D7556, 7556, 25206
D7556, 7556, 25206

Photograph courtesy Roger Geach.
The light is starting to fade as 25206 & 25207 approach Respryn Bridge on May 10th 1978. They are working the 6M86 St Blazey - Carlisle freight, the service was often a pair of Class 25s at least as far as Exeter Riverside during 1978. The train would often run early following the 18.08 Penzance to Birmingham passenger/mails.

The twenty year ten month career of D7556/25206 saw it allocated to a multitude of London Midland depots and thirty months to Plymouth Laira.

Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake equipped (1974).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 70 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 111 months.

Allocations

D7556 was new to the Nottingham Division (D16) on July 10th 1965. Further transfers were:

September 1967 to Springs Branch (8F).
November 1967 to Carlisle (12A).
June 1968 to Preston Division (D10).
November 1970 to Nottingham Division (D16).
April 1971 to Preston Division (D10).
October 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
May 1973 to Toton.
June 1974 to Bescot.
March 1975 to Toton.
August 1977 to Longsight.
March 1978 to Laira.
October 1980 to Springs Branch.
October 1982 to Crewe.
Withdrawn March 21st 1986.

Renumbered May 1974.

25206 was the 279th Class 25 withdrawn, one of six retired during March 1986.

After withdrawal 25206 was stored at Bescot until March 20th 1990 when it was moved to BRML Doncaster for spares removal (including compressors & traction motors) to assist D7672 Tamworth Castle. Its movement to Doncaster saw it passing Water Orton behind 31206, eleven coke hoppers, then 25206, six passenger vehicles and a brake van. 25206 was moved to MC Metals, Glasgow by road on March 17th 1995 and scrapped there by the third week of June 1995.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works April & May 1974 (dual brakes fitted).
Noted Derby Works March - May 1979 (general repair).
Noted Derby Works December 1983 (N1 repairs).

Highlights

1966
D7556/25206's first recorded passenger working took place on June 4th 1966 working a summer dated roundtrip Nottingham - Llandudno Town with D7589.

On the afternoon of December 5th D7556 was on a down freight at Leicester.

1967
On the evening of May 9th D7555 & D7556 were noted at Derby placing a breakdown crane in a siding.

On the afternoon of September 16th D7556 was at Springs Branch.

1968
Condition March: two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels, hand/footholds still present.

On the morning of March 9th D7556 was stabled at Stockport.

On the afternoon of April 20th D7556 was stabled at Springs Branch.

On the morning of December 14th noted at Preston were 5200, 5203, 5264 and 7556 at nearby Ribble sidings.

1971
Condition August: two-tone green livery with full yellow ends.

1972
On the morning of August 5th 7556 was noted at Millom with a down freight (8M16).

Condition October: two-tone green livery with full yellow ends.

1973
At about 7am on March 20th 7556 was noted at Manchester Victoria with an up freight (7J37).

On the afternoon of September 21st 7556 was stabled at Peterborough.

1974
On January 3rd & 4th 7556 (Toton allocated) was noted at Exeter stabling point, in two-tone green livery with full yellow end, 'D' prefixes were still retained.

The midday Bescot - Exeter Riverside freight was worked by 7556 on January 2nd.

1975
On July 2nd 25206 and a train of empty coal wagons (7E01) was southbound at Normanton.

With lengthy periods allocated to Toton & Bescot 25206 managed a number of summer seaside visits. It was a return to the North Wales coast on August 16th 1975 working the 07.35 Nottingham - Llandudno Town and 13.00 return.

On September 16th 25268 & 25206 were passing Selside with eight bogie oil tanks.

On the afternoon of October 3rd 25206 & 25074 were stabled at York.

On October 9th 25206 was light engine at York.

1976
At about 10am on February 7th 25206 + 25xxx were noted at Birkenhead North on iron ore for Shotton.

On June 5th 25206 & 25245 worked a roundtrip Derby - Skegness.

On August 20th 25206 was stabled at March.

On September 9th 40162 failed at Ely working the early morning Whitemoor - Bury freight, the Class 40 was replaced by 25206. A week later on September 16th the 13.33 Taunton - Cardiff was worked by 25206.

On the afternoon of December 6th 25206 was westbound with a freight at Manchester Victoria.

1977
On March 9th 25206 & 25203 were light engines at Nottingham station.

On May 6th 25206 was at Follingsby Freightliner terminal.

Permanent way work at Wigston on July 24th utilised 25206, 25295 & 45055.

