derby year book

derby year book Derby Through the Diesel Years 1976 - 1980

The material on this page represents a walk through the years at Derby during its diesel days, though obviously with a bias to the post-Modernisation years! This is most definately a work-in-progress so please bear with me as new material is added, old material is rescanned and the captions updated.

1976
During February the Works had over sixty locomotives present, seven of which were withdrawn, the majority of them with collision damage. Recently outshopped 24086 had returned with minor collision damage, enough to warrant its withdrawal, 25015 also had minor damage whilst 25045 had received collision damage a while back, but had not been officially withdrawn until October 1975. Class 20's in for repair were 20081 & 20228 whilst withdrawn 20074 was in the yard with a droopy cab. For some of the Class 25's in the Works now and going forward, these would be their last classified repairs. 46049 was the first Class 46 to receive a similar treatment to that of 45071, with sheeted over headcode panels and twin headlights fitted.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. Its April 7th 1976 and green liveried 20129 has arrived at Derby for attention. By this time it is most unlikely that 20129 will leave Derby in green livery, the paint shop will add blue & yellow to yet another locomotive. By the beginning of May 20129 will be back in traffic. It would be left to Glasgow to put Toton's last green Class 20 into blue livery.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. Its April 7th 1976 and 25015 is in the deadlines at Derby presumably awaiting stripping. The damage that brought about its withdrawal is not visible in this view, but it does show that the No.2 end cab received the later style headcode box and the fuel tank now carries a circular gauge.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer A heavily stripped 25222 at Derby Works on April 7th 1976. The cabside sports an interesting number/emblem combination, which will soon be history as the cab will be replaced because of the damage to the front.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. Some ten years after 'BR blue' made its appearance 25102 is seen here still wearing two tone green livery. Its April 7th 1976 and the paint shop at Derby will soon send it out in corporate blue & yellow. This was the last Class 25 to carry the two tone green livery and this would be the last major Works visit for 25102.

As mentioned above 25102 was the last Class 25 in two tone green livery, it was received at Derby late in March for an overhaul and would be outshopped in standard blue & yellow livery. During May the last Class 25 in green livery, 25043 would arrive at Derby for overhaul, it still carried the solid green livery with the white stripe at frame level. It too would return to traffic in blue & yellow livery.

The departure of 45056 from Derby Works during May found all members of the Class 45 fleet now equipped with dual brakes. Recent arrivals in the Works were prototype HST power cars 43000 & 43001. A stranger from across the border was 27207, whilst elsewhere scattered about the Works were almost thirty Class 08 shunters. Three Jinties still remained in a dismantled state at the back of the Works; 47327, 47445 & 47592.

The Class 20 fleet remained intact until January 1976 when the first of the Class was withdrawn. The locomotive was 20074 and is seen here at Derby on May 22nd 1976, with a somewhat droopy cab. Surprisingly, withdrawn 20074 was moved to Glasgow Works, to end its days as a 'Christmas Tree' of spare parts, cut up finally sometime during November 1976.

Whilst other Workshops across the network were receiving many locomotives for cutting up, Derby seemed only too happy to pass this work on to others, in the second week of June 24086 & 25015 made separate journeys to Doncaster (24086 departed Derby Works behind 25135 on June 8th) whilst a week later 08179 & 08236 were sent down to Swindon for cutting up. 20074 would also leave the Works for Toton & Glasgow. Withdrawn locomotives remaining at Derby were 08074 and 25045, soon to be joined by the first Class 44 to be retired, 44003.

Of all the diesels built and repaired at Derby it is probably the Class 08s that had the longest continuous association with the Works. Representative of these shunters is 08106 seen in the main erecting shop during July 1976. For the number collectors Derby was certainly an interesting place as Class 08s from all regions except Scotland could be sent here for overhaul.

Photograph courtesy Michael Kaye. The driving position in one of the cabs of 44003 on June 8th 1976 not long after its final arrival at Derby Works. 44003 had failed on March 31st whilst working a Toton - Whitemoor freight, it returned to Toton and was immediately stored unserviceable. It was moved to Derby Works on May 7th 1976, with final withdrawal occurring on July 17th 1976. It did not linger long in the Works, by September it had been broken up, the first of the Class 44's so treated.

