class 25 withdrawals

Class 25 Withdrawals - Part 3 from 101 to 150 (May 1981 - November 1982)

The previous fifty Class 25's had been taken out of service over a period of seven months, if that rate of withdrawal had continued unchecked the entire Class would have been gone by the end of 1983! Fortunately for the Class 25 enthusiasts and for the operation of British Rail that rate of withdrawal was not sustained and the next fifty were withdrawn between May 1981 & November 1982
Locomotives withdrawn in this period included examples from sub types and builders.
101 - 105 : May 1981 (part two)
25038 KD, 25039 LO, 25041 KD, 25107 TO, 25162 CD

Withdrawals during the latter half of May were limited to vacuum braked examples only.

25038 was withdrawn on the last day of May 1981, initially stored at Crewe before moving to Derby in February 1982, ending its days there seven months later. 25038 is seen here possibly at Bescot?
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson

25039 seen at Northwich on April 11th 1980, with just about a year left in service. Withdrawal would occur on the same date as sister 25038 (May 31st 1981). 25039 would end up at Swindon Works, being quickly disposed of by December 1981.

Another May 31st 1981 withdrawal was 25041, which like 25039 ended its days at Swindon, lingering until June 1983 before being disposed off. In better days 5191 is seen in the rain, apparently with a new buffer fitted.
Photograph collection of Ian Hammond

A relatively clean 25107 at Sheffield Midland (?) station awaits departure. Withdrawn in May 1981, it was at Swindon by August and broken up by September 1981. This was one of the Class 25's to have its boiler room grille sheet over.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson

A fine memory of a pair of Class 25's on the WCML trailing twenty eight cement tankers with 25162 leading and unidentified sister. 25162 was retired on May 31st 1981, moving eventually to Swindon, ending its days there in May 1982.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson

Movements during May included:
25305 ? - Swindon on May 5th 1981, although after some time at Swindon it would be reinstated.
106 - 107 : June 1981
25066 & 25071 CW
During the summer months the withdrawals eased considerably, these two Cricklewood examples were both vacuum braked. 25305 was placed into store at this time, but would later be re-instated to Bescot during August 1982 so its withdrawal is not recorded at this point.

25066 was one of the last Class 25's to receive an Intermediate repair, at Glasgow in May 1980. However a main generator flashover in December of the same year saw it taken out of service, withdrawal coming in June 1981 with eventual scrapping at Derby in January 1983. In better days 25066 is seen at Bristol on July 15th 1976.
Photograph courtesy Peter Wilmott.

25071 at Peterborough on June 7th 1980. One of Cricklewood's long time residents ended its days there during June 1981, before being moved to Swindon and broken up there during January 1983.
Photograph courtesy J Davenport.

Movements during June included:
25065 & 25246 Kingmoor - Swindon June 25th 1981.
108 : July 1981
25272 BS
Although July was a quiet time for Class 25 withdrawals with just one vacuum braked example being withdrawn, it was a bad time for the Class 76's as the Woodhead route closed and the vast majority of the venerable Class 76's were withdrawn. This would see a long time Class 24/25 repair depot - Reddish - have no more reason for its existance.

25272 heads north through Crewe on July 23rd 1979. Although the tablet catcher recess has been sheeted over the locomotive still carries its number at the 'wrong' end. 25272 would end its days at Derby during May 1982.
Photograph courtesy Phil Trotter

Movements during July included:
25241 Polmadie - Swindon July 6th 1981 (with 08169, 08184 & 08247??).
109 : August 1981
25088 LO
August would have been quiet except for dual braked 25088 sustaining accident damage leading to its quick withdrawal.

25088 ended its days during August 1981 after colliding with 86220 at Willesden. It eventually reached Derby and spent many years dumped at Etches Park, ending its days here at the hands of Vic Berry during February 1986. No details about the 25088 photograph.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

110 - 112 : September 1981
25073 TO, 25148 CW, 25169 CD
Three more vacuum braked machines were condemned during September, 25148 managing to sustain accident damage just to ensure its early demise!

Class 25's were occasional visitors to Basingstoke over the years, in this view 25073 is parked there on August 19th 1979 presumably waiting a working northbound. 25073 ended its days at Swindon during August 1982.
Photograph courtesy Andy Key.

