The eighteen year career of D7639/25289 started with fifteen months at Sheffield area depots followed by almost seventeen years at LMR depots apart from a very brief spell at Haymarket.
Built: Beyer Peacock Gorton Ltd, Works No.8039.
Dual brake equipped (at least by May 1974).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 89 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 9 months.
Allocations
D7639 was new to Tinsley (41A) on December 23rd 1965. Further transfers were:
April 1966 to Wath (41C).
March 1967 to London Division (Western Lines) (D01).
April 1967 to Nottingham Division (D16).
July 1967 to Springs Branch (8F), then to the Liverpool Division (D08) following introduction of the LMR Division allocations.
March 1972 to London Division (Western Lines) (D01).
August 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
October 1972 to Preston Division (D10).
May 1973 to Carlisle Kingmoor.
May 1973 to Springs Branch.
October 1974 to Haymarket.
November 1974 to Springs Branch.
August 1977 to Bescot.
Withdrawn January 17th 1984.
Renumbered February 25th 1974.
25289 was the 210th Class 25 withdrawn, one of five retired during January 1984.
25289 was withdrawn after a shunting accident at Preston station on January 14th 1984. The No.1 end cab suffered minor damage to the lower half of the cab front. In days gone by this would have been very repairable, but it was the deathknell for 25289. After withdrawal 25289 was moved to Toton until February 8th 1984 when it was moved to Bescot. By March 22nd 1984 it had reached Swindon Works and was broken up here by the of October 1984.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works (?) late 1974 (dual brakes fitted?).
Noted Derby Works May - July 1976 (Classified).
Noted Derby Works November & December 1980 (N4 & N1 repairs).
Highlights
1966
On February 20th D7636 & D7639 were stabled at Shirebrook.
On Sunday November 27th stabled at Saltley were D5183, D5202, D5226, D5230, D7519, D7534, D7574, D7575, D7588, D7589, D7597 & D7639.
1967
On the afternoon of July 5th D7639 was northbound at Stenson Junction with a freight.
On July 18th the 09.00 Manchester Victoria - Glasgow Central was worked to Preston by D7639 & D5273.
On the afternoon of September 2nd D7639 was at Springs Branch.
1968
On the afternoon of January 7th D7610 & D7639 were stabled at Springs Branch along with D2558, D2578, 12003, 12004, 12070 and twelve steam locomotives.
On the early afternoon of July 12th D5250 & D7639 were eastbound at Huncoat (Accrington) with a freight (7N79). About 1.20pm they returned westbound light engines, then at 3pm eastbound light engines, at 3.20pm westbound light engines and at 5pm eastbound with freight 7N54. Although the end of steam was very near several freights were noted, including those powered by 44781, 45287, 48062, 48167, 48393, 48493, 48666, 48730, 48765, 48773 and light engines 44899, 48062, 75027.
On the afternoon of August 3rd D7639 was noted light engine at Crewe.
1969
On the afternoon of May 4th 5263 & 7639 were eastbound at Hartford Junction with a freight.
1970
On October 3rd 7639 was at Preston with a breakdown crane train.
1972
On the evening of December 4th 7639 was noted light engine at York (off 3E90).
1973
At about 7am on April 24th 7639 was noted passing Manchester Victoria with an up freight (6J38).
On August 11th a relief Euston - Glasgow Central was worked forward from Crewe to Glasgow Central by 7639 & 7668. Whilst diesel haulage north of Crewe at this time was the order of the day, to get a pair of non-boilered Class 25s, and to go the distance they did must have been quite the day out.
At about 6pm on October 30th 7639 was noted passing Ordsall Lane with an up van train (4H07).
1974
On May 10th 25289 was at Preston station with an engineering train (loco is dual braked).
The 10.34 Manchester Victoria - Llandudno was worked by 25289 on June 7th.
On the morning of November 21st 25289 was light engine at Edinburgh Waverley.
1975
On January 29th 25289 was noted at Manchester Victoria with the 5J24.
The Teesport - Dalston 'Shell-Mex' oil train was worked by 25317 & 25289 on April 9th.
On May 15th 25289 worked the 4M03 05.07 Leeds City - Manchester Victoria vans.
On July 31st 25317 & 25289 worked a Crewe Gresty Lane - Guide Bridge track panel train.
On August 8th the 20.46 Barrow - Euston with 85025 was diverted via Chester and worked by 25289 between Warrington & Crewe.
25289 & 25297 were noted on a local Teesside trip workings on November 25th.
1976
On July 9th 25289 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for July 9th recorded:
| 25289; July 9th 1976; 1C41 Nottingham | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 30 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 46 | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
A side crankcase door
Knecht fuel filter pipes various leaks
B Bicera no.5 leak
No.1 AWS only drops train pipe to 60
No.1 desk key won't fit without ??
No.2 cab driver's door holes to blank off (from builders plate?)
Fan switch leaks
No.5 cylinder head blow.
In South Wales the use of Class 25s for working regular freight diagrams was finished, Class 37s now taking up these diagrams out of Cardiff and Newport, though Class 25s would frequently deputise for a non available Class 37. A number of workings brought foreign Type 2s into the area, on November 23rd 25289(HA) arrived with the 22.58 6V88 Warrington - Margam ingot train.
1977
25289 was stabled at Buxton on February 14th.
On June 22nd 25289 was stabled at York.
On the morning of December 21st 25289 was stabled at York.
1978
On the morning of April 7th 25289 was stabled at York.
On July 1st a relief 09.34 Leicester - Yarmouth was worked by 25289 & 25249.