A timeless view from the 1970's (actually July 1976) with 25070, 25289 and 46053 all receiving attention.

By the end of July seventy locomotives were on the Works, four of them withdrawn. There were almost thirty Class 08's in the Works, followed by about twenty Class 45/46's and fifteen Class 25's, the remainder being Class 20's.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. 46056 stands on the Works arrival sidings next to the fuelling point on July 31st 1976. There were approximately seventy locomotives on the Works this day.

Following on from the modified nose panels on 45071 & 46049 Derby would continue to carry out this modification as the Class 45/46's passed through the Works, it was not immediately applied to every locomotive, 45055 being a recent example. It was not just all locomotive repairs at Derby, an export order was received from Kalmar Verkstads AB, Sweden for railway coach bogies. The bogies were for use under coaches destined for Kenya metre gauge lines, the design was a modified Mk II coach bogie.

Photograph collection of webmaster. One of the locomotives on display for the September 4th 1976 Works Open Day was 20025, fully respendent in its finest corporate blue & yellow livery. A month before the locomotive had been in the main erecting shop, fully stripped down and awaiting reassembly. 25110 is the Class 25 behind 20025, whilst out of sight 08806 and 46039 were on display. At the other end of the spectrum were a number of detached locomotive cabs scattered about the Works, these included 24134, 25005, 25006, 25017, 25118, 25126, 25222 & 44003.

Photograph collection of webmaster. In contrast to the above view and in an area of the Works less often reached by the Open Day visitors are the cabs of 25164, 25045 and one Class 45 on September 23rd 1976.

By October there were three withdrawn Class 25's in the Works, 25030/45 & 25174, all with collision damage of some sort. Class 20's for repair were 20003/62/84/87.

Two new classes of locomotives visited Derby Works during November. In the middle of the month Roumanian built Class 56 56005 was noted in the Works arrival sidings whilst at month-end 56003/10 were noted for rectification and commissioning work. In the middle of the month HST power car 43004 was receiving attention in the erecting shop. At the other end of the spectrum was the arrival in the Works of withdrawn 44001 on November 6th, it had failed on a Toton - Garston freight at Leigh on October 27th and withdrawn three days later. This of course was the first of the BR/Sulzer Type 4's to be built by Derby Work and now awaited stripping and scrapping, if there were any attempts at the preservation of this locomotive, they would prove unsuccessful. Elsewhere in the Works was the usual collection of locomotives, the number of collision damaged locomotives seemed to be growing, now with damaged 25061 & 25065 present.

Christmas week at Derby found the Works well filled with about seventy locomotives awaiting repair or scrapping. No HST power cars were noted, but 56010 was still in the Works.

Photograph collection of webmaster. 45023 'The Royal Pioneer Corps' in front of the testhouse, believed to be late in 1976.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Almost ex-works 08749 at Derby Works, believed to be late in 1976.

1977
An unusual arrival at Derby late in February was withdrawn 40045 from Basford Hall, Crewe, presumably sent as a source of spares for other Class 40s soon to be received at Derby for repairs. Possibly 40112 would be the first to receive repairs here after a long break with the type. Six Class 20's were present: 20006/19/63, 20129/130 and withdrawn 20062. Also noted in the yard was 44006, unfortunately now withdrawn.

Photograph courtesy Dave Homer. Not sure of the date but here is 40045 inside Derby Works undergoing stripping, with a wagon parked alongside to receive the scrap. 40045 had been withdrawn from Longsight during August 1976 and stored at Basford Hall before being moved to Derby. Surprisingly it did not live long at Derby, by March 1977 it had been broken up.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. A rainy February 17th 1977 finds 44006 on the traverser outside the erecting shop, which it will soon enter to allow for removal of parts before moving out to the scrapping area. It had arrived at Derby on February 2nd 1977 from Toton, having been withdrawn after derailing at Spalding on December 14th 1976. After being rerailed it was moved slowly to March where it was collected by 44008 on December 21st 1976 for its last trip back to Toton.

Variety seemed to be the order of the day during March with members of seven different Classes present from 08/20/25/40/41/43/45/46 and bits from Class 44. The prototype power cars 43000/01 were present as was production variant 43030. There were no changes to the withdrawn locomotives on the Works.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. All the Class 44's that did not reach preservation ended their days at Derby Works. Seen here on March 12th 1977 is the substantial remains of 44006 Whernside. After withdrawal 44006 did not hang around long in the Works, withdrawn late in January 1977, it was gone by April 1977.

