It took six years for all 327 Class 25s to enter service (April 1961 - April 1967). The entire Class would remain intact for slightly over four years (April 1967 - May 1971) when 5278 was withdrawn with accident damage. A number of Class 25s had received accidents repairs during this period but it would be 5278 that became the first to be deemed uneconomic to repair. The first four withdrawals were all from accident damage, it would not be until January 1976 when the first Class 25s were withdrawn surplus to requirements, when five were taken out of service.

1 : May 1971
5278 D09

The first withdrawal was typical of many of the Modernisation Plan era diesels and electrics that were withdrawn prematurely - usually sustaining severe collision and/or fire damage which would make repairs uneconomic. 5278 was at work at Tunstead when it was hit be a Class 45 running light engine. 5278 sustained major damage to its cabs & cab floors (this alone would make repairs uneconomic) and to much of the underframe equipment, bogies, fuel tanks etc. The locomotive languished at Peak Forest for about six months prior to being broken up on-site by G Cohen, Tinsley during October 1971.

326/1

2 : March 1972
7605 D16

The second Class 25 withdrawn also sustained major damage in an accident, this time at Lenton South Junction. 7605 was hauling the 01.30 Liverpool - Nottingham parcels train on December 16th 1971 when it collided with a pair of Class 20s heading towards Trent Junction with a Bestwood Park - Derby coal train. Again the damage sustained was considerable, perhaps more so than that of D5278. Regretably BR staff were killed in the collision, the accident receiving national coverage in the press. Official withdrawal did not come until March 1972, by June 1972 the remains had been disposed of at Derby Works.

Repair costs were estimated at least £300,000, which was about four times of the cost of the locomotive when new. The No.1 cab had been demolished by the leading Class 20, No.8115, which would be repaired at Crewe Locomotive Works. Even more badly damaged was 7605's No.2 cab which took the full force of the parcels vehicles, these had ridden up over the locomotive frame and demolished the cab and the boiler room.

325/2

3 : October 1975
25045 SP

The third Class 25 to be withdrawn also succumbed to accident damage (though I know not where), but it was of a much less severe nature than 5278 or 7605. This was an indication that times were changing, much of the Class 24 fleet had been withdrawn several months earlier, so the writing was on the wall that the downsizing of the diesel fleet was to continue. And of course accident damage sustained by those locomotive classes determined to have a limited future were easy candiates for withdrawal. 25045 lingered at Derby for almost five years before being broken up during August 1979.

The last classified repair for 25045 should have taken place during the first half of 1970, so it would certainly have been due for a classified at the time of its withdrawal. This was one of only two Class 25/1s to retain their cabfront gangway doors at the time of its withdrawal.

324/3

4 : December 1975
25015 TI

The first of the Darlington built Class 25/0s to be withdrawn also sustained accident damage, of a moderate nature but still enough to see it withdrawn. 25015 was initially received at Derby Works for evaluation, but was later towed to Doncaster for final breaking. This was one of the few Class 25s not to have its central gangway doors sheeted over. 25015 had received its last classified repair at Derby between July and October 1971, it was due its next classified when withdrawn.

This would be the only Class 25/0 broken up at Doncaster, completed during January 1977.

323/4

5 - 9 : January 1976
25016, 25017, 25020, 25022, 25024 - all TI
all withdrawn January 25th 1976 surplus to requirements

25016 broken up Swindon Works by December 1976.
25017 broken up Swindon Works by July 1976.
25020 broken up Swindon Works by August 1976.
25022 broken up Glasgow Works by January 1978.
25024 broken up Glasgow Works by September 1976.

With the English Electric powered locomotives destined to be the survivors in the Type 1 - Type 3 power range, it came as no surprise that once the vast majority of the Class 24s had been withdrawn a start would be made into making inroads to the Class 25 fleet. The obvious candidates were the Class 25/0 subgroup, these were non-boilered and none were dual brake equipped. These first five examples were no doubt due for shopping. All were withdrawn from Tinsley and stored at Barrow Hill. the first three went directly to Swindon Works for scrapping, whilst the latter two headed north to Glasgow, presumably to become a nearby parts source for the other Class 25/0s operating out of Eastfield and Haymarket.

318/9

March 1976

During March the Class 25/0s which had been withdrawn during January 1976 and stored at Barrow Hill were moved to their places of scrapping:
25016, 25017 & 25020 began their journey south to Swindon on March 10th.
25022 & 25024 went northwards to Glasgow on March 18th 1976, presumably these were sent north to provide spares for the remaining Class 25/0s which were still continuing to receive repairs at Glasgow Works.

