The eighteen year six month career for D7503/25153 was split between allocations to London Midland & Western Region depots.
Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Angled strip at bottom of cab doors (Glasgow Works modification).
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 50 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 47 months.
Allocations
D7503 was new to the Nottingham (16A) on October 14th 1964. Further transfers were:
December 1964 to Burton (16F).
January 1965 to Nottingham Division (D16).
October 1965 to London Division (D14).
February 1968 to London Midland (Midland) Lines.
June 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
January 1972 to Laira (84A).
November 1972 to Bristol (82A).
December 1972 to Cardiff (86A).
October 1974 to Bristol.
February 1976 to Crewe.
March 1980 to Springs Branch.
February 1981 to Crewe.
April 1981 to Cricklewood.
November 1982 to Toton.
March 1983 to Crewe.
Withdrawn April 3rd 1983.
Renumbered April 1974.
25153 was the 171st Class 25 withdrawn, one of six retired during April 1983.
25153 was stored at Cricklewood until moved (see details below) to Swindon Transfer Yard on July 12th 1984 and into Swindon Works by July 23rd 1984. The locomotive was broken up by the end of February 1987, although the cabs were taken to Vic Berry's, Leicester for final processing.
25131 (97202), 25144*/25153* Toton – Cricklewood* - Swindon July 10th - 12th 1984.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works April 1967.
Noted Crewe Works November 1968.
Noted Derby Works February & March 1973 (repaint green to blue/yellow).
Noted Glasgow Works January & February 1979 (General repair).
Highlights
1966
February 9th & 10th brought chaos and destruction to the Midland mainline. The first event involved the 08:07 Harpenden - St Pancras eight car diesel multiple unit which caught fire between Radlett & St Albans. Similar to previous events a drive shaft punctured a fuel tank, over thirty people were injured, many having to jump hurriedly from the blazing vehicle. The next day, a few miles away at Flitwick twelve loaded wagons hauled by D5218 ran into a stationary D5383 immediately north of the station. Most of the train was derailed, necessitating the attendance of D7503 and the Cricklewood crane. The lines were cleared by midnight, but hindered additionally by a snowfall. The damaged locomotives were removed to Bedford, prior to heading north to Derby Works.
1967
On June 7th D7503 worked the 08.12 St Albans – St Pancras.
1969
The last day of 1969 saw a couple of Class 25s called out to work those duties that they seemed so familiar with, but were of such a non-routine nature. AM10 071 working the 10.43 Coventry - Euston service collided with some empty derailed wagons near Roade. The leading coach M76155 was severely damaged in the collision. For the clean up Rugby sent out a wiring train led by 5239 whilst 7601 arrived with the Bletchley crane. Mainline services into Euston were routed over to the Midland mainline, via Nuneaton & Wigston using an assortment of diesel power. Tremendous delays were encountered in the St Pancras area due to lack of platform space and the extreme length of the trains, especially the sleepers. The following day creativity took over through the use of the Bedford - Bletchley line, using part of the truncated Hitchin branch, a number of freight sidings and the sharp single track curve at Bedford No.1 box. By the turn of the New Year the lines at Roade were back in service, but the overhead wiring was still inoperative. Southbound electric locomotives were doubleheaded with diesels over this short section, with a number of Class 25s acting as pilots, including 7503.
Condition November: two-tone green livery will full yellow cab fronts, yellow paint wraps slightly around top of side window (Crewe painting variation), no blanking plates, hand/footholds present, straight sided sandboxes, three rung bogie mounted footsteps, 'D' number prefix.
1970
On August 22nd 7503 worked a roundtrip Derby - Yarmouth to/from Norwich.
1971
A Birmingham - Skegness day excursion on March 31st was worked from/to Nottingham by 7503 & 7562.
The morning Carlton Sidings - Manvers Main freight could produce a wide variety of power, it was worked by 5236 & 7503 on June 24th and 5242 & 7512 on June 26th.
On July 2nd 7503 was noted at Banbury with an up freight (6O34).
On July 31st 7503 & 5245 worked the 08.30 Derby - Yarmouth to Norwich.
Condition April: two-tone green livery will full yellow cab fronts, yellow paint wraps slightly around top of side window (Crewe painting variation), blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds present, straight sided sandboxes, three rung bogie mounted footsteps, 'D' number prefix.
1972
During January 1972 7503 was transferred to Laira, spending just over four years allocated to the Western Region.
On January 14th 7503 worked the 6B16 17.15 Lapford - Exeter milk (two tanks). The 4B10 15.53 Bristol - Plymouth parcels, with ten vans arrived at Exeter St Davids with 812. This retired the the stabling point and 7503 took over the train.
On January 20th the 6B65 20.20 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Central cement with 20 Presflos arrived at Exeter St Davids with 7503 & 1717. 821 was added to the train to lead it up to Exeter Central, after banking the train 7503 & 1717 retired to the stabling point.
