D5061 is seen here in pretty much 'as delivered' condition with its roof mounted water filler cover still intact, though it has gained an electrification flash, therefore probably its early 1960 in this view. Although the photograph came with no information the location is Ely North Junction, just visible is Ely cathedral to the left of the signal gantry. This view was previously thought to be the junction at Westerfield. For a large scan of this view (85Kb) click here.

1960
The frames for D5061 - D5065 were laid down at Crewe in the autumn of 1959, with D5061 - D5064 ready for traffic in January, D5065 in February - all being allocated to March (31B) as part of the East Anglian dieselisation program. By November D5059-61/63-65 had moved across to the LMR shed at Willesden (1A). During December D5061 moved north to Rugby (2A) whilst D5062 which had remained at March moved south to Stratford (30A), also in December.

Super power took hold of June 22nd's 8.30pm Dagenham Dock - Cambridge freight with D5054 & D5064 rescuing an ailing D5509.

D5064 paid a visit to Derby Works in November.

1961
The early part of the year brought a number of transfers, D5063 moved to Watford (1C) in February whilst the stay for D5061 in the Rugby area was brief, it returned to Willesden (1A) during March. All five locomotives were eventually transferred to Finsbury Park (34G), D5061 - D5064 in March and D5065 in May. At Finsbury Park they worked numerous duties over the Great Northern lines, no doubt to cover the loss of the North British & BRCW Type 2's recently moved Scotland.

Works visits included D5065 at Derby during February & March, D5061 at Derby from April to June and D5064 at Stratford for a casual heavy repair in September.

1962
Most of the group visited Stratford for attention, possibly to have stop cock equipment fitted for working over the Met's Widened lines D5061 & D5062 in March, D5063 in June and D5064 in August.

1963
Several of the class visited Doncaster for repairs, D5065 during February, March & July, D5063 in March & July and D5061 in July.

Another of the ER fleet, D5064, a stalwart on the commuter services out of Kings Cross found itself on Class 1 duty rescuing failed D9006 on May 12th whilst working the 10.50am Edinburgh - Kings Cross.

1964
D5065 spent more time at Doncaster, in January & December.

Photograph from collection of Ron Healey.
An interesting view of one of Finsbury Park's Type 2's as it gets to grips with a train heading out of Kings Cross, the exhaust giving a clue to the hard working engine. This particular locomotive has already had its exhaust port repositioned closer to the engine room. It is perhaps remarkable to think that at about this time the Class 24's might have been observed at the London terminals of Liverpool Street, Kings Cross, St Pancras, Euston & Marylebone!

1965
January found D5064 under repair at Darlington whilst Derby attended to D5064 in October and D5063 in November.

On April 15th the down 'Heart of Midlothian' with D9001 in charge became a complete failure near Welwyn Garden City, rescue came in the shape of D5062 taking the train northwards to ?

1966
After five years working in the London area all five locomotives headed north to Haymarket (64B), all transferred in August except D5063 which moved in October. They were used on the empty coaching stock duties around Edinburgh and on locals to Hawick & Carstairs. This move allowed the Claytons to transfer across the Firth of Forth to assist in replacing steam in the Thornton/Dunfermline/Dundee area.

Repairs at Derby included D5062 in April, D5065 in June and D5063 in September & October.

Photograph courtesy GW Sharpe.

An interesting view side by side of Crewe built D5062 and BRCW built D5305 on September 23rd 1966. D5062 displays another variation on the yellow warning panel, here the panel reaches upto the handrails and does not cover the lower stripe. The view is believed to be at St Margarets shed, Edinburgh (64A), and is dated probably in the latter half of 1966. Neither locomotive has yet been adorned with any electrification flashes.

1967
During October the Broughty Ferry - Kingsmuir branch finally closed, a dmu from Dundee ran a farewell trip on October 7th, the last freight had run the previous day behind D5063.

1968
After some eighteen months working the Scottish lines all five returned south as part of the final campaign to finish steam working in the north west, initially to Longsight (9A), D5062 - D5064 in January and D5061 in February. D5065 moved briefly to Eastfield (65A) in March prior to heading south to Longsight in May, later becoming part of the Manchester Division (D09) allocation when the LMR Divisional allocations were adopted in June.

On the eastern side of the country the Easter holidays brought many extras, D5053 worked a round trip Manchester - Newcastle passenger on April 11th, whilst D5061 + D5276 were noted later in the day on a Manchester - Newcastle express.

During the latter part of the year 5061, 5062 (September) & 5063 - 5065 (November) moved to the Stoke Division (D05) joining a large fleet of Class 24's recently arrived from the southern end of the LMR.

Work visits at Derby included 5062 in April, 5061 during August & September for collision damage repairs and 5065 at Crewe in September.

5065 went back to ScR, perhaps in 1969

1969
5064 visited Derby during March.

1970
Visitors to Derby included 5063 in February and 5061 for repair during the summer.

Photograph courtesy G R Hounsell The above view shows 5061 under repair at Derby, August 29 1970, which coincidentally was the Works Open Day and 5061 was being used to show visitors how the power unit was removed/replaced in the locomotive. After repair the locomotive returned to the Stoke Division to spend the next five years working out of Crewe.

