1963
The frames for D5183 & D5184 were laid down at Darlington during January 1963. D5183 & 5184 were boiler equipped and would become the first of a large fleet to be allocated to depots on the Midland mainline out of St Pancras, to be used alongside the Type 4 fleet to eradicate steam along this route.

D5183 was released from Darlington to Gateshead on April 8th followed by D5184 on May 4th, both to Toton (18A). These two machines would be the first of many allocated to the Midland area sheds to eradicate steam northwards from St Pancras, in conjunction with the BRCW Type 2's from Smethwick and the BR/Sulzer Type 4's (the Peak's) coming out of Derby & Crewe. Their arrival greatly assisted in easing the problems caused by the severe winter of 1962/63 which only released its icy grip on the country in March.

During December D5183 moved north to Canklow (41D).

1964
D5183's stay in the Sheffield area was brief, by February it was back at Toton, replaced at Canklow by D5184. D5183 was noted at Derby Works during May, at which time D5184 returned to Toton (18A), by September D5184 was at Cricklewood (14B).

On the Scarborough – York line driver training during November normally used local power, but a stranger from the LMR on 6th was D5184.

1965
D5184 moved to the Leicester Division (M15) in June quickly followed by a transfer to the Midland Lines (ML) in July.

1966
Derby Works was visited by D5183 during June & July. The 'restructuring' of the LMR allocations led to D5183 now allocated to the ML 'Midland Lines'.

1968
Crewe Works received a visit from D5184 in May whilst D5183 was again at Derby Works during September.

1969
During July 5183 - 5185 transfered to Willesden (D01 Division).

An enterprising venture by Luton Town football club was the use of chartered specials to their away games. These specials usually comprised twelve coaches including a buffet car, October 18th saw two specials work to Brighton, 5183 & 5184 worked their train throughout whilst 5213 & 7651 were replaced at Acton by 6552 & 6555.

1970
5184 spent February & March at Derby Works, followed by 5183 in June.

1972
An inter-regional transfer took place in August with 5183 - 5185 moving to Leeds Holbeck (55A). Their stay here was brief, by October all three were at Tinsley (41A).

1973
5184 was at Derby Works during November.

1974
Derby Works was visited by 5183 in March.

1975
To assist the Scottish Region 25033 - 25035 moved to Haymarket in February. Because they were boiler equipped they soon found use on many of the internal Scottish region passenger workings.

1976

Although Gateshead had long since lost its allocation of Class 25's they were frequent visitors from all directions. Seen here on February 25th 1976 25033 waits at Gateshead for its next turn of duty. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

On June 27th the derailment of a track maintenance machine near Pitlochry delayed the 08.50 Edinburgh - Inverness with 25005 & 25033 reported six hours late! 25033 visited Glasgow Works for repairs during October.

1977
25033 was noted at Glasgow Works in May, in very poor condition??

	Its June 26th 1977 and 25034 has spent the past two years operating on the Scottish Region. Seen here at Millerhill the locomotive appears ready for a visit to the workshops, though it will not be until the spring of 1978 when this occurs.
	Eastfield plays host to 25033 on November 29th 1977. Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.

1978
25033 was at Glasgow during February for a major overhaul including the fitting of dual braking equipment, 25034 underwent similar treatment at Glasgow between April & June.

On May 6th, the day of the Scottish Cup Final between Glasgow Rangers & Aberdeen at Hampden Park, five specials were scheduled. The 09.30am left behind 25072 & 25087, the 10.00 had 25227 & 25033 whilst the other three featured 40167, 40063 & 40159.

The Doncaster - Muir of Ord grain train, frequently a ScR Class 40 was noted north of Newcastle behind 25034 & 20219 on August 26th.

1979
Travelers on February 16th’s 22.15 Euston – Glasgow were already running over two hours late when 47185 failed at Dumfries. 25034 was on hand and 25078 was added at Kilmarnock but as neither could provide heat the four and a half hour late arrival at Glasgow must have been some sort of blessing.

Fuel restrictions were imposed from May 11th due to the world crisis in oil supplies, these restrictions would affect most of British Rail leading to the running of shorter trains and the curtailment of certain non-essential services. One excursion that did run was an SRPS trip on May 12th from Falkirk to Aberdeen for a slow run down the Fraserburgh branch. 40061 was used for the mainline running whilst 25034/35 were used on the branch. The Kincardine Junction – Oakley and Dyce Junction – Fraserburgh were to close that week making this the last train over those sections.

Photograph courtesy Stew Robertson

As mentioned above 25035 (leading) & 25034 visited Fraserburgh with a railtour and are seen here awaiting departure from Fraserburgh.

