 7633 inside the depot at Springs Branch on August 11th 1973. Of interest is the battery box having been slid out to allow maintenance on the batteries, the patched up two-tone green paint work with several shades of green, the 'D' prefix still present almost five years after steam ended on BR, the contrasting blue data panel and there appears to be no BR emblem on the bodyside.

1974
On May 11th 25283 was stabled at Birkenhead.

1975
40146 & 25283 were noted working an Ince & Elton - Hopetown freight on January 3rd. 25283 then went to Darlington depot prior to taking out the return working to Ince & Elton later that night. 25283 was on empty coaching stock duty at Liverpool Lime Street on January 24th and was stabled at Edge Hill on January 26th.

On February 21st the 13.57 Leeds - Morecambe diesel multiple unit required assistance from 25283 forward from Skipton.

On April 23rd 25283 worked the 18.06 Manchester Victoria - Heysham Harbour (4P05).

25283 was on empty coaching stock duty at Liverpool Lime Street on July 1st.

On September 18th 25283 & 25279 were noted at Hunslet South with the 6E40 Skipton - Hull loaded Tilcon train.

1976
At 1pm on November 20th visible at York depot were 25263, 25283, 31115, 31142, 31306, 37075, 37119, 37212, 40070, 40074 & 47547.

On the afternoon of November 20th 25283 was stabled at York.

On the morning of November 27th 25283 was southbound at Cheltenham with a rail train.

1977
The extreme weather conditions in the south west brought a series of problems affecting timekeeping. Most unexpected was the use of Springs Branch allocated 25283 to rescue failed 50018 on January 13th's 13.21 Liverpool - Plymouth, arrival was two hours late at Exeter, where both machines were replaced by 45071.

On June 22nd 25283 and brakedown train were at Bickershaw colliery, Leigh to rerail some loaded coal wagons.

On the evening of Monday July 4th the 6E32 Corkickle (Marchon Products) - West Thurrock with 25283 & 25222 derailed seven of its ten bogie soda ash tanks at Braystones. The tankers were loaded with sodium tripolyphosphate, a chemical used in the manufacture of detergent. Apparently a small bridge failed as the train was crossing, derailing many of the tankers, sending some crashing down onto several beach cottages on the west side of the line. Fortunately the bungalows were not occupied at the time, ironically these bungalows were built by the Furness Railway. A considerable length of track was damaged, a bus service operated between St. Bees & Sellafield, it took nine days for the track to be repaired and normal service resumed.

Photograph courtesy Ian Marsh.
(See caption below.)

Photograph courtesy Ian Marsh.
Two views of 25283 & 25222 at Whitehaven Preston Street on July 3rd 1977 and in the North Sidings at Sellafield on July 4th 1977 with the remains of its train of bulk tankers. The previous day the rear of the train had derailed very badly at Braystones.

On the morning of July 15th 25283 was stabled at York.

On July 26th 25283 was noted at Rock Ferry with a down freight.

On August 2nd at 4pm Toton was host to 25206/25267/25283.

25097 & 25283 were noted on a 'Weekly Herald Special' at Barrow in Furness on October 1st.

1978
On May 26th 25283 worked an unidentified Crewe - Cardiff service. Three months later on August 28th 1978 25283 worked the 17.33 Dundee - Glasgow Queen Street.

1979
On a snowy January 24th was noted at Didcot with a service off the Oxford line.

On February 24th 25283 was stabled at Toton.

25283 & 25318 were in charge of the 07.35 Toton – Halling coal as far as Hither Green on February 26th, returning with the 10.57 ex Shepherdswell. On Tuesday February 27th 25283 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and (presumably) the 12.00 Norwood - Willesden.

On the late afternoon of April 11th 25107 was at Cambridge Street, 25210/25283/25300/25310 were at Cricklewood and 25069 & 25311 were northbound at Radlett with a permanent way train.

On the morning of April 12th 25283 was stabled at York.

In the late morning of April 13th 25283 was noted at Holbeck.

25283 was noted at Bristol Bath Road on May 8th.

On July 19th 1979 25283 worked the 18.17 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria.

On July 21st 25283 was stabled at Llandudno Junction.

On July 28th 25283 worked the 10.40 Manchester Victoria - Llandudno Town.

On August 18th 25283 & 25036 worked the 04.15 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, returning with the 10.09 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton. The next day the same pair worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth and 17.45 Barmouth - Euston as far as Wolverhampton.

On September 1st 25283 was noted at Leicester depot.

On September 17th 25283 was southbound through Birmingham International with a lengthy mixed freight.

On October 14th 25283 was on a permanent way train at Liverpool Lime Street.

On November 19th 25318 & 25283 were light engines at Helsby.

On the afternoon of December 11th 25118, 25224 & 25283 were stabled at Leicester shed.

