D5034 was the fifth Class 24 built at Crewe Works, seen here in clean condition, changed only by the addition of the small yellow warning panel, with rounded upper corners. Typical of those machines allocated to the GE, the shed plate is mounted on the cab side.

Photographer not known at this time.

1959
D5033 - 5035 were part of the first batch of Class 24's to be built at Crewe Works (D5030 - D5037) being delivered in July & August, eventually being two of the forty eight allocated to March (31B), although after this batch of eight the following seven went to Ipswich. These locomotives would join the new Brush & NBL Type 2's in the dieselisation of East Anglia. In October D5033 moved south to Stratford (30A).

Late in December D5033 was noted on passenger duties on the Liverpool St - Cambridge services. Its initial trial was not a success, on 28th it only reached Bethnal Green on 5.57pm to Cambridge before failing, after much delay K1 62040 took out the train.

With burnished buffers and shining paintwork D5034 cannot be long off the Crewe production line, probably making this view in the latter half of 1959, taken in the Crewe area. I don't suppose the maintenance people would allow such activities today. Photograph courtesy Rex Conway Collection.

Shortly after delivery D5035 in pristine condition stands at Stratford on a murky day. Photograph courtesy FW Day.

1960
After six months of work in East Anglia and parts of the Midlands D5034 & 5035 also headed south for Stratford (30A) and much work in the London area.

1961
The locomotives spent just over a year at Stratford, in March D5033 & 5034 moved to the LMR, their new home being Willesden (1A), likewise D5035 followed in April. From May to July D5034 was at Derby Works under repair, for D5035 a modest move north took place in August when it was re-allocated to Watford (1C).

Early days at Euston as D5033 stands with a recently arrived parcels working, presumably during 1961 following its transfer from Stratford to Willesden. Photograph courtesy the Rex Conway collection.

1962
During March D5035 visited Derby Works.

1963
D5035 returned to Derby Works during August. D5033 also visited Derby during September & November.

1964
D5033 was again at Derby in July & October.

1965
A longer stay occured for D5035 at Derby Works, lasting from November 1964 through January 1965, once released D5035 was re-allocated to Camden (1B).

On July 3rd D5034 worked a Leicester - Eastbourne holiday extra running the empty coaching stock to Forest Row via Uckfield.

1966
After almost five years at Willesden D5033 & 5034 transferred to Bletchley (1E) in January.

D5076 had a rough couple of days early in the year. On January 31st it failed at Canley on an engineers rubbish working to Bell Green, being rescued by D5033 from Coventry, whilst on February 2nd it passed Coventry three hours late on an early morning Stafford - Kilburn parcels, with the assistance of D298. March & April saw D5035 return yet again to Derby Works.

D5033's stay at Bletchley was brief, in October it moved north to the Birmingham Division (D02), with sisters D5031 & 5032. D5033 made a brief visit to Derby in November.

1967
With the electrification at the southern end of the LMR progressing and with more arrivals from Derby Works of the latest Class 25's there began a gradual migration northwards of the older Type 2's, during March D5034 & 5035 found a new home in the Birmingham Division (D02). For D5034 some time was spent in Derby Works during June. During August a further move north, along with a great many others saw D5033 - 5035 reach the Stoke Division (D05), which would be the final home for D5033 & 5035.

1969
The 20:05 Ellesmere Port - Wareham has already been noted bringing Class 25's deep into SR territory on March 3rd a Class 24 made the trip, though how D5033 returned home is not recorded.

D5034 trundles northwards through Crewe on August 15th 1969. Already carrying blue livery, the two sets of numbers and BR emblems on each side create something of an untidy appearance due to the un-symetrical placing of the air vents. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

1970
5034 was one of three Class 24's stranded on Anglesey by the Menai bridge fire on May 24th. Along with 5083 she remained on the island to handle the local freight traffic and support the dmu's on passenger services. A third Type 2, 5044 was shipped to the mainland through Barrow in June along with fourteen other locomotives and seventy two coaches. Whilst stranded the train heating boiler was re-activated as occasionally the Type 2's were used to assist the dmu's on passenger workings.

An unusual working for 5035 was the 6F01 10.35 Millerhill - Tyne on December 15th, somewhat off the beaten track for a Crewe Class 24.