June 1976

25015 left Derby Works on June 10th 1976 for Doncaster Works, via Toton. Interestingly the also withdrawn & accident damaged 24086 made exactly the same trip the day before, one wonders why a single movement of both locomotives together was not considered?

10 & 11 : August 1976
25003 ED withdrawn August 18th 1976
25030 CW withdrawn August 21st 1976

After eight months without any Class 25 withdrawals two more fell by the wayside, both with collision damage, another Class 25/0 and a Class 25/1. The latter, coupled to 25174 was involved in an accident at Aylesbury on August 5th 1976, with 25174 coming off the worst with a crushed cab after being hit by runaway wagons. Whatever damage 25030 suffered was not as visible, but enough to warrant the refusal of repairs. 25030 had been one of the first Class 25s to visit Devon and Cornwall as replacement for the diesel hydraulic Type 2s.

25003 broken up Glasgow Works by January 1978.
25030 broken up Derby Works by April 1980.

316/11

12 & 13 : September 1976
25004 ED withdrawn September 15th 1976
25174 CW withdrawn September 20th 1976

The next two withdrawals had connections to the previous two, firstly 25004 followed on numerically from withdrawn sister 25003 and secondly accident victim 25174 was connected with 25030, both these having been involved in the same accident. 25030 & 25174 were initially taken to Cricklewood, then on August 9th both headed north moved to Derby Works, 25030 for scrapping and 25174 for evaluation. They arrived just in time for the Annual Works Open Day, with 25174 parked in the Works arrival sidings, a location where its crushed cab was visible to most visitors who toured the Works.

25004 broken up Glasgow Works by September 1977.
25174 broken up Derby Works by June 1978.

314/13

14 : November 1976
25018 ED

Another accident damaged locomotive that came to the end of the line was 25018 which sustained major damage at Ayr in a runaway accident. It was soon evacuated to Glasgow Works, being broken up there during September 1978. Its last classified repair had been at Derby during January 1973.

25018 broken up Glasgow Works by August 1978.

313/14

15 : February 1977
25012 HA (February 4th 1977)

The slow withdrawal of Class 25s continued on into 1977, again the Class 25/0s were the primary candidates, particularly as they came due for shopping. By year's end inroads were to be made into non-accident damaged Class 25/1s, with the Scottish Region examples being most prevalent.

25012 became the first Class 25 withdrawal for 1977, by September 1977 it had been scrapped at Glasgow Works. It underwent a major repair at Derby from July - September 1971, but judging by its final condition at Glasow when withdrawn it must have at least received another repaint since 1971.

25012 broken up Glasgow Works by September 1977.

312/15

16 : April 1977
25025 ED

In April the highest numbered of the Class 25/0's, 25025 was taken out of service following fire damage, it was broken up at Glasgow Works during April 1978. The final paint job on 25025 suggests it was last received by Glasgow for repair possibly during the spring of 1973 or the autumn of 1974.

25025 broken up Glasgow Works by April 1978.

311/16

17 : July 1977
25014 ED

The next casualty was 25014, taken out of service during June, withdrawn in July and broken up very quickly at Glasgow Works during September.

25014 was one of several Class 25/0s put to store during February 1976, then reinstated in June 1976 and working for another year before final withdrawal in July 1977.

25014 broken up Glasgow Works by September 1977.

310/17

18 : August 1977
25029 TO

25029 was definately a well travelled machine, a characteristic that followed it into retirement. Its last year had been spent allocated to Toton. After withdrawal it would be moved to Derby Works where it would stay only briefly before heading north to Glasgow Works, presumably as a parts source, it would be broken up there during January 1978.

25029 broken up Glasgow Works by January 1978.

309/18

19 & 20 : December 1977
25031 & 25096 both ED
both withdrawn December 31st 1977

The end of the year closed with two more Class 25s going to the wall, both from the Scottish Region. Both were quickly dealt with by Glasgow, 25031 broken up in June and 25096 in August 1978. The withdrawal of 25096 would indicate that any Class 25 would be a candidate for withdrawal, it appears 25096 may have been due a classified repair. It also seems to be a safe bet that 25031 was also overdue a classified repair.

25031 broken up Glasgow Works by May 1978.
25096 broken up Glasgow Works by May 1978.

307/20

21 : May 1978
25077 ED

The New Year brought a brief reprieve for the Class 25's with a four month period without any withdrawals.

It would be left for the Scottish Region to withdraw the first dual-braked Class 25, in this case 25077, believed due to the locomotive sustaining fire damage - an occurrence with the Class 25's that was infrequent. 25077 had been dual-braked during a classified repair at Glasgow Works during April/May 1977, which should have given it an extended period of continued service but for the fire damage incurred. 25077 would linger for a short time at Glasgow Works before being scrapped in September 1978.