On August 2nd at 4pm Toton was host to 25206/25267/25283.

On August 20th the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Derby diagram was worked by 25206 & 25202.

On September 30th 25206 was stabled at Newton Heath.

1978
During March 25206 was transferred to Laira and although not boiler equipped it was frequently noted on the Exeter area passenger workings. On March 29th 25206 & 25207 were marshalled at each end of a china clay train for the journey from Newquay to St Blazey yard.

On the morning of 25206 worked a Moorswater clay tip to lostwithiel trip and was later seen in Truro yard.

During the third week of April 25206 & 25207 were noted running together, on April 14th they worked the 7M86 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle freight as far as Exeter Riverside and on April 21st they worked the 20.55 St Blazey - Temple Mills freight to Exeter Riverside.

On the afternoon of April 27th 25155 & 25206 were noted at Plymouth with a down clay.

On the evening of May 10th 25207 & 25206 were noted at Bodmin Road with the 6M86 St Blazey - Carlisle freight.

On the morning of May 15th 25206 was at Moorswater with a clay working.

On the evening of May 18th 25206 was noted at Lostwithiel with clay for Fowey.

On the evening of May 22nd 25207 & 25206 were noted at Bodmin Road with the 6M86 St Blazey - Carlisle freight.

Observations in the Plymouth / Exeter / Bristol area on May 27th include:
Laira 07.30 25058, 25080, 25206, 31232, 50024
50044 07.15 Exeter - Plymouth
31134 06.35 Plymouth - Old Oak vans
25048 07.15 Barnstaple - Exeter vans
Exeter depot 08.30 25225, 50036
50022 07.05 Worcester - Penzance motorail
47129 07.15 Oxford - Paignton
47043 07.55 Worcester - Paignton
Bristol Bath Road 09.50 25248, 25274
47086 08.50 Swansea - Paignton
47121 10.00 Barnstaple - Norwich SAGA
25048 11.57 Barnstaple - Exeter (most of the Barnstaple services this day were handled by Class 31s)
33064 & 33035 08.53 Brighton - Exeter
47452 15.15 Paignton - Oxley ECS
33113 15.55 Exeter - Waterloo
33115 13.00 Waterloo - Exeter and 17.55 return
47204 17.15 Newton Abbot - Cardiff Canton ECS
33209 15.00 Waterloo - Exeter and 19.55 to Basingstoke
47505 20.35 Newton Abbot - Stirling motorail
47167 & 50004 16.20 Penzance - Morden South /Paddington milk and vans
47437 19.35 Penzancez - Oxley ECS.

On the afternoon of June 14th 25206 & 25215? were up light engines at Plymouth.

On June 16th 25052 & 25206 worked the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods to Exeter Riverside? and 25207 & 25223 worked the 20.50 St Blazey - Temple Mills goods to Exeter Riverside?

Observations at Plymouth on June 30th include:
50031 11.06 Penzance - Paddington to Plymouth, 47028 forward
47085 11.57 Newquay - Leeds
25223 up light engine Plymouth 14.00
47008 1V76 to Plymouth, 50045 forward
50017 12.45 Penzance - Crewe vans to Plymouth, 47125 forward
50033 16.42 St Erth - Morden South milk
50026 17.53 Exeter - Penzance ECS
50037 1M77 to Plymouth, 47008 forward
25080 15.52 Bristol - Plymouth vans
25206 19.55 Plymouth Friary - St Blazey goods.

On the afternoon of July 3rd 25206 & 25155 were on an up goods at Plymouth.

On July 7th 25207 & 25206 worked the 20.50 St Blazey - Temple Mills goods to?

On July 14th 25206 worked the 16.05 Truro - Plymouth Friary.

On July 18th 25206 was in the yard at St Blazey with a train of vans.

On the morning of July 22nd 25206 was stabled at Exeter shed. On this morning there was some excitement at Plymouth after 47504 ran into the stock of the 1S27 headed by 47094. The train was cancelled, whilst 31210 & 31265 brought in the Laira breakdown train, 47094 would later work the 08.06 Newton Abbot - Edinburgh relief. On July 25th 47504 was undergoing brake testing at Plymouth following attention after the collision.

On July 26th 25206 worked the 16.40 Plymouth - Paignton.

On August 1st 25206 worked the 09.55 Exeter St Davids - Paignton, the return 11.10 Paignton - Exeter St Davids, the 17.30 Paignton - Exeter St Davids and the 18.44 Exeter St Davids - Paignton.