25148 strikes a nice portrait somewhere, sometime. 25148 ended its days with collision damage, making a trip to Derby Works prior to being sent on to Swindon, ending its days there in May 1982.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

25169 recieves some serious bodywork attention during a repair at Derby Works, seen here on September 1st 1979. Barely two years later, on September 8th 1981 25169 would be retired, moving to Swindon from Bescot on Christmas Eve 1981 & quickly broken up there during February 1982

113 - 118 : October 1981
25142 KD, 25246 ED, 25271 BS, 25290 & 25292 CD, 25299 CW
With the end of the summer timetable withdrawals picked up with six Class 25's condemned. All were vacuum braked apart from 25246, this machine actually being placed in store at Swindon. Other transfers at this time had left the Scottish Region without an allocation of Class 40's - times were a-changing.

Looks like a damp and miserable day at Carlisle on April 15th 1970 as 5292 goes about its station pilot duties. 25142 would be retired from Kingmoor, spending six months here before making the final long move to Swindon during December 1981. After eleven months dumped at Swindon 25142 was broken up during November 1982.
Photographer not known.

A work stained 25246 strikes a nice pose at Polmadie, date unknown. 25246 would spend eighteen months at Swindon, before its demise in January 1983 it provided spares to allow the reinstatement of 25305 from Swindon (as 97251 - Ethel 2).
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

A gloomy day at Wirksworth on November 23rd 1978 finds 25271 shunting the yard. 25271 would end its days at Derby Works, being broken up there during October 1982.

25290 at Springs Branch, date unknown. 25290 was stored at Tyseley during January 1981, moved to Swindon on March 16th 1982, then on to Crewe three days later & eventually forwarded to Derby Works, where it would be broken up during April 1983.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

25292 also at Springs Branch, date unknown. 25292 was moved from Springs Branch to Swindon during December 1981, where it would languish until February 1983, when the end finally came.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

25299 at Reddish, date unknown. After a short time stored at Crewe 25299 was moved to Derby on February 14th 1982 and was quickly broken up there by month end - must be some sort of record for Derby Works?
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Movements during October included:
25118, 40098, 45061 & 45071 Toton - Swindon October 4th 1981.
119 : November 1981
25280 TO
Vacuum braked 25280 was the only casualty during November, elsewhere the news was in fact good, about a dozen Class 46's were being revived from their slumbers at Swindon, 25116 & 25197 being used to assist in restarting the Class 46's.

25280 at Norwich on March 7th 1979. 25280 ended its days at Toton, making the journey to Swindon during March 1982, being broken up there during July 1983.
Photograph courtesy J Davenport.

120 - 121 : December 1981
25125 TO, 25156 CD
The withdrawal of two vacuum braked Class 25's during December was definately overshadowed by the withdrawal of the final examples of the ECML Class 55 Deltic fleet.

Glory days for 25125 as it assists a Class 47 somewhere on the WCML, date unknown. 25125 ended its days at Toton, spending quite a while here before moving south to Swindon, where it was broken up during April 1983.
Photographer unknown.

25156 & 25235 wait time at Colwyn Bay on February 9th 1979. After a couple of months in storage at Tyseley 25156 moved to Swindon during March 1982 and ended its days there two months later.
Photograph courtesy Larry Goddard.

Movements during December included:
25041, 25142, 40113 & 40175 Carlisle - Swindon December 8th 1981
25292, 40095, 40134 & 40178 Springs Branch - Swindon December 14th 1981
25073, 25169 & 08585 Bescot - Swindon Deember 24th 1981.
122 : January 1982
25149 KD
The extremely harsh weather during January may have had something to do with only one vacuum braked Class 25 being withdrawn. Quite how a large number of reallocations during this month (at least 125), particularly of ER Class 31 & 37's affected this is unknown.

Its March 20th 1982 and 25149 has been out of service for about two months. After three months at Toton 25149 moved to Swindon, lingering here for about a year before being broken up during May 1983. This would have been the Class 25 to carry the 'R' series engine had BR & Sulzer's plans come to fruition.
Photograph courtesy Phillip Moore.