25077 broken up Glasgow Works by September 1978.

306/21

22 : June 1978
25295 CW

25295 would become the newest Class 25 to date to be withdrawn, it received moderate collision damage (at ??) which in better times would have been repaired without a second thought. Instead 25295 would return to Derby Works and spend over three years there before being broken up during October 1981. This was the second dual-braked equipped locomotive to be withdrawn and was also the first of the Beyer Peacock built machines to be retired.

25295 broken up Derby Works by October 1981.

305/22

23 - 25 : October 1978
25091 & 25171 HA, 25098 ED
all withdrawn October 15th 1978

Three more Scottish Region Class 25s succumbed at the end of the summer timetable. 25091 & 25098 were surplus to requirements, 25171 was not so fortunate. It had run away with a ballast train in the vicinity of Arbroath on September 22nd 1978, being diverted into the goods yard there and collided with a rock face at the end of a siding. Not surprisingly it suffered major damage and was broken up in the goods yard by BR staff during January 1979.

25091 is one of a few Class 25's that were allocated to depots on all five of BRs Regions (ER, LMR, ScR, SR & WR), it having spent a short time in 1964 on loan to Hither Green.

All three of these machines were vacuum braked.

25171 was only the 2nd Class 25 (after 5278) to be broken up away from a BR Workshops.

25091 broken up Glasgow Works by October 1979.
25098 broken up Glasgow Works by May 1979.
25171 broken up Arbroath Goods Yard by January 1979.

302/25

26 : November 1978
25165 CD

25165 became another Class 25 withdrawn due to collision damage, sustaining moderate damage to one cab & bufferbeam at ?? It would return to Derby Works after withdrawal, where it ended its days during September 1979.

25165 broken up Derby Works by September 1979.

After the withdrawal of 25165, fifteen months would pass before the next Class 25 was withdrawn from service.

301/26

27 - 29 : March 1980
25111 CW, 25147 KD & 25252 BS
all withdrawn March 30th 1980

1979 proved to be a good year for the Class 25s - there were no withdrawals!! However British Rail were facing an increasing backlog of machines out of service awaiting repairs. One attempt to ease this crisis was to send a number of locomotives to Swindon Works for unclassified repairs. Amongst the Classes handled there were a number of Class 25s - to assist Swindon a number of out of service Class 25s were withdrawn and sent to Swindon to provide a parts source.

For this puprose three Class 25s - 25111, 25147 & 25252 were withdrawn and sent down to Swindon. Two were definately long overdue for shopping, whilst 25147 was barely two years out of a repair at Derby, presumably stopped requiring an expensive repair. They did not linger long at Swindon, by October 1980 all three were scrapped. None of these three were dual-braked. These movements drew Swindon more significantly into the scrapping arena, during 1976 it had disposed of the three Class 25/0s sent down from Barrow Hill - now it would play a most significant job in disposing of the Class 25s. So much so that Derby & Glasgow would gradually fade from the picture.

These three withdrawals, coupled to events affecting the remainder of the BR diesel fleet, clearly marked an escalation in the trimming of the BR fleet - it would take seven more years to see the entire Class 25 fleet withdrawn, this point is quite significant in their decline.

25111 broken up Swindon Works by October 1980.
25147 broken up Swindon Works by September 1980.
25252 broken up Swindon Works by September 1980.

298/29

30 & 31 : May 1980
25092 CW & 25102 LO
both withdrawn May 11th 1980

These two machines were retired surplus to requirements, with both due for shopping. 25102 had been the last Class 25 to carry two-tone green livery, it also went directly to Swindon after withdrawal at Crewe. Swindon disposed of it quickly, by October 1980 it was no more. 25092 lingered at Derby for two years prior to being scrapped in June 1982. 25092 was in that group of locomotives which were extremely well travelled with many transfers. Its allocations included both Laira & Inverness, but it would end its days allocated to Cricklewood.

25092 broken up Derby Works by June 1982.
25102 broken up Swindon Works by October 1980.

296/31

32 : June 1980
25008 HA

The remaining Class 25/0s had avoided any withdrawals since 25014 during July 1977. Most of the remaining 25/0s had been through Glasgow Works for a variety of repairs during 1977/78, giving them the opportunity to continue in service for a while longer. By the summer of July 1980 their time was running out.