August 26th found Haymarket based 25033 worked a Crewe – Cardiff passenger, remaining on this route until the 27th

25034 was at Glasgow for N4 repairs from December to January.

1981
For 25033 & 25034 a move south of the border to Bescot came in February, which brought 25032/33/34 together for the first time.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer Just prior to 25034's move south to Bescot, it visited Glasgow Works and is seen here on Valentine's Day 1981. Clearly visible are the hinged ventilators indicating the locomotive is dual-braked.

On May 5th a return York - Aberystwyth special ran into trouble after 25035 & 25219 took over the return leg at Crewe. By Westbury both had failed and 25033 & 25113 were used to take the train forward. 25033 got no further than Forden before it too failed, leaving 25113 to complete the journey, almost four hundred minutes late by journey's end, with 25033 and some coaches being left at Machynlleth. May 16th found 25033 & 25314 taking over from 46023 at Birmingham New Street on a working from Skipton to Bewdley for Bridgnorth. The 08.40 Carlisle - Glasgow and 12.40 return (both over the GSW route) frequently used Class 25's from various depots, examples noted in June were 25027 (LO), 25033 (BS), & 25141 (CW).

	25034 passed through Glasgow Works in 1981 receiving dual braking equipment, as revealed by the fitting of hinged ventilators to one side. The cab front is a little tidier with the removal of a lamp iron and two brackets and Glasgow have placed the number on the bodyside. Seen here at Northampton with 25208 June 23rd 1981. Photograph courtesy Gary Thornton.
	Typical of over twenty years service on the WCML is this view of 25034 & 25208 passing through Northampton on June 23rd 1981. Class 25's would continue to visit Willesden right to the end of their working lives on BR, their duties slowly disappearing or being taken over by Class 31's. Photograph courtesy Gary Thornton.
	Four Class 25's are present at Cockshute on October 10th 1981, including 25033/34 & 25093. Photograph courtesy Paul Bettany.

1982
25034 was in charge of the 18.15 Birmingham - Norwich on February 10th.

25034 covered a Manchester Victoria - Bangor - Manchester Victoria - Llandudno Jct passenger diagram on May 22nd. After a Wigan – Liverpool dmu became a non-starter on June 10th, 25034 was commandeered to pilot the service. July 3rd found 25033 & 25067 working the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Birmingham returning with the 17.15 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.

During August the 12.35 Northfleet – Toton mgr saw 25202 & 25206 (10th) and 25034 & 25079 (17th).

During December 25033 was noted at Derby Works for category N4 repairs.

1983
In April 25033's service life came to a sudden end after colliding with 25050 at Birkenhead on April 22nd.

Its the end of the line for 25033, seen here at Birkenhead on May 30th 1983. Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover.

After several months storage at Birkenhead, 25033 was towed to Derby Works on September 21/22nd, for the removal of spares to keep other members of the class running, though by this time all Classified repairs had long since ceased.

25033 is dumped at Etches Park, November 16th, 1983 displaying the damage that caused its demise.

1984
The 13.35 Sunday’s only Crewe – Cardiff featured 25034 on June 24th.

Photograph courtesy Mark Bennett A scene repeated many times at Shrewsbury as a pair of Class 25's, led by 25034 prepare to head west to Aberystwyth, complete with 'Rat Roadshow' headboard. 1984 was the last year that the Class 25's would be diagrammed for the Cambrian line passenger services. In 1985 WR Class 37's were used with less than a handful of workings being handled by the Class 25's.

On September 11th a defective coupling caused a Wolverton – Hornsey empty stock working to split in two at Cheddington. Tring loop was used to stable the front portion of the train whilst 25034 was sent out to retrieve the rear part. The following weekend (15th) 25034 & 25058 worked the 07.55 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Wolverhampton, returning with the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. This was the last scheduled passenger working for the Class 25's over the Cambrian route, next year the Class 37's would be in charge and although the Class 25's would show up from time to time they were not diagrammed for the passenger workings.

Photograph courtesy Alan Baylis A few devoted enthusiasts mourn the last diagrammed Cambrian Class 25 working as it waits to depart from Aberystwyth behind 25034 & the charmed 25058 on September 15th 1984. Identified are Alan Baylis, John Cowburn (P51), Mr Cramlington, Phill T, Mark B and Brendan Killgallon.

On the last day of the month the 11.40 Manchester – Gatwick behind 47331 became completely derailed approaching Dorridge station, car transporter wagons on an adjacent track prevented the derailing vehicles from tipping completely over. The Bescot crane arrived behind 25298, the re-railing train behind 25034 and a little later the Toton crane appeared behind 45017.

Travellers on October 12th's 19.30 Bangor - Manchester were hauled by 25034 throughout. A Mossend bound freight on October 27th was noted behind 37243 & 25034.

