The seventeen year two month career of D7572/25222 included five years at Holbeck with the remaining twelve years allocated to a variety of London Midland Region depots.
Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Boiler equipped.
Dual brake fitted.
Royal Train cabling modification (cab front access panel).
Never carried domino style headcode display.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 55 months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 12 months.
Allocations
D7572 was new to Cricklewood West (14B) on October 19th 1963. Further transfers were:
October 1964 to Derby (16C).
December 1964 to Cricklewood West (14B).
January 1965 to London Midland (Midland) Lines (LMML).
August 1967 to Holbeck (55A), on loan then permanent same month.
August 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
March 1973 to London Division (D01).
March 1974 to Willesden.
June 1975 to Cricklewood.
May 1977 to Crewe.
April 1979 to Cricklewood.
August 1980 to Longsight.
Withdrawn December 14th 1980.
Renumbered March 22nd 1974. Its possible that when renumbered the bodyside numbers were painted over and placed on the cabsides above the BR emblems, making this arrangement unique to 25222? (see image below)
25222 was the 82nd Class 25 withdrawn, one of seventeen Class 25s retired during December 1980.
25222 was moved to Swindon Works by October 30th 1980, six weeks prior to the withdrawal date. 25222 was broken up at Swindon Works by Christmas 1981.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works March & June 1966.
Noted Glasgow Works April 1971 (gangway doors sheeted over).
Noted Derby Works January 1975.
Noted Derby Works April & May 1976.
Highlights
1964
On the afternoon of March 26th D7572 was at Kentish Town with an eastbound freight.
Despite being boiler equipped D7572/25222 acquired a very modest accumulation of passenger workings. The first recorded working took place on April 28th 1964 working a roundtrip Anglian TUCC special between Cambridge & Bletchley.
1965
On Sunday December 5th a visit to several East Midlands area installations produced the following Derby/Sulzer Type 2s:
Derby Works:
D5054, D 5087, D5135
D5166
D5268, D5298
D7562, D7564, D7566, D7567, D7576, D7588, D7598, D7599, D7600, D7601, D7602
Derby shed:
D5011
D5185, D5189, D5198, D5205, D5224, D5230, D5293
D7505, D7521, D7529, D7532, D7538, D7540, D7543, D7548, D7559, D7560, D7569, D7572, D7582, D7591, D7594, D7634
Toton shed:
D5186
D5201, D5228, D5231, D5235, D5237, D5240, D5242, D5256, D5259, D5261, D5265, D5267, D5272, D5280, D5284, D5285, D5287, D5288, D5299
D7504, D7527, D7542, D7544, D7545, D7558, D7561, D7571, D7577, D7579, D7597
Nottingham shed:
D5209, D5270, D5290
D7511, D7533, D7563
Colwich shed
D5195, D7554, D7557
1966
Noted at Derby station on March 24th between 4.30pm & 7pm were about fifty train and locomotive movements involving diesel Classes 08/25/37/45/46/47. Class 25s and steam locomotives included:
D7528 shunting empty coaching stock
48350 up freight - oil tanks
D7548 down light engine
D7561 down light engine
D5188 Nottingham?? - Derby passenger (2P92)
D5299 empty coaching stock for Derby - Bakewell service
D5190 empty coaching stock for Derby - Sheffield service
48143 down light engine
D7584 up freight (5G52)
45211 up light engine
D7511 & D7565 down freight (9T44)
48672 down light engine
D7505 up light engine
48103 down freight, later retiring to the shed
48646 up freight
92008 up light engine
48752 down freight
D7572 shunting empty coaching stock
76043 down light engine
D5206 up local
D5204 Sheffield - Derby passenger (2M76)
48214 down special freight
48177 down movement with brake van
45224 down light engine
D7502 up light engine
D5223 up local (2P53)
D68 & D7583 19.45 Derby - St Pancras
Amongst the locomotives on shed during this period included 12039, D2504, D7514, D7572, D7581, D7585, D7646, E6022 & 48064.
