5220, 5217 & 1939 stand in Cricklewood shed on July 12, 1969. The locomotive displays the standard two rows of four filters on the left side, whilst the boiler room grille is now a solid blanking plate. The nose end doors have yet to be sheeted over, but the cab end has received the full yellow paint treatment.

1963
D5220 & D5221 were constructed at Derby during the summer of 1963, being delivered to Cricklewood (14A) during September and becoming part of the large fleet of diesel locomotives & multiple units being used to replace steam northwards from St Pancras. These were part of the last of the first batch of Class 25's (D5186 - D5222) to be constructed at Derby, the following ten machines (D5223 - 5232) which had been part of that same Derby order were transferred to Darlington whilst Derby tackled the redesign issues as later revealed in D5233. After D5222 Derby built ten more Type 2's (D7568 - D7577) in the older style prior to the change to that reflected in D5233.

D5220 made its test run to Corby on August 22nd 1963, it would make a second test run on August 27th, now joined to D5221. At this time Derby were also sending out the Clayton's on the Corby test runs, on August 21st D8527 & D8536 were tested whilst on August 30th D8543 & D8544 made their run to Corby.

1964
D5220 was noted under repair at Derby Works during May, whilst D5221 paid a visit in September.

Passengers on a Derby - St Pancras relief on Christmas Eve had the delights of D5206 & D5220.

1965
On January 28th D5220 ventured over the Scottish border and was later 'borrowed' to work the 11.30 Wemyss Bay - Glasgow.

1966
Crewe Works began to recieve Type 2’s for heavy repair, so noted in the last week of April were D5196, 5221/29/31/65, 7581/91, whilst D5220 & D5222 arrived for attention in May. This was no doubt possible due to the availability of resources created by the diminishing steam repairs and the winding down of the Brush Type 4 construction.

1967

Its April 1969 and 5220 sports full yellow ends, a faded stripe and green livery, seen here at Lea Bridge. Photograph courtesy Grahame Wareham.

D5220 was at Derby Works for repair during May.

1970
March 7th saw another of the Luton Town football specials receive Class 25 haulage with 5217 & 5220 taking twelve coaches to Rochdale, though their performance at heating the train was inadequate. No other power could be found so they remained with the diagram.

1971
5221 visited Derby Works during February.

1972
Because of the proximity of Wolverton Works, where the Royal Train was kept when not in use, the boiler equipped Class 25's at Willesden and Cricklewood were favourites for handling the Royal Train workings, either in the forwarding moves or when members of the Royal Family were actually on board. On July 14th the Duke of Edinburgh visited Telford, 5221 & 5218 were noted returning the empty stock from Donnington to Wolverton. And on November 16th 5221 & 5222 conveyed a five coach Royal Train with Princess Anne aboard from Euston to Hope. The train returned ecs to Wolverton via the Midland to Market Harborough.

1973
Royal Train duty befell 5218 & 5219 on February 14-16th. The Duke of Edinburgh journeyed from Euston, at 23.00 to Sheffield via Northampton & Leicester. Twenty four hours later he returned to Lamport, near Market Harborough, with the five coach train stabling overnight, before leaving at 7am for Leatherhead via the West London line, Clapham Jcn, Selhurst, West Croydon & Sutton. On return the Class 25’s ran through to Dorking, there running round and heading back to Wolverton via Sutton, Mitcham Jct & Clapham Jct. Overnight heating was provided by a heater van delivered by 5221.

1974
On May 11th a Luton - Aberystwyth Merrymaker utilised 25070 & 25072 from Luton to Shrewsbury via the Nuneaton Flyover, Bescot and Wolverhampton. At Shrewsbury the Class 25's were replaced by 24074 & 24056, with the Merrymaker now doubling as the 11.40 all stations to Aberystwyth, with four coaches on the train reserved for the regular passengers. The return working is reported as 24056 hauling four coaches to Dovey Junction where a set back was made onto nine coaches, stock from a return Leamington - Barmouth special. 24082 & 24087 were added to the train, at least as far as Machynlleth where 24087 was removed, leaving the two Type 2's to carry one eastwards with thirteen coaches.

1975
25070 was transferred to Willesden during January. During August 25068 - 25072 were transferred to Cricklewood.

1976
25071 was at Derby Works during February and March.

A fine view of 25070 & 25039 as they head away from Shrewsbury with an Ealing - Barmouth excursion (1Z58) on April 3rd 1976. 25070 is due for shopping and would emerge from Derby Works with the gangway doors sheeted over. Photograph collection Ian Hammond.

After spending a year allocated to Willesden 25070 moved north in January to Bescot. From May to July 25070 returned to Derby Works for repair.

1977
Somewhat away from its regular haunts was 25071 on July 6th, working a Chipman’s weedkilling train from Watford to Horsham via Three Bridges.

1978
On May 4th 25070 had the unusual occurrence of being hit by lightning at Greenbank (Cheshire). The crew and the locomotive suffered no ill effects, but when the electrical charge passed to the rails much damage was done to nearby lineside equipment & transformers.

The 17.10 Manchester - Blackpool, normally a Class 40 turn in summer was hauled by 25070 (July 31st) and 25100 (August 14th).

1979
The morning of February 10th found Aylesbury overflowing with Class 25’s, four awaiting engineering work and 25074 & 25071 on the ‘Nottinghamshire Collier’ special.

Since June Dee Marsh sidings had been accumulating Class 502 stock, (replaced by the new Class 507's), on July 22nd 25070 worked nine of these condemned vehicles to Crewe Basford Hall.

25071 stands outside the old steam shed at Northwich on November 10th 1979.

1980
The early morning 05.43 Grange – Shotwick freight on January 7th, in charge of 24081 got into trouble at Greenbank, with a main generator fault disabling the locomotive. Rescue came in the shape of 25071 as far as Oakleigh, where 25215 took the train forward with 25071 taking the errant Class 24 to Crewe.

July 4th 1980 finds 25071 at Peterborough. Photograph courtesy J Davenport.

An unusual duty for 25070 on October 15th was to take the Springs Branch breakdown train to Millgate near Manchester Victoria. Here an empty four car Bury Line emu overran a siding leaving the leading vehicle overhanging a city street, into which had fallen the leading bogie.

After a service life of seventeen years 25070 was withdrawn during November, retired from Springs Branch depot, though storage would occur at Crewe.

1981
On March 3rd after five months storage at Crewe 25070 was attached to 25166, 25263/293 and dragged to Swindon Works for breaking up.

On May 4th the Vale of Rheidol held an open house at Aberystwyth, all three steam locomotives being in steam. 25042 & 25220 arrived on a special from Longbridge and 25071 & 25080 from Manchester.

25071 was withdrawn during from Cricklewood on June 21st.

1982
Withdrawn 25071 reached Swindon during January.

1983
During 1983 Swindon finally disposed of 25071 during January and 25070 during May.

Undated views

	25070, date & location unknown. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.
	25071, date & location unknown. Photograph courtesy Ian Mawson.

Page created January 4th 2004
Page updated November 22nd 2007.

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