Photographer not known at this time
D5004 stands in the dirt, grime & smoke of a scene all to familiar to the operation
of the early diesels. No doubt the manufacturers would have preferred maintenance facilities
more in keeping with the complexities of this different form of traction. One wonders what effect the many hours
spent in company with blowing ash & cinders and smoke containing particulates of all kinds
did to the internal components of the diesels. Here D5004 appears in pretty much 'as delivered' state, though with very grimy paintwork.
This machine features the split radiator frost screen found on the first handful of Type 2's
delivered from Derby, and the Athermos axleboxes fitted to the first ten machines. The cab front also carries the headboard brackets fitted to some of the first twenty. And unique to this batch is the five ventilators on the top row, instead of the more normal four found on the later series. The locomotives also came with a curved roof panel to cover the roof access to the boiler water filler. As seen here on D5004 this has been removed, in later years a number of the Inverness allocated Class 24's would have this sheeted over as they were overhauled at Glasgow Works.
1958/59
It was during the latter half of 1958 that the frames were laid for D5004/05/06, part of a batch of twenty machines (D5000 - D5019), also being
part of the original order of locomotives for the Modernisation Plan. They were delivered during December 1958 & January 1959, on paper to Crewe South (5B), then
immediately transferred to Derby (17A). A month later the Southern Region borrowed a number of these new arrivals including D5004/05/06, the move
being made in January 1959 to Hither Green (73C), D5005 moved south on January 24th, D5006 followed six days later. The loan was made pending the arrival of the BRCW Type 3's and the delayed start-up of
parts of the Kent electrification scheme.
The use of D5000 - D5014/17 on the Southern Region was not without problems. Like a number of the early
classes the Derby built Type 2's were found to be almost five tons overweight. This heavier than expected axle loading was a major concern for the SR Civil
Engineer, leading to D5004 & D5005 visiting Eastleigh Works in February to see what could be done to reduce the axle loadings. The easiest solution was to
remove the train heating boiler and boiler water tanks, this being done on locomotives D5002 - D5006. This made them a little more versatile in regard to their route availability, though the boilers were sorely missed during the winter.
Freight workings using the Type 2’s included the 3.05pm Hoo Junction - Hither Green freight, noted in April were D5005 (6th), D5009 (7th), D5010 (8th), D5000 (9th) and D5005 (10th). The next day D5005 worked the 1.32am Dartford - Hoo freight returning with the 3.10am to Hither Green.
The summer Margate - Birkenhead had been in the hands of the Type 2’s from June 15th, working as far as Redhill, noted on the first four days were D5001/02/05/04. On the heavier Saturday working double heading was frequent.
On November 1st SR EMU 7111 derailed at Dover, the lead coach hitting the tunnel brickwork. D5005 was used to bring a crane to the site to assist with the clean up.
Photographer unknown: from the Rex Conway archive.
Somewhere on the Southern Region (possibly Hither Green) D5004 & D5011 await their next turn of duty. The locomotive has not yet been fitted with headboard brackets, but has had the boiler water tank (and boiler) removed as a weight saving measure to placate the SR Civil engineer.
1960
The SR Civil Engineer eased the restrictions affecting the overweight Type 2's, most returned to the LMR to have the boilers and water tanks refitted. D5004 was briefly re-allocated to Crewe South (5B) between January & February for this purpose. A similar occurrence happened to D5006 from February to April & D5005 from May to September and was noted in Derby Works during June.
1961
Whilst on the Southern Region certain repairs were carried out at Eastleigh, during February & December D5006 made brief visits there. With the arrival of the Class 33's and the continuing expansion of the electrified network the loaned Class 24's found greater use on freights, including the cross London drags, D5006 so noted at Ferme Park on June 21st.
1962
With the arrival of the BRCW Type 3's and the successful start up of the Kent electrification plan the Type 2's were slowly returned to the LMR, D5006 moved to Crewe (5B) during March whilst D5005 headed north in June to Rugby (2A), D5004 went to Willesden (1A) in October. At Willesden D5004 was a frequent runner on the local commuter services, occasionally to be found on
the Birmingham - Coventry - Rugby locals as well.
Repairs during 1962 included D5004 at Eastleigh in April and D5005 at Eastleigh in March and at Derby during October.
1963
D5006 paid a brief visit to Derby Works during February, perhaps the result of the harsh winter, in September it was re-allocated to Rugby (2A).
D5005 visited Derby Works during March & August.
On July 28th a Coventry – Skegness excursion utilised D5005 to Peterborough, replaced here by 61174.
1965
D5004's stay at Willesden was interrupted during January when a brief spell was spent at Camden (1B), by February it was back at Willesden. During March & April a visit was made to Derby Works for repair. As the LMR electrification advanced the passenger workings out of Euston diminished
for the Type 2's although they remained in great demand to handle the extra engineering trains required to complete the electrification works.