Another close-up, this time of two un-identified Class 45/1's, with & without their nose fronts on March 12 1977. With the discontinuance of headcodes Derby started to replace the nose panels on the Peaks, doing away with the headcode housings. The first so changed was 125 (45071) after its collision at Bridgwater. This locomotive was also the first Peak to incorporate the nose mounted headlights, though the style was different from all that followed.

Despite its solid association with the Sulzers, it is probably the English Electric powered Class 08s that have the longest continuous association with Derby Works, both in their construction and repair. In this March 12th 1977 view 08741 stands as little more than a shell awaiting entry into the shunter shop for re-assembly.

At the beginning of April the Works was host to 40038/40, 40109/112, by this time withdrawn 40045 had been cut up. Fifteen Class 25's were present including three withdrawn examples, all accident damaged. The number of Class 08's was greatly reduced, just twelve were in the Works including withdrawn 08074.

Tucked away in a shop just off the main erecting shop stands 20174 on April 30th 1977. The Class 20's were probably the last class of mainline locomotives to visit Derby Works still wearing the green livery. Toton's last green Class 20's would receive blue livery whilst undergoing repair at Glasgow Works.

45077 awaits a move to the paint shop after receiving repairs, seen here April 30th 1977.

Photograph courtesy A Healey. Its May 18th 1977 and 44010 'Tryfan' has just arrived from Toton for scrapping. A main generator failure at Mansfield Colliery Junction on May 12th 1977 whilst working a Rufford Colliery - Avenue Coking Plant freight led to its demise. It will soon be taken into the Works for removal of any useful parts, then put out to pasture until the scrapping crew arrive. By July 1978 44010 will be no more.

Many of the Class 46s passing through the Works at this time would be receiving their last classified repairs, noted early in May were 46001/09/32/37/38/47/51, clearly there was a predominance of the Gateshead allocated examples at this time. During May 44010 sustained fire damage and was soon received by Derby Works for scrapping.

With intervals between shopping spanning several years at a minimum the condition of locomotives arriving for repair often revealed faded & flaking paint, dings and dents and considerable rust patches, if not major holes in the panelling. Seen here in such condition is 25316 on June 18th 1977.

The locomotive order books opened up for Derby Works again for six electric power cars for use in the electric version of the Advanced Passenger Train. These power cars would be numbered 49001 - 49006. On June 22nd the first power car was delivered to the Railway Technical Center, Derby for evaluation & testing.

The Class 45 fleet had remained intact up until July when 45067 was retired after sustaining collision damage near Ilkeston. In earlier years several heavily damaged Class 45's had been repaired at Derby, but now a surplus of aging locomotives, the new Class 56 fleet and the increasing fleet of High Speed Train sets meant withdrawals could be more easily tolerated by the operating departments.

APT power car 49001 was released from Derby Works late in July, whilst 49002 was now recognisable in the Works. By early August there were just four Class 08's present: 08046, 08533, 08628 & 08695. Class 40's under repair were 40083, 40117/125/134/141/149/175/179. Eight withdrawn locomotives were present.

Withdrawn 44010, which had been received by Derby Works was returned to Toton on August 16th.

The 31st Annual Works Open Day took place on saturday September 10th, two steam locomotives present were Midland Railway 2-4-0 158A, freshly repainted by the Works apprentices and LSWR T9 4-4-0 120 sent up from Tyseley. In the display area were 25129 & 56031. The Open day programmes sold for 15p.

40125 heads a fine line up of locomotives on September 10th 1977, the Works Open Day.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. Another view from September 10th 1977 finds 40179, 40117 & 40141 all receiving attention in the main erecting shops.

During October there were about seventy locomotives on the Works including the six APT power cars in various states of construction. Six withdrawn locomotives were in various states of dismemberment: 20062/79, 25030/45, 25174 & 45067. Two 'last of class' locomotives in the Works were 20228, 25327 & 45150. Alongside the aging Class 25's & 45's in the erecting shop were HST power cars 43008/09/11, the new order was coming.

