The twenty year four month career of D7559/25209 included allocations to a variety of London Midland Region depots.
Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake equipped (January 1979).
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 83 months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 75 months.
Allocations
D7559 was new to the Nottingham Division on August 28th 1965. Further transfers were:
May 1967 to Birmingham Division (D02).
June 1967 to Stoke Division (D05).
August 1967 to Birmingham Division (D02).
January 1968 to Derby Research Center (for cab heating/ventilation research?).
February 1968 to Birmingham Division (D02).
February 1970 to Preston Division (D10).
May 1970 to Birmingham Division (D02).
November 1970 to Nottingham Division (D16).
May 1973 to Toton.
August 1974 to Longsight.
January 1980 to Bescot.
January 1983 to Longsight.
May 1984 to Bescot.
July 1985 to Crewe.
Withdrawn December 17th 1985.
Renumbered April 1974.
25209 was the 265th Class 25 withdrawn, one of ten withdrawn during December 1985.
After withdrawal 25209 was stored at Toton from January 1986 until February 13th 1992 when it was moved by rail to MC Metals, Glasgow arriving in their yard on Februry 19th 1992 and scrapped there during the first week of March 1992.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Crewe Works October 1969.
Noted Derby Works December 1971.
Noted Derby Works March 1973.
Noted Derby Works November 1978 - January 1979 (Dual brake & General repair).
Noted Derby Works November 1979 (N4 repairs).
Noted Derby Works May 1981.
Noted Derby Works January 1984 (N4 repairs).
Highlights
1968
At some point during the first quarter of 1968 D7559 was fitted with experimental heating and ventilation equipment in both cabs under experimental reference M/D/L1693. The installation was based on the recommendations in Report T60 issued by the Chief Engineer (T&RS). The heating equipment was designed to give a temperature of 70F at head height and 65F at floor level, with an ambient outside air temperature of 25F and 50cu.ft of air per minute.
Equipment required for the installation was:
1/ One forced air heater box and terminal box. Output of 2kW, located in center of cab desk, air is blown over the heater elements and delivered to the three distribution ducts.
2/ One Airmax fan type H4-Y3465. Fitted below the heater box, air is drawn via a shrouded inlet duct mounted on the underframe, at a rate of 90 cu.ft per minute. Fans supplied by A.K.Fans Ltd, London NW3.
3/ Three air distribution ducts providing even distribution across the cab floor.
4/ Four Cressall 500 watt convector heaters. Mounted on the cab bulkhead to provide rapid warm-up of the cab. Controlled by the roof mounted thermostat, the bulkhead heaters will activate to bring the head height temperature to 70F, then the thermostat will turn them off. Convector heaters supplied by Cressall Manufacturing Company Ltd, Birmingham.
5/ One Austinlite main heater/ventilation switch. Ventilator located above driver's position to provide air circulation between roof and floor. Supplied by Austinlite Ltd, Malvern Link.
6/ Two thermostats, one each for cab temperature and heater box temperature. Thermostats supplied by McLaren Controls Ltd, Glasgow or Teddington Auto Controls Ltd, Sunbury-on-Thames.
7/ One air/vac extractor with Colt restrictor.
8/ Thermostat mounting panel.
The system was completely automatic, with the main switch used to initially select whether heating or ventilation was required.
The BR Instruction Manual indicated that D7559 had previously been subject to an earlier similar experimental system.
Externally there were no visible changes to the locomotive for this experiment.
It is not known how long D7559 retained this experiment.
1969
1970
On October 4th 7559 was at Coventry with a permanent way train.
1972
1973
On March 14th 7559 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for March 14th recorded:
| 7559; March 14th 1973; time 9.45 | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 36 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 41 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 49 | 950 | - | - | - | 5 | 62 | 950 | - | - | - | 6 | 69 | 960 | - | - | - |
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 26 | 900 | - | - | - | 2 | 35 | 890 | - | - | - | 3 | 41 | 910 | - | - | - | 4 | 49 | 930 | - | - | - | 5 | 58 | 990 | - | - | - | 6 | 65 | 990 | - | - | - |
No.2 RI mechanical gear suspect
No.1 cupboard lock to fit
B crankcase door
Knecht B/C loose
AWS No.2 end
Crankcase side panel door
Engine clean down.