After two years on the Stoke Division 5065 returned to Edinburgh Haymarket (64B) during November.

1971
Glasgow received 5065 for repair between February & May whilst 5064 was at Derby during July.

Scottish Type 2's were frequent visitors to Carlisle & Newcastle, though forays further south were unusual. However on September 20th the 4E47 Aberdeen - Kings Cross fish train was noted at Doncaster behind Haymarket based 5066. Sister machine 5065 reached Bardon Mill colliery on September 7th on the regular turn from Carlisle.

Crewe based 5063 reached Tyne Yard with a freight from Scunthorpe on December 6th, returning southbound with a freight for Healey Mills.

1972
On April 8th a Crewe - Pwllheli enthusiast special started out behind 5056 & 5062. At Welshpool 5080 replaced an ailing 5056, which quickly headed back towards Shrewsbury, complete with the Welshpool - Newton "staff" still onboard! The locomotive was finally stopped at Westbury and promptly reversed course back to Welshpool, where the special finally got away over an hour late.

5062 was noted at Derby Works during April whilst 5064 stopped by during September.

Photograph courtesy Pat Webb A short engineers train hauled by green liveried 5063 passes Holyhead depot sometime during 1972. In the sidings behind the train are some of BR's fleet of cattle wagons, used for the movement of cattle received from Ireland with many of these trains handled by the Class 24's.

1973
5061 - 5064 were allocated to Crewe when the LMR Divisional allocations were discontinued during May. During May 5065 moved to Eastfield.

On September 22nd Crewe Works held its annual Open Day, although the Type 2's were no longer maintained here 5063 was used to bring in a breakdown train complete with a fifty ton 1930 vintage Cowans Sheldon steam crane.

1974
Renumbering of the locomotives had started back in November 1973 with Scottish Region allocated 5065, the LMR examples followed in 1974 with 5062 & 5064 in February and 5061 & 5063 in March.

24061 was present at Derby during August.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer
Its October 3rd 1974 and 24063 is seen at Crewe still in green livery. A Works visit to Derby at the beginning of 1975 would be one of the last for the Class 24's, for 24063 it would enable it to continue operating until 1979.

1975
During January & February 24063 received a heavy repair at Derby, including a repaint from green to blue livery. 24065 was transferred to Eastfield in May.

Along with a great many others this group fell victim to the mass withdrawals of the Class 24 fleet during the summer of 1975. 24065 was stored in July, 24061 withdrawn in August and 24062 withdrawn in September. 24065 was stored at Cadder, then Carstairs, but was remarkably reinstated to traffic at Haymarket in December for another ten months of service.

24061 was stored at Crewe, however the sudden abandonment of many serviceable Class 24's allowed the Research Department at Derby to take a look at replacing their two venerable machines, the Baby Deltic 5901 and the MetroVick 5705, with something a little more reliable. Their choice was 24061, which from an external viewpoint looked a little the worse for wear, and was one of those examples that had not had its gangway doors sheeted over. Presumably its internal workings were in better condition. By October 24061 was noted at Derby Works.

24063 & 24064 would soldier on for a little longer, certainly the money spent on the recent overhaul of 24063 deserved a better return than rotting in a scrapline somewhere.

24063 with a permanent way train at the Menai Bridge, date unknown, but definately after 24063's last visit to Derby Works. Photograph courtesy Dave Homer.

1976
Another round of withdrawals claimed 24064 in January, it joined 24062 and many others in storage at Basford Hall.

Stored at Basford Hall, Crewe for almost a year, final movement for 24062 to Swindon occurred on August 4th 1976, when 24049/58/62/92 were hauled by 25188 over the Crewe - Banbury - Swindon route. Cutting up was completed by the end of October.

24061 was renumbered RDB968007 during July.

With the end of the summer timetable the Scottish Class 24's were quickly sidelined, 24065 had been noted on a Thornton trip working on October 21st, being placed to store at Haymarket the next day. Official withdrawal came on December 31st, along with all remaining Scottish Region Class 24's.

		Two views of 24064 in its final condition at Swindon on November 7th 1976, not too drastically changed from its early days, gangway doors are still in place, though the boiler room grille is now a blanking plate and the footsteps to the roof level water filler are plated over. By January 1977 24064 will be no more.
	A gloomy grainy shot of 24063 at Cockshute on October 16th 1977.

24064 was broken up at Swindon by December. Visitors to King's scrapyard, Snailwell noted still recogniseable parts of 24064, presumably BR Swindon had sold the scrap on to King's for final processing.

1977
After a short stay at Haymarket 24065 was moved to Millerhill for further storage.

With all the remaining Scottish Class 24's withdrawn at the end of 1976 only eleven remained in service, all allocated to Crewe, they were 24023/35/35/47/63/73/81/82/87/91 & 24133.

The majority of the Scottish Class 24's ended their days at Glasgow or Doncaster but at least one consist did make the journey all the way to Swindon, on May 4th 24065, 24107/15/24 moved as the 02.20 Millerhill-Derby-Gloucester-Swindon.

