D5074 cruises along in an action shot of unknowns, no date, no location and no knowledge of the working.

1960
This locomotive was new to March (31B) in March, one of a batch of ten (D5066 - D5075) to come out of Derby Works, whether it actually made it to March depot is not certain as it was immediately transferred to Rugby (2A). On Easter Sunday D5074 worked a Bletchley - Bognor Regis day excursion throughout, including working over the Mid-Sussex line. In July it was a consistent performer on the 02.25pm Rugby - Birmingham and the 07.40pm Birmingham - Euston. Its stay at Rugby was brief, by December Watford (1C) was its new home.

1961
A visit to Crewe Works in early September found D5074 & D5080 present for attention, possibly the first to be received there for repairs.

1963
Noted Derby Works during March.

1964
Another visit to Derby was made in October.

1965
Just over four years were spent at Watford, before the short move to Camden (1B) was made in January.

1966
During February D5074 was once again at Derby Works, by December the exodus of the Type 2's to the Stoke Division (D05) had begun with D5073 - D5081 being the first to move there.

1967
Noted Derby Works during March.

1972
February and March were spent at Derby Works under repair. A mystery excursion from the Malvern area to Barmouth on September 16th was powered by 5074 & 5075, the Class 24's being infrequent visitors to the Hereford - Worcester line.

1973
Once again, this time in January, 5074 visited Derby Works. With the end of the LMR Divisional allocations 5074 was allocated to Crewe.

1974
5074 was renumbered during early March.

A fine study of 24074 at Crewe on May 9th 1974. Changes to the locomotive are typical, it has acquired the shortened water tank and lost its frame level valencing. The builders plate is now mounted on the cab door whilst the boiler room grille has not been covered by a blanking plate. Photograph courtesy Tom Sutch.

1975 - 1976

Photograph courtesy Steve Morris.

An undated view from 1975 showing 24074 accelerating away from Holyhead with the 6E66 cattle train, bringing imported Irish livestock to the English market.

In the early hours of June 6th whilst waiting on the slow lines with a coal train at Nuneaton station 25286 witnessed the high speed derailment of the 5th's 23.30 Euston - Glasgow sleeper service. The two locomotives, 86006 & 86242 became parted, with the latter causing considerable damage to itself and the station, bringing down several gantries that caused minor damage to the Class 25. All the coaches were derailed, with damage being heaviest at the front of the train, tragically six lives were lost. By the evening of 6th the Bescot, Crewe & Saltley cranes were present alongside other engineering trains, in the hands of 24074, 47034 and three Class 25's. Six coaches, (five sleepers and a BG) were broken up on site. By the 11th engineering/rewiring trains were still present including 24074 and 25193, the latter having been present since the day of the accident. Two days later only 24058 was on hand with an engineers train.

24074's career, like many others drew to a close during the summer of 1975, withdrawal coming at the end of September, with storage at Basford Hall, Crewe. Of all the Class 24's retired at this time only three went to private scrapyards, 24032 went to T. J. Thomson's at Stockton, whilst 24074 was sold to J. Cashmore's, Great Bridge, being moved on May 24 1976: Crewe - Cockshute - Bescot - Great Bridge, and thence cut up very quickly. The third machine, 24142 had its demise delayed after it was selected for further use as a carriage heating unit, meeting its end at Heselwood's, Attercliffe yard.

Return to Picture menu
Return to Home Page

Page last updated April 11th 2009.