On August 25th D7572 was noted at Altofts with a three coach 2E55 (dirty green livery with small yellow ends - curved upper corners).
1967
Like many others D7572 worked a round trip with the Nottingham - Llandudno Town summer dated service, in this case on July 8th with D5294.
On the evening of July 19th D7572 was northbound at Derby with a freight.
On July 29th D7572 worked the 08.00 Leicester - Clacton (one wonders how many Class 25s visited Clacton?).
On the morning of August 26th D7572 was light engine at Bradford Exchange.
On August 29th the 07.45 Kings Cross - Bradford was worked forward from Leeds by D7572 & D354.
On the morning of September 6th noted in the Leeds area were D5184, D5255, D7572, 44893 & 44988 (all at Holbeck), D7626 at Leeds City with freight 8P83, D7625 at Leeds City with freight 8P84 and D5096 light engine.
1968
On January 1st D7572 was stabled at Holbeck.
On August 24th 7572 worked a relief Newcastle - Manchester Exchange service.
1969
On February 17th 7572 was stabled at Holbeck.
On June 8th 7572 worked the 17.23 Bradford Exchange - Kings Cross as far as Leeds.
1970
On June 14th 7572 was at Bradford Exchange with the 17.20 to Kings Cross.
On September 30th 7572 worked the 1E37 1E37 09.25 Paignton - Bradford Exchange forward from Leeds.
On October 10th 7572 worked the 1E37 1E37 09.25 Paignton - Bradford Exchange forward from Leeds.
1971
Two Holbeck workings on July 31st 1971 commenced with the 17.49 Poole - Bradford Exchange from Sheffield to Bradford Exchange, followed by the 21.24 Bradford Exchange - Kings Cross as far as Leeds.
On August 30th 7572 was stabled at Holbeck.
Condition August: blue/yellow livery, cab front rain gutter painted yellow (Glasgow Works), two numbers & emblems on each side (emblems on cabsides).
1974
On January 19th 7572 was noted at St Pancras.
Condition January: blue/yellow livery, bodysides were a patchwork of blue paint, gangway doors sheeted over, two numbers on each bodyside, BR emblem on each cabside, blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds plated over, No.2 cab front missing center lampbracket and other fittings. Sometime after this point in time the numbers were moved to the cabside, above the BR emblem.
On the morning of May 20th 25222 was noted at Willesden.
1975
On May 17th 25222 was stabled at Longsight.
On June 10th 25222 was the Euston parcels pilot.
1976
During its Classified repair at Derby the No.1 cab retained the central lampbracket and other fittings whilst whilst the replacement No.2 cab was missing those items.
On May 14th 25222 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for May 14th recorded:
No.1 end was leading and recordings were taken from this cab.
| 25222; May 14th 1976; 1C41 Nottingham | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 28 | 900 | - | - | - | 2 | 34 | 925 | - | - | - | 3 | 40 | 990 | - | - | - | 4 | 51 | 950 | - | - | train engine pushing | 5 | 62 | 970 | - | - | - | 6 | 69 | 990 | - | - | - |
Boiler
No.2 vacuum gauge wrong
Oil pressure low top 44
Oil issue from under No.2 bogie
F/B stick.
On May 15th 25222 was ex-works light engine at Derby station.
On June 10th 25222 was noted at Bedford with a mixed freight.
A Royal Train working on June 22nd for the French President (Gatwick - Victoria). Class 31s were used for this working but 25222 was used to get the coaching stock back to the LMR Wolverton?
It was off to Skegness with 25203 on July 17th 1976 with a morning Leicester - Skegness, returning with the 12.35 Skegness - Leicester.
1977
On January 14th 25222 was stabled at Luton.
On March 22nd 25222 worked a Bedford - St. Pancras service to ?? before failing, being rescued by 25324, which took the service to Luton where it was terminated.
During May 1977 25222 was transferred to Crewe, a move which would see it used frequently on the Crewe - Cardiff services.