25008 had been outshopped by Glasgow during July 1979, this should have allowed it to operate to the end of the Class 25/0's service career. Unfortunately 25008 sustained collision damage, leading to its immediate withdrawal and return to Glasgow Works for scrapping, which ocurred very quickly, by August 1980 it was no more.

25102 broken up Glasgow Works by August 1980.

295/32

33 - 36 : July 1980
25204 CW withdrawn July 6th 1980
25009 HA with drawn July 7th 1980
25068 ED & 25108 ED withdrawn July 14th 1980

The continued withdrawal of the Scottish examples did not let up during the busier summer months, with three falling by the wayside during July. 25009 had last recieved a repair at Glasgow during November 1977, thus its withdrawal was not unexpected. Likewise 25068's last repair had been at Glasgow during September 1976, so it too was overdue and is believed to have been withdrawn with fire damage. Also due for shopping was 25108, its last repair had also taken place at Glasgow during September 1976. These three Scottish machines were all scrapped at Glasgow Works, the last succumbing during August 1981.

25009 would be the last Class 25/0 to be sent to Glasgow Works for breaking up, all remaining Class 25/0s would make the long trip to Swindon Works to be dealt with.

Like the Scottish examples Cricklewood's dual brake equipped 25204 was also overdue for shopping, having last seen Derby Works during May 1974. After withdrawal 25204 moved north to Crewe for spares removal, then south to Swindon for scrapping, completed in October 1980.

25009 broken up Glasgow Works by September 1980.
25068 broken up Glasgow Works by August 1981.
25108 broken up Glasgow Works by February 1981 (although some of the bodywork would remain until November 1988).
25204 broken up Swindon Works by October 1980.

291/36

August 1980

Movements in August 1980 included:
25102 & 25204 as the 9X34 00.05 Crewe - Swindon on August 12th, reaching Swindon by the 14th. 25204 had previously been moved from Willesden to Crewe on June 12th 1980 for spares removal.

25252 as the 9Z50 12.00 Toton - Swindon on August 14th 1980.

37 - 45 : September 1980
25019 HA & 25021 HA withdrawn September 3rd 1980
25047 TO, 25074 TO, & 25103 SP withdrawn September 7th 1980
25001 ED, 25013 HA, 25023 HA & 25087 withdrawn September 28th 1980

The end of the summer timetable, as expected made further inroads into the Class 25s with five Class 25/0s being taken out of service including the first built, 25001 (D5151). Several of these were taken out of service in full working order, however 25019 & 25021 had sustained minor collision damage. Scrapping did not take place at Glasgow as one might have expected, all would travel south to Swindon where all were gone by the end of 1980 except for 25023 which lingered until March 1983.

The Class 25/1 came from a cross section of depots. All were due for shopping and all were sent to Swindon for scrapping. 25087 was the first of the small batch of later style boiler equipped Class 25s to be withdrawn.

25001 broken up Swindon Works by December 1980.
25013 broken up Swindon Works by January 1981.
25019 broken up Swindon Works by January 1981.
25021 broken up Glasgow Works by December 1980.
25023 broken up Glasgow Works by March 1983.
25047 broken up Swindon Works by January 1981.
25074 broken up Swindon Works by May 1982.
25087 broken up Swindon Works by April 1981.
25103 broken up Glasgow Works by March 1983.

Elder statesment became 25002 following withdrawal of 25001.
282/45

46 - 49 : October 1980
25052, 25223 & 25225 - all LA, withdrawn October 5th 1980
25238 ED withdrawn October 13th 1980

After a hectic September when the LMR & ScR bore the brunt of Class 25 withdrawals, the next three were all from Laira, the first Class 25s to be withdrawn from the Western Region, all were surplus to requirements and sent directly to Swindon for scrapping. All were broken up very quickly by the end of November 1980.

The final example withdrawn in October was Eastfield's 25238, it quickly moved to Swindon but lingered there until September 1983. This was the first of the Scottish Region's final batch of Darlington built Class 25s to be retired, no doubt because it was not dual-braked.

Movements during October included the first batch of withdrawn Scottish Region Class 25s to make the long journey from Scotland to Swindon for scrapping. On October 10th 25001, 25013, 25019 & 25021 were noted heading south through Durham behind 40006. They were stopped overnight at Thornaby and then later alongside York depot. On October 16th they headed south as the 07.20 Toton - Swindon, now with 31274 attached and remarkably with 25001 in charge of this movement.

25052 broken up Swindon Works by November 1980.
25223 broken up Swindon Works by November 1980.
25225 broken up Swindon Works by November 1980.
25238 broken up Glasgow Works by July 1983.

278/49

The first forty nine Class 25s were withdrawn over a period of about eight and a half years, the next fifty were taken out of service over a period of seven months!