On July 8th 25289 is reported to have worked the 07.30 Nottingham & Llandudno Town and the 13.02 Llandudno Town - but failed at Creswell with 25314 taking everything forward.
On July 20th 25289 & 25224 were noted at Exeter with a return 1Z75 Barnstaple - Leamington Spa charter and presumably worked the outbound leg.
On July 22nd 25289 & 25224 worked the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich and returned from Norwich with the 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby.
On July 23rd 25289 & 25224 worked the 08.40 Leicester - Skegness and the return18.30 back to Leicester. On July 24th the same pair worked the 08.50 Burton on Trent - Skegness and the 18.50 return to Burton.
August 1978 also proved to be a busy month for 25289. On August 5th & 12th 25289 was working over Cambrian metals with 25271 (5th) and 25282 (12th). A week later on August 19th it was a day out with 25184 on the Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Derby service, the next day (20th) the same locomotives were working the 09.15 Derby - Skegness and 18.15 return.
1979
On May 24th 25289 worked the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.
1979 brought two round trips over the Cambrian line, on July 14th with 25282 and on September 1st with 25038.
On August 18th 25126 & 25288 worked the 1M68 05.35 Cardiff - Crewe and are also recorded at Cardiff with the 07.30 Swansea - Leeds.
1980
25297 & 25289 were noted passing Hereford with an oil train on January 22nd.
On the evening of April 25th 25106 & 25289 were stabled at Holbeck.
25289 was stabled at Bescot on April 27th.
For 1980 the last weekend in July brought a couple of passenger workings. On July 25th 25289 & 25282 worked the return leg of a Scarborough - Leamington Spa day excursion. The next day the same pair made a round trip over Cambrian metals, working the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from Wolverhampton and returning with the 17.55 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton.
25289 was noted at Bletchley on an up freight on the morning of August 16th.
1981
On January 24th 25289 was stabled at Bescot yard with several other Class 25s.
On May 14th 25289 & 25287 worked the 16.20 Kennett - Mountsorrel stone empties. On the late morning of May 30th 31237 & 25289 were noted at Ipswich with a lengthy freight, presumed headed for Whitemoor as later in the day they worked the 29th's 35 wagon 21.35 Mossend - Parkeston Quay forward from Whitemoor
On July 19th (also reported as June 19th) 25289 rescued the 16.12 St. Pancras - Derby, going forward from Leicester when 45127 failed. At the end of August (29th & 30th) 25289 and 25262 worked two round trips over Cambrian metals. On August 29th they worked the 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton whilst on the 30th it was the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth and the 18.00 Aberystwyth - Euston to Nuneaton.
On July 27th 25289 was northbound at Bedford with empty Cartics.
25289 was stabled at Crewe Diesel depot on October 4th.
On Christmas Day 25289 was stabled at Carnforth Furness Sidings with 25284 & 25080.
1982
25289 was southbound at Dent with a freight on June 1st.
25285 & 25289 were noted at Birmingham New Street on August 6th on an unidentified parcels (?) working. On August 14th 25289 & 25254 were noted eastbound through Chester with bogie oil tanks. On August 24th the 09.15 Glasgow Central - Bristol Temple Meads with 86256 was dragged between Preston and Winwick Junction by 25289 & 25254 due to an overhead line failure.
25289 was noted southbound at Carnforth on August 28th with bulk tankers.
On November 28th 25289 & 25283 were noted at Leighton Buzzard with a loaded ballast train.
1983
Passenger workings started early in 1983 for 25289, on January 2nd it worked the 02.35 Euston - Bletchley, lets hope it was a mild day. On January 17th 25289 was noted at Coventry with a lengthy ballast train.
On March 20th 25289 & 25311 worked the 6M86 Kings Cross- Tring cement empties. On March 30th 25289 was noted north of Tring with a ballast cleaner, whilst 25242 was present with an overhead wiring train.
Two more round trips were worked over the Cambrian line, with 25316 on June 4th and 25327 on July 2nd. 25289 was noted at Stonebridge Park on July 9th. On July 26th 25289 worked the Warrington trip 6P83 servicing Westhoughton & Bolton. On July 27th 25289 was noted northbound at Springs Branch with bulk powder tanks.
Possibly on August 16th 1983 (date uncertain) 25289 & 25044 rescued the 15.12 Preston - Barrow diesel multiple unit at Lancaster, working forward to Barrow and then going forward with a Barrow - Carlisle service.
On September 4th 25289 was eastbound at Llandudno Junction with loaded ballast hoppers. On September 8th 25289 & 25268 were northbound at Warrington Bank Quay with oil tankers.
25289 was stabled at Saltley on December 2nd. 25289 was noted at Bescot on December 23rd. On December 31st 25289 took failed 50025 from Birmingham New Street station to Saltley depot.
1984
The last passenger working for 25289 occurred just days before its withdrawal. On January 10th 1984 the 12.50 Leeds - Cardiff failed at Clay Cross behind 45108, 25289 dragged the service to Derby, where 31293 took over, what a travesty.
25289 was withdrawn on January 17th 1984.
Distinguishing Features
No.1 cabfront: center lamp bracket only, no other fittings: November 1978.
No.2 cabfront: driver's side below electrification flash: lengthy horizontal line of rust: (not present May 1980), November 1982 - March 1983
Non BIS side: lengthy scrape just below cantrail at center of bodyside: sometime in 1982 until withdrawn.
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
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flk 1221 (1)
Page added February 16th 2013.
Last updated May 13th 2023.
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