The almost twenty one year career of D7615/25265 commenced with just over two years on the Scottish Region, followed by almost nineteen years allocated to London Midland Region depots.
Built BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake fitted (May 1974).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 81 months.
Preserved.
Allocations
D7615 was new to Eastfield (65A) on May 12th 1966. Further transfers were:
August 1968 to Liverpool Division (D08).
September 1968 to Preston Division (D10).
November 1968 to Birmingham Division (D02).
December 1970 to Nottingham Division (D16).
October 1971 to Birmingham Division (D02).
January 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
February 1973 to Birmingham Division (D02).
March 1973 to Nottingham Division (D16).
May 1973 to Toton.
May 1974 to Cricklewood.
June 1974 to Willesden.
June 1975 to Cricklewood.
January 1984 to Crewe.
Withdrawn March 18th 1987.
Renumbered March 2nd 1974.
25265 was the 321st Class 25 withdrawn.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works March - May 1974, including fitting of dual brake equipment.
Noted Derby Works May & June 1980, for a General repair.
Highlights
1966
Although the Scottish Region had received a batch of brand new Class 24s for use on duties from Inverness depot, the Region had not, so far received any new Class 25s. However between April & September thirteen Class 25s (7611 - 7623) were delivered from Derby Works to Eastfield (65A). This included D7615, delivered during May.
These were the only Class 25s delivered with a cabside recess to accommodate tablet catcher equipment.
As an ex-works locomotive, D7615 visited Frodingham on May 13th with a morning freight from Washwood Heath, returning later with tipplers for Avenue sidings, possibly trying to reach Eastfield but diverted to other workings as it headed north.
On the evening of May 14th and the morning of May 16th D7615 was stabled at York, presumably headed north for Eastfield.
On May 17th D7615 was in more familiar territory working, rather unusually, a morning Corstorphine – Waverley passenger, normally a Type 4 working.
On the afternoon of September 24th there were eighty three locomotives at Eastfield, including D7611, D7616 & D7622.
1968
After just over two years at Eastfield D7615 was transferred south to the Liverpool Division (D08).
1969
On April 29th 7615 was light engine at Crewe.
1971
On June 11th the roundtrip Nottingham - Llandudno Town service was worked by 5240 & 7615.
Condition June:two-tone green with full yellow ends.
On July 31st the summer dated roundtrip Nottingham - Llandudno Town was worked by 7615 & 7526.
1972
In the early hours of April 16th 7615 was noted at Wellingborough.
A trip from Luton to Derby for a visit to the Locomotive Works Open Day on August 26th includes the following observations:
Luton: 5243
Bedford: 3859, 4139
Wellingborough: 35, 3863, 3864
Kettering: 57, 5277
Leicester: 10, 43, 38, 73, 85, 102, 118, 130, 1860, 1989, 3776, 3862, 3866, 5233, 5235
Derby Tech Center, London Road curve, station area (morning): 18, 21, 27, 33, 47, 67, 91, 95, 98, 104, 169, 177, 151, 160,
1755, 1769, 1942, 1960, 2130, 2387, 3082, 3186, 3351, 3569, 3572, 3577, 3771, 3792, 5232, 5241, 5270, 5282,
5567, 5570, 5618, 5626, 6869, 7615, 7639, 8047, 8072, 8156
Derby Tech Center, London Road curve, station area (afternoon): 14, 22, 26, 56, 58, 63, 68, 79, 90, 101, 109, 110, 117, 133, 139, 173,
1579, 1583, 1588, 1727, 1732, 1738, 5234, 5236, 5242, 5250, 5276, 5279, 5280, 5281, 5618, 6750, 7610, 8197
Leicester: 52, 73, 102, 5224, 5233, 5235, 5243, 5248, 5267, 5284, 7561
Market Harborough: 1860
Wellingborough: 99, 130, 5241, 7614, 7615, 7649
Bedford: 52, 83, 3859, 4139
Luton: 7523, 6590 6M54.
Freight trains noted at Luton on August 30th include:
7523 6LXX
7607 & 7615 8M41
91 5C33
41 8F50
117 3D25
51 8C62
132 6Z39
6554 6M54.