50 - 66 : November 1980
25026 TO, 25040 LO, 25055 KD, 25061 LO, 25063 CD, 25070 SP, 25110 SP, 25112 & 25116 CW, 25121, 25122, 25127 & 25137 TO, 25159, 25163 & 25166 CD, 25263 BS
all withdrawn November 2nd except 25040 & 25163 on November 11th 1980 and 25263 on November 17th 1980

Class 25 withdrawals to date had included five withdrawn during January 1976 and nine withdrawn during September 1980. However during November 1980 double digits were reached when a total of seventeen Class 25s were taken out of service, all from London Midland Region depots. Presumably these vacuum braked examples were in need of shopping.

25026 broken up Swindon Works by March 1981.
25040 broken up Swindon Works by February 1982.
25055 broken up Swindon Works by December 1981.
25061 broken up Glasgow Works by March 1983.
25063 broken up Glasgow Works by March 1983.
25070 broken up Swindon Works by May 1983.
25110 broken up Swindon Works by March 1982.
25112 broken up Swindon Works by March 1982.
25116 broken up Swindon Works by July 1982.
25121 broken up Swindon Works by August 1982.
25122 broken up Swindon Works by June 1983.
25127 broken up Glasgow Works by July 1983.
25137 broken up Glasgow Works by May 1983.
25159 broken up Swindon Works by March 1981.
25163 broken up Swindon Works by March 1983.
25166 broken up Swindon Works by July 1981.
25263 broken up Glasgow Works by May 1983.

BRs locomotive fleet followed a series of scheduled Works visits for their regular classified repairs, which for those monitoring the maintenance history of a fleet of locomotives created a definate pattern when these details were put to paper on a graph or spreadsheet. This pattern also revealed itself as the withdrawal of the Class 25 fleet speeded up with members of small groups of locomotives being withdrawn together as can be seen in some of the withdrawals here.

261/66

Movements during November 1980 included:
25047, 25074, 25099 & 25116 as Springs Branch - Swindon starting out on November 21st 1980.

67 - 83 : December 1980
25002 & 25005 ED, 25006 & 25007 Su, 25010, 25011, 25028 HA, 25053, 25099, 25155, 25183, 25197, 25203 Su, 25216 CD, 25222 LO, 25232 ED & 25264 TO, December 1980
all withdrawn on December 1st 1980 except 25222 & 25264 on December 14th 1980 and 25216 on December 28th 1980.

Exactly four years after the Scottish Region retired its final Class 24s (December 1976) it would take out of service the final active Class 25/0s. Several of these had already been stored unserviceable, it was just a matter of finalising the paperwork to get them struck off the roster.

Included in the withdrawals for December were eight dual-braked Class 25s (25053/099, 25155/183/197, 25203/222/232.

Glasgow Works had provided classified intermediate repairs for 25005/06/07 during the first half of 1979, 25002 had been at Glasgow Works June - October 1978, whilst I'm not certain when 25010 & 25011 received their last classified repairs. However 25010 was noted at Glasgow Works during April 1978 and 25011 visited Derby for minor attention during August 1978.

25002 broken up Swindon Works by April 1981.
25005 broken up Swindon Works by August 1981.
25006 broken up Swindon Works by July 1983.
25007 broken up Swindon Works by September 1982.
25010 broken up Swindon Works by May 1981.
25011 broken up Swindon Works by March 1981.
25028 broken up Vic Berry, Leicester by June 1987.
25053 broken up Swindon Works by November 1981.
25099 broken up Swindon Works by February 1981.
25155 broken up Swindon Works by September 1981.
25183 broken up Swindon Works by September 1981.
25197 broken up Swindon Works by March 1983.
25203 broken up Swindon Works by March 1982.
25216 broken up Derby Works by December 1982.
25222 broken up Swindon Works by December 1981.
25232 broken up Swindon Works by May 1983.
25264 broken up Swindon Works by June 1983.

244/83.

The elder statesment of the Class became 25027 following withdrawal of 25002.

The scrapping of the locomotives withdrawn during November & December 1980 clearly show the growing predominance of Swindon Works in the cutting up process and that on occasion some locomotives could escaped the scrappers torch for quite awhile, as in the case of 25028.

The withdrawal of 34 Class 25s in two months represented about 10% of the fleet, should the withdrawals have continued at this pace, this would have seen the entire Class withdrawn within a year.

84 - 85 : January 1981
25118 TO, 25261 BS SP
both withdrawn January 4th 1981

After the onslaught of November & December 1980, January 1981 proved to be mercifully quiet for the Class 25 fleet with only two examples withdrawn this month.

