D5016 in pretty much 'as delivered' condition including the water stains on the side panels by the radiator, something common to the Sulzer Type 2's. Being one of the first batch this locomotive has the five ventilators on the top row. The curved panel covering the roof boiler water filler is still in place whilst the cab front does not have any headboard brackets as found on some of the first twenty built. The view is believed to be at Stafford, prior to its rebuilding with the coming of electrification of the route.

1959
Delivered new from Derby during June to Crewe South (5B) D5015/16/17 were the only three machines to actually remain at Crewe for any length of time, all the others allocated here from new were quickly loaned to Derby. The summer timetable found these new Type 2's working between Crewe and Birmingham. They took over the 7.35pm Holyhead - Birmingham at Crewe, returning with the following morning's 6.30am all stations Birmingham - Crewe. So noted were D5015/16 and D5015/30. The first pair mentioned were involved in working June 9th - 13th's 08.00am Birmingham - Newcastle between Derby and York, returning on the 12.43pm Newcastle - Bristol as far as Derby. On July 29th D5016 worked the 8.25pm Crewe - Birmingham New Street, D5015 was noted on this working on August 5th. During July D5017 moved to Hither Green (73C) to replace D5008 which had returned to the LMR, this locomotive had been selected as the BR/Sulzer Type 2 to be used in the BTC tests.

	D5015 & D5016 at Crewe South, date unknown, but early in their careers (the cab front is still remarkably clean as is the roof) and possibly related to the workings mentioned above. Photograph courtesy Colin Williams.
	A fine view of ex-works D5017, possibly at Derby shortly after delivery, presumably about June 1959. This locomotive is fitted with Athermos axleboxes. Also visible on the roofline is the original location of the circular engine exhaust port. Photograph collection of Rex Conway.

In September D5015 moved south to Camden (1B), in October it was transferred to Willesden (1A), but returned to Camden during November at which time D5016 moved to Willesden (1A), followed by a quick move to Camden (1B) in December.The winter timetable commencing November 2nd found D5015/16/18/19 taking over some of the local workings out of Euston

1960
D5015 was noted at Derby Works during February.

D5015 at Manchester Central on June 4th 1960 waiting to leave with a passenger train to Liverpool. This was part of a regular daily diagram from Derby/Nottingham. Photograph courtesy John K Morton.

Once in a while fame & fortune happened upon the Type 2's, on October 9th it was the turn of D5016 when the down 'Royal Scot' experienced serious difficulties with D222. After a slow departure from Euston and attention at Willesden all was still not well, the Type 4 eventually coming off at Watford being replaced by D5016. The small machine put up a spirited performance, however the glory was brief, Class 5 44712 took over at Bletchley, with 44938 added at Rugby!

1961
All three locomotives made Works visits during 1961, D5016 paid a visit to Derby Works during February, whilst D5015 was noted there in April and D5017 was at Eastleigh in September.

A somewhat strange innovation implemented by Eastleigh Works was the use of ex-works diesels on the Southampton - Waterloo boat trains, a risky venture as the out shopped locomotives ran alone. D5017 was tested on November 3rd's 10.35pm Old Dock- Waterloo, though time was lost on this trip.

Photographer unknown at this time
A duty which many of the early members frequently saw was the working of the local services out of Euston. Here D5016 with a layer of dust on her paintwork and a small yellow warning panel pauses at Watford Junction, the steam generator is in use judging by the steam leaking from the coaches. With the suburban services out of Euston planned for electric services eventually, the invasion of DMU's did not occur here, leaving the local commuters (for better or worse) in the hands of the LMS Twins, the Bullied Trio and endless Class 24/40's.

1962
Another trip for D5016 was made to Derby Works during January. During May D5017 returned from the Southern Region, its new home was Willesden (1A), its time here was short as it moved to north to Rugby (2A) in June. It visited Derby Works during July and August.

1963
During January D5017 was transferred to Crewe (5A) and it was noted at Derby Works.

D5015 was noted at Derby Works from July through November, whilst D5017 was present during September.

Looking a little the worse for wear D5015 awaits attention at Derby Works early in its career, it still has the roof mounted water filler cover in place - these did not last long once the locomotives were placed in service. Although the date is not recorded this could be 1963 when D5015 spent at least four months in Derby Works. Photograph collection A Stubbs.

1964
Early August found several unusual workings, on 8th D5017 worked a lunchtime Glasgow Central - Lockerbie passenger service.

In October Derby Works was host to both D5015 & D5016, whilst D5017 was present from August to October.