An excursion from St Pancras to Hartlepool (1Z69) on October 14th with 1855 included the following observations:
Luton: 7593 & 5273 8F30
Bedford: 7523
Wellinborough: 7615
Leicester
5225, 5235, 5248
Loughborough: 2, 8, 8135, 8187 & 8144
Toton: 6
Beighton Scrapyard: 4 COR units 3139 & 3168
York south: 95, 274, 1989, 6861, 8311, 9012
York station :395, 3238, 3315, 3687, 5582
York depot: 19, 396, 3874, 5520, 5521, 5558, 5559, 5585, 5588, 5659, 5670, 5820, 6701, 6719, 6779, 6926
Thirsk: 6803
Northallerton: 5658
Stockton: 6776, 6793, 6900
Hartlepool: 2067, 2076, 2099, 3799, 6731, 6732 6813 (then a local multiple unit to Newcastle)
Sunderland: 2105
Newcastle: 368, 2064, 2104, steam locomotives 2392, 4498, 3395, 29, 80002
Gateshead depot: 34, 53, 141, 166, 167, 180, 183, 190, 252, 254, 257, 272, 285, 286, 353, 1513, 1577, 1578, 1996, 2052, 2053, 2056, 2059, 2061, 2071, 2074, 2163, 3182, 3244, 3875, 5108, 5109, 5598, 5616, 5856, 6758, 6794, 6796, 6952
Newcastle: 79, 141, 166, 254, 275, 1970, 2102, 2170, 3244, 5691, 6703, 6729, 6795, 9013, 9016, 9018
Hartlepool: 3943, 6731, 6732
York depot : 1108, 1977, 5520, 5522, 5559, 5669, 5820, 5834, 6719, 6926, 6950
York station: 3315, 5523
Leicester depot: 1730, 5225, 5248, 5563, 5800, 5836.
On the morning of December 14th 7615 was noted at Exeter holding sidings (two tone green livery with full yellow cab fronts).
1973
On the evening of January 16th 7615 was southbound at York with freight 8M78.
On the evening of February 6th 5256 & 7615 were noted light engines at York station (8G05).
On June 9th 7615 & 7549 worked the Derby - Norwich (1E83) - Yarmouth (1E91) - Norwich (1M37) - Walsall (1M66) summer dated services.
1974
On the afternoon of May 7th 25015, 25265 & 25269 were stabled at York.
1975
25265 was noted light engine at Camden on June 10th.
On August 8th the 1D42 08.20 Euston - Holyhead failed behind 40175 near Tal-y-Bont, 25265 dragged everything to Holyhead.
On August 14th 25265 worked the 8M26 12.10 Norwood - Willesden Brent Sidings freight.
1976
25265 was noted in the parcels bay at Euston on July 11th.
25265 was the Manchester Victoria banker (T42) on November 28th.
1977
On May 24th 25265 worked the 2V67 16.00 Crewe - Cardiff.
On June 6th the relief 1E80 09.30 Nottingham - Skegness was worked by 25265 & 25316, it is presumed they handled the return working.
On the morning of June 30th 25265 was stabled at York.
On the afternoon of July 4th 25265 was stabled at York.
On the morning of December 23rd 25265 was stabled at York and was later noted in the early evening light engine southbound at York.
1978
On the frosty morning of January 18th 25265 was at Old Oak Junction with two milk tanks.
In the early hours of July 15th 25141, 25265, 37056, 40134, 40186 were noted stabled at Saltley.
On Thursday September 28th 25265 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and (presumably) the 12.00 Norwood - Willesden.
1979
On Monday March 12th 25265 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and the return 12.00 Norwood to Willesden.
Despite its longevity D7615/25265's recorded passenger workings were not prolific. As expected, being a longtime London Midland Region locomotive it featured on occasional trips to the regular seaside resorts, but also gained mileage on several of the lesser known workings. Its longest recorded passenger working occurred on September 1st 1979 when 25265 & 25264 worked the 07.34 Leicester - Paignton, a distance of 234 miles. On the early afternoon of September 2nd 25264 & 25265 were stabled at Newton Abbot and were also noted at Exeter with a service for Derby, not sure how far they worked, possibly to Bristol or Gloucester. On September 3rd and presumably making their way north 25264 & 25265 worked the 15.15 Plymouth - Manchester Piccadilly between Gloucester and Birmingham New Street.
On October 13th 25265 worked the 1E64 10.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich (throughout?).
On November 28th a late afternoon Tyne - Millerhill freight was worked by 25068 & 25265.
On the morning of December 7th 25265 was noted north of York with a northbound freight.
1980
On March 22nd 25265 was stabled at Crewe.
On April 21st 25265 was westbound at Conwy with empty coaching stock.
On July 4th, shortly after outshopping from Derby, 25265 coupled to 25279 worked a lengthy train of roadstone from Mountsorrel to Kennett.
On July 17th 25265 made a test run from Derby Works, this was in response to rectification work carried out.
The snag sheet for July 17th recorded:
25265; July 17th 1980; light engine to Burton
No Load/Speed/Amp/Volt records made.