Movements during January 1982 included:
25291 ? - Swindon January 26th 1982.
123 - 124 : February 1982
25081 CW, 25129 TO
With many locomotives in Works due to the effects of the earlier bad weather it was perhaps one reason for the withdrawl of just two vacuum braked Class 25's during February.

Happy memories of 25081 and a Class 40 parked in the sun, date & location unknown.Unlike many Class 25's, 25081 did not linger after its withdrawal, it was quickly removed to Swindon and by July 1982 was no more.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

A pair of Class 25's, led by 25129 out in the weeds somewhere, maybe Llandudno Jct? date unknown. 25129 would be one of those Class 25's to spend a lengthy time withdrawn, initially it went to Derby for scrapping but was eventually sent down to Swindon ending its days there in March 1985.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Movements during February 1982 included:
25148 ? - Derby sometime during February 1982.
25081 Kingmoor - Swindon February 25th 1982.
125 : March 1982
25085 KD
Three Class 25's were initially withdrawn during March, dual braked 25175 & 25184 would later be reinstated to fight another day, but for vacuum braked 25085 it was the end of the line.

25085 Thornaby, February 15th 1981, with all the signs of its last Works visit was to Glasgow. This locomotive had the dubious honour of being the last complete locomotive to be broken up at Derby Works by BREL staff, during May 1983.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

Movements during March 1982 included:
25261 & 25272 9L69 10.00am Tyseley - Bescot (to attach 25272) - Derby, March 4th 1982.
25156 & 25290 Tyseley - Swindon March 16th 1982
25280 + one other? Toton - Swindon March 18th 1982
25290 Swindon - Derby March 19th 1982
126 - 127 : April 1982
25275 BS, 25105 LO
Two more vacuum braked examples were taken out of service during April, 25170 was also withdrawn but would be reinstated during August 1982.

A wonderfully wet day finds 25275 waiting for the road, date & location unknown. 25275 would spend almost three years withdrawn at Tyselely, slowly falling to bits. The end would come at Swindon during July 1985.
Photograph courtesy John Glynn.

Guide Bridge stabling point with 25105 on July 25th 1981. Like 25275 withdrawn at the same time, 25105 would spend over three years out of service. Initially stored at Tyseley it quickly moved to Derby before moving on to Swindon, where it was finally broken up during December 1985.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

Movements during April 1982 included:
25129, 25149, 20068 & 20088 Toton - Swindon April 21st 1982.
128 - 131 : June 1982
25150 LO, 25220 CD, 25312 CW, 25274 BS
Withdrawals picked up a little during June, including accident damaged & dual braked 25312.

A familiar situation for the Class 25's - handling engineer's and permanent way trains, 25150 date & location unknown. 25150 ended its days with collision damage, initially reaching Derby Works by August 1982, then to Swindon early in February 1985, and broken up there four months later.
Photograph colection of Ian Hammond.

The end of the line for 25220, seen here at Derby Works on November 26th 1983. Derby would not break up 25220, it would be towed down to Swindon early in February 1985 and be broken up the following month.
Photograph courtesy Phillip Moore.

25312 and a line of Class 76's at Guide Bridge on April 24th 1982. 25312 would end its days after sustaining collision damage at Northampton during May 1982. It was moved to Derby to provide parts for other Class 25's, its power unit was surrendered to 25308. It would linger for just over three years, firstly at Derby, then Swindon, before being broken up there during September 1985.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

Its May 28th 1981 and the Derbyshire Hills echo to another load of limestone leaving the county for processing elsewhere, 25274 is leading and 25308 is pushing on the rear. After withdrawal 25274 was quickly sent to Derby Works, but later became one of many to be dragged down to Swindon, being broken up there during April 1985.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

Movements during June 1982 included:
25082, 08725 & 40062 Kingmoor - Swindon June 8th 1982
25088 Acton - Derby June 9th 1982 behind 31146
25121 Bletchley - Swindon June 21st 1982 (with 08403, 08457, 08629 & 08704?)
132 : July 1982
25318 SP
Another dual braked machine taken out of service was 25318.

7668 & 1575 lay over at Springs Branch on October 13th 1973. 7668 has another nine years left in service, and after withdrawal will linger for five more years. 25318 ended up dumped at Glasgow Works, spending most of its five years there, before moving on to Thornton Jct, then on to Vic Berry's Leicester, before its demise there during June 1987.
Photograph courtesy David Rogers.

