The twenty year five month career of D7578/25228 included allocations to Scottish, Eastern and London Midland Region depots.
Built: BR Darlington Locomotive Works.
Boiler equipped.
Dual brake fitted.
Non-standard Battery Isolating Switch Cover - three circular hinged discs.
Center lampbracket & other fittings removed.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 63 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 39 months.
Allocations
D7578 was new to Toton on November 30th 1963. Further transfers were:
December 1963 to York (50A) on loan.
January 1964 to Leeds Neville Hill (55H) on loan.
June 1964 to York (50A).
October 1964 to Toton (16A).
November 1964 to Derby (16C).
January 1965 to Nottingham Division (D16).
April 1965 to Colwick (40E) on loan.
May 1965 to Nottingham Division (D16).
March 1967 to London Midland (Midland) Lines.
September 1967 to Eastfield (65A).
June 1969 to Haymarket (64B).
May 1977 to Inverness.
May 1978 to Eastfield.
March 1982 to Haymarket.
September 1982 to Longsight.
Withdrawn March 20th 1984 (whilst at Derby Works).
Renumbered April 1974.
25228 was the 215th Class withdrawn, the only Class 25 retired during March 1984.
25228 had been sent to Derby Works (from Crewe?) late in January 1984 for repairs but these were cancelled and the locomotive withdrawn. On February 4th/5th 1985 25228 moved as part of a dead engine movement (25036/049, 25150, 25228/253/277 25304/317/320) 9X12 Derby Works to Swindon Works.
The movement to Swindon Works did not hasten the end of 25228. The rundown and closure of the Works left a number of withdrawn locomotives with an uncertain fate including 25228. To clear the Works Vic Berry was called in to deal with the remaining locomotives. A decision was made to move the remaining mainline locomotives (no shunters) to Berry's Leicester yard for breaking up. The move was made in two steps, initially 25027/75, 25123/133/144/158, 25228/234, 97202, 40046/63 were tripped from the Works to nearby Cocklebury Yard on May 26th 1987. Then between June 2nd & June 11th the same locomotive convoy travelled from Cocklebury Yard via Oxford to Leicester, for the Oxford - Leicester portion 20019 & 20197 hauled the convoy. 25228 was broken up during the third week of June 1987, although the cabs lingered a while longer.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works February 1966.
Noted Derby Works February 1968.
Noted Glasgow Works February 1971.
Noted Glasgow Works August 1974 (full repaint).
Noted Glasgow Works June 1978.
Noted Glasgow Works December 1978 (Classified).
Noted Glasgow Works November 1979 (N4 repairs).
Noted Glasgow Works October 1980 (N4 repairs).
Highlights
1963
After the completion of the ten locomotives transferred from Derby Works (D5223 - D5232), Darlington Works set about its final build of Class 25s: D7578 - D7597. Although these last twenty machines were externally similar to D5223 - D5232, they featured internal changes and would be later designated Class 25/2. These were all boiler equipped. The first of these, D7578 was delivered from Darlington Works during November 1963, being delivered to Nottingham (16A), and used to continue to remove steam from the Midland lines. It went on loan to York (50A) during December.
1964
In January D7578 was loaned to Leeds Neville Hill for six months, returning to York during June. In October it returned south to Nottingham, then on to Derby (16C) during November.
On March 15th D5100 & D7578 were stabled at Neville Hill.
Whilst on loan to Neville Hill D7578 was used on passenger turns including March 26th's eight coach 15.30 Manchester Victoria - Newcastle throughout. This was the week before Easter when the many extra specials running may have stretched the motive power departments.
On May 29th D7578 was noted at Scarborough with a 'York Trail Train' comprised of about nine elderly coaches. The locomotive was displaying headcode 3Z89, a headcode very similar to the one in the opening photograph on this page.
1965
During January D7578 became one of the Nottingham Division (D16) allocation. During April it was loaned to Colwick (40E) for about a month, replacing the previous loaner D5296, D7578 returned to the Nottingham Division in May when D5195 was loaned to Colwich shed.
1966
On the afternoon of February 12th D7578 was stabled at Derby.
Observation made at Stenson Junction on March 19th between noon and 1pm included:
D7553 & D7550 up light engines
D7526 up freight (8Z34)
D5236 up parcels (3C04)
D5299 & D5272 down trip freight (9T34)
D7578 up light engine (9T08)
D5204 up freight (7P04)
48177 down H freight
On the evening of June 3rd D7578 worked a four coach Peterborough - Leicester service.
1967
Noted at Derby between about 11am & 2pm on January 19th were:
D5187, D7559 & D7578 on empty coaching stock duties
D7594, D7597 light engines
D5294 & D7567 with an up freight
D5224 & D57 with the eight coach 12.55 Sheffield - St Pancras
D5267 parcels stock
D5258 up freight
D7550 on shed
45407, 47000, 48103, 73011 & 92025 on shed.