At about 8pm on January 21st there were three Class 25s in the vicinity of Exeter St Davids. 7569 was waiting to depart with the 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot. 7503 would arrive with the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (three vans) and the 6A17 15.05 Penzance - Paddington milk and perishables arrived with 7577 & 1062. 7577 would come off the train and retire to the stabling point. Services had been subject to disruption this day due to a strike of station staff and shunters in the Paddington area.
On January 25th the 4B10 15.53 Bristol - Plymouth parcels arrived at Exeter with 7004, this retired to the stabling point and 7503, with ten vans took over for the run to Plymouth.
At about 2pm on January 29th 7503 ran light from Exeter stabling point to Tiverton and returned with the 6B73 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk.
On February 1st 7503 worked the 4B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).
On March 30th the 6B65 20.20 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Central cement was worked by 7575 & 1058, at Exeter St Davids 16, which was reported as idling badly was added to lead the train up to Exeter Central.
On March 31st 7503 worked the 17.35 Hemyock - Exeter milk (ten tanks).
On April 1st 7503 worked the 6B66 09.10 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter and the 6B18 14.55 Exeter - Chard Junction (ten tanks). It was later noted arriving at Exeter with the 6O19 16.55 Chard Junction - Morden South milk (nine tanks), the locomotive retiring to the stabling point.
On April 3rd 7503 worked the 6B19 14.55 Exeter - Chard Junction tanks (three tanks) and the 16.45 Chard Junction - Exeter milk tanks (six tanks), then retiring to the stabling point. It also worked the 20.10 Exeter St David - Newton Abbot and the 5B83 23.30 Newton Abbot - Exeter, then retiring to the stabling point.
On April 4th 7503 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (three vans).
On April 7th 7503 worked the 6B18 14.55 Exeter - Chard Junction milk (ten tanks), returning with the 6O19 16.55 Chard Junction - Morden South milk tanks (11 tanks) working the train as far as Exeter Riverside.
On April 11th the 6B65 20.20 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Central cement (20 Presflos) was noted at Exeter St Davids with 7503 & ???? 7503 came off and retired to the stabling point whilst another locomotive was added to take the train up to Central.
On April 28th 7503 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (three vans).
On April 29th the 4A17 15.05 Penzance - Paddington perishables (nine vans) arrived at Exeter with 7503 & 1938, 7503 came off here and retired to the stabling point.
On May 13th 7503 & 7508 (not in multiple) worked the 14.40 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter St Davids. Later that day the 4B10 15.55 Bristol - Plymouth parcels (13 vans) arrived at Exeter with 7032, this retired to the stabling point and 7503 took over for the run to Plymouth.
On June 1st 7503 ran light from Keyham to Exeter and later worked the 6B16 17.15 Lapford - Exeter milk (five tanks).
On June 2th 7503 worked the 6B67 19.10 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).
On June 6th 7573 worked the 7B56 (TThFO) 07.50 Okehampton - Exeter freight (four vans).
On June 7th 7503 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (one tank). At about 6pm 7503 ran light from Exeter to Laira.
On June 9th 7503 worked the 6B67 19.10 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans (two vans).
On June 10th 7503 worked the 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple freight and later worked the 6B24 19.07 Lapford - Exeter milk (five tanks).
On June 22nd 7503 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk.
On June 30th the 6A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington milk and perishables arrived at Exeter with 7503 & 1000 (21 vans and tanks), 7503 came off and retired to the stabling point.
On July 1st 7503 worked the 6B66 11.02 Barnstaple - Exeter vans (six vans). At about 2pm 7503 ran light from Exeter stabling point to Tiverton Junction in order to work the 6B70 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk (three tanks).
7502, 7503, 7504 & 7506 were all stabled at Exeter on July 2nd. On July 8th the through Paddington - Barnstaple service was worked forward from Exeter St. Davids by 7503 & 7574.
On July 7th the 6A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington milk & perishables arrived at Exeter with 7503 & 1046, 7503 came off and retired to the stabling point.
On the evening of July 14th Exeter stabling point held at least ten locomotives: 15, 37, 48, 1047, 4015, 6523, 6543, 7503, 7505 & 7506. The locomotives were used on the following workings:
15: 7/15 03.50 0F76 down light engine
37: unknown
48: 7/15 00.24 0F76 down light engine; later noted on 1M00 08.58 Kingswear - Nottingham
1047: 7/14 19.40 Bristol Goods - Ponsandane; take over at Exeter
4015: unknown
6523: 7/15 14.41 6523 & 6543 up light engines
6543: see 6523
7503: 7/15 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple vans
7505: 7/15 6B19 04.30 Exeter Riverside - Barnstaple
7506: ?? to work 6B09.