133 - 135 : August 1982
25056 KD, 25170 CD, 25188 LO
Three more vacuum braked machines went in August including 25170 which had already survived one withdrawal, its visit to Derby Works for repairs proved to be its downfall, after a brief reinstatement it was finally condemned for good.

A sunny day at Reddish as 25056 sits out the weekend, unused. 25056 ended its days out of service at Tinsley, spending a while there before moving south to Toton and then on to Swindon during July 1984, where the end came during March 1985.

A fine portrait of 25170, possibly at Bescot, date unknown. 25170 had a rough time during the first half of 1982, being stored, then reinstated and the called to Derby Works for generator repairs. Whilst at Derby 25170 was withdrawn and ended its days there during April 1983.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

7538 on an overcast day, date & location not known. 25188 spent almost five years withdrawn, with almost two years at Springs Branch before moving to Swindon in June 1984. Here it remained until March 1987 before being broken up.
Photograph courtesy E A Wood.

136 - 138 : September 1982
25104, 25141 & 25151 all LO
More steady withdrawals, this time all from Longsight depot and all vacuum braked.

25104 leads 25249 (?) and a lengthy train on the WCML (in the Wigan area?). 25104 ended its days at Swindon during December 1986 after over four years out of service.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

25141 strikes a fine pose, somewhere, sometime! Most of the valencing is missing from the near cab, presumably this view depicts 25141 after withdrawal. 25141 would be another Class 25 to spend over four years out of service, only being broken up at Swindon during January 1987.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

25151 and another Class 25 await their next turn of duty at Peterborough, date unknown. 25151 ended its days after being struck by a wagon at Huddersfield on September 4th 1982. It was moved to Toton by October 1982 spending five years there before being moved to Vic Berry's yard at Leicester and disposed of there.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

139 - 142 : October 1982
25157, 25160 & 25294 CD, 25310 CW
The withdrawal of dual braked 25310 did not signal the end of its career, it would live on a while longer as the first of the ETHEL's. Another high total (at least 134) of reallocations took place, mostly between the ER & WR, whilst the vast majority of the Scottish Class 25's were transfered to the LMR.

25157 out to pasture at Kingmoor on September 15th 1983. This was another Class 25 to spend over four years out of service, at Kingmoor & Swindon. This would be the last Class 25 broken up at Swindon - during March 1987.
Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover.

7510 sits at Springs Branch, date unknown. This locomotive spent over five years out of service, mostly on the Scottish Region at Polmadie and Thornton Junction before heading south to Vic Berry's Leicester, where the end came in July 1987.
Photographer unknown.

25294 has reached the end of the line, seen here at Reddish, date unknown. This is reported to be the last diesel locomotive to leave the closed Reddish Depot, albeit retired and on its way to Derby Works. However it was moved to Swindon in February 1985 and broken up there two months later.
Photographer unknown.

An undated view of 7660 and its parcels train, location unknown, but possibly somewhere at the southern end of the WCML. This locomotive would become the first of the three Ethel units (97250) and would survive until August 1994 when it was broken up at MC Metals, Glasgow.
Photograph collection of Ian Hammond.

143 - 150 : November 1982
25093 BS, 25139 & 25143 TO, 25177, 25179 & 25180 CW, 25186 TO, 25187 LO
(25214 CD, 25248 & 25270 TO, 25304 CD - featured on next page)
November 1982 proved to be a disastrous month for the Class 25's - a total of twelve would be withdrawn, December would prove to be little better. This fallout was due to a major reshuffle of LMR locomotives, particuluarly involving the Class 25's & Class 40's, with a large transfer of locomotives from Springs Branch to Crewe - no doubt this big movement led to the increased rate of withdrawals.

25093 Toton September 18th 1982. Little time is left for what once was the most transferred locomotive on British Rail, at the time of withdrawal it had been transferred twenty eight times. It would end its days at Vic Berry's, Leicester after almost five years withdrawn, including spending time at Derby and Swindon.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

25139 with its train of spent ballast fills the camera lens at Abergele on May 11th 1980 25139 would be another locomotive to spend a lengthy time awaiting cutting up, almost four years spent at Toton and Swindon, with the end coming in October 1986.
Photograph courtesy Larry Goddard.