1971
5033 was at Derby during October.

1972
On February 16th 5021 & 5033 were noted at Bletchley on the northbound 'Clayliner'. Normally an electric working the diesels, along with others were used to ease the power crisis due to ongoing coal miners strike.

A brief visit was made by 5035 to Derby Works during March, it would be 5034's turn to visit Derby Works during October.

An unremarkable shot circa April 1972 of 5035 at Stoke on Trent in green livery with full yellow ends. What is amazing is this was taken with a venerable Kodak Instamatic 100. Little else of this film has survived and it is most certain that the locomotive, in the guise of 24035 outlived the camera by quite a bit.

1974
Crewe based 5033 spent almost a week in the Tees area on local workings from January 17th - 21st.

24033 was at Derby during May.

1975
On January 11th 24034 & 24035 were noted heading north through Huddersfield with an aggregates train. 24034 visited Derby Works during February. The mass storage/withdrawals of the Class 24's in the summer included 24033 (August) & 24034 (July) but passed 24035 by, the locomotive was in Derby Works (from June to August) undergoing a major repair, alongside 24023 & 24083 these would be the last of the Class to receive a major repair anywhere. During this repair the boiler water tank was removed, as happened to several other Class 24's late in their lives.

24033 was withdrawn in September and stored near Crewe Works.

Photograph courtesy Grahame Wareham.

24033 comes to its final resting place at Swindon Works, the view suggests it has recently arrived and a start has not yet been made in stripping it of materials.

September 25th 1975 finds 24034 sidelined at Crewe, one of a great number stored there prior to their removal to Swindon for breaking. This side view clearly reveals that the boiler water tank has been removed, probably at her last shopping at Derby. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

1976
For 24034 official withdrawal did not come until January, the locomotive being one of the many stored around Crewe.

Photograph courtesy Dave HomerIts August 17th 1976 and 24035 is parked up in Holyhead shed awaiting its next turn of duty.

A dull day at Crewe in September 1976 finds 24035 & 25159 passing through the station. Just visible is the fact that 24035 has had its boiler water tank removed. It still has two years left in service. Photograph courtesy Peter Wilmott.

1977
24033 & 24034 remained at Crewe until making the obligatory trip to Swindon on January 10/11th as the 06:45 Crewe - Swindon behind 25269 with 24025/29/33 in tow, where the end finally came for 24033 in April and 24034 in May 1977. Like a number of others, sisters 24033 & 24034 followed a very similar working history, with only minor variations.

On a murky overcast February 17th, 1977 Cockshute is home to 24035. Just visible is the absence of the boiler water tank. In contrast to the view of 24035 in Holyhead shed (above) the electrification flashes at this end of the locomotive are outboard of the marker lights.

April 15th found 24035 & 24023 working a freight to Rugby, about as far south as the Class 24's would now venture.

March 1977 - 24033 is now next in line for final cutting up. Its been removed from its bogies, which may be those off to the left. In the foreground is all that remains of another Class 24. Photograph courtesy Pete Piszczek.

A less than perfect shot of 24033 in its final days. What's left of the nearest cab lies on the ground in front of the photographer, a large section of the locomotive's side lies on the ground, the other cab has been cut away and has fallen forward, all that remains recogniseable is the area around the boiler room and electrical compartment. Behind 24033 is pioneer 24005 which is in little better shape. The date is April 3rd 1977.

1978 - 1979
Additional summer services and holiday extras provided plenty of unusual diesel haulage on the North Wales line, however the star turn was still the diagram commencing with the 09.42 Llandudno - Manchester. The few remaining Class 24's were frequent performers on this diagram, July 12th saw 24023 start the diagram but it was replaced on the 20.30 Crewe - Bangor by 24063, which got only got as far as Chester before 24035 took over, which succumbed at Llandudno Junction! Withdrawal for 24035 came in October with the locomotive stored at Crewe until December 13, when 24035 & 24047 were dragged across the Pennines as the 05.00 9Z10 Crewe Depot - Doncaster Works special. After a career of just under twenty years 24035 was reduced to scrap during January 1979.

Page created January 15th 2001
Page last updated December 15th 2007

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