On the morning of May 27th D7572 was at Derby with a southbound parcels (3X52).
On July 1st D7578 went to the seaside working the Nottingham - Llandudno Town and return, interestingly double headed with D5232, the previous locomotive delivered from Darlington Works prior to D7578!
On the afternoon of August 26th D5096, D5177, D7573 & D7578 along with 44826, 45219 & 45593 were stabled at Holbeck.
At the end of the summer timetable D7578 was sent north to Eastfield (65A) during September. It would spend the next fifteen years allocated to Scottish Region depots.
1968
During February contractors moved in to begin lifting the closed Dumfries – Stranraer line. BR supplied the contractors with wagons for recovering the scrap materials, on February 23rd D7578 was noted on this train at Killywhon (Kirkcowan).
1969
After nine months at Eastfield 7578 moved across to Haymarket depot (64B) during June. A typical passenger working for the Haymarket locomotives was the short hop from Carstairs to Edinburgh on variety of workings. On October 13th 7578 worked the 17.20 Edinburgh - Liverpool as far as Carstairs.
1970
7578 was noted at Polmadie during July in ex-works condition, with indications of having been recently outshopped from Glasgow Works.
1971
On June 29th 7578 took a five coach Royal train from Edinburgh to Dumbarton (presumably an empty stock move?).
With the introduction of the Class 27's and Mk II passenger stock on the Glasgow - Edinburgh service it was probably not expected that other types of locomotives would be used on this service. But they were and during 1971 7578 was noted on at least two services, on August 15th it worked the 22.00 Edinburgh - Glasgow Queen Street with 5391 and on November 10th worked the 13.30 Edinburgh - Glasgow Queen Street with 5386.
1972
On June 22nd the 08.15 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh was worked forward from Glasgow Central by 7578, due to electrification work the train had been diverted via the Glasgow & South Western and via Shotts to reach Edinburgh.
On August 11th 7578 was stabled at Haymarket: gangway doors sheeted over, buffers have silver rims.
Further trips on the Glasgow - Edinburgh service included September 6th's 16.00 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh with 5411 and October 13th's 13.30 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh with surprisingly 7591. Two days later the same pair were noted on the Edinburgh portion of the Up West Coast Postal.
On December 1st 5409 & 7578 worked the 1O00 21.00/21.30 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh, somewhere west of Linlithgow the train got into trouble and required the rear-end assistance of 7580 & 5411.
1974
During April 7578 was renumbered to 25228.
25228 was noted at Glasgow Works during August whilst on August 14th it was recorded as working the 1G90 14.05 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh forward from Carstairs. Also on the 14th it was noted with 26020 at Perth on a Glasgow - Dundee service, an ex-works running-in turn for 25228?
On September 14th 25228 worked the 1G90 14.08 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh forward from Carstairs.
1975
An interesting pairing occurred on May 17th when 25228 & 24014 worked the 23.10 Edinburgh - Inverness as far as Perth.
On July 1st 25228 was stabled at Haymarket.
On September 21st 25228 & 25012 were light engines at Perth.
1976
On April 20th 25228 was noted at Haymarket depot.
On May 20th 25226 & 25228 worked the Leith - Theale pipe train.
The 17.10 Edinburgh - Berwick was worked by 25228 on October 19th.
1977
25228 was noted at Haymarket on April 10th.
25228 was transferred to Inverness during May.
During May 25228 worked two railtours. On May 21st an SRPS railtour was handled throughout from Burntisland to Ardrossan Harbour and return. The next weekend (28th) the first leg of a railtour by the Kirkcaldy Lions Club was worked by 25228 & 26034 from Kirkcaldy to Perth (destination Aviemore), steam locomotive 60009 was also featured on part of the railtour. The following day 25228 & 26034 were still together, now in charge of the 09.00 Edinburgh - Inverness throughout.
1978
25228 & 26038 were stabled at Perth station on a snowy February 18th.
On April 14th 40159 & 25228 were northbound at Aviemore with a freight.
After a year allocated to Inverness 25228 was transferred to Eastfield during May, it was noted in Glasgow Works during June.
On the afternoon of August 13th 25228 was stabled at Eastfield.
On September 14th the 17.05 Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street was hauled by 25228 & 26011.
1979
On March 14th 25228 worked the 08.07 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban and 12.20 return.
On May 26th 25228 was stabled at Ayr.
On July 29th 25228 was stabled at Eastfield.
September 7th saw 25228 working an afternoon Oban - Glasgow service.
During November 25228 was noted at Glasgow Works for N4 repairs.
Christmas Eve travellers had the delights of 25228 on the 1G45 11.03 Perth - Edinburgh.
1980
The SRPS Whiskey Special railtour, Falkirk - Dufftown - Falkirk - Aberdeen was handled by 25228 on May 31st with the exception of the return leg forward from Stirling, this last leg being worked by 27010.