1980
On the afternoon of January 5th 25283 was noted at Saltley.

On May 23rd 25283 hauled Coal Tank No.1054 (in steam) from Dinting to Bold Colliery for the Rocket 150 cavalcades. The next day (24th) 25283 worked the 09.42 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria, the 14.40 Manchester Victoria - Llandudno Town and the 18.17 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria.

On June 7th (or 17th) the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe failed at Ludlow behind 25323, the following 13.20 Cranmore – Ellesmere Port with 25283 & 25318 pushed the train to Craven Arms where the two Type 2s took over the Crewe service. A run over the Cambrian lines followed about a month later. On July 12th 25283 & 25327 worked the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Wolverhampton, returning with the 17.55 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton.

On December 27th 25283 was stabled at Springs Branch and fitted with miniature snowploughs.

1981
In the March area, the Mountsorrel – Kennett stone trains were frequently double headed, so noted were 25283 & 25298 on January 29th.

On the morning of May 15th 25259 & 25283 were noted at Preston on down tanks.

On August 3rd 25283 worked a Tunstead - Northwich ICI limestone train.

On the morning of November 11th 25283 was at Wolverton with an engineers train.

During November 25283 received an 'E' examination at Tyseley.

1982
Industrial action on February 18th found 25283 stabled at Llandudno Junction along with many diesel multiple units.

A rescue job occurred on March 9th when the 17.26 St. Pancras - Derby failed at Bedford behind 45128, the train was dragged to Derby by 25283.

On March 24th worked a spoil train to Lidlington tip, then returned light engine to Bletchley.

On May 21st 25283 with two Class 304 units was northbound at Nuneaton.

On May 22nd 25042 & 25283 were stabled at Crewe depot.

On May 26th 25309 & 25283 were noted eastbound at Guide Bridge with a cement working.

On the afternoon of June 2nd 25194 & 25283 were stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction.

On the morning of June 12th 25283 was at Cricklewood.

On July 31st 25283 & 25288 worked the 07.38 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, returning with the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton.

On the morning of August 4th 25283 worked the Buxton - Ashburys trip freight.

On the late afternoon of August 16th 25064, 25139, 25283 & 25306 were stabled at Cricklewood.

On August 18th 25283 was noted eastbound at Manchester Victoria with newspaper/parcels empties.

On the morning of September 27th 25283 was stabled at York.

On November 28th 25289 & 25283 were noted at Leighton Buzzard with a loaded ballast train.

1983
Old and new graced the Cumbrian Coast line on January 6th when 25283 took APT power car SC49005 from Shields to Crewe.

On March 30th 25283 was noted at Stonebridge Park.

On May 6th 25283 was eastbound at Manchester Victoria with a lengthy train of hoppers.

On May 21st 25283 was stabled at Bescot. On May 26th a fourteen hour vigil of movements at St Albans revealed just three Class 25s in action, 25283, 25301/316, all on freight workings, with 25283 hauling 49 empty 16-ton wagons northbound.

On June 27th 25283 was northbound at Wellingborough with redundant London Transport underground stock, presumably for scrapping at Vic Berry, Leicester.

During October 25283 visited Derby Works to recieve a bogie from 25247.

Pre-Christmas travellers on December 23rd 1983 had 25283 on the unheated 16.06 Crewe - Cardiff, returning after the Christmas break on a Penzance – Crewe Parcels (28th). On a snowy December 28th 25297 & 25283 were noted at Greenholme with oil tanks (Stanlow - Bishopbriggs?).

1984
On a snowy January 17th 25283 was stabled at Motherwell.

On March 27th 25283 was noted at Nuneaton.

On May 6th 25283 & 25276 worked the 07.30 Euston - Aberystwyth charter from Wolverhampton and returning to Shrewsbury Abbey Foregate Junction where 25154 replaced 25276 to Wolverhampton. The next day (7th) 25283 & 25265 worked the 07.30 Stratford on Avon - Aberystwyth day excursion from/to Wolverhampton. 25283 was stabled at Llandudno Junction on May 11th.

25283 & 25297 were noted southbound through Crewe station on the early evening of June 23rd with bogie oil tanks, earlier in the day they were stabled at Aberystwth station.

On June 26th 25283 & 25296 were northbound at Carlisle with oil tankers and were later noted southbound at Carlisle with oil tanks.

On July 29th 25196/25201/25231/25283 were at Willesden depot whilst 25058, 25191, 25285 + 25249 were nearby on permanent way trains.

On August 2nd 25283 was eastbound at Prestatyn with a Speedlink for Warrington Arpley.

A diesel multiple unit failure on August 16th saw 25283 work the 18.05 Morecambe - Leeds. The final working for 1984 took place on October 7th with 25283 assisting the 17.10 Glasgow Central - Euston between Lockerbie & Carlisle after the power had been turned off for engineering work.