After almost two years in the Birmingham area D5006 headed back to Crewe (5A) during July. From April - August D5006 was under repair at Derby Works.
In June D5005 moved to Bletchley (1E) and spent some time at Derby Works during October. It is most likely that D5005 gained its two tone green livery (similar to the Class 25 & 47's) on the occasion of this visit to Derby.
In October D5004/06 were transferred to 1F.
1966
Brief visits were made by D5006 to Derby Works in February and the Brush Works at Loughborough during May.
D5005 was back at Derby Works during December.
1967
D5006 spent February and March at Derby Works.
After five years generally spent at the southern end of the WCML D5004/05/06 were transferred to the Stoke Division (D05) in April, calling Crewe their new home. Between April & August the entire batch of
D5000 - D5049 were transferred to the Stoke Division, more would follow in 1968.
Photograph courtesy: Grahame Wareham
Green 5006 awaits its next turn of duty, possibly at Crewe.
1969
By 1969 many members of the less successful diesel types (from NBL, Metropolitan Vickers, Claytons) had already gone to the
scrapman, but there still existed within the diesel fleet a surplus in the Type 1 & 2 categories. Because the original batch of Type 2's
from Derby Works lacked certain refinements carried by the later machines, they were selected for withdrawal during 1969. Ten were stored or
withdrawn, being held at Shrewsbury, Chester, Crewe & Derby.
One of these early casualties was 5005 which was withdrawn in January and eventually reached Derby Works for scrapping. 5004 remained in service until suffering fire damage in the Stoke area, being noted with an uncertain
future at Derby Works in November. However a shortage of power on the Eastern Region and the loss of four Class 24's in a runaway accident at Chester,
saw all but 5005 returned to service. 5005 would be scrapped at Derby at the end of 1969, the only Class 24 broken up at Derby Works and the only Class 24 to be broken up at its birthplace. It was also the only Class 24 from the original Modernisation Plan order to carry the two tone green livery.
5006 escaped the purge, remaining in service, being noted on a welded rail train at Oxford on January 24th.
1971
After a stay of almost four years at the Stoke Division another northward move was made to the ScR to assist in the removal of the final members of
the Claytons & North British Locomotive products. 5002 - 5004 & 5006 - 5009 moved to Eastfield (65A) during March.
5004 was noted at Derby Works during September.
1973
24004 visited Glasgow Works for repairs during in February.
On May 12th Glasgow Works held its first Open Day, remarkably there were sixty four diesels on display that day, although twenty seven of those were condemned Claytons. Two class 25’s were present, 5178 and 5157, the latter having a replacement cab fitted from withdrawn 5149. Class 24’s noted were 5006/19, 5121/27 under repair and elsewhere withdrawn 5067, 5114/49. Parts of 5068 were still present.
1974
Despite the waning usefulness of the Class 24's 24006 visited Glasgow Works from August to October for a major repair.
1975 - 1980
24004's spell at Eastfield was broken briefly when it moved to Longsight during January (with 24001/005) and then headed back north in February (with 24001). This was
its last official move, for like a great many others it was stored in July, never to turn a revenue earning wheel again. Stored with many others at Carlisle, withdrawal
came officially in September. On March 15th 1976 a convoy of 24002/04/10/11 travelled from Carlisle to Glasgow Works for component removal. The end finally came in June
1977 when the remains of 24004 were broken up at Glasgow, as were 24002/11. This was a little unusual as most of the Scottish machines were dragged down to Doncaster for breaking
up, as happened to 24010 which had accompanied them from Carlisle.
24006 was stored unserviceable in July and officially withdrawn in August. However 24006 was selected for use in rerailing exercises at Eastfield & noted there at least by May 1976, remaining there long after all her Scottish sisters had been despatched to the breakers. It would not be until the autumn of 1980 that 24006 was finally towed away to Glasgow Works, with the end coming quickly during November.
This was the last Class 24 on BR property excluding the research and train heating machines.
For the photographs below click on the small image to get a full size picture
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Date & location unknown, but perhaps on the Southern Region, D5004 in the early days.
Photograph courtesy Malcolm Braim.
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During the summer of 1965 a number of Class 24's received the two-tone paint scheme being applied to the new Class 25's. One such example was D5005, here freshly outshopped.
Photographer unknown at this time.
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24004 forms part of a long line of Class 24's stored at Carlisle Kingmoor, seen here on October 28th 1975.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
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Its March 13th 1976 and 24006 sits dumped at the back of Eastfield depot.
Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. |
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After five years spent withdrawn at Eastfield, retained as a training/re-railing locomotive as well as a target for the local vandals, in the autumn of 1980 24006 made the short trip to Glasgow Works. As a weak wintry sun breaks through the clouds 24006 is next in line for cutting, once the cutters have finished with 25009 (just off camera to the left). |