On August 5th 25206 worked the 10.00 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids, the 08.25 Paddington - Barnstaple from Exeter and the return 14.40 Barnstaple - Paddington to Exeter.

Photograph courtesy Peter Lovell.
25206 waits to leave from Yeoford on August 5th 1978 with the 08.25 Paddington - Barnstaple. The use of a Class 25 indicates a change of engine at Exeter. The train had either arrived with a Class 47 or Class 31.

On the morning of August 8th 25206 was stabled at Exeter, it later worked the 2B35 17.30 Paignton - Exeter St Davids and the 2B38 18.45 Exeter St Davids - Paignton (six coaches).

At 9am on August 19th 25206 was stabled at Newton Abbot shed.

On August 26th 25206 worked the 10.00 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids, the 08.25 Paddington - Barnstaple forward from Exeter, the 14.40 Barnstaple - Paddington to Exeter, the 16.38 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the 18.03 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids.

On September 8th St Blazey sent out 25052 & 37142 on the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods and 25206 & 25207 on the 20.50 St Blazey - Temple Mills goods.

25206 was stabled at Exeter during the early hours of September 16th. 25206 & 37142 worked the 20.50 St Blazey - Temple Mills to Exeter Riverside on September 22nd.

On September 26th 25206 & 37267 worked the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods to Exeter.

On September 27th 25206 & 25207 worked the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods to Exeter.

On the morning of September 29th 37267 & 25206 were noted at Plymouth with a down clay.

On the afternoon of September 30th 25206 was noted at St Blazey.

On November 24th 37142 & 25206 worked the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle as far as Exeter Riverside.

On the morning of December 9th 25052,25057, 25206 & 25223 were stabled at Exeter shed.

On a very snowy December 31st 25206 was stabled at Exeter shed.

1979
Heavy snow over the New Year plagued services with delays and faulty equipment making life even more difficult to maintain the timetable. In the West Country Exeter proved to be a graveyard for frozen up locomotives, with temperatures reaching down to –13C most things simply froze up. At Exeter the local services were cancelled with the diesel multiple units frozen solid. The diesels fared little better with eighteen frozen up locomotives including 25052, 25206/225/263.

At about 2pm on a very, very cold January 2nd Exeter stabling point contained 08288, 08641, 08953 (station pilot) 25052, 25206, 25225, 25263, 31107, 31138, 33009, 33114, 46020, 47008 & 50022. Most of these locomotives were unserviceable, either unable to start, or unable to heat a train. The diesel multiple units were in equally poor condition. Set P464 had been obtained from Newton Abbot to work the Exmouth branch on a go-when-ready basis. At about 7am 46020 was sent from Laira to Exeter equipped with a steam lance and carrying a fitter and an electrician. Later in the day when the 'Golden Hind' failed at Brent 46020 went to its rescue, taking it as far as Newton Abbot. All the trains passing through Exeter were standing room only. 47008 had arrived with empty coaching stock from Newton Abbot to work the 07.15 to Plymouth, whilst waiting to depart the brake gear on the locomotive froze solid.

On the afternoon of January 3rd 47188, 31138, 25206, 31107 & 50018 were taken from Exeter to Laira as a dead engine movement, all having sustained damage in the recent freeze-up, the engine o0f 50018 was running but no power, the Class 25 and the two Class 31s would not start. Most main line trains were running, but timekeeoing had been abandoned. There were two diesel multiple units available at Exeter St Davids, the branch service run to connect with the main line connections.

On January 12th 25206 worked the 15.52 Bristol Temple Meads - Plymouth vans (4B10), noted at Exeter St Davids.

On the morning of January 13th 25048, 25057, 25206, 33007 & 47286 were stabled at Exeter shed.

January 16th was a day of ASLEF strike action, at 3.30pm Exeter stabling point contained 08641, 08953, 25048, 25052, 25080, 25206, 33001, 33004, 46017, 46043, 47091, 47290, 47509 & 47543 (14 locomotives).

On the late afternoon of January 20th 25206 was stabled at Exeter shed.

On the morning of January 22nd 25052 & 25206 were stabled at Exeter shed.

On the morning of April 21st 25206 was noted down light engine at Nailsea.

On April 25th ex-works 25206 worked the 4B10 15.55 Bristol - Plymouth parcels.

On the evening of April 27th 25206 was at Taunton with an up goods.

On the morning of April 28th 25206 & 25223 were noted at Exeter shed, both were noted there in the evening.

