CLASS 24 AND 25

Around Aylesbury Views from contributor Mark Cook

Many of the visitors to my website have graciously contributed photographs and information to enable a more complete view of the Class 24/25's to be given. Mark Cook has generously sent a series of photographs of the Type 2's in the Aylesbury/North London area. Whilst prinicipally depicting the Type 2's in the Chilterns Mark has provided further views from other parts of the country.

25037 stands in Aylesbury station, May 11th 1983.

Unless otherwise stated all photographs on this page are the copyright of Mark Cook.
Aylesbury

25086 at Aylesbury January 19th 1983 with a short freight. This was one of the few Class 25's to feature the cleaned up body styling and retain a steam heating boiler, as evidenced by the lack of empty space between the bogies. The large numbers and their position came from an Intermediate repair at Glasgow in the spring of 1980. Nine months after this view 25086 was withdrawn, being finally broken up at Swindon in April 1986.

25161 and brake van runs through Aylesbury station on January 12th, 1983. From January 1972 - January 1976 25161 was allocated to the Western Region, principally South Wales (Newport), but the last six months were at Bristol Bath Road. Withdrawn in November 1984 at Toton, 25161 quickly moved to Swindon, but evaded the cutters torch here, eventually being towed to Vic Berry's, Leicester, the end coming quickly in June 1987.

25250 in the snow at Aylesbury, February 9, 1983. 25250 (as 7600) spent its first eighteeen months after delivery on the Eastern Region, initially allocated to Tinsley. During September 1967 it returned to the Midland Lines, then proceeding to visit many LMR depots following numerous re-allocations.

25314 noses upto a wonderfully smokey brake van and train of CCT's at Aylesbury station on October 27th 1982. This was the last winter in service for 25314, withdrawal coming in March 1983. After several months at Crewe 25314 was towed to Derby for spares removal. All was not lost however for 25314 was selected to become 97252 (ETHEL 3). Moved to Aberdeen by September it would spend the next eleven years in & out of service, based at Eastfield or Marylebone. The end came at MC Metals, Glasgow in August 1994

25167 runs by Aylesbury South Box, December 1st, 1982. The locomotive spent fourteen years working out of various LMR depots, with another three years spent on the Western Region (July 1972 - February 1976) assisting in the final demise of the hydraulics. Its last major repair was at Derby during the spring of 1979, running for another four years before being retired at Crewe in May 1983. Moved to Swindon in February 1984 the end came quickly during April. Interestingly sister machine 25168 had for the most part (at least since July 1972) kept close company with 25167, even to the bitter end, standing alongside 25167 at Swindon as the cutters did there job on both locomotives.

On a cold winters morning 25249 shunts parcels wagons at Aylesbury.

One source of traffic in the Aylesbury area was the Coal Concentration Depot, here we see 25173 at Aylesbury on April 4 1982 with a short train of coal wagons. Dual braked at Derby Works during an overhaul in the summer of 1978, 25173 would run to the very end of the Class 25's in traffic. After withdrawal in March 1987 the locomotive moved to Vic Berry's yard at Leicester. Fortunately this locomotive was rescued for preservation, moving to Crewe Works in September 1987 for repairs before moving on to the Dean Forest Railway.

Another generator of traffic in the Aylesbury area was the Post Office. Seen here with a variety of parcels vehicles is 25324 on May 20 1982. Sometime in December 1985 the locomotive recieved collision damage to a cab, being stored at Willesden initially. Moved to Crewe for spares recovery a year would pass before being moved to Vic Berry's in July 1987.

On September 22nd 1982 25067 had been assigned to duties in the Aylesbury area. However these were abruptly stopped when the locomotive derailed one bogie whilst shunting. Seen here having split the points 25067 awaits the re-railing crew.

Moments earlier 25067 had been busily going about its daily duties, seen here marshalling a parcels vehicle towards the parcels facility.

Another view of the errant 25067 awaiting assistance from the rerailing crew. In fact 25067 only had a few months left in service, withdrawal would come in December. Ironically withdrawn 25067 was used, with 25202, as part of an exhibition at Kidderminster Goods Yard in May 1983 to publicise the improved Birmingham - Worcester service. A similar use was made of 25067 during October 1983 for a 'Rail Week' at Wellington. After a final trip to Swindon good news came in September 1985 when 25067 was successfully tendered for, reaching Alton for preservation at the Mid Hants Railway in November accompanied by 27007.