On June 30th (?)7559 and an unidentified Class 25 worked the roundtrip Nottingham - Llandudno Town. Two months later on September 1st 7559 & 5241 worked a roundtrip Derby - Skegness. The next day (2nd) the same pair were noted on the 18.15 Skegness - Derby.
At about 6pm on October 11th 7599 was noted at Manchester Victoria with an up working of tool vans (2Z99).
1974
On June 29th 1974 25209 & 25200 worked a roundtrip Derby - Skegness.
1973
25209 & 25141 worked the 09.20 Manchester Piccadilly - Yarmouth to Lincoln Central on May 31st 1975, returning with the 09.30 Yarmouth - Manchester Piccadilly. On September 16th 1975 25209 worked the 06.52 St. Pancras - Manchester Piccadilly.
1975
On May 15th 25209 was noted at Manchester Victoria with the 9T50.
1976
On August 14th 1976 25209 & 25167 worked the 09.20 Manchester Piccadilly - Yarmouth to Lincoln Central, returning with the 09.15 Yarmouth - Manchester Piccadilly.
On September 23rd 25209 was noted at Warrington Arpley.
1977
25209 was note at Manchester Victoria on March 9th as the banker?
25209 was the Manchester Victoria banker (T42) on April 11th.
The 00.13 Stalybridge - Manchester Victoria was worked by 25209 on May 25th 1977, this being the portion off the 21.50 York - Shrewsbury.
On the morning of June 21st 25209 was light engine at Guide Bridge.
On June 24th 25209 was noted eastbound through Manchester Victoria with a short parcels train.
On September 19th 25209 was stabled at Northwich, earlier in the day it had brought loaded ICI hoppers from Tunstead.
1978
During November 25209 entered Derby Locomotive Works for its last Classified repair, it would be fitted with dual braking equipment at this time, one of the last Class 25s to be so fitted.
1979
On February 22nd the 17.50 Manchester Victoria - Rochdale (Oldham loop) was worked by 25209 with hauled stock, this combination may have worked other services this day.
25209 was noted at Grimsby on the morning of March 8th, possibly having worked the Manchester - Cleethorpes newspapers.
On April 28th a Euston - Blaenau Ffestiniog charter was top'n tailed between Llandudno Junction & Blaenau Ffestiniog by 47515 & 25209.
On June 2nd 25209 & 25115 worked the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Walsall diagram. On June 17th 25209 & 25282 were stabled at Wolverhampton High Level. The 16.02 Crewe - Cardiff was worked by 25209 on June 21st.
The next two workings involved Derby, on July 28th the 13.00 Llandudno Town - Nottingham was worked from Derby by 25209.
On October 20th the 09.55 Derby - Newquay was worked to Birmingham New Street by sisters 25209 & 25208, being replaced by 47003.
1980
On March 27th 25209 & 25117 were noted at Vigo with a lengthy oil train. On March 28th 25204 & 25209 were noted southbound at Wolverton with a freight diverted onto the WCML at Nuneaton due to the temporary closure of the Market Harborough - Northampton line because of the shortage of signalmen.
A Paddington - Aberystwyth railtour on April 19th was worked between Wolverhampton & Aberystwyth roundtrip by 25209 & 25263. On April 27th 25209 was noted at Bescot.
A broken rail occurred on the WCML on May 9th between Nuneaton and Rugby, a number of services were diverted over the line to Coventry, 25209 was used as a pilot.
The Cambrian line was revisited on June 7th with 25209 & 25089 working the 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton. Ten days later on June 17th 25209 was noted in the Carnforth area assisting a two car diesel multiple unit (56234 & 50955).
On September 20th the 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25209 & 25302.
1981
On January 3rd & 4th 08588 & 25209 were at Lightmoor Junction (Horsehay branch) with an engineering train involved in removing the points to the branch.
The failure of 47556 on February 19th at Birmingham New Street on the 07.20 Leeds - Penzance saw 25209 assist the train to Bristol Temple Meads.
At noon on February 23rd 25209 was stabled at Bristol Bath Road.
From the morning of March 9th to the evening of March 12th 25209 was utilised by York for a variety of local workings.
On June 13th sisters 25209 & 25208 worked the 08.35 Derby - Yarmouth to Norwich, returning from there with the 14.20 Yarmouth - Derby. The next day (14th) the same pair worked a roundtrip Leicester - Skegness. Another rescue job took place on June 28th when 47463 failed at Wolverhampton with the 13.40 Euston - Shrewsbury, 25209 took the service forward to Shrewsbury.