25269 & 25283 were noted at Chester General with a Ravenscraig - Shotton coil train on October 12th.

On October 20th 25283 & 25284 were stabled at Shrewsbury.

1985
On February 1st 25283 worked a round trip over the Cardiff - Crewe line. On a snowy February 20th 25285 was noted at Nuneaton with a short engineers train.

On March 23rd 25283 was noted at Tyseley.

On April 9th 25283 was light engine at Water Orton.

On May 8th 25283 worked the T48 Soho - Langley Green trip working. 25283 was stabled at Nuneaton station on May 25th.

On July 9th 25283 worked the 3V20 15.10 Manchester Piccadilly - Bristol Temple Meads parcels. On July 19th 25265 & 25285 were eastbound at Bishton flyover with oil tankers. 25283 was noted at Warrington Arpley on July 20th & 24th and at Birmingham New Street on July 31st.

On August 4th 25283 was stabled at Rugby station.

The second week of August was quite busy for 25283 north of the border. Three workings involved the 10.41 Exeter St. Davids - Edinburgh relief, worked between Carstairs & Edinburgh, on August 7th with 25303 and on August 9th & 12th with 25257. On August 16th 25283 was noted at Stockport with a engineers train. Later the same day the 18.15 Glasgow Central - Manchester Victoria proceeded from Preston with 25283 but got no further than Ribble Bridge where the locomotive failed and reversed back to Preston to be replaced by 47608. On August 19th 25283 was north of the border again working a Glasgow Central - Carlisle service. On August 22nd 25283 was noted at Wigan NW with four short-wheelbase bulk powder wagons. On August 23rd 25283 was at Warrington Arpley. On August 28th 25283 was noted southbound passing Springs Branch with four short wheelbase bulk powder wagons.

Present at a very warm Coalville Open Day on September 1st were 97201 & 25283.

On September 7th 25283 worked the 06.28 Crewe - Cardiff.

On September 13th 25283 was southbound at Crewe station with a spoil train.

On October 21st 25283 & 25286 were noted passing Crewe with a freight train. On October 24th 25288 & 25283 were noted at Leeds with bogie oil tanks, presumably from Stanlow for Hunslet. On the evening of October 28th 25283 & 25288 were noted passing Hereford with the 6V32 Ellesmere Port - Severn Tunnel Junction tanks.

The changing nature of the organisaton of British Rail led to a new idea, one of Sectorisation, which in its most visible form saw the creation of specialised locomotive pools to handle specific traffic flows, with the locomotives renumbered to recognise this fact. These pools would handle a variety of traffic flows. One such pool was established at Motherwell in March 1986 for British Steel traffic using dedicated Class 37/3’s, whilst in April 1986 eight Class 20/3’s were fitted with modified triple valves for handling limestone traffic from Tunstead. However the original pool, based at Kingmoor Yard was created late in 1985 involving a dozen Class 25’s for dedicated freight traffic in the north west, the locomotives owned by a BR subsidiary, Railhaul Ltd. All the remaining Series 3 machines were load bank tested at Crewe depot, with cylinder peak pressure, electrical machine condition and tyre wear being closely checked. Twelve were selected, with six spare and given ‘E’ exams at Crewe or Carlisle to handle traffic for the Chemicals sub-sector based at Kingmoor. They were restricted to 60mph to mitigate traction motor problems and were to receive preferential maintenance. Renumbering took place commencing in November with the re-numbering of 25283 to 25904 on November 12th but the traffic they were assigned to handle diminished rapidly. ICI lost the rock salt contract from Over & Wharton, sulphur imported through Mostyn Dock ended in 1987. The Speedlink traffic between Dumfries and Carlisle came under critical review and the proposed purlite and sugarstone traffic never materialised. Regional control at Crewe established some diagrams based on Warrington and Garston, involving much oil traffic out of Stanlow. Once this particular ‘Sectorisation’ plan was cancelled the BRB mandated the 25/9s be treated like any other Class 25.

The first working for 25904 after its renumbering was November 13th's Bardon Hill - Ellesmere port tank train, working forward from Crewe. Following this 25904 & 37084 worked a Stanlow - Leeds oil tanks.

On November 30th 25904 was stabled at Guide Bridge.

On December 4th a Stanlow - Dalston oil train was worked to Warrington by 97408 & 25307, here 25904 & 25912 took over for the run to Dalston. On December 5th 25904 was noted at Edinburgh Waverley. Class 25s visiting the Huddersfield area in early December included recently renumbered 25904 on 12th. 25904 was stabled at Saltley on December 19th, the following day (20th) being used the Camp Hill banker. 25904 was stabled at Bescot on December 26th.

1986
The Speke - Widnes/Runcorn trip was was worked by 25904 & 25911 on January 10th.

25902 & 25904 were noted at Warrington Arpley yard arriving with oil tanks on February 7th.