25118 broken up Swindon Works by August 1983.
25261 broken up Derby Works by December 1985 (by Vic Berry Ltd).

242/85.

Movements in January included 31289 hauling 25026, 25103, 25137 & 08027 as a Toton - Swindon movement on January 12th 1981.

86 - 97 : February 1981
25043 CD, 25046 & 25065 HA, 25094 TO, 25100 LO, 25114 CW, 25172 SP, 25217 CD, 25267 TO, 25273 BS, 25281 SP, 25293 CD
all withdrawn on February 1st 1981

After the brief respite in January the February withdrawals reached a dozen Class 25s.

At the time of its withdrawal 25094 was BR's most transferred diesel locomotive (28 moves) and had been allocated to depots on all of the regions. It started and ended its career essentially at the same depot - Toton.

25043 broken up Derby Works by August 1981.
25046 broken up Vic Berry, Leicester by June 1987.
25065 broken up Swindon Works by February 1982.
25094 broken up Derby Works by April 1982.
25100 broken up Swindon Works by February 1983.
25114 broken up Swindon Works by July 1981.
25172 broken up Swindon Works by May 1983.
25217 broken up Derby Works by January 1982.
25267 broken up Derby Works by February 1982.
25273 broken up Swindon Works by April 1982.
25281 broken up Swindon Works by May 1981.
25293 broken up Swindon Works by August 1981.

230/97

Movements in February included:
25010, 25011, 25023 & 25087 as a Millerhill - Swindon on February 21st 1981, with 25010 hauling the job.
25216 from ? to Swindon on February 23rd 1981.
25055, 25100, 25122 & 25281 to Swindon on February 27th 1981 (25100 & 25281 ex Reddish, 25122 ex Newton Heath, 25055 ex?)

March 1981
Movements during March 1981 included:
25070, 25166, 25263 & 25293 from Crewe to Swindon on March 3rd 1981.
25002 & 25005 from Eastfield to Swindon on March 7th 1981 - this cleared Scotland of its last Class 25/0s and certainly confirmed that Swindon was at this time the central disposal point for BR's retired fleet of locomotives.
25112 & 25114 ? - Swindon on March 20rd 1981
25273 (& 08294?) ? - Swindon on March 23rd 1981
25264 ? - Swindon on March 27th 1981

April 1981
98 : April 1981
25107 TO withdrawn April 30th 1981

25107 broken up Swindon Works by September 1981.

229/98

Movements during April 1981 included:
25172, 40017, 40137 & 40161 Kingmoor (?) - Swindon April 1st 1981, noted at Carlisle behind 25086 and noted at Kidderminster behind 31168.

99 - 105 : May 1981
25241 ED withdrawn May 6th 1981
25082 HA withdrawn May 10th 1981
25038 KD, 25039 LO, 25041 KD, 25162 CD, 25291 CD all withdrawn May 31st 1981

After the withdrawal of twelve machines in February it was fortunate that March and April saw only one retired. However withdrawals in May would again be high - see note below.

25082 & 25241 were both dual-braked.

25241 broken up Derby Works by September 1981.
25082 broken up Swindon Works by January 1983.
25038 broken up Derby Works by September 1982.
25039 broken up Swindon Works by December 1981.
25041 broken up Swindon Works by June 1983.
25162 broken up Swindon Works by June 1982.
25291 broken up Swindon Works by November 1982.

222/105

Movements during May included:
25305 ? - Swindon on May 5th 1981, although after some time at Swindon it would be reinstated.

The previous fifty Class 25s had been taken out of service over a period of seven months, if that rate of withdrawal had continued unchecked the entire Class would have been gone by the end of 1983! Fortunately for the Class 25 enthusiasts and for the operation of British Rail that rate of withdrawal was not sustained and the next fifty were withdrawn between May 1981 & November 1982

106 - 107 : June 1981
25066 & 25071 CW
Both withdrawn June 21st 1981

During the summer months the withdrawals eased considerably, these two Cricklewood examples were both vacuum braked. 25305 was placed into store at this time, but would later be re-instated to Bescot during August 1982 so its withdrawal is not recorded at this point.

25066 broken up Derby Works during January 1983.
25071 broken up Swindon Works during January 1983.

220/107.

Movements during June included:
25065 & 25246 Kingmoor - Swindon June 25th 1981.

108 : July 1981
25272 BS
Withdrawn July 12th 1981

Although July was a quiet time for Class 25 withdrawals with just one vacuum braked example being taken out of service, it was a rough time for the Class 76s as the Woodhead route closed and the vast majority of the venerable Class 76s were withdrawn. This would see a long time Class 24/25 repair depot - Reddish - have no further reason for its continued existance.