On the afternoon of April 29th 25164/25206/25223/25225 were stabled at Exeter.

On the evening of May 3rd 25206 was stabled at Exeter shed.

On the evening of May 5th 25053 & 25206 were stabled at Newton Abbot.

On the afternoon of May 6th 25206 & 25223 were stabled at Exeter shed.

Photograph courtesy Peter Lovell.
The paintwork glistens on recently outshopped 25206 as it shunts bitumen tanks at Exeter City Basin on May 7th 1979, a duty shared with Class 08 shunters. Over the years bitumen, petrol and coal for the gasworks would have come into the complex at city Basin.

On the early afternoon of May 12th 25206 was stabled a Exeter shed.

At mid-day on May 17th 25206 was stabled at Exeter shed.

On the afternoon of May 26th 25206 was noted with a down goods at Lostwithiel.

On June 15th 25206 & 25225 worked the 19.35 St Blazey - Plymouth Friary and then the 6V53.

Photograph courtesy Peter Lovell.
25206 & 25225 have arrived at Par on an overcast June 28th 1979 with a lengthy freight. The fuel tanks and cement wagons suggest this train has originated at Penzance.

On July 6th 25206 & 25155 were noted at Exeter with the 04.24 Stoke - St Blazey empty clay working.

On August 24th 25206 & 25207 were noted at Exeter St Davids with the 19.50 St Blazey - Carlisle freight.

On October 15th 25225 & 25206 worked loaded clay wagons from Drinnick Mill to Burngullow during the afternoon. On October 19th 25206 was noted westbound at Lostwithiel with clay empties.

1980
On February 6th 25206 worked the 8B73 09.15 Exeter Riverside - Exmouth Junction coal trip.

On the morning of February 23rd 25206 & 25225 were stabled at Exeter shed.

On March 1st 25206 was noted at Exeter St Davids headed up the bank to Exeter Central with a train of milk tankers.

On the morning of March 17th 25206 & 25225 were noted at Exeter shed.

On June 6th 25206 worked the 19.02 Exeter St. Davids - Paignton. On June 22nd a Torrington - Plymouth excursion was worked by 25058 & 25206 to Exeter, then 50027 roundtrip to Plymouth and 33028 from Exeter back to Torrington. On June 24th 25206 worked the 18.58 Exeter St. Davids - Paignton.

On July 20th 25206 was stabled at St Blazey.

On July 30th 25206 worked the 2B40 18.58 Exeter St. Davids - Paignton (five coaches).

On the afternoon of August 6th 25206 was noted at Exeter St Davids yard. On Saturday August 9th 25206 worked the 05.08 Barnstaple - Exeter St. Davids vans(4B70), the 07.25 Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple and the 10.00 return, the 09.48 Paddington - Barnstaple forward from Exeter St. Davids and the return 14.45 to Paddington as far as Exeter St. Davids.

On August 18th 25206 worked the 2B77 18.00 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids and the 2B46 19.55 Exeter St Davids - Paignton.

Photograph courtesy Peter Lovell.
The summer stopping trains are almost over for both the 1980 season and for the Class 25s. 25206 eases into the loop at Dawlish Warren on September 2nd 1980 with the 14.20 Exeter - Paignton, a couple of MkII coaches have managed to creep into the set. The layout is little changed, although the semaphores and signalbox disappeared following the Exeter MAS scheme of the mid 1980s.

Photograph courtesy Peter Lovell.
Having worked from Exeter to Paignton earlier on the morning of September 2nd 1980, 25206 returns to Exeter with the 11.04 from Paignton. 25206 was allocated to Laira from March 1978 to October 1980, after transfer off the Western Region its next home would be Springs Branch.

On September 2nd 25206 worked the 09.34 Exeter St. Davids - Paignton, the 11.04 return and the 14.20 Exeter St.Davids - Paignton. On September 6th 25206 worked the 10.00 Barnstaple - Exeter St. Davids, returning from there with the 09.48 Paddington - Barnstaple, the 14.45 to Barnstaple - Paddington, the return 16.42 Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple and the return 18.05 to Exeter. On September 11th 25206 worked the 19.55 Exeter St. Davids - Paignton.

At the end of the summer 1980 timetable 25206 was transferred to Springs Branch, with the last recorded working prior to transfer being a roundtrip Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple on September 20th 1980.

During the early afternoon of December 15th 25206 worked a crane and other wagons from Chester to Crewe.

On December 27th 25206 was stabled at Springs Branch.