On October 19th 25206 & 25209 were noted southbound at Tring with a ballast train. On October 23rd after a week on similar services, 25209 & 25117 worked 20.50 Kensington Olympia - Stirling motorail to Willesden, the last motorail service from Kensingon Olympia.
1982
25209 was stabled in the former parcels depot at Coventry on March 13th.
25209 received an 'E' examination at Toton during April.
On the late afternoon of May 6th 25050 & 25209 were noted with a freight at Newport (Mon) station. On May 20th 25209 & 40126 worked the Exeter - Ellesmere Port empty bitumen tanks, presumably having also worked the loads to Exeter.
The 08.19 Leicester - Skegness on June 13th was worked to Nottingham by sisters 25209 & 25208 where the locomotives were failed and replaced by 20016 & 20147.
25209 was stabled at Longsight on July 17th.
A diesel multiple unit failure on August 7th saw 25209 assist a Manchester Victoria - Blackpool North service. 25209 & 25206 were busy on August 28th/29th working the 28th's 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the 16.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury and the 29th's 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth from Shrewsbury, the 16.40 Aberystwyth - Machynlleth and 17.25 return and the 18.15 Aberystwyth - Euston to Shrewsbury. On August 31st 31114 failed at Nuneaton with the 14.14 Norwich - Birmingham New Street, 25209 dragged the service to Birmingham New Street.
The 10.00 Bradford - Paignton was worked to Leeds by 25209 on September 4th. Cambrian metals were revisited on September 11th when 25209 & 25242 worked the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. On September 14th 25209 was noted at Acocks Green with a down Speedlink. 25209 was noted eastbound with newspaper empties at Sheffield on September 20th.
1983
During January 1983 25209 was transferred from Bescot to Longsight, changing the passenger turns available to it.
On March 18th 25209 worked the 22.07 Preston - Blackpool North following the failure of the booked diesel multiple unit. 25209 was noted passing Cwmbran northbound(?) with a Speedlink service on March 30th.
Another failure saw 25209 work the 14.14 Norwich - Birmingham New Street forward from Narborough on April 11th after 31422 failed.
On May 5th 25209 & 25235 were noted southbound at Wolverhampton High Level with bogie oil tankers. On May 27th 25209 & 25235 were sent light engines from Garston to work a 9X20 Fazakerley - Derby engineers train including track panels and ballast cleaaning vehicles. On May 31st 25209 & 25035 worked a roundtrip Derby - Skegness.
25209 was noted southbound light engine at Clifton Junction on June 17th.
The latter half of July 1983 was busy for 25209, working the 07.30 Glasgow Central - Carlisle on July 15th & 22nd, the 08.01 Crewe - Cardiff & the 11.40 Cardiff - Crewe on July 18th and the relief 00.01 Preston - Liverpool on July 31st.
On August 13th 25209 & 25296 were noted eastbound at New Mills South Junction with a lengthy train of Presflo cement wagons. The 16.20 Glasgow Central - Liverpool was worked from Preston by 25209 on August 23rd, 25209 was also noted this day at Warrington Bank Quay with about fifteen Presflos.
A Waterloo - Bridgnorth 'Severn-Thames Express' railtour on September 17th was worked out and back between Coventry & Bewdley by 25209 & 25236.
25209 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on October 3rd and was noted light engine at Manchester Victoria on October 7th.
25209 was noted at Rhyl yard on November 20th.
Finally for 1983 the 07.16 Manchester Victoria - York on December 3rd was worked by 25209.
1984
On February 23rd 25209 was noted passing Barnetby with a parcels working.
The week of March 15th saw the evening Hardendale – Lackenby freight and returning empties were worked by 25089 & 25209.
On April 1st & 8th 25209 was busy dragging electric services between Willesden & Camden due to the power being off for engineering work.
On May 7th a Swindon - Aberystwyth railtour was worked roundtrip between Birmingham New Street & Aberystwyth by 25209 & 25154. On May 9th 25209 was noted at Severn Tunnel Junction with a freight train. On May 12th 25209 & 25058 worked a roundtrip Oldham - Llandudno Town day excursion. The Ditton – Broughton Lane BOC tanks continued with its familiar pair of Classes 25 & 40, so noted were 40001 & 25209 on May 15th. Class 25s noted on the Wednesday/Friday’s only early morning Gartson – Forders brickliner included 25209 on May 16th.