25272 broken up Derby Works during August 1982.

219/108.

Movements during July included:
25241 Polmadie - Swindon July 6th 1981 (with 08169, 08184 & 08247??).

109 - 112 : September 1981
25148 CW withdrawn September 7th 1981
25073 TO & 25169 CD withdrawn September 8th 1981
25088 LO withdrawn September 16th 1981

One dual braked (25088) and three vacuum braked machines were condemned during September, with 25088 & 25148 managing to sustain accident damage to ensure their early demise!

25073 broken up Swindon Works during August 1982.
25088 broken up Etches Park by Vic Berry during March 1986.
25148 broken up Swindon Works during May 1982.
25169 broken up Swindon Works during February 1982.

215/112.

113 - 118 : October 1981
25290 CD withdrawn October 4th 1981
25299 CW withdrawn October 5th 1981
25271 BS withdrawn October 11th 1981
25142 KD & 25292 CD withdrawn October 18th 1981
25246 ED withdrawn October ?? 1981

With the end of the summer timetable withdrawals picked up with six Class 25s condemned. All were vacuum braked apart from 25246, this machine initially being placed in store at Swindon. The withdrawal of 25290, 25292 & 25299 reveals the predictability of the withdrawals based on shopping dates.

25142 broken up Swindon Works during November 1982.
25246 broken up Swindon Works during January 1983.
25271 broken up Derby Works during September 1982.
25290 broken up Derby Works during April 1983.
25292 broken up Swindon Works during March 1983.
25299 broken up Derby Works during May 1982.

209/118.

Movements during October included:
25118, 40098, 45061 & 45071 Toton - Swindon October 4th 1981.

119 : November 1981
25280 TO

Vacuum braked 25280 was the only casualty during November, elsewhere the news was in fact good, about a dozen Class 46s were being revived from their slumbers at Swindon, with 25116 & 25197 being used to assist in restarting the Class 46s.

25280 broken up Swindon Works during July 1983.

208/119.

120 - 121 : December 1981
25125 TO withdrawn December 6th 1981
25156 CD withdrawn December 20th 1981

The withdrawal of two vacuum braked Class 25s during December was definately overshadowed by the withdrawal of the final examples of the ECML Class 55 Deltic fleet.

25125 broken up Swindon Works during April 1983.
25156 broken up Swindon Works during May 1982.

206/121.

Movements during December included:
25041, 25142, 40113 & 40175 Carlisle - Swindon December 8th 1981
25292, 40095, 40134 & 40178 Springs Branch - Swindon December 14th 1981
25073, 25169 & 08585 Bescot - Swindon Deember 24th 1981.

122 : January 1982
25149 KD

The extremely harsh weather during January may have had something to do with only one vacuum braked Class 25 being withdrawn. There were a large number of reallocations during this month (at least 125), particularly of ER Class 31 & 37's, how this may have affected the low number of Class 25 withdrawals during January is uncertain.

D7599/25149 would have been the Class 25 to carry the 'R' series engine had BR & Sulzer's plans come to fruition.

25149 broken up Swindon Works during May 1983.

205/122.

Movements during January 1982 included:
25291 ? - Swindon January 26th 1982.

123 - 124 : February 1982
25081 CW, 25129 TO
both withdrawn February 7th 1982

With many locomotives in Works due to the effects of the earlier bad weather it was perhaps one reason for the withdrawal of just two vacuum braked Class 25s during February.

25081 broken up Swindon Works during July 1982.
25129 broken up Swindon Works during March 1985.

203/124.

Movements during February 1982 included:
25148 ? - Derby sometime during February 1982.
25081 Kingmoor - Swindon February 25th 1982.

125 : March 1982
25085 KD

Three Class 25s were initially withdrawn during March, dual braked 25175 & 25184 would later be reinstated to fight another day, but for boiler fitted, vacuum braked 25085 it was the end of the line.

25085 broken up Derby Works during May 1983.

25085 would be the last complete locomotive broken up at Derby Works by BREL staff.

202/125.

Movements during March 1982 included:
25261 & 25272 9L69 10.00am Tyseley - Bescot (to attach 25272) - Derby, March 4th 1982.
25156 & 25290 Tyseley - Swindon March 16th 1982
25280 + one other? Toton - Swindon March 18th 1982
25290 Swindon - Derby March 19th 1982

126 - 127 : April 1982
25105 LO withdrawn April 4th 1982
25275 BS withdrawn April 18th 1982

Two more vacuum braked examples were taken out of service during April, 25170 was also withdrawn but would be reinstated during August 1982.