After a number of long years spent hauling limestone across North Derbyshire & Cheshire 25126 returned to the Midlands, for perhaps less arduous and more varied work. Seen here in the Home Counties 25126 shunts parcels wagons. On its previous overhaul at Derby Works the opportunity was taken to sheet over the boiler room grille.

Bletchley

25044, 25083 & 25175 stand at Bletchley, December 17, 1982.

The Bletchley/Aylesbury area workings were operated and manned by crews and locomotives outstabled at Bletchley. Workings from here included cement tanks from Tring to Kings Cross Goods Yard, brickliners from Forder's Siding to Kings Cross goods, cement Presflo's to Kew Yard, household coal, wine concentrate & parcels to Aylesbury, the latter also to Didcot. A Saturday's only working for a pair of 25's was the Bletchley to Akeman Street fertiliser. From Bletchley the Oxford line was taken to Claydon Jct, then onto the former Great Central route to Grendon Underwood, following the former main line to Ashendon Junction. Once the train was unloaded it reversed along the single line prior to reaching Aylesbury, running round here in order to return to Bletchley.
The wine concentrate freight working features in the view above of 25086, the wagons being unloaded at a factory unit next to the Coal Concentration Depot.
The Bletchley 25's were also equally at home on the district's many engineers/permanent way trains, especially those on the WCML. Despite their reputation for being somewhat uncomfortable to work on, the two Bletchley drivers who provided these notes, (Mr A Morris & Mr D Robinson) preferred the Class 25 to their sorry replacements, the Class 31's.

Luton

25250 sits with an engineers train at Luton on New Years Eve, 1982. At this time allocated to the London Division (D01), the last re-allocation would take place, six months later, to Crewe. By May 1984 25250 was withdrawn, after a brief stay in the deadlines at Crewe, the obligatory move was made to Swindon, where the cutters finished their task in January 1985, after an existence of barely nineteen years.

Cheddington

25296 & 31233 run through Cheddington with an engineers train, June 2 1985. One of the Beyer Peacock built examples, 25296 spent a year allocated to Sheffield area depots before moving to the LMR in February 1967, part of the many positioning moves required to end the use of steam locomotives in the North West. As part of the infant sectorisation plans 25296 became 25906, one of twelve Class 25's dedicated to certain traffic flows. The plan was shortlived, the locomotives returning to regular duties. October 1986 saw 25906 retired, moved to Vic Berry's the following June it was quickly cut up.

Willesden

25189 stands in the rain at Willesden depot seen through all the clutter associated with overhead electrification schemes, February 28, 1982. At this time 25189 was allocated to Cricklewood, where it would spend almost eight years (2/76 - 1/84). After its last move, to Crewe, it would remain in service until July 1985, having run over six years since its last general repair at Derby. Stored briefly at Crewe it moved to Doncaster in January 1986, being broken up there during May.

Leicester

25143 & 25265 with others at Leicester Depot, October 29, 1982. The active career of 25143 was just about over, withdrawal came during November with the locomotive stored at Crewe. 25143 spent its entire life allocated to LMR depots, though its demise came at Swindon, arriving there in March 1984, the end coming the following October, precisely two years after captured here on film at Leicester.

Mill Wood Tunnel/Hall Royd Junction

25321 assists an ailing 47438 at Mill Wood Tunnel, between Rose Grove & Hebden Bridge, March 19, 1983. Whilst working an LNER Society special forward from Preston 47438 had become a partial failure here, requiring the assistance of 25321. Presumably the view shows the train getting underway at Hall Royd Junction, they have come over the Copy Pit line, accelerating off a 20mph restriction, beginning the climb towards Hebden Bridge.

Garsdale

25152 with a wonderful mixed freight at Garsdale, April 15, 1982. About this view Mark writes that he stayed at one of the cottages in the distance for his summer vacation, being treated to a steady volume of freights, powered by Classes 25/40/45/47, although one day a Class 26 made a brief appearance. 25152 had another eighteen months to enjoy this fine Pennine scenery. Its demise was amidst the less glamorous scenery at Swindon, being broken up during January 1985.