1965
D5015 was noted at Derby Works during January & May.

A fine view of D5015 passing Bletchley No.2 signal box on March 29th 1965 with one of the local services to Euston. The locomotive is wearing a work stained livery but is generally unchanged since delivery from Derby Works almost six years ago. D5015 has about two more years left working these services before heading north to the Stoke Division (D05) as a result of the completion of the electrification out of Euston. Photograph courtesy Bill Wright, 'Barkingbill'.

D5017 moved to Willesden(1A) in September whilst after spending just over five years at London area sheds D5015 moved north to Bescot (2F) during December.

Ex works D5017 was a surprising performer on the midday Dundee - Glasgow service on December 23rd, presumably outshopped from one of the Scottish workshops.

1966
D5017 moved to Rugby during January.

D5015 was back at Derby Works during February.

The 'Eight Counties' RCTS railtour of March 26th enjoyed the use of D5016, running from Northampton Castle to Market Harborough & Leicester, changing here to 8F 48467 for a run through the East Midlands/Sheffield environs. EM1 26000 took the train across the Pennines, Jubilee 45596 ran from Godley Jcn to Crewe via Northwich, with E 3093 completing the last leg back to Northampton. After six years of activity at the southern end of the WCML D5016, along with D5017 were transferred to the Birmingham Division (D02) along with a dozen other Type 2's during July.

The location and date of this view of D5016 is not known, but maybe about the time of the above mentioned railtour. It may be Nottingham? Photograph collection A Stubbs.

1967
After just under a year in the Birmingham area D5016 & D5017 joined in the mass movement of the LMR machines to the Stoke Division (D05), D5015 made the move there during June with Derby Works visited by D5017 in June and D5015 during August.

Photograph courtesy Cumbrian Railway Association, (Ref WAR448)
D5016 stands at the head of a return excursion at Lakeside, circa 1965. Hidden behind the locomotive and train are two other trains, one in the hands of D5702 and the other with Black Five 45196. The Windermere Lakeside - Ulverston passenger service ended in September 1938 although the branch continued to see summer extras until September 1965.

1969
5017 was put to store during January whilst 5016 was another of those early batch of Class 24's stored due to a surplus of power, from March to August at Chester. A shortage of locomotives on the Eastern Region and the loss of four Type 2's in a runaway accident at Chester gave this early batch another lease on life, with 5016 & 5017 being re-instated back to the Stoke Division, others were sent to Leeds Holbeck.

1971
In October the Scottish Region Polmadie depot (66A) became home for 5015/16/17 and many of their sisters, being used to retire the few remaining NBL & Clayton locomotives from the fleet. Glasgow Works was visited by 5016 in October and 5017 in November.

1972
During the first quarter Polmadie depot closed so 5015/16/17 and many others migrated across Glasgow to Eastfield during March.

1973
The use of A4 60009 on specials between Inverkeithing & Dunfermline on September 8th found 5015 & 5307 hauling the excursion from Edinburgh to Inverkeithing, with 5015 working the return leg alone.

1974
During April all three locomotives were given their TOPS numbers.

1975 - 1977
Active service ended during July 1975, when like a great many other Class 24's 24015/16/17 were put to store, the first two at Cadder Yard and 24017 at Carlisle, withdrawal coming in August for 24015 & 24016, and in October for 24017.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer The summer of 1975 brought massive withdrawals for the Class 24 fleet, being more severe on the LMR than the ScR. Following three months of inactivity 24016 was taken to Glasgow Works for spares removal, where the locomotive was photographed on October 21st 1975. With the locomotive at the end of its working life it has managed to retain several original features including the cabfront gangway doors and the original size fuel & boiler water tanks.

24017, with 24002 to the right gathers dust at Glasgow Works on June 5th 1976. The following month it was on its last trip, to Doncaster for breaking. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

All three eventually moved to Glasgow Works for spares removal, with 24017 & 24097 making the Carlisle - Glasgow Works journey on March 16th 1976. However it would be left for Doncaster Works to finally break up the locomotives, final journies were:

24015/16/71 & 24117 during the first week of May 1976, travelling via the ECML
24010/17/97 Glasgow Works - Doncaster July 15 1976 (behind 20017 at Darlington).

They did not linger too long at Doncaster, 24015 was gone by January 1977 whilst 24016 & 24017 followed in March 1977.

Undated Views

D5015 & 5144 wait for their next turn of duty, date and location unknown. Photograph courtesy E A Woods.

Page added February 25th 2000
Page updated March 28th 2009 (minor update)

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