A weak sun catches 25143 at Newton Heath on February 21st 1981. 25143 spent eighteen months dumped at Crewe before being taken down to Swindon, spending six months here before being broken up during October 1984.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

Happier days for 25177 seen here ex-works on a southbound freight at Derby. 25177 would become a spectacle at Stratford Open Day on July 9th 1983 where it was used in re-railing exercises before being moved to Swindon and broken up there during May 1986.

Class 25's at Aylesbury invariably meant parcels traffic, here 25179 waits on April 1st 1982 for its next duty. This was another Class 25 to spend a considerable time withdrawn, about four and a half years - initially stored at Springs Branch before makings its way down to Swindon.
Photograph courtesy Mark Cook.

The sun shines brightly on 25180 and two sisters, date & location unknown. Increasing unreliability late in 1982 saw it withdrawn and dumped at Saltley, then on to Swindon, escaping scrapping here only to end its days at Vic Berry's Leicester during February 1988.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

This looks like Swindon so it marks the end of the road for 25186, which like several others withdrawn during this period would spend a long time withdrawn, for 25186 it was just over our years, endings its days there during January 1987.
Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Well it would seem fitting to close this page on a high note, so here are a pair of Class 25's in their glory days, July 30 1977 with 25187 & 25269 at Paignton, the working is not recorded, but some fine Devon sunshine, a pair of Class 25's and a rake of Mark 1 stock - sounds like an adventure to me!! 25187 has about five more years to run, followed by a lengthy time out to pasture before Swindon does its job during January 1987. But for now lets enjoy memories of a pair of 6LDA28's doing battle with the Devon banks.
Photograph collection of Ian Hammond.

Page added October 21st 2006
Last updated March 13th 2007
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Forward to Class 25 withdrawals, Part 5 (201 - 250)
Forward to Class 25 withdrawals, Part 6 (251 - 300)
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	25038 was withdrawn on the last day of May 1981, initially stored at Crewe before moving to Derby in February 1982, ending its days there seven months later. 25038 is seen here possibly at Bescot? Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson
	25039 seen at Northwich on April 11th 1980, with just about a year left in service. Withdrawal would occur on the same date as sister 25038 (May 31st 1981). 25039 would end up at Swindon Works, being quickly disposed of by December 1981.
	Another May 31st 1981 withdrawal was 25041, which like 25039 ended its days at Swindon, lingering until June 1983 before being disposed off. In better days 5191 is seen in the rain, apparently with a new buffer fitted. Photograph collection of Ian Hammond
	A relatively clean 25107 at Sheffield Midland (?) station awaits departure. Withdrawn in May 1981, it was at Swindon by August and broken up by September 1981. This was one of the Class 25's to have its boiler room grille sheet over. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson
	A fine memory of a pair of Class 25's on the WCML trailing twenty eight cement tankers with 25162 leading and unidentified sister. 25162 was retired on May 31st 1981, moving eventually to Swindon, ending its days there in May 1982. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson

	25066 was one of the last Class 25's to receive an Intermediate repair, at Glasgow in May 1980. However a main generator flashover in December of the same year saw it taken out of service, withdrawal coming in June 1981 with eventual scrapping at Derby in January 1983. In better days 25066 is seen at Bristol on July 15th 1976. Photograph courtesy Peter Wilmott.
	25071 at Peterborough on June 7th 1980. One of Cricklewood's long time residents ended its days there during June 1981, before being moved to Swindon and broken up there during January 1983. Photograph courtesy J Davenport.