1981
On February 8th 25206 was at Springs Branch.

Railtour duty on March 3rd saw 25206 & 40111 working the 'Tubular Belle' Euston - Blaenau Ffestiniog railtour between Llandudno Junction & Blaenau Ffestiniog (out & back).

On April 16th 25206 was eastbound at Guide Bridge with nine cement tanks.

On June 16th 25206 & 25202 worked a Birmingham New Street - Llandudno Town day excursion from/to Crewe. Two weeks later on June 27th 25206 & 25141 worked a roundtrip (?) relief Blythe Bridge - Llandudno Town.

On the morning of August 3rd 25206 and brakevan were noted at Chester station.

The 09.42 Poole - Manchester Piccadilly on October 17th with 47519 required assistance from 25206 at least between Leamington Spa & Birmingham New Street. Two days later on October 19th 25206 & 25209 were noted southbound at Tring with a ballast train.

1982
On the late afternoon of February 17th 25206 & 25145 were noted at Bristol with an up oil train.

On the late afternoon of April 28th 25182, 25206 & 25313 were stabled at Cricklewood.

On the early afternoon of May 24th 25075, 25205 & 25206 were stabled at Saltley.

On the evening of May 30th 25075 & 25206 were noted at Saltley.

On the afternoon of June 1st 25206, 25251 & 25285 were noted at Saltley.

A Wigan N.W. - Wembley Central footbal special on June 5th required assistance from 25206 & 25054 from Bletchley to Wembley Central when 40133 failed.

On the late afternoon of August 5th 25206 was noted at Acton Yard.

The surplus of Type 4s and the recently arrived Class 31s on the Midland did not prevent the use of the Class 25s on some odd workings during August, on 10th the 12.35 Northfleet – Toton merry-go-round was hauled by 25202 & 25206.

The end of August proved quite hectic for 25205 on Cambrian line workings. On August 21st 25206 & 25058 worked the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Birmingham New Street, returning with the 16.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. On August 22nd the same pair of locomotives worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth, the 16.40 Aberystwyth - Machynlleth and 17.25 return and finally the 18.15 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton. The following week, and now attached to 25209, 25206 on August 28th worked the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street, returning with the 16.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. The next day (29th) the same pair worked the same diagram as was handled on August 22nd.

On September 11th 25206 was at Severn Tunnel Junction.

On December 11th 25206 & 25075 were noted at Tunnel Hill (WCML) with a ballast train, assisting in the clean up after the derailment of 81016 a few days earlier.

25206 underwent an 'E' exam at Tyseley during December 1982.

1983
On January 8th 25206 was stabled at Birkenhead.

On January 23rd 25206 was eastbound light engine at Wakefield.

On the evening of February 11th 25076 & 25206 were stabled at York.

On the early afternoon of March 7th 25208 & 25206 were noted at Heaton Norris with cement tankers headed for Guide Bridge. On March 9th 25206 & 25208 were in charge of an early morning Trafford Park – Newcastle freightliner working.

25206 & 25117 came to the rescue of 56031 on July 19th after the Class 56 suffered a turbo-charger failure working an ARC stone train at Verney Jct, the Class 25s taking the working to Wolverton and then the broken Class 56 to Bletchley for examination.

On August 24th 25206 was light engine at Bescot.

On August 27th 25206 was at Cardiff Canton.

On September 17th 25206 & 25078 were noted at Helsby with a special Stanlow - Salfords (Gatwick) oil train, with 16 TEAs, 4TTAs for about 1,800 tonnes.

The recorded passenger workings for 1983 all featured the Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria workings, including a round trip on October 17th 1983.

On October 27th 25206 was southbound at Warrington WCML with a short freight for Arpley.

1984
The workings for 1984 showed a heavy bias to the north-west, starting with the 21.44 Preston - Liverpool (off the 18.20 Glasgow - Manchester) on March 14th.

June 2nd brought three trips, the 06.30 Preston - Barrow, the 08.20 Barrow - Liverpool and the 16.14 Liverpool - Preston.

On July 7th 25206 was at Warrington Arpley.

On July 10th 25206 was westbound at Manchester Victoria with the Wigan breakdown train.

A change of scenery took place on September 3rd working the 12.10 Cambridge - Birmingham New Street forward from Nuneaton Abbey Junction following the failure of 31419. On September 11th 25206 & 40192 were noted on one of the local Speke trip workings. 25206 returned to the north-west during mid September, on September 13th working the 19.35 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria, then the 21.16 Preston - Barrow and the following morning's 07.33 Barrow - Preston on September 18th/19th & 20th (morning only). On September 21st 25173 worked the 07.33 Barrow - Preston but required assistance from 25206 forward from Dalton Junction. 25206 continued on to work the relief 12.51 Blackpool North - Euston to Preston, then a returning Glasgow Central - Blackpool North day excursion from Preston.

