1963
Laid down at Derby in January 1963 these three machines would be the the 3rd, 4th & 5th Derby built Class 25's to enter traffic. They were delivered in March 1963 to Toton (18A) into a railway system recovering from the infamous winter of 1962/63, any new locomotives were welcomed by the operating authorities. They would remain close to Toton/Derby for a brief while to ensure any problems uncovered by their 'running-in' could be quickly dealt with. After that their mission lay in assisting with the removal of steam workings northwards from St Pancras.
D5188 made its test run from Derby to Corby and back on March 18th 1963. Two days later D5189 would makes its test run, all under the 1T48 headcode.
After approxiamately five years service on the Midland lines they were transferred to depots in the north-west shortly after the end of steam had occurred. Interestingly these three locomotives would always remain allocated to LMR and would be amongst the earlier examples of the Class to be retired.
1964
On March 2nd diesel multiple units took over former Type 2 workings on the Leeds - Morecambe service, the displaced Type 2’s returned a week later to cover other diagrammed passenger workings from Morecambe to Leeds or Bradford Forster Square. Noted workings included the 8.30am Bradford - Morecombe and return 12.30pm Morecombe - Leeds with D5190, D7585 & D7580 noted during the first week.
All three locomotives moved to Derby (16C), D5189 & D5190 in March and D5188 in May, D5190 paid a brief visit to Derby Works during July.
1965
D5189 visited Derby Works during March.
On the Glasgow - Dundee route an early morning round trip was handled by LMR Type 2’s, D5144/5190/5211 so noted in May, possibly the power off the overnight ‘Condor’ workings - Peaks could also be seen on this working.
Derby relinquished all three machines during 1965, D5188 & D5189 to the Leicester Division (M15) and D5190 to Midland Lines (ML) - all in June.
During September D5188 was transferred to the Midland Lines (ML), D5189 followed in November.
Photograph courtesy Alec Swain/Transport Treasures
Wet weather greets D5188, not long after out-shopping from Derby Works, as it handles one of the workings it was designed for, parcels traffic over the Midland mainline.
1966
All three locomotives were noted at Derby Works during 1966, D5189 in May, D5188 in September & D5190 in November.
1967
D5188 arrived at Derby Works during February for repairs to accident damage.
For the summer timetable Type 2’s again were diagrammed for the seasonal weekend extras. A Toton Type 2 was diagrammed for the Saturday’s only 08.00 Leicester - Clacton throughout, July produced D5190, 5257, 5293 & 7655.
1968
On March 18th D1653 caught fire on a northbound passenger working in the Chesterfield area - D5189 was taken off a passing freight to assist the Class 47 on to Sheffield.
In November transfers to the Preston Division (D10) included 5186 - 5192.
1969
On July 12th an Open Day held at Cricklewood Diesel Depot featured three preserved steam locomotives: 45428, 5593 & 7029, two LMR electrics E3044 & E3156, Peak 36, HS4000 and two diesels frequently found on Royal Train Workings, 216 & 5223. The electric E3044 had featured in an exhibition on July 3rd along with 390 & 5190 at Carlisle station.
The summer only passenger workings between Newcastle, Ayr & Stranraer continued to feature Type 2's. The 23.45FO Newcastle - Stranraer and the 13.50SO return working brought the following machines in July: 5188/5190 (5th), 5147/5281 (12th), 7555/7564 (19th) and 5182/5196 (26th). This service had seen Class 40's in 1968, though these had not ventured beyond Ayr due to lack of driver knowledge on the Stranraer
line. Loads varied between nine & twelve coaches.
1970
During April 5188 was noted in Derby Works whilst 5190 paid a visit to Crewe Works. 5189 visited Derby Works during November.
On October 2nd 5188 & 5299 were noted in charge of the Newton Abbott - Stirling Motorail service.
1971
5189 spent a couple of days (at least) early in January on the Larbert - Wallerscote soda ash workings, being noted in multiple with 5262 on January 8th.
Rock salt workings from Winsford were a daily occurrence however a most unusual event was a Saturday working to Edinburgh on February 6th, behind 5190 & 5192, hauling forty five wagons.
1973
5188 - 5190 moved to Bescot during May.
June 26th found 5189 & 7621 handling the 12.49 Garston - Maidenhead freight throughout.
Shades of the future were witnessed in the arrival of Class 31 5522 during August at Cricklewood, being transferred in from York. This was the first of the class to be permanently allocated to the LMR. With more Class 31’s due to arrive the Class 25’s were intended for Scotland, releasing Class 37’s to the ER. Concurrently Doncaster was beginning a program to fit electric train heating equipment to the Class 31’s, with 5521 being the first. As if in protest on August 2nd a morning Peterborough - Kings Cross service was worked through out by 5190 & 7608.
