The almost nineteen year career of D7661/25311 (allowing for its two withdrawn periods) was spent allocated to a handful of depots, including a lengthy time in the London area.
Built: Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake equipped from new.
Final exhaust roof panel: raised 'L' shaped.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 116 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 36 months.
Allocations
D7661 was new to the London Division (D01) on November 8th 1966. Further transfers were:
May 1973 to Willesden following the abandonment of the LMR Division allocations.
June 1975 Cricklewood.
November 1977 to Toton.
April 1979 to Cricklewood.
October 1979 to Toton.
March 1980 to Cricklewood.
November 1984 to Carlisle Kingmoor.
Withdrawn February 28th 1985, reinstated October 18th 1985 to Crewe (stored at Toton).
Withdrawn February 2nd 1986, reinstated February 19th 1986 to Crewe.
Withdrawn March 19th 1986.
Renumbered February 23rd 1974.
25311 was the 278th Class 25 to be withdrawn, one of six retired during March 1986.
After its final withdrawal 25311 was initially stored at Crewe then moved to Carlisle Kingmoor by the end of October 1986. During July 1988 25321 was moved to Upperby for inspection and then returned to Kingmoor. It returned to Upperby on November 10th 1988, before moving to Crewe Basford Hall on December 12th 1988, then via Toton and Leicester (Dec 15th 1988) and into Vic Berry's yard on December 19th 1988. By the middle of March 1989 25311 had been broken up.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works December 1970 & February.
Noted Derby Works June & July 1976 (last Classified repair).
Noted Derby Works March 1978.
Noted Derby Works April & June 1981 (N4 repairs).
Highlights
When delivered new the livery was blue with small yellow panels, numbers behind the cab doors and the BR emblem under both the driver's and secondman's cab windows. This livery was retained at least until the summer of 1969, possibly longer. At some point after gaining standard blue livery with full yellow ends and prior to TOPS renumbering the locomotive suffered collision damage to the No.1 cab front.
Twelve new Type 2s (D7660 - D7671) were allocated to Willesden to take over the empty coaching stock, parcels and local freight duties in the London area. With the arrival of these locomotives it was possible to release the remaining Class 24s to the Stoke Division, as part of the eradication of steam in the North West. Of this batch of Class 25s D7660 - D7669 were dual braked from new, whilst D7670 & D7671 were not, however these latter two were quickly transferred to the Nottingham Division (D16).
1967
On January 16th D7661 was southbound at Kensington Olympia with a lengthy freight (7O50).
On July 15th D7661 was noted at Kensington Olympia with the 07.25 Walsall - Eastbourne.
1968
On the morning of February 25th D7661 was at Atherstone with a permanent way train.
1969
On the morning of March 22nd 7661 was noted at Willesden.
1970
On the afternoon of January 3rd 7661 was noted at Euston.
On January 4th 7661 was at Euston, locomotive appeared to be in as-delivered condition from Derby four years previously, but now with well-worn paintwork.
1972
A visit to a number of north London locations on August 15th included the following observations:
Cricklewood: 7558
St Pancras: 5212, 5222, 7567
Willesden: 7525, 7596, 7658
Old Oak Bridge: 5218, 7560, 7661, 7665, 7666
Willesden Junction High Level: 5218, 7526, 7586, 7662, 7665
Old Oak Pill Box: 5186, 7522, 7533, 7660
Cambridge Street: 5218, 5277, 7662, 7664
1973
On the afternoon of November 15th 7661 was light engine at Willesden.
1974
On May 5th 25242 & 25311 were noted assisting an electric service between Bletchley & Watford whilst the power was off for engineering works. On May 16th 25311 & 25205 worked an LMR - Southfleet coal train, more normally a Type 4 turn.
On September 22nd 25311 and two AM10 units formed the 09.18 Euston - Rugby.
During November Cricklewood lost its four remaining Class 25 s (25048, 25176, 25244 & 25311) to other LM depots, leaving the London area depots without any BR/Sulzer Type 2 s on allocation.
1975
On January 25th 25311 piloted 86009 an an up express around the site of the recent Bushey derailment.
On the morning of February 21st 25311 was the Euston parcels pilot.
1976
On March 14th 25311 was on parcels duties at Euston.
On April 17th 25311 was on parcels duty at Euston.
On July 2nd 25311 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for July 2nd recorded:
| 25311; July 2nd 1976; time ?? | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 29 | 800 | - | - | - | 2 | 49 | 800 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
A side crankcase door
Knecht filter adaptor
Oil flange joint leak from turbo to engine block
Engine governor top
AWS
No.1 W/S light
No.4 high pressure fuel pipe leak
B side crankcase door ?? screw leaking
Speedometer fluctuating
Vacuum governor sticking
Air train pipe leaks off. Leak behind panel ??