On June 6th 25228 was stabled at Ayr depot.
On September 18th 25228 worked the 17.33 Dundee - Glasgow Queen Street. Whilst working September 19th's 2T38 15.58 Dundee - Glasgow Queen Street, 25228 became a failure somewhere in the Stirling area, rescue came in the shape of 20108.
During October 25228 returned to Glasgow Works for more N4 repairs.
1981
The passenger workings for 1981 provide a fine example of just how wide ranging were the Scottish Region's Class 25's.
Another short working familiar to the Class 25's was the connection with the 1S07 Euston - Inverness, working the Mossend Yard - Cowlairs Junction leg. On February 9th 25228 worked the 04.22 Mossend Yard - Glasgow Queen Street connection to Cowlairs Junction. A similar turn was handled on August 22nd.
25228 was busy on March 21st on the ex GSWR Glasgow - Carlisle route working the 1S50 08.40 Carlisle to Glasgow Central and 1M02 14.00 return.
On April 11th 25228 was stabled at Eastfield.
On the morning of May 15th 25228 was noted light Edinburgh Waverley and would later work the 23.40 Edinburgh - Bristol Temple Meads on the Carstairs leg, connecting at Carstairs with the Glasgow portion.
On July 21st 25228 was in charge of the 2G10 05.55 Stirling - Edinburgh.
On August 6th 25228 was noted at Perth with a parcels train.
On August 22nd 25228 was stabled at Eastfield.
Class 25s were used regularly on banking duties across the network, on the Scottish Region trains were frequently assisted in the rear out of Glasgow Queen Street - on August 25th 25228 banked 40073 and the 09.35 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen to Cowlairs.
1982
After almost four years allocated to Eastfield 25228 was transferred to Haymarket during March.
On March 27th 25228 worked the 18.15 Edinburgh - Glasgow Queen Street in lieu of the diagrammed Class 47. It may also have worked the return leg.
25228 received its last 'E' exam at Haymarket during July.
On August 19th 25199 & 25228 were northbound at Stenson Junction with bogie oil tanks.
After fifteen years of service allocated to Scottish Region depots 25228 was transferred to Longsight during September, this would be its last transfer.
On October 16th 25228 came to the rescue of the 1E66 13.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich, assisting the train from Saltley to Leicester because of a locomotive failure.
On October 29th 25228 was in charge of the Hexham pick up goods.
1983
On January 19th 25057 & 25228 were noted at Hooton with the 6O55 Stanlow - Salfords oil train (for Gatwick Airport). At the time this was the heaviest oil train operating out of Stanlow, loading up to 24 tanks (TTA & TEA) to approximately 1,700 tons.
On April 25th 25243 & 25228 were noted exiting the Severn Tunnel light engines.
On May 12th 25228 was northbound at Ais Gill with empty motorail carflats and was also noted this day at Northwich with about 14 covered hopper wagons.
Although 1983 was 25228's last full year in service it was able to cover a number of passenger services. The first was on May 17th when the 09.19 Morecambe - Leeds diesel multiple unit ran out of fuel at Carnforth and 25228 assisted to Leeds.
On June 14th 25228 was noted at Warriongton Arpley with a very short freight.
On June 14th 25228 & 25306 were westbound light engines at Chinley (Sheffield to Guide Bridge?).
On June 15th 25228 was noted light engine at Guide Bridge.
On June 17th 25228 was noted at Guide Bridge with the headcode panel missing from the No.2 end with the rubber trim hanging down from the headcode box. 25228 was back at Leeds on July 6th working the 1M26 16.00 Leeds - Carlisle when diagrammed 47405 was unable to start the working.
25228's last known passenger workings featured the Cambrian Lines. On July 16th it worked the 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury with 25239. The latter locomotive suffered dragging brakes and was failed. A week later (23rd) things were a bit better, this time 25228 & 25239 worked the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth forward from a very wet Birmingham New Street and returned with the 17.15 Aberystwyth - Crewe, normally terminating at Shrewsbury but this day extended to Crewe. on July 29th 25228 was noted at Timperley with a short rake of brand new Rockware glass tanks.
On August 10th 25228 was noted at Moses Gates with the 4M12 10.14 Perth - Red Bank empties, this train could load up to 19 bogie vehicles.
On August 12th 25228 worked the 4V20 15.10 Manchester Piccadilly - Bristol Temple Meads parcels (eight bogie vehicles).
On September 10th 25228 was stabled at Shewsbury.
1984
25228 & 25277 moved from Willesden to Derby Works on January 25th 1984. The intent had been to provide repairs to 25228, but the repairs were refused and the locomotive withdrawn on March 20th 1984.
flk 0423
Page added June 3rd 2009.
Last updated April 15th 2023.
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