The twenty year five month career of D7609/25259 included allocations to Eastern Region & London Midland Region depots.
Built: BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake equipped (January 1975).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Royal Train cabling modification (cab front access panel).
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 76 months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 106 months.
Allocations
D7609 was new to Tinsley on April 2nd 1966. Further transfers were:
December 1966 to Barrow Hill (41E).
October 1967 to Springs Branch (8F).
June 1968 to Manchester Division (D09).
January 1969 to Birmingham Division (D02).
May 1973 to Bescot.
November 1982 to Crewe.
July 1985 to Kingmoor.
May 1986 to Crewe.
Withdrawn August 21st 1986.
Renumbered March 1st 1974.
25259 was the 291st Class 25 withdrawn, one of three retired during August 1986.
After withdrawal 25259 was stored at Bescot Yard until moved by road on June 15th 1995 to M C Metal Processing, Glasgow. The locomotive arrived on June 16th 1995 and had been scrapped by June 27th 1995. Prior to scrapping the engine-generator set and the bogies were salvaged for re-use in preserved D7633 on the Severn Valley Railway. 25259 had been one of the last Class 25s to receive a C exam at Bescot, after which it did not turn a wheel prior to its withdrawal.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Crewe Works January 1970.
Noted Derby Works December 1974 - January 1975 (dual brake equipment fitted).
Noted Derby Works November 1978.
Noted Derby Works January - April 1980 (general repair).
Highlights
1966
Being allocated to Tinsley from new D7609/25259's first recorded passenger working took place on July 9th 1966 working the roundtrip Sheffield - Llandudno Town.
On the afternoon of August 18th D7609 was noted on a Leeds - Sheffield service.
1967
On the afternoon of January 3rd D7609 was stabled at Derby.
On April 22nd D7636 & D7609 were eastbound at Tinsley with a mixed freight.
On July 1st D7609 was noted at Grassmoor Junction in each direction, presumably working an East Midlands - Yarmouth roundtrip.
On the afternoon of August 3rd D7609 was southbound at Stenson Junction with a freight (7M19).
On August 19th D7609 again worked the roundtrip Sheffield - Llandudno Town.
On the afternoon of October 15th D7609 was at Springs Branch.
On the morning of November 18th D7609 was northbound at Winwick Junction with a freight.
1968
On the evening of September 6th 7609 was noted at Crewe with the 1P39 15.27 Crewe - HM (Healey Mills??) parcels.
On the afternoon of September 16th 5193, 5251, 5256, 7609 & 7633 were noted around Springs Branch.
1970
When 7609 was released from Crewe Works during 1970 it is reported as being outshopped with cabside arrows and body side numbers.
Stabled at Bescot at mid-day on April 12th were 7523, 7603, 7609, 7623 & 7628.
On the late morning of May 13th 1763, 8024 & 7609 were light engines at Crewe.
On November 28th 7645 & 7609 were light engines at Nuneaton.
1973
On the morning of December 20th 7609 was stabled at York.
1974
From May 1973 to November 1982 7609/25259 was allocated to Bescot, allowing many opportunities for passenger work.
On April 4th 25259 worked the afternoon Bristol - Plymouth parcels as far as Exeter.
On July 20th 25259 & 25254 worked a roundtrip Leicester - Skegness.
On the afternoon of August 13th 25259 was noted at Saltley.
On August 17th 25259 was noted at Birmingham New Street on an unidentified passenger working whilst the next day (Aug 18th) 25259 & 25159 worked a roundtrip Derby - Skegness.
1975
On January 23rd 25259 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for January 23rd recorded:
No.2 end leading.
| 25259; January 23rd 1975; time 1.45 | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 29 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 49 | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
HT? fuel valve leak
Battery issue?
F/FF union leak
Engine oil pressure low: 40 psi at Loughborough?, 21 psi at Leicester (both at 165 degrees)
No.6 fuel pump leaks
Nos. 5 & 6 rocker covers
Engine room dirty
Mileage recorder.