25105 broken up Swindon Works during November 1985.
25275 broken up Swindon Works during July 1985.

200/127.

Movements during April 1982 included:
25129, 25149, 20068 & 20088 Toton - Swindon April 21st 1982.

128 : May 1982
25274 BS

25274 was the first of the block of Class 25s built by Beyer Peacock.

25274 broken up Swindon Works during April 1985.

199/128.

129 - 131 : June 1982
25150 LO, 25220 CD, 25312 CW
all were withdrawn on June 13th 1982

Withdrawals picked up a little during June, including accident damaged & dual braked 25312.

25150 broken up Swindon Works during June 1985.
25220 broken up Swindon Works during April 1985.
25312 broken up Swindon Works during August 1985.

196/131.

Movements during June 1982 included:
25082, 08725 & 40062 Kingmoor - Swindon June 8th 1982
25088 Acton - Derby June 9th 1982 behind 31146
25121 Bletchley - Swindon June 21st 1982 (with 08403, 08457, 08629 & 08704?)

132 : July 1982
25318 SP

Another dual braked machine taken out of service was 25318.

25318 broken up Vic Berry, Leicester June 1987.

195/132.

133 - 135 : August 1982
25056 KD withdrawn on August 1st 1982
25170 CD withdrawn on August 2nd 1982
25188 LO withdrawn on August 15th 1982

Three more vacuum braked machines went in August including 25170 which had already survived one withdrawal, its visit to Derby Works for repairs proved to be its downfall, after a brief reinstatement it was finally condemned for good.

25056 broken up Swindon Works during March 1985.
25170 broken up Derby Works during April 1983.
25188 broken up Swindon Works during February 1987.

192/135.

136 - 138 : September 1982
25151 LO withdrawn September 12th 1982
25141 LO withdrawn September 19th 1982
25104 LO withdrawn September 26th 1982

More steady withdrawals, this time all from Longsight depot and all vacuum braked.

25104 broken up Swindon Works during December 1986.
25141 broken up Swindon Works during January 1987.
25151 broken up Coton Hill by Vic Berry during January 1988.

189/138.

139 - 142 : October 1982
25157, 25160 & 25294 CD, 25310 CW
all withdrawn October 10th 1982 except 25157 withdrawn October 30th 1982

The withdrawal of dual braked 25310 did not signal the end of its career, it would live on a while longer as the first of the ETHELs. Another high total (at least 134) of reallocations took place, mostly between the ER & WR, whilst the vast majority of the Scottish Class 25s were transfered to the LMR.

25157 broken up Swindon Works during March 1987.
25160 broken up Vic Berry, Leicester during July 1987.
25294 broken up Swindon Works during May 1985.
25310 broken up MC Metals, Glasgow during August 1994 as Ethel 97250.

185/142.

143 - 155 : November 1982
25093 BS & 25139 TO withdrawn November 7th 1982
25143 TO withdrawn November 14th 1982
25126 CD, 25177, 25179 & 25180 CW, 25186 TO, 25187 LO, 25214 CD, 25248 & 25270 TO, 25304 CD withdrawn November 28th 1982

November 1982 proved to be a disastrous month for the Class 25s - a total of twelve would be withdrawn, December would prove to be little better. This fallout was due to a major reshuffle of LMR locomotives, particularly involving Classes 25 & 40, with a large transfer of locomotives from Springs Branch to Crewe - no doubt this big movement led to the increased rate of withdrawals.

This batch of machines included the first build of the Series Three (25/3) machines, 25248 and examples from Beyer Peacock.

25093 was the most transferred locomotive on British Rail, at the time of withdrawal it had been transferred twenty eight times, with allocations to every BR region including three months on the SR during 1964.

25093 broken up Vic Berry, Leicester during June 1987.
25126 broken up Vic Berry, Leicester during June 1987.
25139 broken up Swindon Works during October 1986.
25143 broken up Swindon Works during October 1984.
25177 broken up Swindon Works during May 1986.
25179 broken up Swindon Works during February 1987.
25180 broken up Vic Berry, Leicester during June 1987.
25186 broken up Swindon Works during January 1987.
25187 broken up Swindon Works during January 1987.
25214 broken up Swindon Works during September 1986.
25248 broken up Swindon Works during April 1986.
25270 broken up Swindon Works during May 1986.
25304 broken up Swindon Works during June 1985.

172/155.

Page added November 24th 2005
Page last updated November 16th 2017

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Class 25s - the last twenty seven (December 1986 - March 1987).

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