On April 3rd 25904 was noted working the 13.38 Preston Deepdale - Warrington Walton Old Junction Speedlink.

On April 28th 25904 worked a Warrington Arpley - Ellesmere trip freight.

On April 29th 25904 was at Arpley stabling point.

On May 7th 1986 the 23.05 Glasgow Central - Euston was worked between Warrington & Crewe (via Chester) by 25904 & 25912. On May 9th 25904 was noted at Warrington Arpley. The 04.45 Northenden - Appley Bridge rubbish train was worked by 25904 & 25912 on May 24th.

25904 & 25907 were noted at Warrington Arpley on July 21st.

25904 & 25907 were noted light engines at Warrington Arpley on July 30th.

On August 25th 25904 was at Arpley stabling point.

On September 3rd 25904 & 25910 were noted eastbound at Chester with the afternoon Llandudno Junction - Warrington Arpley freight.

Four Class 25s took part in the very last Class 25 railtour, Hertfordshire Railtours ‘Mersey Ratcatcher’ (1Z30) of September 28, 1986. The tour started in Euston behind 25313 & 25249 running as far as Birmingham International where 86237 took over for the trip to Birmingham New Street. This odd move was created due to construction at New Street closing the west end of the station making run rounds difficult. 25313 & 25249 came back on the train heading to Leicester, Derby, and over the Hope Valley line to Manchester and Liverpool Lime Street. Here 25904 & 25910 made the short run down to Crewe, via Chester, where the original pair took up the final run to Euston via the Trent Valley line, completing a day of 490 miles of Class 25 haulage.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.
Two views of the Mersey Ratcatcher with 25904 & 25910 at Chester (left) and Crewe (right) where they await detaching from the train prior to the original pair taking the train back to Euston.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.
Two views of the Mersey Ratcatcher with 25904 & 25910 at Chester (left) and Crewe (right) where they await detaching from the train prior to the original pair taking the train back to Euston.

On October 1st the 6E25 06.10 Stanlow - Leeds oil train was noted at Horbury Junction behind 31229, 25904 & 25906, the 25904 had become a failure. 25904 was noted at Ashton branch sidings with several bogie ballast hoppers headed for Newton Heath on October 4th.

On November 10th 25901 & 25904 worked an Over & Wharton - Reading salt special. 25904 & 25901 were stabled at Warrington Arpley on November 16th.

Winsford - Deanside (Scotland) salt specials ran on December 8th & 12th with 25904 & 25912, then 25904 & 25902 on 18th & 29th.

25904 was stabled at Warrington Arpley on December 31st.

1987
25903 & 25904 were noted light engines through Crewe on January 3rd.

Photograph courtesy Tom Sutch.
The morning of January 7th 1987 dawned clear, bright and frosty at Wigan as 25904 & 25903 go to work with a short engineers train. This pair of locomotives had been together since December 29th 1986 and remained this way at least until January 8th 1987 when they visited Crewe depot and were presumably split up here.

Winsford - Deanside (Scotland) salt specials ran on January 8th & 10th with 25903 & 25904. On January 16th 25903 & 25904 worked a Deanside - Over & Wharton (salt empties?), then worked the 19.05 Warrington - Healey Mills freight.

On January 31st 25904 worked a loaded lengthy ballast train from Penmaenmawr to Llandudno Junction.

On a cold February 20th 25904 was noted at Sandbach West Junction with a lengthy train of mineral wagons headed for Lostock Yard.

On February 28th 25903 & 25904 were southbound at Carstairs with a Freightliner train.

The final passenger working took place on March 4th 1987 with 25904 working the 23.15 Crewe - Preston forward from Warrington following an electric multiple unit failure.

On March 8th 25904 was stabled at Arpley.

At lunchtime on March 12th 25904 was at Ellesmere Port, with 25903. On March 17th 25904 had worked the 7V52 17.12 Sellafield - Bridgwater as far as Gloucester, the next day (18th) the 9G12 Crewe Basford Hall - Bescot and was noted at Manchester Victoria on 19th before running light to Wigan for 6L58 Wigan - Castleton CWR depot with eleven empty YEA wagons. On March 20th 25904 was at Manchester before being sent to Crewe in the evening. However the next day it went to Chester to handle Sunday ballast work at Connah’s Quay, withdrawal would come early on Monday 23rd.

It was on March 23rd (or 25th?) 1987 that 25912, 25059 & 25904, (the first two still running) moved from Crewe Depot to Basford Hall yard to join a line of their silent sisters.

Distinguishing Features
No.2 cabfront: 25283 handpainted on cabfront above bufferbeam, mixed sized numbers: noted November 30th 1985 - painted over by May 1986 (possibly much earlier than this date).

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

38/3325
flk 0124

Page added May 22nd 2013.
Last updated January 12th 2024.

Back to 25282
Forward to 25284

Return to site menu