On July 15th 7503 worked the 6B15 03.00 Exeter - Barnstaple vans.
On Friday July 28th 7503 & 7505 worked the 7B34 19.40 Bristol Temple Meads - Ponsadane freight. The next day, July 30th the same pair worked the 1E21 10.30 Penzance - Bradford to Plymouth, returning west with the 6B31 18.20 Plymouth Friary - Par.
On August 5th 7503 & 7505 worked the 7B34 19.40 Bristol Temple Mills to Ponsandane freight, the 1E21 10.30 Penzance to Bradford passenger service to Plymouth, then light engines to Laira depot and ending with the 7B31 18.20 Plymouth Friary to Par freight.
On September 4th 7503 worked the 6B16 17.16 Lapford - Exeter milk.
On September 12th 7503 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (9 tanks). Later that day the 6B09 13.50 Acton - St Erth milk empties (19 tanks) arrived at Exeter St Davids with 1067, this retired to the stabling point and 7503 took over.
On September 15th the 6A17 15.20 Penzance - Paddington milk & perishables arrived at Exeter St Davids with 7503 & 1026 At about 2pm on September 16th 7503 ran light from Exeter stabling point to Tiverton Junction to work the 6B70 16.45 Hemyock - Exeter milk (13 tanks).
On September 20th 7503 worked the 6B16 17.15 Lapford - Exeter milk (six tanks).
On September 28th 7503 worked the 6B67 19.10 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans.
On October 6th the 6B65 20.20? Plymouth Friary - Exeter Riverside cement was noted at Exeter with 7503 & 1066.
On October 9th 7503 worked the 8B70 10.05 Exeter Riverside - Exmouth Junction freight. It would later work the 6B70 13.15 Exeter Riverside - Hemyock milk empties.
At about 9pm on October 10th 7503 ran light engine from Newton Abbot to Exeter.
On October 21st 7503 worked the 6B24 19.07 Lapford - Exeter milk.
On October 26th 7503 worked the 6B09 13.50 Acton - St Erth milk empties (two tanks and one Enparts van) forward from Exeter.
On November 7th 7503 worked the 6B67 19.10 Barnstaple - Exeter vans (two vans).
On November 11th 7503 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans.
On November 24th the 1B94 18.00 Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads with Class 47 No. 1634 utilised 7503 as pilot from Newton Abbot to Bristol Temple Meads.
1973
On February 24th 7503 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for February 24th recorded:
No.2 end leading.
| 7503; February 24th 1973; time 11.50 | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 26 | 850 | 840 | - | - | 2 | 32 | 850 | 835 | - | - | 3 | 36 | 950 | 825 | - | - | 4 | 42 | 950 | 820 | - | - | 5 | 52 | 1,000 | 809 | - | - | 6 | 58 | 1,000 | 805 | - | - |
No.3 Bicera valve
A crankcase ?? seam leaking
Speedo gear? to change.
On March 29th 7503 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for March 29th recorded:
| 7503; March 29th 1973; time 9.45 | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 26 | 900 | - | - | - | 2 | 34 | 870 | - | - | - | 3 | 41 | 900 | - | - | - | 4 | 48 | 910 | - | - | - | 5 | 60 | 950 | - | - | - | 6 | 66 | 950 | - | - | - |
During the afternoon of June 15th 5181 & 7503 were noted passing Newport High Street on a down freight.
At about midday on October 24th 5180 & 7503 were noted near Margam with a freight (8C60).
1974
At about 11am on October 14th 25172 & 25153 were noted on the Up main at Exeter St Davids with a train on sand and stone chippings (8Z10). 25172 came off the train here.
1975
At about 4pm on March 3rd 25052 & 25153 departed Exeter stabling point with an immobilised 47248 headed for?
On April 19th 40092 & 25153 were noted on a Manchester - Newcastle newspaper train.
The recorded passenger workings for this period are currently few, but no doubt involved the summer locals in the Exeter area. On April 29th 25153 was noted on the 20.15 Exeter St. Davids - Newton Abbot.
On May 6th 25153 was noted at Exeter stabling point.
On May 7th 15153 worked the 9B73 13.05 Exeter Riverside - Whimple and the 15.00 Whimple - Exeter Riverside.
On May 9th 25153 was noted at Exeter stabling point.
May 31st saw the 07.15 Birmingham New Street - Paddington doubled headed by 47091 & 25153.
A rescue job occurred on September 1st when 45011 caught fire on the 07.40 Leeds - Penzance at Bridgwater, 25153 & 25063 took the train on to Exeter St. Davids. And on September 20th 25153 handled the 15.58 Exeter St. Davids - Barnstaple and the 20.45 Exeter St. Davids - Newton Abbot. By the time the next summer season started 25153 had been transferred to Crewe.