1974
On September 14th a Weston-super-Mare – Aberystwyth excursion utilised 25273 & 25040 west of Shrewsbury. The latter machine was seen to be smoking badly and was later declared a failure after arrival at Aberystwyth. Fortunately for the return trip 25273 was upto the challenge and reached Shrewsbury without assistance, the excursionists reaching home ahead of schedule.
25038 was in charge of December 10th's Tees - Leyburn freight.
1975
Derby Works was visited by 25038 during February and 25040 in April. On March 30th a Coventry - Paignton excursion ran behind 25038 & 25188.
On May 28th the Royal Train moved from Wellington to Trench Crossing for overnight stabling, 25040 was one of the locomotives used for this maouevre.
A pair of Type 2’s worked a special Birmingham – Yarmouth on June 14th, 25081 & 25044 being in charge, just ahead of the scheduled service from Walsall, in the hands of 25040 & 25104.
1976
25039 was noted in Derby Works during February.
April 17th found 25039 in charge of the 10.15 Birmingham – Norwich, normally a dmu working but during the Easter holiday period these services were loco hauled, and then generally by Class 31’s. On arrival at Norwich 25039 was declared a failure, not returning west until 20th on the 12.52 to Birmingham.
Engineer’s saloon 45026 made circular tours in the Birmingham area on May 17th & 25th, on the former date 25040 was the motive power.
The Leamington/Coventry area started their holiday week on July 11th and featured amongst others 25038 & 25145 to Rhyl (21st) and 25073 & 25074 to Aberystwyth (23rd).
1977
The 12.52 Birmingham - Norwich on January 20th and the next day's 07.52 Birmingham - Norwich & 12.51 return were handled by 25040.
A number of Easter excursions ran from Leamington, the only Type 2’s used were 25039 & 25042 to Aberystwyth on April 11th. On June 7th 25039 & 25268 worked a Wolverhampton - Brighton excursion as far as Birmingham New Street, here 86008 took over.
Its an overcast July 28th 1977 and a works visit to Crewe provides the inevitable stop-off at Cockshute, as usual the regular diet of 08/25/40/47's was on display this day - 25038 stands front & center.
A special was run for the Royal Smithfield Show on December 6th from Aberystwyth to Euston, 25038 & 25043 hauled the train to and from Wolverhampton. On the return leg the train was failed at Machynlleth with a dmu taking the passengers forward.
1978
The Crewe - Cardiff services suffered from indifferent reliability during the January, the 14th found 25038 failed on the 17.00 Cardiff - Crewe, with 37294 coming to the rescue.
On March 4th 25038 was in charge of the 10.15am Birmingham - Norwich, whilst 25039 hauled March 12th's 17.20 Birmingham - Norwich.
An excursion out of Marylebone on October 14th was handled by 25040 & 31273, the locomotives having come light from Bescot - 25245 had been diagrammed for this working but was failed prior to departure. 40018 took over for the Nuneaton - Rotherwood leg. The round trip over the Woodhead route was handled by 76049 with 40018 coming back on at Rotherwood for the run to March where 40067 took over for the return to London.
A Bridgnorth - Pwllheli GWR Society charter on November 4th was hauled throughout by 25040 & 25073.
A football special on December 16th took 25039 & 25040 from Liverpool to Bristol Parson Street.
1979
25040 & 25069 were utilised for the first leg of the DAA & DEG 'North West Rambler No 2' on January 13th. They had brought the stock down from the Birmingham area, however due to the extremely cold weather delays found the tour starting from High Wycombe, with Marylebone's tour participants making the first part of the journey by dmu. The Class 25's worked the train via Birmingham to Basford Hall sidings where 40108 was waiting to take over. The return leg back to London went into Euston using 85033.
The Easter weekend proved busy for 25040 & 25122. On April 14th 25040 & 25218 powered a Euston – Pwllheli excursion onward from Wolverhampton, 25218 being removed at Machynlleth after failing en-route. 25040 made the round trip to Pwllheli alone, but gained 25122 from Machynlleth for the return trip to Wolverhampton. Interestingly 46011 was added at Shrewsbury for allegedly heating purposes! By Easter Monday (16th) 25040 & 25122 were sent out on a Walsall – Aberystwyth excursion, the day trippers enjoying a spell of excellent weather after the poor conditions of the first part of the year.
