D7501, 7501, 25151
D7501, 7501, 25151

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.
For Class 25s allocated to Tinsley there would have been a variety of duties. These would have included local empty coaching stock movements such as this one here on August 18th 1973 with 7501 at Sheffield Midland.

The seventeen year eleven month career of D7501/25151 included allocations to London Midland, Eastern & Scottish Region depots. The allocation histories of 25150 & 25151 were both the same, both ended their careers in collisions, separated by three months.

Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square (previously raised 'L' shape).
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 58 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 64 months.

Allocations

D7501 was new to the Toton (16A) on October 6th 1964. Further transfers were:

December 1964 to Burton (16F).
January 1965 to Nottingham Division (D16).
February 1968 to London Midland (Midland) Lines.
June 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
October 1972 to Haymarket (64B).
May 1973 to Tinsley.
July 1975 to Eastfield.
August 1975 to Longsight.
October 1976 to Crewe.
July 1977 to Bescot.
January 1980 to Longsight.
Withdrawn September 12th 1982.

Renumbered February 1974.

On September 3rd 1982 25151 suffered collision damage at Hillhouse Yard, Huddersfield during a runaway. On September 6th 1982 it was moved to Healey Mills, remaining here until January 1983. It was taken to Toton and stored. On June 16th 1984 25115, 25056, 25151, 25139, 97202, 40170 & 25090 were noted in a long line in sidings at Toton. During the first half of 1987 25151 was used in rerailing exercises. After sale to Vic Berry it was broken up in-situ at Toton by the third week of January 1988.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Crewe Works December 1969.
Noted Derby Works July 1971.
Noted Derby Works October 1972.
Noted Derby Works October 1977 (full repaint).
Noted Swindon Works May 1980 (N4 repairs).
Noted Derby Works September 1980 (N4 repairs).

25151 at Derby Works on September 6th 1980, the Locomotive Works Open Day.

Highlights

1964
D7501 was delivered from Derby Works to Toton during the first week of October.

1967
On the morning of May 15th D7501 was light engine at Stenson Junction.

At about mid-day on October 7th noted at Kingsbury were D7501 on an up freight 8T91, D5297 on a down freight 8T56 and D8 on an up freight.

1968
On the afternoon of December 7th 7501 & 7655 were stabled at Derby.

1970
On August 29th 5242 & 7501 were noted at Blackpool North with a service to Leicester.

1971
On the morning of June 11th 5247 & 7501 were noted at Crewe with an Up passenger service 1D06 (off the Chester line), they were replaced by Class 40 No.214.

Condition June: two-tone green with full yellow ends.

1972
On August 12th 7501 & 7604 worked the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Walsall diagram.

7501 & 5239 worked a Hope - Exeter Central cement train on September 23rd.

1973
During May 7501 transferred to Tinsley and would stay here for two years.

On the morning of May 10th 5171 & 7501 were stabled at York.

On May 27th 5163, 5169, 5171, 5214, 5229 & 7501 were stabled at Tinsley.

On June 23rd 7501 & 5268 worked the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Walsall diagram.

On the morning of July 4th 7501 was southbound at Skelton (York) with a freight.

On the morning of July 30th 7501 was the York permanent way pilot.

1974
On the morning of February 16th 7501 was stabled at York.

On the morning of February 27th 25151 was stabled at York.

On the afternoon of May 15th 25151 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On the afternoon of July 10th, 11th & 15th 25151 was stabled at York.

On July 27th 25151 & 25091 were noted assisting a Paignton - Selby service after a Class 31 had failed.

On August 3rd 25151 worked the 07.18 Sheffield - Skegness and the return 10.55 Skegness - Sheffield. On August 9th 25151 was noted at Cambridge on an unidentified freight working (headcode 9L01). On August 17th the 08.45 Manchester Victoria - Scarborough and the return Scarborough - Manchester Victoria were worked by 25151 & 25013.

The 12.00 Hereford - Worcester Shrub Hill was worked by 25151 on October 5th following the failure of a diesel multiple unit.

On the afternoon of October 15th 25151 was stabled at York.

On October 18th 25151 was noted at Exeter stabling point.

On Saturday October 19th locomotives stabled at Exeter included 25077, 25133, 25151 & 25274. Later 25151 worked the 6B27 16.30 Hemyock - Exeter milk (four tanks).

On the morning of November 7th 25151 was stabled at York.

Slippery rail conditions on November 11th saw 25151 assisting a Class 31 on the 07.00 Worcester Shrub Hill - Paddington between Evesham & Moreton-in-Marsh.

1975
On March 27th 25151 was stabled at York.

On the afternoon of June 5th 25151 was stabled at York.