No.2 compressor ?? pipe blow near air tank.
On the afternoon of October 12th 25250 & 25311 were stabled at Willesden.
1977
On September 7th 25311 was stabled at Bedford attached to an engineers train.
On September 30th a St. Pancras - Wroxham special was worked by 25236 & 25311.
On November 25th 25311 worked a Tinsley - Tyne Yard feight.
1978
With a considerable length of time allocated to London area depots, which were not known for their regular use of Type 2's on passenger workings, the reported passenger workings for 25311 were not that many.
On the morning of January 5th & 6th 25311 was stabled at York.
On April 28th 25311 was southbound at Toton with a short freight.
On the afternoon of April 29th 25311 was noted at Cockshute.
On June 5th 25311 was at Kilby Bridge with an up freight.
On the morning of June 16th 25311 was stabled at York.
On July 3rd 25311 was stabled at Tinsley.
On the afternoon of July 5th and the morning of July 6th 25311 was stabled at York.
Whilst allocated to Toton, 25311 & 25269 had several busy days on August 28th, 30th & 31st, visiting Skegness each day from Nottingham, Derby & Leicester respectively.
On September 6th 25311 was noted arriving at Hall Road with GN Class 313 unit 313003, sent up from Hornsey as a back-up to the non-delivery of new Class 507s, pending the visit of the Queen to the area in early October.
On the morning of November 24th 25311 was stabled at York.
1979
A test train of Laboratory coaches, APT vehicles and an HST trailer was worked from Derby as the 1X16 08.40 via Reading to Exeter on March 12th by a Class 47?? but was noted outbound at Exeter with 25258 & 25311, which presumably worked the train back to Derby.
On March 20th & 21st 25311 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and the return 12.00 Norwood to Willesden.
A visit to the Midland main line on April 10th produced:
Leicester depot 08.40: 25107/25212/25284
Etches Park 09.20: 25214/25247?
Sileby 11.25: 25284 & 25324? southbound stone
Leicester 11.40: 25107 southbound ballast
Wellingborough shed 12.05: 25268/25258
Harpenden 12.40: 25300 & 25310 southbound coal
St Albans 12.45: 25125 light engine
Radlett 12.50: 25069 permanent way train
Elstree 13.05: 25311 permanent way train.
On the late afternoon of April 11th 25107 was at Cambridge Street, 25210/25283/25300/25310 were at Cricklewood and 25069 & 25311 were northbound at Radlett with a permanent way train.
On the morning of April 13th Midland main line observations included:
25145 & 25189 Cambridge Street
25089/25208/25302/25307 Cricklewood
25310/25311 Bedford shed
25214/25309 Leicester shed
25267 Loughborough yard
Observations on the Midland main line on the afternoon of April 25th included:
Cambridge Street (14.55) 25237
Cricklewood (15.00) 25310
St Albans (15.10) 25205 permanent way train and 25210 with another permanent way train
Luton (15.20) 25311 light engine, 25189 northbound goods and 25183 stabled at Luton 1520
Bedford shed (15.40) 25245 stabled
Wellingborough (15.55) 25177 stabled
Kettering (16.00) 25118 northbound goods
Leicester (16.25) 25134 southbound steel.
On Sunday August 12th 25311 & 25312 worked a Southall - York day excursion throughout, roundtrip.
On September 21st 25311 was noted at Oxford with the morning Toton - Eastleigh freight. At about 10.30am on September 24th 25311 was noted with a down coal at Kings Norton.
Noted on the Midland mainline on December 12th were:
Leicester shed (09.15): 25281, 25310, 25311
Bedford stabling point (10.00): 25220, 25313
Cricklewood (10.40): 25038, 25180.
On the morning of December 15th 25297 & 25311 were noted at Willesden on an up freight.
1980
February 5th found an interesting test carried out using the 04.15 Stanlow Rowley Regis oil tanks. The 2,000 ton train hauled by 25307 & 25311 worked to Nuneaton, here 25307 was replaced by 56051 and 25311 was shut down. The train then set out for Leicester Marton Wellingborough Bedford Bletchley, where 56051 was removed and 25307 rejoined the train for the run to Rowley Regis.
On August 6th 25311 worked the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.
On December 2nd 56055 failed on the southbound Tarmac working, 25307 & 25311 were noted southbound at Wellingborough with this train running about an hour late.
1981
On August 19th the 2G17 17.00 St. Pancras - Bedford failed south of Harpenden with 45147, 25311 dragged everything to Bedford.