25209 & 40044 were noted eastbound through Manchester Victoria on July 23rd with BOC bogie tankers. On July 25th 25209 and inspection saloon TDB999503 were noted westbound through Manchester Victoria. An electric multiple unit failure on July 27th saw the 12.42 Manchester Piccadilly - Stafford worked forward from Stoke-on-Trent by 25209. 25209 was noted passing Cwmbran light enine on July 30th.
The 'Northern Belle' railtour from Carlisle to Kings Cross on August 20th was worked by 25209 & 25054 between Appleby & Leeds following the failure of 30777 Sir Lamiel. A relief 00.30 Leicester - Wolverhampton on August 31st was worked by 25209.
On September 7th 25209 & 25154 were noted at Chester with an oil tank train.
25048, 25194 & 25209 were stabled at Rugby station on the night of November 24th. A diesel multiple unit failure on November 29th saw the 16.32 Great Malvern - Birmingham New Street assisted from Stourbridge Junction by 25209.
Another diesel multiple unit failure on December 29th found 25209 & 25182 assisting the 09.01 Rock Ferry - Chester.
1985
On January 4th 25209 was noted at Warrington Arpley, both light engine and with a westbound freight working. The Cleethorpes - Manchester Red Bank empty parcels train was worked by 25209 on a snowy January 19th.
On February 4th 25209 was noted at Lawley Street with a Freightliner service. On a wintry February 9th 25209 was noted passing Amersham with a train of tube stock en-route from Metro-Cammel's Birmingham works to Neasden.
On February 22nd 25209 & 25175 were northbound at Preston with a freight.
25209 & 25191 were noted at Blackburn on March 15th with a Tunnel Cement block train working.
On April 2nd 25209 was noted westbound through Wakefield Westgate with a loaded ballast train. On a wet April 3rd 25209 was noted northbound at Derby station with steel flats. On a very wet April 4th 25209 was noted northbound at Chesterfield with empty steel bogie flats. On April 5th 25209 was noted passing Water Orton westbound with a train of merry-go-round wagons. On April 7th 25209 was stabled at Saltley.
25209 was noted at Manchester Piccadilly on May 3rd, diagrammed to work the 1M25 parcels to London St Pancras as far as Derby. 25209 was noted southbound light engine at Loughborough on May 30th.
On June 3rd 25209 & 25181 worked the Leeds - Stanlow oil tank empties. On June 5th 25089 & 25209 were noted at Ipswich with the Llanwern – Parkeston tanks. 25209 was noted at Crewe station on June 23rd, possibly involved with the the remodelling activities. On June 26th 25034 & 25209 with a goods train were noted stabled in the goods loop at Stockport.
On July 5th 25209 was noted at Severn Tunnel Junction. On July 8th 25209 was noted at Cwmbran with the 6S75 13.55 Severn Tunnel Junction - Mossend Speedlink. On July 16th 25072 & 25209 worked a train of steel coil from Llanwern, Newport to Pengam, Cardiff to attach to the 4E70 16.05 Danygraig - Stratford liner train. On July 29th the 14.00 Llandudno Town - Manchester Victoria was worked by 25209 following a diesel multiple unit failure.
The failure of a Class 47 on August 5th allowed 25209 to work the 07.05 Holyhead - Cardiff throughout (?), a total of 244 miles. 25209 was noted light engine at Huddersfield on August 7th. 25209 was noted with an engineers possession at Maghull on August 11th, with a train of track panels. 25209 was stabled at Warrington Arpley on August 26th.
25224 & 25209 were noted at Warrington Bank Quay on September 21st with an engineers train and at Workington station station stabling point on September 22nd. 25209 was north of the border on September 30th working the 07.40 Glasgow Central - Carlisle and the 12.40 Carlisle - Glasgow Central.
25209 was withdrawn on December 17th 1985.
Distingusishing Features
No.1 cab front: area of rust to right of center lampbracket: May 1981 (enlarges over time) until withdrawn.
No.2 cab front: small rust spot/dent below center window: November 1983 until withdrawn.
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
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Page added September 6th 2013.
Last updated June 20th 2022.
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