The 05.07 Leeds - Manchester Victoria vans was worked by 25151 on September 2nd.

1976
Just before midnight on the evening of September 3rd two Class 25s, one being 25151, were noted in the environs of Paddington station, presumably on a local trip working of some sort from the LMR.

On September 15th the 11.05 Cardiff - Taunton was worked by 25151 and presumably the return 13.33 Taunton - Cardiff.

On September 22nd 25151 as a light engine was noted through Lincoln Central en-route to Whitemoor.

On the afternoon of September 27th 25151 was stabled at York.

On October 10th stabled at Cockshute were: 24081, 25057, 25089, 25099, 25145, 25151, 25264, 25291, 25294 & 25327.

On the afternoon of October 28th 25151 was the Banbury pilot.

1977
On the afternoon of January 16th 24023, 24057, 24091, 25042, 25136, 25150, 25151, 25184, 25292 & 25306 were stabled at Cockshute.

On May 1st 25151 was noted at Chester depot.

A relief Hinckley - Yarmouth on July 9th was worked to Norwich by 25151 & 25305. In the following days the same pair made roundtrips to Skegness from Leicester (10th) and Nottingham, but returning to Leicester (11th & 13th). The 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich and the 14.15 Yarmouth - Walsall from Norwich were worked by 25151 & 25158 on July 30th.

On the afternoon of August 11th 25151 & 25130 were noted at Kings Norton with a permanent way train.

The 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich and the 14.15 Yarmouth - Walsall from Norwich were worked by 25151 & 25130 on August 13th.

On the morning of November 25th very ex-works 25151 was noted with a down freight at Thurmaston (Leicester).

1978
On February 14th 25151 was noted at Jesmond on the North Tyne Loop delivering Tyne & Wear PTE 0-6-0 No.WL2 to South Gosforth.

On the morning of February 15th 25151 was northbound at Rotherham with a freight.

On the morning of April 22nd stabled at Saltley were 25151, 25219, 25261, 25271 & 25312.

A couple of hours on May 13th at Carlisle station and Kingmoor produced 25054, 25119, 25151, 25161, 25202 & 25238.

On June 1st 25151 was noted light engine at Garsdale.

On June 24th 10.40 Euston - Aberystwyth to Wolverhampton and the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25151 & 25147.

On October 14th 25150 & 25151 were stabled at Coventry station.

1979
On February 28th 25151 was at Stourbridge Junction with a lengthy train of mineral wagons.

On March 31st 25151 was noted at Saltley.

On May 6th 25151 was stabled at Bescot.

A weekend on Cambrian metals started on June 2nd with the 04.15 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.09 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton worked by 25151 & 25264. The next day (3rd) the same pair worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth and the 17.45 Barmouth - Euston to Wolverhampton.

The last week of August proved busy. On August 25th the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich and the return 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby from Norwich were worked by 25151 & 25263. The next day (26th) the same pair worked a roundtrip Leicester - Skegness. On 27th both locomotive were noted at Derby, possibly intended for a relief Skegness that did not run. On 28th they did work a roundtrip Leicester - Skegness.

The 10.09 Aberystwyth - Euston on September 15th was worked between Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton by 25151 & 25143. They then worked the return leg of a Sheffield - Euston railtour from Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton.

25151 was the Manchester Victoria banker (T42) on October 14th. The next day (15th) the 01.07 Holyhead - Euston failed at Holyhead (?) behind 47040, 25151 worked the train to Crewe.

Class 25s stabled at Wolverhampton on the morning of November 10th were 25151, 25224 & 25282.

1980
Observations on the Midland mainline on the afternoon of February 10th included:
25117 Cricklewood (13.40)
25067 permanent way train Radlett (13.50)
25135 permanent way train Harpenden (14.00)
25179 permanent way train Harpenden (14.00)
25151 permanent way train Luton (14.15)
25127 permanent way train Luton (14.15)
25150 ballast train Leagrave (14.20)
25192 permanent way train Leagrave (14.20)
25154 & 25214 ballast train Flitwick (14.30)
25250 Bedford stabling point (14.45)
25270 permanent way train Wellingborough (15.05)

On the morning of March 7th 25151 was noted southbound at Corkickle with a freight.

Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover.
25151 at Newton Heath on sunny February 17th 1980.

On June 14th the 09.28 Leeds - Morecambe and the return 11.45 Morecambe - Leeds were worked by 25151.

On July 4th 25151 was noted at Birmingham New Street in one of the center roads.

On July 25th worked an excursion from Llandudno Junction to Llandudno Town following the failure of a diesel multiple unit.

On July 26th the 07.52 Leeds - Llandudno Town was worked forward from Llandudno Junction by 25151 after 40192 failed.