On September 20th 25153 worked the 7B66 11.05 Barnstaple - Exeter and the 2B99 15.58 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple.
On September 21st 25153 was noted at Exeter St Davids with milk tanks.
On September 22nd 25153 worked the 2B84 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.
Condition September: blue/yellow livery, no blanking plates, hand/footholds plated over.
On October 31st (?) 46020 failed at Taunton working the 09.50 Edinburgh - Plymouth, 47063 was removed from the 17.20 Plymouth - Bristol freight to take over the ailing passenger service, whilst 25153 & 25219 arrived from the west to take the freight train forward.
1977
On July 2nd 25047 & 25153 were noted at Chester with a cement train. 25153 & 24087 were noted at Llandudno Town with an excursion on July 20th.
On August 13th 25153 was noted at Birkenhead Mollington Street.
1978
24082 & 25153 were noted at Seacombe Junction with an iron ore train on April 1st.
On June 2nd 24047 & 25153 worked the 8F51 04.50 Grange Junction (BSC Skelton Works, Stoke) - Shotwick (24047 leading). On June 25th 25153 & 25312 worked the 08.40 Leicester - Skegness and 18.30 return. A day excursion on July 2nd from Weston-super-Mare to Aberystwyth was worked from/to Wolverhampton by 25153 & 25160. Two days in the second week of September saw much activity in North Wales. On September 12th 25153 worked the 20.30 Crewe - Bangor, followed by the 22.45 Bangor - Llandudno Junction. The next day (13th) started with the 09.42 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria, the return 13.30 to Llandudno Town, the 16.42 Llandudno Town - Crewe, the 20.30 Crewe - Bangor and finally the 22.45 Bangor - Llandudno Junction.
1979
On May 14th 25153 worked the 15.42 Manchester Victoria - Bangor.
25153 was noted at Nottingham Midland on July 5th. 25153 & 25303 worked the Derby - Norwich - Walsall - Norwich - Walsall diagram on July 7th. The following week on July 14th 25153 & 25038 worked the Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Derby diagram. At about 6.30pm on July 15th 25038, 25088, 25114, 25153 & 25300 were stabled at Leicester depot.
On August 5th 25153 was noted at Northwich depot.
1980
25153 was noted at East Didsbury on April 3rd with a Tunstead - Northwich loaded ICI stone train.
On May 21st 25153 & 25179 were noted passing Gobowen with a Curzon Street - Penyfford cement empties.
1981
On a snowy January 16th 25153 was noted passing Northenden Cement Works with a loaded train of ICI limestone hoppers.
On May 10th 25153 was noted light engine at Crewe station. On the afternoon of May 19th 25153 was noted at Crewe on a down van train.
On June 9th 25085 & 25153 worked the 8F21 Oakamoor - St Helens sand train. On June 20th 25153 & 25173 worked the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton returning with the 16.05 to Wolverhampton. The next day (21st) the same pair worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth and the 18.00 Aberystwyth - Euston to Nuneaton.
On July 3rd 25153 was noted at Skipton.
On August 14th 25153 was noted at Bletchingdon with a freight train. On the weekend of August 15th/16th 25153 & 25143 handled the 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth followed by the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton. The next day (16th) the same pair worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth and the 18.00 Aberystwyth - Euston to Nuneaton. The 16.36 Birmingham New Street - Norwich was worked by 25153 at least as far as Peterborough on August 28th 1981.
25153 was noted light engine at York on September 30th, being noted stabled on York depot during the morning.
25153 was noted at Stoke on Trent on November 19th with an engineers train.
1982
Prior to midnight on January 25th 25083 failed with brake problems at Finedon Road whilst hauling two Class 317 units southwards, the units remained here until January 30th when 25153 continued their journey southwards.
25153 was stabled at Wellingborough on February 13th.
The last recorded passenger workings for 25153 took place in 1982, commencing on a glorious August 14th with 25153 & 25221 on the nine coach 09.00 York - Llandudno Town, presumably substituting for a Class 40.
A rescue job took place on September 3rd 1982 when 47507 failed at Earlestown on the 13.45 Manchester Victoria - Bangor, 25153 pushed the train the five miles to Warrington. September 4th found 25153 working the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle. Ten days later (14th) 25153 worked the 14.22 Crewe - Nottingham following a diesel multiple unit failure. The final passenger working for 25153 was back on the Settle & Carlisle on September 30th 1982 with the 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle.
25153 was noted at Warrington Arpley with an engineering train on October 10th.
1983
25153 was noted at Springs Branch on March 19th. 25153 was stabled at Willesden depot on March 26th. 25153 & 25320 were noted at Rugby on March 30th.
25153 was withdrawn on April 3rd 1983.
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
Resources:
1970s Western Region information courtesy online notebooks of Sean Greenslade.
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Page added June 14th 2013.
Last updated June 8th 2022.
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