D5053, 5053, 24053
D5053, 5053, 24053
One of the Two-Tone Green Class 24s


Photograph collection of Ian Hammond
A fine shot of a very clean D5053 at Kings Cross, presumably in the latter half of 1965.

The sixteen year five month career of 5053/24053 saw allocations to Eastern Region, Scottish Region & London Midland Region depots.

Built Crewe Locomotive Works.
Shortened fuel tank & full size water tank (retained until withdrawn).
Four upper and four lower air filters on non-BIS side, three upper and four lower on BIS side.
Cab roof ventilators sheeted over (Eastern Region modification): may not have occurred until 1974/1975.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: ?? months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 3 months.

Allocations

The frames for D5053 were laid down at Crewe Works during the late summer of 1959, D5053 was new to March (31B) on December 3rd 1959. Further transfers were:

March 1961 to Finsbury Park (34G).
October 1966 to Eastfield (65A) on loan, made permanent December 1966.
March 1968 to Carlisle Kingmoor (12A) on loan, made permanent April 1968.
April 1968 to Longsight (9A).
June 1968 to Manchester Division (D09).
September 1968 to Stoke Division (D05).
May 1973 to Crewe.
April 4th 1976 - to serviceable store.
January 31st 1976 - withdrawn.

Renumbered November 9th 1973.

After withdrawal 24053 was stored at Crewe Basford Hall until February 12th 1976 when it was moved to Swindon Works and broken up there by the middle of May 1976.

Movement: 24053/75, 24143/145 06.45 9X22 Crewe – Swindon February 12th 1976.

The allocation histories of 24053, 24054, 24055 & 24056 are virtually identical, although 24053 & 24054 had slightly longer careers whilst allocated to Crewe.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Stratford Works April & July 1962.
Noted Doncaster Works October 1964.
Noted Derby Works July & August 1965.
Noted Inverurie Works September 1967.
Noted Derby Works August 1973.

Highlights

1959
D5053 was one of a large batch delivered to March (31B), being outshopped from Crewe during early December.


Photograph courtesy Rex Conway collection
Almost brand new D5053 poses for the photographer, date & location unknown. This locomotive has the slightly smaller fuel tank (the end section does not reach frame level).

1960
D5053 was stabled at March on July 25th.

1961
D5053 was transferred to Finsbury Park (34G) in January.

D5053 was at Kings Cross on July 29th.

1962
D5053 was noted at Stratford Works during April & July.

1963
On October 28th D5053 worked the 17.35 Broad Street - Hertford North.

1964
A visit to Doncaster Works was made by D5053 in October.

1965
A Works repair was made at Derby in July & August, it was at this time that D5053 gained its two-tone green livery

Condition August: two tone green livery with small yellow warning panels, being the same width as the light green band; full size water tank, shortened fuel tank, blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds present, trip cock fitted, all valencing present, cantrail water filler cover present.

On the morning of November 11th locomotives at Kings Cross included:
D5053 coaching stock for the down 09.20
D5906 coaching stock for the 09.04 to Cambridge, worked by D5908
D8239 coaching stock for the 09.00 to Newcastle, worked by D9006
D5900 empty coaching stock
D5056 down empty coaching stock ex-Metropolitan lines
D8230 down empty coaching stock
D5069 down empty coaching stock
DP2 on Kings Cross fuelling point.

1966
On the morning of January 15th D5053 was at Hatfield with a freight.

On the evening of March 16th D5053 was at Kings Cross with a freight for the Metropolitan lines.

On the morning of March 23rd D5053 was at Kings Cross with a freight for the Metropolitan lines.

On the evening of March 24th D5053 was at Kings Cross with empty coaching stock for the 22.15 down service.

On the afternoon of April 3rd D5070 & D5053 were stabled at Kings Cross fuelling point.

On the morning of April 13th D5053 was at Kings Cross with an up freight.

On the evening of April 27th D5053 was at Kings Cross with coaching stock for the 22.15 down service.

On the evening of April 29th D5053 was at Kings Cross fuelling point.

On May 13th D5053 worked the 17.35 Broad Street - Hertford North.

On the evening of May 16th D5053 was on empty coaching stock duty at Kings Cross.

On the evening of May 19th D5051, D5053 & D5061 were at Kings Cross on empty coaching stock duty.

On the morning of July 18th D5053 & D5095 were noted at Finsbury Park depot.