	Class 25's were occasional visitors to Basingstoke over the years, in this view 25073 is parked there on August 19th 1979 presumably waiting a working northbound. 25073 ended its days at Swindon during August 1982. Photograph courtesy Andy Key.
	25148 strikes a nice portrait somewhere, sometime. 25148 ended its days with collision damage, making a trip to Derby Works prior to being sent on to Swindon, ending its days there in May 1982. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	25169 recieves some serious bodywork attention during a repair at Derby Works, seen here on September 1st 1979. Barely two years later, on September 8th 1981 25169 would be retired, moving to Swindon from Bescot on Christmas Eve 1981 & quickly broken up there during February 1982

	Looks like a damp and miserable day at Carlisle on April 15th 1970 as 5292 goes about its station pilot duties. 25142 would be retired from Kingmoor, spending six months here before making the final long move to Swindon during December 1981. After eleven months dumped at Swindon 25142 was broken up during November 1982. Photographer not known.
	A work stained 25246 strikes a nice pose at Polmadie, date unknown. 25246 would spend eighteen months at Swindon, before its demise in January 1983 it provided spares to allow the reinstatement of 25305 from Swindon (as 97251 - Ethel 2). Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	A gloomy day at Wirksworth on November 23rd 1978 finds 25271 shunting the yard. 25271 would end its days at Derby Works, being broken up there during October 1982.
	25290 at Springs Branch, date unknown. 25290 was stored at Tyseley during January 1981, moved to Swindon on March 16th 1982, then on to Crewe three days later & eventually forwarded to Derby Works, where it would be broken up during April 1983. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	25292 also at Springs Branch, date unknown. 25292 was moved from Springs Branch to Swindon during December 1981, where it would languish until February 1983, when the end finally came. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	25299 at Reddish, date unknown. After a short time stored at Crewe 25299 was moved to Derby on February 14th 1982 and was quickly broken up there by month end - must be some sort of record for Derby Works? Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

	Glory days for 25125 as it assists a Class 47 somewhere on the WCML, date unknown. 25125 ended its days at Toton, spending quite a while here before moving south to Swindon, where it was broken up during April 1983. Photographer unknown.
	25156 & 25235 wait time at Colwyn Bay on February 9th 1979. After a couple of months in storage at Tyseley 25156 moved to Swindon during March 1982 and ended its days there two months later. Photograph courtesy Larry Goddard.

	Happy memories of 25081 and a Class 40 parked in the sun, date & location unknown.Unlike many Class 25's, 25081 did not linger after its withdrawal, it was quickly removed to Swindon and by July 1982 was no more. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	A pair of Class 25's, led by 25129 out in the weeds somewhere, maybe Llandudno Jct? date unknown. 25129 would be one of those Class 25's to spend a lengthy time withdrawn, initially it went to Derby for scrapping but was eventually sent down to Swindon ending its days there in March 1985. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

	A wonderfully wet day finds 25275 waiting for the road, date & location unknown. 25275 would spend almost three years withdrawn at Tyselely, slowly falling to bits. The end would come at Swindon during July 1985. Photograph courtesy John Glynn.
	Guide Bridge stabling point with 25105 on July 25th 1981. Like 25275 withdrawn at the same time, 25105 would spend over three years out of service. Initially stored at Tyseley it quickly moved to Derby before moving on to Swindon, where it was finally broken up during December 1985. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

	A familiar situation for the Class 25's - handling engineer's and permanent way trains, 25150 date & location unknown. 25150 ended its days with collision damage, initially reaching Derby Works by August 1982, then to Swindon early in February 1985, and broken up there four months later. Photograph colection of Ian Hammond.
	The end of the line for 25220, seen here at Derby Works on November 26th 1983. Derby would not break up 25220, it would be towed down to Swindon early in February 1985 and be broken up the following month. Photograph courtesy Phillip Moore.
	25312 and a line of Class 76's at Guide Bridge on April 24th 1982. 25312 would end its days after sustaining collision damage at Northampton during May 1982. It was moved to Derby to provide parts for other Class 25's, its power unit was surrendered to 25308. It would linger for just over three years, firstly at Derby, then Swindon, before being broken up there during September 1985. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	Its May 28th 1981 and the Derbyshire Hills echo to another load of limestone leaving the county for processing elsewhere, 25274 is leading and 25308 is pushing on the rear. After withdrawal 25274 was quickly sent to Derby Works, but later became one of many to be dragged down to Swindon, being broken up there during April 1985. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

	A sunny day at Reddish as 25056 sits out the weekend, unused. 25056 ended its days out of service at Tinsley, spending a while there before moving south to Toton and then on to Swindon during July 1984, where the end came during March 1985.
	A fine portrait of 25170, possibly at Bescot, date unknown. 25170 had a rough time during the first half of 1982, being stored, then reinstated and the called to Derby Works for generator repairs. Whilst at Derby 25170 was withdrawn and ended its days there during April 1983. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	7538 on an overcast day, date & location not known. 25188 spent almost five years withdrawn, with almost two years at Springs Branch before moving to Swindon in June 1984. Here it remained until March 1987 before being broken up. Photograph courtesy E A Wood.