Class 40 pioneer 40122 (D200) was noted in the Works during November along with eight other members of the Class, at the same time there were about an equal number in Crewe Works under repair. There was still a great mix in the Works, APT power cars under construction were 49003 - 49005 whilst HST power cars present were 43014/15/20/21, shunter volume was still way down from recent months and would eventually cease as Swindon took over repairs to the Class 08/09's.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. The sunny morning of November 30th 1977 finds 40078 outside the Test House.

Another class to lose its first member was that of the Class 46's, 46005 was withdrawn during December and was noted at Derby during the middle of December. Other Class 46's present were 46006/09/12/16/31/36/38/53 and these were all to be found scattered through the Works yard. Construction had started on the last of the APT power cars, 49006.

1978
Withdrawn locomotives present at the beginning of the year were 20062/79, 25030/45, 25174, 45067 & 46005.

Photograph collection of webmaster. An interesting view of No. 23 Shop during 1978. Receiving attention are two sets of Class 25 cabs, one set from 25326, the other unidentified.

There were about sixty locomotives on the Works during February including seven withdrawn locomotives. There was only one Class 20 under repair, 20228 and one Class 40, 40128. Another likely first was the arrival of 43007 for repairs to collision damage sustained towards the rear of the power car. APT power cars present were 49004 - 49006. Withdrawn 44010 was moved from Toton to Derby Works on February 10th.

By early March there were no Class 40's remaining at the Works and only one Class 20, 20143. Recently arrived 46005 had already been heavily stripped and by the end of the month had been completely broken up. Class 25's under repair totalled twelve, Class 45's under repair totalled sixteen and Class 46's totalled seven. There were no shunters under repair.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. Classes 24 & 25 had the ability for the removal of the cabs pretty much as a whole unit. Visitors to Derby often found a number of cabs scattered about odd corners of the Works. 25220 had arrived at Derby with minor collision damage, having removed both cabs as seen here on March 18th 1978.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer Its March 18th 1978 and 25135 (& 25141?) have been stripped of most parts and are currently in the process of having the asbestos content dealt with, which included the covering of all bodyside openings with plastic sheet.

Just over forty locomotives were on the Works during May including eight withdrawn locomotives, one of which was the recently arrived 46024 which had been involved in a collision at Hereford. 49004 - 49006 were still in the Works in various states of construction.

New arrivals for scrap at Derby during July was collision damaged 25295, whilst 25174 had recently been broken up and 44010 was partially dismantled.

The next Class 44 arrival at Derby was 44005, arriving at Derby on the afternoon of July 31st behind a Class 45 - now only half the class remained in service. 44005 was quickly moved into the Works (see Open Day view below) for removal of components.

The 32nd annual Open Day took place on August 5th 1978, the entrance fee being 15p. The seven views below illustrate some of the locomotives on the Works for the Open Day visitors.

A surprise visitor to Derby Works was 25011, seen here on August 5th 1978. It was only received for minor repairs, and was soon released back into traffic. At this late stage in the life of the Class 25/0s any major attention would normally be carried out by Glasgow Works.

Photograph courtesy Graham Turner Approximately twelve years after being released new from Derby Works, 25146 was outshopped from the same location after having received its last Classified repair. It was one of the exhibits on display at the Locomotive Works Open Day on August 5th 1978. During this last repair the boiler room grille was sheeted over, as is easily visible in this fine view.

Photograph courtesy Graham Turner 56045 on display at Derby Works Open Day, August 5th 1978, the new order has arrived!

Photograph courtesy Graham Turner Ex-works 46007 is photographed outside the shops next to the Test House. Its August 5th 1978 and classified repairs for the Class 46's are still underway. This Works repair for 46007 will keep it in service until February 1982 when it will be retired from Gateshead.

The Derby Works Open Day in September 1978 provided visitors with one last look at 44005 as it is seen here being stripped of parts prior to removal to the scrapping area.

Although built at Crewe the HST power cars were initially overhauled at Derby. Here 43023 undergoes collision damage repairs on August 5th 1978. Behind the power car stands a row of 'Peaks', for a native of Derby it was tough to see the 'Peak' hauled Derby - London & the NE-SW passengers services convert to HST's, but such is progress.