On the afternoon of May 7th 24023, 24047, 25152, 25162, 25167, 25168, 25222 & 25307 were stabled at Cockshute.
On May 16th 25222 worked the evening Stoke - Healey Mills freight.
With 1977 being the Jubilee Year for Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch and family made many public appearances, making considerable use of the new Royal Train. A visit to Stockport on June 21st ended with the Royal Train utilised for the journey to Porthmadog. The journey west of Shrewsbury was handled by 25221 & 25222. After staying overnight at Porthmadog the train ran to Harlech, where the Royal Family took to road transport. From Harlech the empty coaching stock was taken forward by 25218. 25222 & 25221 were back at Crewe by June 26th.
On July 16th 40121, 40171, 25222 & 25145 were noted light engines at Crewe station.
On July 21st 25222 was eastbound light engine at Abergele.
25221 & 25222 were noted on July 26th bringing the Royal Train empty coaching stock from Wolverton to Newcastle, via Carlisle. At Newcastle Princess Anne boarded for the journey to Dumfries.
On August 27th 25222 was stabled at Holyhead.
On October 6th 25222 worked the 16.00 Crewe - Cardiff.
On October 30th 25222 worked the 2M67 13.45 Cardiff - Crewe and the 1V13 18.17 Crewe - Cardiff.
On November 12th 25222 worked the 07.50 Cardiff - Crewe and the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.
On November 13th 25222 worked the 13.45 Crewe - Cardiff. On November 15th 25222 failed at Hereford working the 07.50 Cardiff - Crewe and was removed to the stabling point.
25222 was noted on the Crewe - Cardiff services on December 16th, 29th, 30th & 31st.
1978
On January 5th 25222 worked the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.
On January 7th 25222 worked the 12.22 Crewe - Cardiff.
On January 25th 25222 worked the 07.50 Cardiff - Crewe.
On March 3rd 25222 worked the 06.00 Crewe - Cardiff.
On March 4th 25222 worked the 12.22 Crewe - Cardiff.
On March 8th 25222 worked the 16.00 Crewe - Cardiff.
On March 19th stabled at Warrington Arpley were 25095, 25162, 25222 & 25283.
25222 & 25217 were noted passing Stoke on Trent with a lengthy freight on April 20th.
Observations on the evening of May 12th at Plymouth include:
25224 18.06 Truro - Plymouth Friary goods
25293 4B10 15.52 Bristol - Plymouth vans
25224 03.24 6V53 Stoke - St Blazey clay empties
25052 & 25155 down clay Fowey
25215 & 25222? 18.50 St Blazey - Carlisle goods (to Exeter Riverside).
On June 13th 25222 worked the 06.04 Crewe - Cardiff.
On the night of June 27th 25222 was stabled at Cricklewood.
August 2nd found 25222 back on the Crewe - Cardiff line assisting a diesel multiple unit failure.
On September 19th 25222 worked the Leeds - Bradford Exchange portion of the 1E05, then the 5Z44 back to Leeds.
On September 22nd 25222 was at Ryecroft Junction with a mixed freight.
On October 15th 25222 worked an afternoon Crewe - Cardiff service.
On October 17th 25222 & 25063 were noted northbound through Crewe, possibly with an Oakamoor - St Helens sand train.
1979
On January 8th 25222 worked the 12.48 Holyhead - Euston to Crewe. 25222 was stabled at Stonebridge Park on January 12th.
25222 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff services on January 13th, 24th, 26th, 27th & 28th.
On February 22nd 47294 & 25222 worked the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.
On April 27th 25222 worked the 12.22 Crewe - Cardiff.
25222 was active on the Crewe - Cardiff services on May 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th.
On June 1st 25222 & 25245 worked the 06.03 Crewe - Cardiff and the 11.30 Cardiff - Crewe.
On June 2nd 25222 worked the 01.47 Crewe - Cardiff, the 07.50 Cardiff - Crewe, the 12.25 Crewe - Cardiff and the 17.10 Cardiff - Crewe.