On the morning of September 15th 25311 was at St Pancras.
On the morning of September 16th 25057, 25196, 25207, 25213, 25278, 25311 & 25326 were noted at Willesden.
On the morning of September 17th 25088 (withdrawn the previous day), 25251, 25278, 25311 & 25327 were stabled at Willesden.
On December 17th the 1G24 09.35 Euston - Wolverhampton was dragged by 25311 between Nuneaton - Birmingham New Street.
1982
25311 was busy shunting at Three Spires Junction on April 21st. This was 'target 46' trip and comprised a variety of air braked and vacuum braked wagons conveying coal and smokeless fuels and somewhat out of place several vent vans.
On May 31st 25311 was light engine at Church Fenton.
Whilst allocated to Cricklewood, 25311 handled a number of passenger workings far north of its home depot. On June 1st 25311 worked the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle. On June 17th 25311 was noted passing Long Preston with four empty ballast wagons. On June 19th and even further north 25311 worked the 11.35 Glasgow Central - Stranraer Harbour and 15.30 return. And on June 27th 25311 was on the North Wales coast working the 11.55 Manchester Victoria - Holyhead and the 16.30 return.
On July 17th 25311 was stabled at Newton Heath.
On July 22nd 25311 was at Kirkby Stephen with a freight.
On the afternoon of August 18th 25311 was stabled at Crewe Diesel depot.
On August 26th 25311 was noted at Souldrop (Sharnbrook) with a train of new cars and lorries.
On September 4th 25311 was stabled at Birkenhead Mollington Street.
On September 14th 25311 & 25269 were noted at New Mills South Junction with the 6H39 Carlisle London Road - Earles Sidings cement empties.
On September 18th 25311 & 25310 worked the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston from Machynlleth to Wolverhampton after 25323 had failed.
1983
25311 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on January 8th.
On January 17th & 18th 25311 worked the 1P51 22.47 Crewe - Blackpool North from Preston. On January 19th 25311 worked the 1P79 18.05 Euston- Blackpool North forward from Preston.
25311 was stabled at Cockshute on January 29th.
On February 19th 25311 was stabled at Northwich.
On March 9th 25289 & 25311 worked the 6M86 Kings Cross - Tring cement empties.
25289 & 25311 worked the 6M86 Kings Cross - Tring cement empties on March 20th. On a very wet March 30th 25311 & 25323 were noted at Chester working the 6G67 MWO 13.50 Stanlow Refinery to Rowley Regis bogie oil tanks.
On April 9th 25307 & 25311 were noted in the Lune gorge with a train of short wheelbase oil tanks.
On April 30th 25311 was noted at Conwy castle with ballast empties for Penmaenmawr. On the same day 25311 at Llandudno Junction yard with traffic for Octel, comprised of four tanks, two barrier wagons and two brakevans.
25311 was noted at Timperley with a mixed freight working from Warrington on May 12th.
On June 4th 25311 was stabled at Nuneaton.
The 18.09 Manchester Piccadilly - St Pancras parcels (comprised of four coaches) was worked at least to Derby by 25311 on June 14th.
25311 was stabled at Carlisle station on June 27th.
On August 2nd 25311 was stabled at Cricklewood.
On September 5th 25311 was noted with a tamper at Oxenholme.
On October 3rd 25311 was light engine at Leeds City station.
25311 was stabled at Saltley on October 5th.
25311 was stabled at Tinsley on November 13th, the only Class 25 amongst sixty other locomotives.
25327 & 25311 were noted northbound at Warrington Bank Quay with bogie oil tanks on December 29th.
1984
25311 was noted southbound at Clifton with a parcels train on January 4th.
On March 14th 25311 worked the 18.05 Euston - Blackpool North forward from Preston.
25311 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on March 20th. 25311 was stabled at Bedford on March 24th.
On May 3rd 25311 was eastbound at Prestatyn with a lengthy freight.
On July 7th 25311 & 25298 worked the 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston as far as Wolverhampton.
1985
25311 was stabled at Carlisle station on February 23rd.
On May 18th 25311 was noted at Toton.
25311 would be withdrawn three times, the first on February 28th 1985, spending seven and a half months out of service (at Toton) before being reinstated on October 18th 1985 to Crewe.
On October 28th 25311 was noted eastbound at Chester with a short rerailing train.
1986
The second withdrawal for 25311 took place on February 2nd 1986, being out of service for seventeen days prior to being reinstated on February 19th 1986 to Crewe. Its final withdrawal occurred one month later on March 19th 1986.
26/1998
flk 0425
Page added January 7th 2013.
Last updated April 23rd 2025.
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