25151 was stabled at Reddish on August 26th, in the deadlines with the 76s, maybe 25151 was waiting movement to Derby Works.

1981
On the late evening of March 3rd 25151 was stabled at Buxton and was still present the next morning.

The 18.17 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria was worked by 25151 on May 20th & 23rd (maybe, needs clarification).

On the evening of June 16th 25151 was stabled at Buxton.

On July 15th 25151 was noted working a Norwich - Birmingham New Street service.

On August 17th 25151 worked the 13.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich.

On a snowy December 21st 25151 was at Winwick Junction with a three car diesel multiple unit.

1982
25151 was stabled at Buxton depot on May 15th (no headcode dominos or anything in the No.1 headcode panel).

On the afternoon of May 27th 25027 & 25151 were stabled at Bristol Bath Road.

25151 & 25058 were noted passing Water Orton light engines on June 1st. On June 22nd 25151 worked the 12.50 Carlisle - Glasgow Central. On June 29th 25151 was stabled at Ayr depot during the two day NUR strike.

August 3rd stabled Springs Branch.
August 6th light engine eastbound Grange over Sands.
August 7th 12.24 Preston - Blackpool North following failure of a diesel multiple unit.
August 11th 25151 & 25139 southbound stone train through Wellingborough.
August 16th 25151 at Ashburys with an engineers train.
August 18th 17.22 Carlisle - Glasgow Central.
August 19th 11.55 Glasgow Central - Carlisle.
August 20th 07.00 Ayr - Glasgow Central and 11.55 Glasgow Central - Carlisle.
August 21st banking duty at Saltley.
August 23rd Dringhouses - Foss Island local freight.

25151 was stabled at Northwich on September 1st.

On September 3rd 25151 was working the loaded 8E08 TFO Oakleigh - Barnby Dun soda ash train which was being delivered from the ICI plant to Rockware Glass. The fully fitted train was operating under a Class 6 designation with disc brake fitted covhops, known as 'Girlings' after the brake manufacturer. A hopper wagon was provided next to the brakevan, this allowed the guard to observe the operation of the brake blocks during the brake test, something not easily checked on the disc braked vehicles. The train was normally diagrammed for a Type 4 locomotive, but on September 3rd the load was within the limits for a Type 2.

On the east side of the Pennines somewhere in the vicinity of Slaithwaite control of the train was lost. The signalman at Hillhouse took action to remove the train from the main running lines by diverting it into Hillhouse Yard (Huddersfield). Much damage was caused when the locomotive struck a ferry van, the crew having leapt to safety prior to the impact.

With the train reported as running away near Slaithwaite perhaps one of the major issues facing the driver would have been the navigation through Huddersfield station, at that time the routes available included the lines through platform 4 & 8 or alternatively using the through slow or the goods line. Access to both platform 8 and the goods line involved 15mph speed restrictions, presumably the driver had been popping the horn - a distress signal which hopefully the Huddersfield signalman would have heard. Platform 4 or the through road would be the prefered choices, providing they were not already occupied. The soda ash train was able to navigate safely through the station and it was left for the Hillhouse signalman to take the train off the mainline by diverting it into Hillhouses yard, perhaps to the relief of the driver. Otherwise the downhill journey could have continued to Heckmondwyke Junction/ Bradley Wood, then the line begins to climb again. Depending on the speed of the train, it might have reached Mirfield if given the chance.

The accident was reported in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner dated September 4th 1982, and October 2005 issue of Back Track magazine (issue 174) which features on the cover possibly a view of 25151's last working as it passes Diggle.

Photographs courtesy Steve Harrison.
Two views of 25151 shortly after its arrival at Healey Mills yard.
This was not the first dramatic event to occur at Hillhouse yard - on November 17th 1967 a lengthy goods train derailed near Hillhouse No. 2 signalbox causing considerable damage to the slow lines. Two of the wagons derailed contained liquid ammonia, presenting challenges to the attending emergency crews.

25151 was moved to Healey Mills on September 6th 1982 and then withdrawn on September 12th 1982. It remained stored at Healey Mills until January 1983 when it was moved to Toton. Here it used for rerailing exercises until at least June 1987. It would eventually be broken up at Toton by Vic Berry staff between Dec 15th 1987 and Jan 20th 1988.

Photographs courtesy Michael Kaye.
25151 in transit at Tinsley. The telephoto lens clearly shows the damage sustained to the cab in the collision in Hillhouse Yard.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.
Above - two views of 25151 languishing at Toton.

Distinguishing features
No.1 cab headcode: no blinds or dominoes displayed August 1982 until withdrawn.

58/5339
flk 0425

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

Page added December 6th 2008.
Last updated April 26th 2025.

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