On September 26th 25206 & 25212 were eastbound at Chester with oil tanks.

On October 6th 25206 & 37224 were at Hereford station with an engineers train.

On December 7th 25206 was at Ashburys with a single wagon, thought to be the 7T85 to Skew Bridge (Miles Platting).

Photograph collection of webmaster.
A nicely lit view of 25206 at Birkenhead, date unknown.

1985
On February 23rd 25206 was at Toton.

On April 24th 25206 was stabled at Shrewsbury.

On April 27th 31212, 31282, 25206, 25191 & 25282 were southbound at Rugby light engines.

On May 9th 25206 was light engine at Watford Junction.

1985 produced a small mix of passenger workings in the second half of the year. On June 1st an afternoon Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton was worked by 25206 & 25268 from Shrewsbury, 25268 failed at Cosford and was dragged to Wolverhampton.

On June 6th 25206 was noted at Thurmaston with a lengthy ballast train and was also noted at York with coaches & vans.

On June 29th 25206 was southbound at York with a van train.

The 16.15 Glasgow Central - Liverpool was worked forward from Preston by 25206 on July 8th. Two weeks later on July 23rd 25206 handled the 14.10 Cambridge - Blackpool North from Preston, 45016 was taken off because the driver did not have traction knowledge for the Class 45. The next day (24th) 25206 worked the 06.30 Blackpool North - Euston to Preston.

On July 27th 25206 was stabled at Bescot.

On August 9th 25206 was noted at Leamington Spa on an up Cartic. On August 20th 25206 was at Crewe Diesel depot. 25206 was north of the border on August 23rd with 25059 working the relief 10.41 Exeter St. Davids - Edinburgh forward from Carstairs.

On the evening of September 11th 25206 was stabled at Warrington Arpley and was this day also noted southbound at Acton Grange with a new car/van train.

On September 12th 25206 was stabled at Warrington Arpley.

The last recorded passenger working for 1985 saw a visit to the North Wales coast, on September 25th handling the 15.18 Llandudno Town - York as far as Manchester Victoria.

On October 19th 25206 was noted at Allerton.

On November 24th 25206 was at Severn Tunnel Junction.

1985 (?): The return to traffic for Hornby Docks saw 25206 working the first (trial?) service to Hornby Docks for many years using BDA 961116, with the first traffic being from Workington BSC with steel sleepers for export to Africa.

1986
25206's final recorded passenger working took place on February 3rd 1986 piloting 47588 on the 21.10 Euston - Stranraer Harbour forward from Ayr.

25206 handled a Tyne – Carlisle cement working on February 6th.

On Tuesday February 18th 25206 worked the 3J14 12:36 (MSX) Preston Up Goods Loop - Manchester Red Bank Carriage Sidings parcels (formed of M7191, M93831, W93216, M84078, W93172, M84196, M84053, 93885, M93981, M93485, W93503, E9360?).

On March 1st 25206 was at Rhyl with a lengthy loaded ballast train for nearby engineering work.

On March 7th 25206 traversed the Hindlow branch with a single wagon.

25206 was withdrawn on March 21st 1986.

1995
Finally in June 1995 the remaining hulks at Bescot, which had now been withdrawn for about nine years, were dispatched by road to Glasgow and quickly dealt with. Six locomotives had originally been placed in Bescot’s down local sorting siding during 1985. Several had moved on, 25206 went to Doncaster Works in 1990 to become a parts source for 25912, preservationists claimed 25235, leaving 25194/205/211/259 to await their fate. However through the continuing generosity of the management of MC Metals these hulks, as well as those received previously, were broken up only after they had given up many valuable components, including complete bogies, power units and generators to various preservation groups. For these groups this would be the last such opportunity, as the Sulzer engined Type 2, Classes 24 - 27, was now extinct outside of preservation. The remnants of the Class 33 still lingered on the SR but their window of existence was closing inexorably, and for 24/25 preservationists they could only supply some compatible parts. But there still existed one machine, 25083 at Crewe Electric depot, which had so far defied scrapping and would eventually reach preservation.

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

76/4187
flk 1223

Page added June 8th 2013.
Last updated March 6th 2024.

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