A long distance enthusiast's excursion on November 16th started out with 25034 & 25057 on the St Pancras - Derby leg of a weekend trip to Inverness. This tour used a total of seventeen locomotives, perhaps the most interesting of which was 46026 from Derby to Newcastle, this working proved to be its last.

1985
RTR's 'The Cornishman', an overnight trip from St Pancras to Plymouth was worked to Leicester by 25034 & 31154 on January 25th, the following day the return leg of this from Leicester was covered by 25034 & 25237.

March found 25034 yet again on railtour duty, this time with 25224 on March 9th's RTR's 'Lancashire Linx' working between Southport & Birmingham New Street.

On February 23rd 25034 & 25044 handled an enthusiast special between St Pancras and Stafford (see view below), with the train routed over the north to west curve at Lichfield between High & Low levels. 45048 took over for the run to Attenborough, buses taking the participants for a tour of Toton. The Class 25’s returned the tour to St Pancras.

Photograph courtesy Nick Ross

25034 & 25044 wait at Stafford on February 23rd 1985 after working the first leg of a railtour from St Pancras bound for the Nottingham area.

The 18.15 Glasgow – Liverpool was hauled from Preston by 25034 on May 17th. A week later (26th) this machine was noted at Oxford on the afternoon Longbridge – Cowley freight.

During July 25034 was transferred to Crewe.

Despite the shrinking empire of the Class 25’s many still had their adventures such as 25034 & 25175 on September 21st working the chartered 'Landore Lodger' Bolton - Swindon Works - Swansea special, performing faultlessly on all legs of the trip. The railtour had originally been organised without a request for specific motive power, it was only in the final few days prior to the tour that the possibility that Class 25's might be used. The route was Bolton - Manchester - Crewe - Birmingham - Didcot curve - Swindon (into/outof the Works) - Swansea - Central Wales line - Crewe - Bolton. This railtour coincided with an Open Day at Landore depot, where by chance 25213 was one of the locomotives on display.

The lunch time Severn Tunnel Jct – Mossend freight on October 24th required assistance at Abergavenny from 25034 after 25145 failed there. After spending four days dumped at Hereford 25145 returned to Severn Tunnel Jct in a local freight behind 25034, before being taken to Crewe in an overnight freight! Severn Tunnel Jct was host to five Class 25’s on October 26th.

1986
Graeme Brown recalls a memorable trip on February 14th which resulted in haulage from 25034. Graeme was travelling from Dundee to Cheltenham, hoping to use the Aberdeen - Penzance service. Unfortunately its locomotive, 47637 had failed just south of Aberdeen, possibly a victim of the extreme cold at this time. So the Dundee - Edinburgh trip was made behind 27049 as far as Haymarket where the late running Penzance express was picked up, now with 47417 in charge and running about an hour late. 47524 made the short hop to Carstairs where 85004 was waiting to take over. The Glasgow portion of this train had long since left. The journey south was quiet until news reached us that a broken rail in the Warrington area was going to create a detour from Preston.

At Preston the electric remained on the train but now with 25034 in command. There was no heat from the Class 25 so the coaches soon took on quite a chill. We were diverted via Manchester Victoria, this was before the Windsor Link had opened so it was up Miles Platting, only just making the climb, then it was a right at OAGB junction, over to Denton Junction and back on to the mainline at Heaton Norris. At Stockport the electric came back to life but 25034 remained on the train, it was a sprightly run to Crewe, at least there was heat now. 25034 came off at Crewe, 85004 roared on to Birmingham New Street where 47540 took over for the remainder of the journey to the West Country.

When 25032 was withdrawn on March 10th the honour of being the elder statesman of the class was passed to 25034. After two & half years dumped at Etches Park the end came for 25033 in March when Vic Berry and his merry men completed an exercise to clear Derby Works of withdrawn machines, with the locomotive broken up on site.

Services from Stanlow continued to see paired Class 25’s, the Leeds tankers had 25034 & 25190 and 25201 & 25202 on April 18th

25034 arrived at Hereford on September 17th hauling a long rake of empties.

25034 was withdrawn during December.

Well if you like detail, here's an interesting view of parts of bogie and side of 25034. The painted 89C shedplate is for Machynlleth which included Aberystwyth as a sub-shed. Photograph courtesy Paul Corrie.

1987
On May 29th 25034/037/095 & 25190 moved from Crewe Diesel to Vic Berry's Leicester yard, with 25034 being broken up during June.

Undated views

An undated view of 25033 & 25058, possibly at Saltley. This view shows the side of the locomotive which featured the outward opening hinged grilles, necessary to accomodate the dual braking equipment inside the body. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Page created September 3rd 2003.
Page updated April 2nd 2011 (information on 25032 removed to a new page).

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