Main generator rebrush
Main generator clean up ??
Main generator vee ring - reset?
No.1 traction motor changed
No.4 traction motor cleaned
Xred 124/127
No.2 brush ?? hanging off.
On September 23rd 25265 & 25324 were noted passing Birmingham International with a freight.
1981
On August 15th 25265 was stabled at Guide Bridge.
On September 19th 25265 worked the 09.00 Blackpool North - Crewe, presumably to Preston.
On November 22nd 25265 was noted at Coventry on permanent way duties with five other Class 25s.
1982
On February 6th 25265 was stabled at Cockshute.
On May 8th 25265 was stabled at March.
On June 1st 25265 was stabled at Saltley.
On June 5th 25265 & 25251 worked the 10.10 Euston-Aberystwyth forward from Birmingham New Street, returning with the 2J57 16.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.
On June 6th 25265 & 25251 worked the 1J65 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth forward from Shrewsbury. They then worked the 2J75 16.40 Aberystwyth - Machynlleth and the return 17.25 Machynlleth - Aberystwyth, followed by the 1A51 18.15 Aberystwyth - Euston to Shrewsbury.
On June 12th 25265 & 25251 worked the 2J57 07.38 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, returning with the 1A46 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton.
25256 & 25265 worked a Mountsorrel - Barnham stone train on July 20th.
On August 4th 25265 & 25303 worked an afternoon train on empty bogie oil tanks from St Helens to Stanlow.
On September 8th 25265 worked the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle throughout, 47413 had worked the southbound leg.
On October 11th the 10.42 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth diesel multiple unit required the assistance of 25265 from Newtown.
On October 25th the 06.00 Derby - Poole with 47536 required assistance from 25265 between Banbury & Reading after the Class 47 failed.
1983
On January 19th 25265 was stabled at Saltley.
On February 10th 25265 was southbound at Bescot with a freight.
On April 15th 25249 & 25265 worked the 4E78 Forders - Kings Cross goods brick train.
On May 12th 25265, 25313 & 25251 tripleheaded a train of mostly container flats over the Bedford - Bletchley branch. 25265 would later work the Stewartby - Garston brick train, being noted passing Wellingborough.
On July 1st 25265 was the Camp Hill, Saltley banker.
On the late morning of July 31st 25265 assisted at least two services between Bletchley & Rugby due to the power being off for engineering work.
During the nighttime hours of August 27th 25265 was at Crewe with a freight.
On September 1st the 1A74 18.30 Wolverhampton - Euston with 85012 failed at Tring, 25265 & 25285 dragged everything to Euston.
On September 17th the 1J24 10.10 Euston - Shrewsbury was worked forward from Birmingham New Street by 25265 & 25237.
On September 19th the 1V03 08.01 Crewe - Cardiff was worked by 25265.
On September 26th 25265 & 25302 were noted at Etruria with a loaded sand train, presumably for St Helens.
On October 31st 25265 was noted at Warrington Bank Quay with a freight.
1984
On February 5th 25265 & 25326 worked the relief 23.05 Euston - Nuneaton forward from Northampton.
On February 10th 25265 & 25266 were northbound at Warrington Bank Quay with oil tanks.
May 7th brought two long distance excursions to Aberystwyth including 25265 & 25283 with day trippers from Stratford on Avon, the train comprised of Mark 2 coaches, a first for the Cambrian line. The Class 25s worked the roundtrip Wolverhampton - Aberystwyth portions.
On June 2nd 25265 & 25315 worked the 2J61 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, returning with the 1A46 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton.
On June 9th 25265 & 25321 worked the 1J20 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Wolverhampton, returning with the 2J84 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.
On June 16th 25265 took a brand new London Transport 1983 Jubilee Line 3-car underground train from Metro-Cammell, Washwood Heath to Ruislip.
A lengthy 6V93 Mossend Yard - Severn Tunnel Junction Speedlink service was noted passing through Shrewsbury behind 25265 on July 7th & 9th. 25265 & 25300 worked the 6V32 14.56 Ellesmere Post - Cranmore oil tanks on July 19th. On the afternoon of July 24th 25265 was noted at Garston Holding Sidings and was later noted with 25300 on the 6V32 Ellesmere Port - Severn Tunnel Junction bitumen tanks.
On July 26th 25265 was noted at Wem with a lengthy 6V93 Mossend - Severn Tunnel Junction Speedlink and had been noted westbound at Manchester Victoria with bogie ballast wagons this day.
On July 31st 25300 & 25265 were noted southbound at Hereford with possibly the 6V32 bitumen tanks for Cranmore.