	25104 leads 25249 (?) and a lengthy train on the WCML (in the Wigan area?). 25104 ended its days at Swindon during December 1986 after over four years out of service. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	25141 strikes a fine pose, somewhere, sometime! Most of the valencing is missing from the near cab, presumably this view depicts 25141 after withdrawal. 25141 would be another Class 25 to spend over four years out of service, only being broken up at Swindon during January 1987. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	25151 and another Class 25 await their next turn of duty at Peterborough, date unknown. 25151 ended its days after being struck by a wagon at Huddersfield on September 4th 1982. It was moved to Toton by October 1982 spending five years there before being moved to Vic Berry's yard at Leicester and disposed of there. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

	25157 out to pasture at Kingmoor on September 15th 1983. This was another Class 25 to spend over four years out of service, at Kingmoor & Swindon. This would be the last Class 25 broken up at Swindon - during March 1987. Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover.
	7510 sits at Springs Branch, date unknown. This locomotive spent over five years out of service, mostly on the Scottish Region at Polmadie and Thornton Junction before heading south to Vic Berry's Leicester, where the end came in July 1987. Photographer unknown.
	25294 has reached the end of the line, seen here at Reddish, date unknown. This is reported to be the last diesel locomotive to leave the closed Reddish Depot, albeit retired and on its way to Derby Works. However it was moved to Swindon in February 1985 and broken up there two months later. Photographer unknown.
	An undated view of 7660 and its parcels train, location unknown, but possibly somewhere at the southern end of the WCML. This locomotive would become the first of the three Ethel units (97250) and would survive until August 1994 when it was broken up at MC Metals, Glasgow. Photograph collection of Ian Hammond.

	25093 Toton September 18th 1982. Little time is left for what once was the most transferred locomotive on British Rail, at the time of withdrawal it had been transferred twenty eight times. It would end its days at Vic Berry's, Leicester after almost five years withdrawn, including spending time at Derby and Swindon. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	25139 with its train of spent ballast fills the camera lens at Abergele on May 11th 1980 25139 would be another locomotive to spend a lengthy time awaiting cutting up, almost four years spent at Toton and Swindon, with the end coming in October 1986. Photograph courtesy Larry Goddard.
	A weak sun catches 25143 at Newton Heath on February 21st 1981. 25143 spent eighteen months dumped at Crewe before being taken down to Swindon, spending six months here before being broken up during October 1984. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
	Happier days for 25177 seen here ex-works on a southbound freight at Derby. 25177 would become a spectacle at Stratford Open Day on July 9th 1983 where it was used in re-railing exercises before being moved to Swindon and broken up there during May 1986.
	Class 25's at Aylesbury invariably meant parcels traffic, here 25179 waits on April 1st 1982 for its next duty. This was another Class 25 to spend a considerable time withdrawn, about four and a half years - initially stored at Springs Branch before makings its way down to Swindon. Photograph courtesy Mark Cook.
	The sun shines brightly on 25180 and two sisters, date & location unknown. Increasing unreliability late in 1982 saw it withdrawn and dumped at Saltley, then on to Swindon, escaping scrapping here only to end its days at Vic Berry's Leicester during February 1988. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	This looks like Swindon so it marks the end of the road for 25186, which like several others withdrawn during this period would spend a long time withdrawn, for 25186 it was just over our years, endings its days there during January 1987. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	Well it would seem fitting to close this page on a high note, so here are a pair of Class 25's in their glory days, July 30 1977 with 25187 & 25269 at Paignton, the working is not recorded, but some fine Devon sunshine, a pair of Class 25's and a rake of Mark 1 stock - sounds like an adventure to me!! 25187 has about five more years to run, followed by a lengthy time out to pasture before Swindon does its job during January 1987. But for now lets enjoy memories of a pair of 6LDA28's doing battle with the Devon banks. Photograph collection of Ian Hammond.