On June 3rd 25222 worked the 13.45 Crewe - Cardiff and the 18.50 Cardiff - Crewe.
On August 29th 25222 was noted at Stratford (East London) with a train of Railfreight wagons.
25222 was noted at Cricklewood depot on September 20th & 22nd.
1980
On January 12th 25222 was stabled at Stonebridge Park.
25222 was noted at Watford on the morning of January 19th.
25222's last passenger workings took place during 1980 and they proved to be quite a mixture. On February 9th 1980 a Stoke-on-Trent - Norwood Junction football special was worked out & back by 25222 & 25189.
There was a multitude of Class 25s in the area of Bushey & Oxhey station from February 17th onwards following the dramatic derailment there of the 16th s 20.25 Euston Manchester due to a track defect. The locomotive 87007 was the only part of the train to remain on the tracks, four of the MkIII coaches ended up on their sides, with one (M12162) bringing down the overhead gantries, which blocked the slow lines. Most fortunately there were only minor injuries. Three breakdown cranes attended, from Bescot, Finsbury Park brought in by 25279 & 25256, and Old Oak Common arrived behind 25152 & 25189. The slow lines were reopened late on the 17th, the dc lines late on the 19th, the fast lines by the 25th. Spoil trains used 25222 & 25243 and 25130 & 25173, this first pair returned with track panels on 21st, followed by 25256 on the re-wiring train.
Further to the above incident comes information from Andrew Carlile, who was travelling on a train behind the Manchester express. 'Ironically we were on the Euston to Liverpool train that day. Cannot recall the exact time it should depart, could of been 19.45 or 20.00 but it was held up because the guard did not arrive for the train. Therefore train left late and was immediately behind the Manchester train. Potentially it could of been our train that derailed that day. Anyway we were stuck immediately behind the derailment for over 4 hours. As mentioned 25222 was in the area and this locomotive dragged our train back to Euston arriving back at 1am. I remember the Class 25 at the buffer stops at Euston. Think the train engine was an 87 but we were then bussed from Euston to St Pancras. They had laid a relief train on at St Pancras but we were on last bus and they let the train go before we arrived!! Another relief train arrived with a Class 45 which took us to Nuneaton and changed to electric traction to Runcorn. An eventful day but I do remember the Class 25 having to work really hard and slowly dragging train back to Euston'.
On April 3rd (Maundy Thursday) 25222 & 25054 worked the 09.50 Nottingham - St Pancras relief. The weekend of April 6th/7th proved to quite hectic for 25222 & 25054, on 6th they worked a roundtrip Leicester - Scarborough excursion, whilst the following day (7th) they worked a roundtrip Nottingham - Barry Island day excursion for a weekend total of 623 passenger miles.
25222 was noted Clayton Bridge, Manchester on April 16th with a lengthy freight.
On April 18th, 19th & 21st 25222 was working the Crewe - Cardiff services.
On May 1st, 2nd & 3rd 25222 was working the Crewe - Cardiff services.
As a Cricklewood locomotive 25222 most likely worked the Kensington Olympia motorail many times, on June 28th 25222 & 25193 worked the 08.55 Kensington Olympia - Perth the two miles to Willesden.
The final recorded passenger working was perhaps a fine tribute to a five year veteran of Holbeck when on August 9th 25222 & 25061 worked the 18.08 Penzance - Leeds forward from Birmingham New Street.
On the evening of August 22nd 25222 was noted at Blackburn, Manchester Victoria and Red Bank sidings.
On the morning of August 23rd 25222 was noted at Newton Heath depot.
On August 26th 25222 was eastbound at Manchester Victoria with parcels vans.
25222 was withdrawn on December 14th 1980.
Distinguishing Features
Non-BIS side:six foot scrape to right of radiator panel October 1978.
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
flk 0425
62/7612
Page added May 29th 2013.
Last updated April 15th 2025.
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