On August 18th 25265 & 25287 worked the 2J61 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, returning with the 1A46 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Shrewsbury, at Shrewsbury 25265 was removed, 25287 continuing.
25265 was northbound at Warrington Arpley with chemical tanks on August 29th.
On August 31st the 15.13 Crewe - Barrow was worked forward from Preston by 25265.
On September 12th 25265 was stabled at Nuneaton.
On October 6th 25265 was stabled at Bescot.
On November 19th 25265 worked the 15.02 Manchester – Bristol parcels.
25265 worked the first leg of the 6S75 12.25 Severn Tunnel Junction - Mossend on December 17th, the train being comprised of about twenty short wheelbase Railfreight wagons. 25265 was stabled at Warrington Arpley on December 26th.
1985
On January 30th 25265 was northbound at South Kenton with an electrification train.
On February 3rd 25265 was noted shunting diesel multiple units at Marylebone and was later in attendance with a rerailing train whem one of the units became derailed.
On March 23rd 25265 & 25269 were stabled at Bletchley.
On April 27th 25265 was light engine at Crewe station.
On a damp May 27th 25269 & 25265 were stabled at Bletchley.
On July 12th 25265 was at Oakham with a loaded ballast train.
In the early morning hours of July 18th 25265 was noted at Stafford with a parcels train.
On July 19th 25265 & 25283 were noted at Llandevenny (Bishton Flyover) with oil tanks.
On August 8th 25265 was noted at Crewe with short wheelbase Railfreight vans.
On August 14th was noted shunting vans at Crewe station.
When 27023 failed at Dumfries on August 23rd with the 07.40 Glasgow Central - Carlisle, 25265 was on hand to take the train forward to Carlisle and cover the 12.40 back to Glasgow and the 17.30 return to Carlisle.
On August 26th 25265 was shunting at Crofton permanent way yard.
25265 was noted at Glasgow Central on September 1st.
On September 10th 25265 worked the 16.02 Lancaster - Hull as far as Leeds after the diagrammed Class 31/4 failed.
On September 12th 25265 was noted at Hawarden Bridge with a train of scrap, possibly from the closed John Summers steelworks.
On September 13th 25265 & 25309 worked the 1Z10 13.55 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh relief forward from Carstairs.
25265 & 25309 were noted at York stabling point on September 14th. The next day (15th) these Class 25s were diagrammed for the 14.05 York - Plymouth relief as far as Sheffield, where the train was taken forward by 47574.
On September 26th 25265 was at Warrington Arpley.
On October 1st 25265 was stabled at Leicester.
On October 10th 25265 dragged the 1K04 19.25 Preston - Crewe with an electric locomotive between Warrington via Chester to Crewe.
On November 2nd 25265 was noted at Wembley on a loaded ballast working.
On November 3rd 25265 assisted the 1A20 14.00 Wolverhampton - Euston between Coventry & Rugby due to the power being off.
A diesel multiple unit failure on November 4th saw the 07.40 Nottingham - Birmingham New Street being hauled forward from Derby by 25265.
On November 10th 25265 was southbound at Barrow on Soar with an engineers train from Toton.
On November 26th 25265 was stabled at Aberystwyth, waiting for the fuel train to be unloaded.
December 30th saw 25265, 20049 & 20178 running light through Hagley under cloudy skies and with light snow on the ground.
1986
On January 8th 25265 worked the 1F27 21.42 Preston - Liverpool, being the portion off the 1M40 18.15 Glasgow - Manchester.
On January 25th 25265 was noted westbound at Prestatyn with a lengthy train of empty coal wagons.
On February 8th 25265 worked the 1F27 18.10 Edinburgh - Liverpool forward from Preston.
On March 24th 25265 worked a diverted service from St. Pancras to Nuneaton due to overhead line damage at Hanslope.
On March 31st 25265 was stabled at Shrewsbury.
On April 10th 25265 was stabled at Bristol Bath Road.
On April 17th 25265 worked a train of steel coils from Llanwern to Newport Docks.
On April 19th the 0Z17 Bescot - Willesden light engine movement comprised 31326, 31285, 25244 & 25265.
On April 24th 25265 was noted on the Oldbury branch with three loaded chlorine tanks and barrier wagons for the Albright & Wilson works.
25265 was light engine at Hereford on May 19th.
The 09.38 Swansea – Shrewsbury was noted at Craven Arms on May 24th with 25265 hauling failed Cardiff based diesel multiple unit set C802. Two days later on May 26th 25265 was noted passing Abermule with the High Speed Track Recording Coach, the coach had visited Aberystwyth and Pwllheli with 25265.