On the morning of August 3rd D5053 was at Kings Cross with an up local for Moorgate.

During October Eastfield (65A) became the new home of D5050 - D5056.

On October 2nd seven locomotives departed Finsbury Park on transfer to Eastfield, the locomotives heading northbound light engines: D5051 & D5052, D5050 & D5055 and D5053, D5056 & D7600.

D5053 worked the 17.35 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen on November 18th.

1967
D5053 worked the 10.10 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen on October 28th.

D5053 worked the 07.20 Perth - Glasgow Queen Street and the 17.35 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen on October 30th.

D5053 worked the 07.20 Perth - Glasgow Queen Street on December 18th.

D5053 worked the 17.35 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen on December 27th.

1968
In March D5053 moved briefly to Carlisle (12A) before moving on to Longsight (9A) in April with D5052 - D5056. From June Longsight became part of the Manchester Division (D09). It then movedto the Stoke Division (D05) in September.

On Good Friday (12th) things were truly interesting, the ScR operating a weekday service, the LMR a Sunday service! On the eastern side of the country the Easter holidays brought many extras, D5053 (new to the Longsight workings) worked the 09.30 Manchester Exchange – Newcastle passenger on April 11th, returning with the 15.54 Darlington - Manchester Exchange.

On April 7th D5053 & D5145 were stabled at Newton Heath.

On April 20th D5053 worked the 09.00 Liverpool Exchange - Preston and may have worked the earlier part of the diagram, the 03.15 Manchester - Southport newspaper, then light engine to Liverpool.


Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
Its March 30th 1970 and 5053 still carries its two-tone green livery, seen here at Crewe. It still carries the 'D' prefix and retains all the frame level valencing.

1970
Condition March: two tone green livery with small yellow warning panels, being the same width as the light green band; full size water tank, shortened fuel tank, blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds present, most valencing present, 'D' prefix present.

On the early afternoon of October 3rd 5053 was noted at Warrington with a freight.

Condition November: blue/yellow livery, gangway doors in place, blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds plated over.

1971
June: green livery with full yellow ends - cotradicts above condition.

1973
With the abandonment of the LMR Division allocations 5053 was now allocated to Crewe effective May.

5053 was noted at Derby Works during in August.

1974
On March 16th 7559 & 24053 were noted passing Cockshute light engines.

Shortly after midnight on May 22nd 24053 was used to take a heater van & BSK from Crewe to Madeley chord in support of a Royal Train that was overnighting there.

On October 5th a thirteen coach Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society special 'Cambrian Express' (1L05) ran from Euston to Pwllheli. 86012 handled the out and return legs between Euston and Wolverhampton. 24053 & 24083 worked the route Wolverhampton - Cosford - Wellington - Abbey Foregate Junction - English Bridge Junction - Sutton Bridge Junction - Welshpool - Machynlleth - Dovey Junction - Tywyn - Barmouth - Harlech - Minffordd - Portmadoc - Pwllheli and returning over the same route. Time was available to visit either the Talyllyn Railway or the Ffestiniog Railway.


Photograph collection of Roger Geach.
24083 & 24053 alongside the coast near Friog on October 5th 1974 with a Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society special.

1975

Photograph courtesy Pat Webb.

On May 11th 24053 was used to start the journey of LMS 4-6-2 6203 Princess Margaret Rose from Butlins Holiday Camp, Pwllheli to Derby Works for some much needed attention. The view below shows the move being made with 24053 in charge. 24053 would work the train to Crewe, here 25267 took over for the run to Derby. Total journey time was sixteen hours, on the Cambrian lines the speed limit was 15 mph except for 5 mph at Old Chaple Viaduct, Barmouth Tunnel & Viaduct and Aberdovey tunnels. From Shrewsbury to Derby the speed limit was 25 mph with the exception of 5 mph through Meir tunnel on the Stoke - Derby section.

On May 16th 24053 was noted at Manchester Victoria with the 6M46.

Condition July: blue/yellow livery, gangway doors sheeted over, blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds plated over, both cab roofs have no ventilators above the doors.

1976
During January 1976 24053 was withdrawn, it did not linger long at Crewe Basford Hall for on February 12th it began its last journey, to Swindon with 24075, 24143/145 as the 06.45 9X22 Crewe – Swindon.

Neither did it linger long once it had arrived at Swindon for by May 1976 it was no more.

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Page added June 10th 2006.
Last updated October 5th 2022.

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