Page last updated September 21st 2002
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	25086 at Aylesbury January 19th 1983 with a short freight. This was one of the few Class 25's to feature the cleaned up body styling and retain a steam heating boiler, as evidenced by the lack of empty space between the bogies. The large numbers and their position came from an Intermediate repair at Glasgow in the spring of 1980. Nine months after this view 25086 was withdrawn, being finally broken up at Swindon in April 1986.
	25161 and brake van runs through Aylesbury station on January 12th, 1983. From January 1972 - January 1976 25161 was allocated to the Western Region, principally South Wales (Newport), but the last six months were at Bristol Bath Road. Withdrawn in November 1984 at Toton, 25161 quickly moved to Swindon, but evaded the cutters torch here, eventually being towed to Vic Berry's, Leicester, the end coming quickly in June 1987.
	25250 in the snow at Aylesbury, February 9, 1983. 25250 (as 7600) spent its first eighteeen months after delivery on the Eastern Region, initially allocated to Tinsley. During September 1967 it returned to the Midland Lines, then proceeding to visit many LMR depots following numerous re-allocations.
	25314 noses upto a wonderfully smokey brake van and train of CCT's at Aylesbury station on October 27th 1982. This was the last winter in service for 25314, withdrawal coming in March 1983. After several months at Crewe 25314 was towed to Derby for spares removal. All was not lost however for 25314 was selected to become 97252 (ETHEL 3). Moved to Aberdeen by September it would spend the next eleven years in & out of service, based at Eastfield or Marylebone. The end came at MC Metals, Glasgow in August 1994
	25167 runs by Aylesbury South Box, December 1st, 1982. The locomotive spent fourteen years working out of various LMR depots, with another three years spent on the Western Region (July 1972 - February 1976) assisting in the final demise of the hydraulics. Its last major repair was at Derby during the spring of 1979, running for another four years before being retired at Crewe in May 1983. Moved to Swindon in February 1984 the end came quickly during April. Interestingly sister machine 25168 had for the most part (at least since July 1972) kept close company with 25167, even to the bitter end, standing alongside 25167 at Swindon as the cutters did there job on both locomotives.
	On a cold winters morning 25249 shunts parcels wagons at Aylesbury.
	One source of traffic in the Aylesbury area was the Coal Concentration Depot, here we see 25173 at Aylesbury on April 4 1982 with a short train of coal wagons. Dual braked at Derby Works during an overhaul in the summer of 1978, 25173 would run to the very end of the Class 25's in traffic. After withdrawal in March 1987 the locomotive moved to Vic Berry's yard at Leicester. Fortunately this locomotive was rescued for preservation, moving to Crewe Works in September 1987 for repairs before moving on to the Dean Forest Railway.
	Another generator of traffic in the Aylesbury area was the Post Office. Seen here with a variety of parcels vehicles is 25324 on May 20 1982. Sometime in December 1985 the locomotive recieved collision damage to a cab, being stored at Willesden initially. Moved to Crewe for spares recovery a year would pass before being moved to Vic Berry's in July 1987.
	On September 22nd 1982 25067 had been assigned to duties in the Aylesbury area. However these were abruptly stopped when the locomotive derailed one bogie whilst shunting. Seen here having split the points 25067 awaits the re-railing crew.
	Moments earlier 25067 had been busily going about its daily duties, seen here marshalling a parcels vehicle towards the parcels facility.
	Another view of the errant 25067 awaiting assistance from the rerailing crew. In fact 25067 only had a few months left in service, withdrawal would come in December. Ironically withdrawn 25067 was used, with 25202, as part of an exhibition at Kidderminster Goods Yard in May 1983 to publicise the improved Birmingham - Worcester service. A similar use was made of 25067 during October 1983 for a 'Rail Week' at Wellington. After a final trip to Swindon good news came in September 1985 when 25067 was successfully tendered for, reaching Alton for preservation at the Mid Hants Railway in November accompanied by 27007.
	After a number of long years spent hauling limestone across North Derbyshire & Cheshire 25126 returned to the Midlands, for perhaps less arduous and more varied work. Seen here in the Home Counties 25126 shunts parcels wagons. On its previous overhaul at Derby Works the opportunity was taken to sheet over the boiler room grille.