On June 4th 25265 arrived at Hereford with a Partington - Baglan Bay tanks service, the locomotive came off here and returned north. 25265 was noted with a permanent way train headed for Hookagate on June 5th.
On June 6th 25265 worked the 08.45 Liverpool - Sheffield & 11.22 return.
On July 20th 25265 was at Dumfries with a loaded ballast train and also noted at Carlisle station light engine.
On July 23rd 25265 was noted passing through Carlisle light engine.
On July 25th 25265 was at Chester with an eastbound Speedlink working.
On July 26th 25265 worked the 14.00 Preston - Liverpool, on July 29th the 08.45 Liverpool - Sheffield & 11.22 return and the 14.45 Liverpool - Hull as far as Sheffield, with 47472 taking over.
In the early morning hours of July 30th 25265 was at Derby with a short parcels train.
25265 was noted at Hereford with an engineers train on August 3rd. On August 22nd 25265 was noted passing through Warrington on cement tankers and was noted the next day (23rd) at Bescot.
On August 26th 25265 assisted the 09.15 Kidderminster - Birmingham New Street diesel multiple unit forward from Stourbridge Junction after it failed. 25265 later worked the 7G19 14.39SX Shrewsbury Coton Hill - Bescot Speedlink.
On August 27th 25265 assisted the 07.45 Kidderminster - Birmingham New Street diesel multiple unit forward from Stourbridge Junction after it failed.
25265's last passenger hauled working was brief, and again involved a failure, this time the 18.00 Holyhead - Birmingham New Street on September (or August?) 29th which failed at Sandwell & Dudley behind 86214, 25265 working the last five miles to New Street.
Late in its career 25265 was unofficially named Castell Harlech / Harlech Castle, the name being neatly stencilled in white on the bodyside (see view above at Holyhead).
On October 19th 25265 was receiving attention at Crewe diesel depot.
On November 4th 25265 was northbound at Bescot with empty ballast wagons.
On November 18th 25265 was noted eastbound through Manchester Victoria with an engineers train (no painted name 'B' end leading)
25265 (with painted name) was noted at March on November 26th & 28th.
1987
Of the thirteen Class 25s delivered new to Eastfield (D7611 - D7623), three would remain in service until March 1987 including 25265, the other two were 25262 as 25901 & 25268 as 25902. It would also be one of two from this batch to reach preservation.
Highlights from 1987:
December 29th 1986, noted Tinsley arriving 15.30
December 31st 1986, noted Leicester arriving 04.40
January 7th 1987, passing Mostyn with a Speedlink (presumed eastbound)
January 8th 1987, arrived Warrington Old Walton 16.10, booked for 6F10 15.38 to Llandudno Jct (for 9/1?)
January 10th 1987, arrived Wigan TMD 07.00 for battery repairs, expected OK by January 12th
January 13th 1987, arrived Warrington 19.36 (6T69)
January 17th 1987, arrived Newton Heath TMD 13.10 for repairs to jumper cables, expected OK January 18th
January 24th 1987, working Barrow - Red Bank (5T55) at Preston 06.21, then assigned to banking duty
January 24th 1987, arrive Manchester Victoria 19.45 (3J08) allocated Target MR84
January 27th 1987, arrive Manchester Victoria 21.30 (0T84) allocated Target MR84
January 29th 1987, arrive Longsight carriage sidings 17.00 (0Z00)
January 31st 1987, arrive Rugby 21.05 (0Z00) allocated Target BC25
February 10th 1987, arrive Birkenhead Cavendish 09.25 (6M90), allocated 7D14 to Llandudno Jct
February 11th 1987, arrive Llandudno Jct 08.25 (ex 6D14 04.28 Warrington Arpley?)
February 13th 1987, arrive Holyhead 14.05 (0Z00), allocated Target HD08
February 14th 1987 - March 16th 1987, stopped at Holyhead??
March 4th 1987 - depart Holyhead with freightliner working (or marshalling the train?)
March 12th 1987 - lunchtime at Holyhead
March 16th 1987, arrived Basford Hall 11.15 (0Z00) and taken out of service.
After withdrawal 25265 was stored at Basford Hall, Crewe until moved on July 14th 1987 as the 9L37 10.50 Basford Hall - Leicester Humberstone Road (with 25035, 25057, 25109), before being tripped as the 9T16 13.00 to Vic Berry's yard on September 11th 1987 (with 25057 & 25313). The locomotive was secured for preservation and moved to Peak Rail, Buxton between July 7th - 16th 1988
1989
Preservation
flk 0523
66/4782
1987 TOPS information courtesy Neil Cannon.
Page added October 7th 2012.
Last updated October 12th 2024.
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