The 06.32 & 08.03 Peterborough – Kings Cross and 17.18 return continued to receive Class 25 haulage with the 06.32 noted behind 25039 (19th), 25269 (20th), 25319 (21st) also working the 17.18, 25107 (July 10th), 25125 (July 11th) & 26267 (August 1st).
The start of the local holiday weeks on July 14th at Birmingham did not see many 'extras' due to the ongoing oil shortages. 25038 & 25153 worked the 08.28 to Yarmouth and 25264 & 25267 passed through on a Leicester - Paignton relief, later noted still in charge at Exeter.
When 86257 failed at Coventry with the 11.00 ex-Euston on November 3rd 25039 & 25200 were on hand to take the train forward to ??
25038 (or possibly & perhaps more likely 25037) had adventures beginning December 8th when it worked a Birmingham - Nottingham football special with 25027. The next day, still with 25027 it worked an Oxley - Marylebone ecs before heading back north with a Marylebone - Doncaster enthusiast special. 25038 failed short of Coventry station, on reaching the station 85006 took over but caught fire at Tile Hill. The following Wolverhampton service
pushed the special to Birmingham International where eventually 86003, borrowed off another service took the train onto Stockport, considerably late.
As the year closed 25039 was transferred to Longsight.
1980
25038 yet again returned to Derby Works, this time for more collision damage repairs during February. 25040 worked the 10.15 Birmingham - Norwich on March 18th. On March 29th a Paddington - Manchester special set out with 31188 & 31250, changing to 25038 & 25073
at Birmingham, taking the Derby line for a jaunt in the Sheffield area prior to heading west to Manchester, Warrington and down the WCML to Birmingham.
The three featured locomotives don't figure greatly on the more exotic passenger workings, perhaps one of their more interesting ones was on July 11th when 25038 & 25093 worked the 1V37 19.31 York - Penzance as far as Bristol.
25040 was noted hauling August 13th's 13.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich throughout.
On October 10th 25043 expired at Abergavenny on the 07.50 Cardiff – Crewe, rescue coming in the shape of 40079. All must have been repaired quickly for it was noted the next day with 25039 in charge of the 20.51 Barrow in Furness – Euston, as far as Preston.
Photograph courtesy Steve Jones
September 25th 1980 finds 25038 on a ballast working at Streetly, on the old Midland line between Sutton Coldfield and Walsall. Not too much has changed on the locomotive. The boiler room ventilation grille
is now a solid panel, the inter-gangway doors on the cab front have long since been sheeted over and the locomotive now carries the infamous corporate BR blue livery with full yellow ends.
Photograph courtesy Paul Bettany
On October 5th 25038 & 25073 were in charge of a Marylebone - Barrow Hill - Doncaster enthusiast charter. Since it was a Sunday, the engineers had possesion of the line north of Derby. The above view captures the two locomotives running round the train at Derby before heading east to Trent and the Erewash Valley route.
25040 was again seen on one of the cross-country routes, this time on October 21st hauling the 1E64 10.15 Birmingham - Norwich, this may be 25040's last passenger working. 25038 paid a visit to the ECML on October 30th whilst working the 1B25 07.00 Peterborough - Kings Cross.
During October 25038 moved to Kingmoor, 25040 moved to Longsight but was withdrawn the following month, being switched off at Bescot. It was soon sent to Crewe for spares removal. Despite its move to Kingmoor 25038 put in some mileage on passenger workings many miles away from Carlisle. On November 19th it worked a late evening Crewe - Cardiff service, by 28th it was on the 13.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich, coming back the next day with the 15.18 ex Norwich.
By December withdrawn 25040 had reached Swindon Works.
1981 - 1982
Engineering work in the Euston area on February 22nd found 25039 assisting the 00.25 ex Manchester from Stonebridge Park to Euston.
On March 19th 25038 worked the 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff, coming back the next day with the 05.35 ex Cardiff, unfortunately 25038 expired at Shrewsbury. Four days later 25039 took out the 18.35 Birmingham - Norwich but had to be replaced at Leicester due to a boiler failure - this was the last passenger working for 25039 whilst the last recorded passenger working for 25038 occurred on April 7th when it worked the 08.15 Birmingham New Street - Plymouth with 25033 as far as Gloucester.
25038 & 25039 were both withdrawn on May 31st, 25038 from Kingmoor and 25039 from Longsight. After standing at Crewe 25038 was moved with 25299 to Derby Works on February 18th 1982 for parts removal and eventual scrapping during September 1982. 25039 had been dumped at Saltley and would reach Swindon Works by August 1981, by December 1981 it would be no more. 25040 had arrived at Swindon during December 1980, and remained intact until February 1982.