Photograph courtesy Brian Daniels. 25199 and recently arrived accident damaged 25295 await movement into the main workshops, 25199 will receive repairs and a repaint but 25295 will linger around the Works for quite sometime slowly surrendering bits and pieces to other members of the class. The date is August 5th 1978.

Locomotives on the Works late in September was the expected mix of Classes 25/45/46 with HST power cars 43028/46/47/54/55/56/57/58/59 and APT power cars 49001/2/5/6. Fire damaged 46003 was now in the Works yard with a very dismal future.

The list of withdrawn locomotives was reduced by one in October when 46024 was broken up.

The end of the summer timetable saw a number of Class 25's withdrawn, these were the first to be taken out of service without any form of accident damage. And a glimpse into the future would show that many would end up at Derby and linger for a great while before being cut up.

During November the content of the Works remained typical, 49001/02/06 were in the APT shop whilst there were eight HST power cars under repair, including 43002/03 receiving fresh coats of paint. With Crewe still busy constructing its lengthy order for HST powers, it was left to Derby to provide repairs to the fleet as they became due.

At Christmas week there were about fifty locomotives in the Works including 49006 now painted and withdrawn locomotives 20062, 25030/45, 25295, 45067, 46003. Recently broken up was 20079 during November whilst 44005 was little more than a body shell at the scrapping area, the remains would not see the year out.

1979
During January Derby completed Classified repairs on five locomotives including one General for 25209. Seventeen other locomotives were at the Works for Classified repairs including 46001.

From December 1978 to February 1979 25245 was at Derby receiving its final classified general repair. Seen here on January 20th 1979 midway through its stay the bodywork is a patchwork of colours, a sign of much repair work on the corroded, rusted panels.

With its body a patchwork of colours and surrounded by a variety of parts 25192 undergoes a general repair on January 20 1979. 25192 would remain in service until June 1986, being one of many carted off to Vic Berry's Leicester, for final disposal sometime in July 1987.

44002 became the next Class 44 to be withdrawn, during February and was soon sent over to Derby Works. The engine from 44002 would be reconditioned and installed in to 44007. Classified repairs completed in February totalled nine including Generals to 25177/189/190/192 & 25245. Six locomotives were received for Classified in the same period.

Photograph collection of webmaster During February & March 1979 25032 underwent an Intermediate Repair at Derby Works, its last major repair and is seen here in the erecting shop.

March saw Classifieds completed on eight locomotives including Generals on 25123/163 & 45041. Ten locomotives were received for classified repair at the same time including 46031/52. The beginning of the month also saw 44009 withdrawn with generator problems leaving just three, 44004/07/08 in service. 44007 would visit the Works in March to receive the reconditioned engine from 44002. Withdrawn locomotives present during March included newly arrived 25165. No more locomotives had been cut up since 44005 late in 1979.

Photograph courtesy Graham Turner. 44002 on April 20th 1979. 44002's last overhaul had been at Derby during June 1975, withdrawal took place on February 1st 1979.

Early in April there were just over forty locomotives in the Works, nineteen were receiving Classified repairs, seventeen were in for unclassified attention and eight locomotives were awaiting scrapping. Awaiting entry to the Works was accident damaged 46036 which had received substantial cab damage at Maas Crossing whilst working a Cardiff - Newcastle express. Class 46's receiving Generals were 46001/17 whilst 46031/52 were in for Light classifieds.

During May 45101/106 were received for a new category of repair - Heavy General. Eleven locomotives were outshopped during May having received Classified repairs including Generals to 25206/277/298, 45026 & 46001/17. Eight locomotives were received to take their places whilst authority had been received to repair 46036, whilst 25167 would received a Classified repair instead of more minor work.

Six locomotives departed Derby Works having completed Classifieds in June, including Generals for 25167, 45073 & 45101. A like number of locomotives were received in June for Classified repairs including 46010 & 46039.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. A very smart 25167 is fuelled on June 20th 1979 prior to returning to traffic after completion of a General repair. This repair would provide 25167 with almost four more years service, being withdrawn from Crewe during May 1983. After nine months storage at Crewe it moved to Swindon Works during February 1984 and was broken up two months later. But for now the sun shines brightly on 25167!