For unknown reasons 24063 was stored on November 2nd, then reinstated to Crewe the next day.

RDB968007 stands at Derby Works, August 5th, 1978.
1978
By the start of 1978 the active Class 24's were down to nine examples, 24036 & 24091 having succumbed during 1977, during 1978 five more would be struck off the roster.

The addition summer services and holiday extras provided plenty of unusual diesel haulage on the North Wales line, but the star turn was still the diagram commencing with the 09.42 Llandudno - Manchester. June 28th - 30th & July 3rd & 4th saw 24082 on this diagram, July 6th & 7th had 24023. On July 10th 24047 got as far as Chester on 16.42 to Crewe, being replaced by 40145. July 11th & 12th saw 24023 again except it was replaced on the 20.30 Crewe - Bangor by 24063, getting only got as far as Chester before 24035 took over, which succumbed at Llandudno Junction! On July 19th 24047 worked only the first trip. An unidentified Class 24 handled the 11.11 Manchester - Holyhead and 18.05 Holyhead - Euston on July 12th.

Fifteen years service for 24064 comes to a final end amid the gloom and wreckage of the scrapping area at Swindon Works, January 1977.
On October 11th 24063 was noted at Healey Mills, the following day it was in charge of the 01.25 Manchester Victoria - Bangor, but failed on route, believed replaced at Chester by ??

1979
As 1979 opened there were only three Class 24's in service - 24063/81/82 and they were noted several times at the end of January working in pairs on various Shotwick workings.

By late March there remained only Class 24's 24063 & 24081 still soldiering on, observed on the Oakamoor sand train were 24081 & 25215 (28th) and 24063 & 25159 (29th). Regrettably from April 10th 24081 would be the last remaining Class 24 in service following the accident damage sustained by 24063 the previous day. Whilst working the 14.20 Bidston Dock - Shotwick iron ore service the locomotive collided, at Shotwick, with some wagons from the local trip working hauled by 25158. The locomotive was removed to Birkenhead where after examination on the afternoon of April 20th it was retired from service, it was moved overnight for one last time to Crewe depot. All was not lost for 24063 however as it would later surrender its power unit to the Derby Research locomotive, 24061.

On July 2nd 24063 departed Crewe for the final time, as the 9Z50 09.00 Crewe - Tinsley freight, adding RDB968007 (24061) & 74010 at Derby. The cavalcade reached Doncaster Works on July 4th allowing for an engine swap between the two Class 24's. By the end of the month 24063 had been reduced to scrap, the last of this class to be broken up here.

Exactly one year after the previous picture, August 5th, 1979, RDB968007 has reached Doncaster Works, not to be scrapped but to have the power unit transferred in from accident damaged 24063.
After its return from Doncaster Works the Class 24 was renumbered 97201 and named 'Experiment' and was given a new livery.

1980

Sitting in the morning sun at Etches Park on October 29th 1980 97201 glistens with its shiny paintwork, giving no doubt that this is a Research Dept locomotive. Photograph courtesy Adrian Healey.

1984
RDB97201 (24061) hauled a Derby - Carlisle (via York, Berwick & Edinburgh) test train on February 12/13th.

Shortly after mid-day on a very gloomy March 13th 1984 97201 heads through Watford with a working from Carlisle, eventually destined for Derby. Almost 25 years previously these machines were new and travelling the same route on commuter workings! Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.

1985
An Open Day at Cardiff Canton on July 6th produced a considerable variety of exhibits including 25322 and 97201 (ex 24061), the latter being used for cab rides. 25322 had arrived dead behind 47290 working the Garston - Severn Tunnel Jct car carriers. Another Open Day for 97201 was at a very warm Coalville Open Day on September 1st.

1986
On January 31st 97201 & 97403 handled a test train from Derby to Bristol.

June 1st saw the well attended Coalville Open Day featuring many exhibits including 25912 'Tamworth Castle' and 97201.

On July 4th 97201 was present at the MRT 'Diesel Spectacular' at Butterley. Time had now run out for this machine, it had recently lost its nameplates, it lacked train air brakes and the almost complete rundown of the Class 25 fleet saw it withdrawn during July. Tragically it was replaced by a piece of junk, 31298, transferred from Immingham and renumbered 97203.

1987
When 25244 left Vic Berry's September 23rd, destined for the Swanage Railway it was assisted on the journey by being hauled by 97201 (with 97403 & D4) en route to the Basingstoke Railshow (26th & 27th).

97201 was definately a favourite on the Open Day circuit, it is seen here at Coalville Open Day on May 31st 1987. Photograph courtesy Stephen Houlker.

Undated Views

	24063 in its final condition, with gangway doors sheeted over, solid blanking plate over the boiler room grille, roof ventilator formerly above the cab door is gone, boiler water tank removed and no builders plate present. Photograph courtesy Rex Conway collection.
	An undated dull & damp day finds both of the Research locomotives together with a short train of Research stock. Photograph courtesy Chris Ward.

Now preserved 97201 stands at Butterley during August 1991, some thirty one years after emerging new from Crewe, and now displaying a livery certainly along way from it original Brunswick green and grey.

Page added April 17th 2000
Last updated April 8th 2009

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