One would not normally associate together BREL Derby and the House Of Commons but discussion in the House did mention the chronic inability of British Rail to provide the services it advertised was partially reflected in the number of locomotives in the various BREL Workshops for unclassified repairs, in particular those received with accident damage.

During July and August fifteen locomotives left the Works after Classified repairs, those that received Generals were 25101/158/168/198, 45002, 45106 & 46002/26/39. Thirteen locomotives were recieved for Classified repairs.

The Works Open Day on September 1st produced forty seven locomotives either on special display, under repair or waiting scrapping - details are as follows:
On display: 44008, 45062, 56036 and preserved 832,
Erecting Shop: 25154/161/169, 25268/279, 45006/11/54/75, 45105, 46010/48,
Shunter Shop: 45119, 46036,
Test House: 46028,
Asbestos Area: 25224,
Outside in the yards: 25100/125/166/180, 25314/315, 45017/57/59/63/72, 45108/117/131/145, 46012/27/45 with 45044 ex-Works,
Elsewhere withdrawn were: 25030, 25295, 45067, 46003,
Scrapyard area: remains of 25045 recently cut up & 44002.

Interestingly only a few of the locomotives in the deadlines were to receive Classified repairs, the vast majority were for casual repairs.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. Visiting celebrities and ex-works locomotives were usually found in the display area. Here 56036 poses for the cameras on September 1st 1979. The rundown of Derby Works came at a time when the monolith of BR's corporate blue & yellow was being over-run by a multitude of liveries. The only locomotives that left the Works in the newer schemes would have been the HST & APT power cars.

Photograph collection of webmaster. One of the attractions on display for the visitors at the Open Day was the use of the large overhead cranes in the main erecting shop. At the 1979 Open Day it was the turn of 46048 to be lifted from its stands and raised to a height which would allow it to be moved to another location within the shop. Two years after this view was taken 46048 suffered serious fire damage near Gloucester, bringing to an end almost twenty years of service. To the right of 46048 is 45105.

Photograph courtesy Barrie Watkins. Elsewhere in the main erecting shop 46010 and 45006 stand side by side undergoing a variety of repairs. 46010 is standing on a set of repaired bogies whilst 45006 sits on the specially designed stands needed once the bogies have been removed.

Photograph collection of webmaster. An HST power car, either 43038 or 43039 undergoes repair surrounded by a visitors passing through the shop. The HST power cars did not linger long in the Works, it was very rare to find them in the deadlines outside. 43037 was also in the Works this day.

Photograph courtesy Roger Geach. Two HST power cars and an unidentified Class 25 at Derby Locomotive Works during October 1979.

25045 spent almost four years withdrawn, most of it at Derby Works. The Works policy on the scrapping of locomotives appeared inconsistent, scrapping some yet at other times sending batches to private breakers or other BR Workshops. However in this September 1st 1979 view 25045 & 20062 are just about done in whilst 44002 literally waits at the end of the line, the number panels already cut from the sides. 44002 would be broken up during October.

Photograph courtesy Barrie Watkins. Also taken on the same day as the above view, but now with many visitors in view, a cab side panel from 20062 is about all that is identifiable from what used to be 25045 & 20062, with 44002 in the background. 20062 was the second Class 20 to be broken up at Derby Works.

The situation was little changed at the end of September, eleven locomotives departed after receiving Classified repairs, those given Generals were 25169, 25279, 45006/09, 46010. Warship 832 was now in the Works yard and long withdrawn 25165 had been removed from the headshunt at Etches Park and moved into the scrapyard area.

October arrivals totalled six locomotives for Classified repairs including 45150 & 46056, departures were six after receiving Classified repairs.

Photograph courtesy Bernard Mills. Withdrawn Class 44 No.44009 keeps company with 45112 in the lines at Derby Works on October 6th 1979.

In the middle of November there were about forty locomotives on the Works. Withdrawn 44009 was now at the Works as was 44008 which had been received for power unit repairs. Other withdrawn locomotives present were 25030, 25295, 45067 & 46003. Outshopped during November after Classified repairs were six locomotives including 25285, 45108 & 46027 which had received Generals.

Christmas week found nineteen Class 25s on the Works, ten Class 45/0s, eight Class 45/1s and four Class 46s: 46036/44/56 were receiving Light repairs whilst 46028 was recieving a General repair. Refurbishing of the Class 45/1s was taking place with particular attention being paid to the power unit. BRs rolling stock records reveal that at the end of 1979 many locomotives had missed scheduled repair dates. Those that could be expected to be handled by Derby included:

44008 due an Intermediate in October 1977
25092 due an Intermediate in December 1978
25048 due an Intermediate in May 1979
25080 due an Intermediate in May 1979
45074 due a Light in July 1979
25155 due an Intermediate in October 1979
45059 due a Light in October 1979
46029 due a Light in November 1979
46045 due a Light in November 1979
25251 due a General in December 1979
45063 due a Light in December 1979
46035 due a Light in December 1979
45007 due a Light in December 1979

This list assumes that Glasgow would handle the Scottish Region allocated Class 25s, of which several were overdue for shopping. It also might have been a prequesite in determining the withdrawal of locomotives in Classes that had a limited future.

Classified repairs completed during December totalled five, with Generals received by 25196, 25249, 45056 & 46016. Six HST power cars were in the Works for overhaul.

Photograph collection of webmaster. A new HST cab sits on an ancient wagon somewhere within Derby Works.

Photograph courtesy Ian Jenkins. A variety of cabs at Derby Locomotive Works.

1980
In the New Year Derby released seven locomotives after receiving Classified repairs including 46036 which received a Light repair and substantial bodywork repairs after its collision at Maas Crossing with a rubbish lorry. 46036 had been in the Works for about eight months. Five locomotives arrived in January for Classified repairs.

Approximately forty locomotives were on the Works in early February, including withdrawn 25030, 25295, 44009, 45067 & 46003. 44008 was still in the Works for power unit repairs. 45104 & 45107 were present for Heavy Generals. Classifieds completed in February were eight including Generals for 45010, 45107 & 46028. Five locomotives were received for Classified repairs. Present were ten HST powers cars on the Works including early builds 43002 - 43007, whilst APT power cars 49004/05/06 were in the shunter shop.

Photograph courtesy A Healey. During the 1980's Derby normally had an allocation of about ten Class 08 shunters. Two of these would generally be allocated the duty as the Locomotive Works pilots. On February 27th 1980 it is the turn of 08028 to cover one of these duties.This locomotive had recently been transferred from Eastleigh, so for a short while was something of a novelty at Derby.

The ability of BREL's workshops to keep the locomotive fleets in service received some help when Swindon Works started to receive locomotives for casual repair that were not normally received here. Class 31's that would have been dealt with by Doncaster and Class 25's that would have gone to Derby were now being sent south to Swindon. Reports also indicated that forty locomotives were at BREL workshops that had been out of service for at least ninety days, four of these were held at Derby and were 25042, 25113, 25177 & 44008. Released from Derby in March after Classified repairs were seven locomotives with Generals given to 25302, 45013 & 45104, five locomotive were received in exchange. Eight HST power cars were in the Works.

Released during March after Classified repairs were two machines, with 45012 receiving a General. Five locomotives were recieved for Classified repairs. HST's under repair totalled eight including 43014 - 43019, APT power cars 49002/04 were in the shunter shop. 46003 was broken up in March, with 25030 following in April.

Classified locomotives outshopped in April were few. Thirty locomotives were at the Works early in May, sixteen of which were to receive Classified repairs. Withdrawn locomotives were 25295, 44009 & 45067. Classified repairs completed in May were nine, considerably up from the few in April. Generals provided were 25201, 25309, 45025, 45112 & 46008, recieved in were ten locomotives. Swindon took in more work that would have been bound for Derby including repairs to 45023 & 45053 as well as more Class 25's and the arrival of three withdrawn Class 25's to provide spares.

After almost three years dumped at Derby the remains of 45067 were broken up during June, just leaving 25295 & 44009 withdrawn on the Works, however with serious inroads starting to be made in the Class 25 fleet the deadlines at Derby would soon begin to fill up. Outshopped in June after Classified repairs were eight locomotives including 25265, 25303, 45113 & 45114. Five locomotives were received in for Classifieds.

Photograph courtesy Simon Bell. 44009 catches a little of the summer sun on June 25th 1980. Unfortunately 44009 will not see this summer out, it will be gone by the end of July.

An attempt to reduce locomotive repairs at BREL workshops commenced by extending intervals between scheduled repairs. Further cutback were expected as certain depots started to carry out light repairs, work that was previously done by the main Workshops.

Classified locomotives outshopped in July totalled four, with Generals for 25205, 45016 & 45117. Only two locomotives were received for Classified repairs. 44009 was broken up in July, leaving just one withdrawn locomotive on the Works - 25295.

Withdrawals in July & August now affected the Class 45 & 46 fleets, the Class 46's would tend to migrate to Swindon and the Class 45's to Derby. Sent out from Derby in August after Classified repairs were four locomotives with Generals carried out on 45017 & 46014 - ironically sisters 46012/13 had just been withdrawn. Five locomotives were received for scheduled repairs.

An entrance ticket for a child or senior citizen for the 34th annual Locomotive Works Open Day, the cost for an adult was 40p. I'd forgotten just how short a time the Works was open to the public (1.30pm - 5.00pm) for the Open Day. (Ticket courtesy of Steve Houlker)

The Derby Works Open Day took place on September 6th and present at the Works were:
Display area: 25251, 45115 & visitor 56071,
Erecting Shop: 25151/170, 45002/14/19/20, 45102/10/18/37, 46009,
Paint Shop: 40106, 45004,
Alongside Paint Shop: 25188,
Works Yard: 25295, 45026/30/34/43/51/69, 45123/140/144/145, 46053.

Its September 6th 1980 and the Locomotive Works Open Day, heading up a line of HST's is one of the prototypes; ADB975813. Built at Crewe in 1972 as 41002 (later renumbered 43001), they were a familiar sight around Derby. On June 12 1973 they obtained the world speed record for diesel traction by achieving 143mph between Darlington & York. The disc brakes fitted to these machines were originally tested on the high speed Edinburgh - Glasgow service powered by the Class 27s.

For Derby Works Open Day on September 6th 1980 the weather proved favourable and the sun shone! The potentially dark & dingy '8 Shop' was not, here the sun shines in on 25151. The near cab already shows much patchwork, running into a Ferryvan at Huddersfield in the summer of 1982 would cause considerable damage and put an end to the career of 25151.

Outshopped after Classifieds in September were five locomotives, all having received Generals: 25251, 45004/20/42 & 45115, received were just two locomotives. The General being given to 45020 had now taken ninety days, but the locomotive were finally be returned to traffic by the end of September.

Five locomotives were released during October after completion of Classified repairs, receiving Generals were 45014, 45102 & 45118. Seven locomotives entered the Work, 25278 & 46011 were two of them, these would eventually become the last of their types to receive Classified overhauls at Derby. Joining 25295 in the withdrawn ranks were 25092 & 45047. Nineteen of the locomotives on Works in the last week of October were awaiting unclassified repairs. Eight HST powers cars were under repair at this time including 43036 - 43039 whilst 49005 was in the shunter shop.

In late November there were less than thirty locomotives on the Works of which nine were receiving Classified repairs, including 25278 the last Class 25 to be given such a repair at Derby. Only two Class 46's were on the Works, 46004 & 46011 both being given a Light repair. Four locomotives were outshopped in November, 45110 received the only General. Four locomotives were received four Classified, all were Class 45's. 25137 was the latest withdrawn locomotive to arrive at the Works. Six HST power cars were present as were APT cars 49003/05.

On the last day of November the remaining three Class 44's: 44004/07/08 were taken out of service, 44007 would eventually reach Derby for scrapping, the other two would end up in preservation. On December 2nd under its own power 44007 ran light engine to Derby Works for stripping and scrapping.

Christmas 1980 presented a gloomy picture at Derby with only twenty four locomotives (excluding HST power cars) under repair, and of these only eight were Classifieds and two of these were the last of their Type for the Class 25's & 46's. Outshopped in December were 45059 & 45077, both with Light Classifieds Six HST power cars were in the Works as well as prototype 975813. APT power cars present were 49003/05.

Page added October 22nd 2007.
Last updated February 7th 2023.

Derby Works 1932 - 1950
Derby Works 1950 - 1959
Derby Works 1960 - 1969
Derby Works 1970 - 1975
Derby Works 1981 - 1983
Derby Works 1984 - 2007

Return to Picture menu