1975 produced more seaside workings. On March 31st the 09.20 Birmingham New Street - Poole was worked to Reading by 25259 & 25095. On June 21st the 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby from Norwich was hauled by 25259 & 25165(?), having replaced 25081 & 25280 off the outward leg. The next day (22nd) 25259 & 25165 worked a roundtrip Derby - Skegness.
1977
When 47532 caught fire near Llanduno Junction on August 12th whilst working the 02.18 Crewe - Holyhead 25259 dragged the train to Llandudno Junction where 24036 took over for the run to Holyhead. A Derby - Skegness roundtrip was worked on September 4th by 25259 & 25316.
On the morning of October 1st & 4th 25259 was stabled at York.
1978
On the afternoon of April 17th 25259 was stabled at York.
25259 was shunting the small yard at Syston South Junction on May 2nd. A surprise visitor to Ranelagh Bridge during the morning of May 31st was 25259.
June 24th/25th saw 25259 on Cambrian line duties. On June 24th the 04.15 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25259 & 25301. The next day (25th) the same pair worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth and 17.45 Barmouth - Euston to Wolverhampton.
A month later on July 22nd 25259 & 25262 worked the 10.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. The next day (23rd) 25259 & 25245 worked a roundtrip day excursion Birmingham New Street - Barmouth (?).
On August 5th 25259 & 25262 worked the Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Derby diagram. The next day (6th) the same pair worked a Derby - Skegness roundtrip. On August 10th 25259 was shunting at Luton. On Tuesday August 15th 25259 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and the return 12.00 Norwood to Willesden. On Monday August 21st 25120 & 25259 worked the 12.25 Willesden to Norwood and (presumably) the 14.10 Norwood - Willesden. On August 26th the 04.15 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25259 & 25145.
25270 & 25259 worked the 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton on September 23rd.
25259 was on Tinsley depot on November 11th.
1979
On March 4th 25132 & 25259 were noted passing Newton Heath with a train of Mermaid ballast wagons.
On April 1st 25259 was at Nottingham fuelling point.
The passenger workings for 1979 definately had a Cambrian line flavour. On June 2nd the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25259 & 25032. The next day (3rd) the same pair were noted on a passenger working at Madeley Junction, possibly an additional Barmouth turn. On July 7th 25259 & 25327 worked the same turns as June 2nd. The same pair were seen the next day (8th) at Birmingham New Street on a passenger working. Two weeks later 25259 & 25277 worked the July 27th's 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the return 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.
The 04.15 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and 10.09 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25259 & 25325 on September 8th.
1980
On the early evening of April 25th ex-works 25259 & 45048 were noted eastbound from Etches Park as light engines.
On May 1st 25259 was northbound at Rotherham with empty steel bolsters.
More Cambrian turns followed for 1980, beginning on June 1st with the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth and the 18.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton hauled by 25259 & 25282, with 25259 working only to Machynlleth, being replaced by 25325. The 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked on June 14th by 25259 & 25184 and on August 16th by 25259 & 25277. The next day (Aug 17th) the same pair worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth and the return 18.00 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton.
1981
1981 has so far produced only one recorded passenger working, on February 15th the 19.00 Paddington - Birmingham New Street failed at Banbury behind 47491, 25259 took the service forward to Birmingham New Street.
25259 was stabled at Cockshute on April 11th.
On the morning of May 15th 25259 & 25283 were noted at Preston on down tanks.
25259 was noted southbound (?) at Winwick with three ferry wagons on June 29th.
1982
On February 27th 25259 & 25313 were southbound at Warrington Bank Quay tank wagons.
On August 2nd & 3rd 1982 25259 worked the 10.15 Chester - Llandudno Town. A month later on September 4th 1982 25259 & 25285 worked the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.
On September 3rd 25259 was noted northbound at Washwood Heath with a trainload of scrap.
From November 1982 25259 was transferred to Crewe.
On November 25th the Prince & Princess of Wales traveled from Euston to Central Wales by Royal Train. From Shrewsbury to Aberdovey/Towyn 25259 & 25278 were in charge, with 25044 on standby. Due to restrictions on Barmouth Bridge the train went no further north than Morfa Mawddach. An overnight stop was made at Rossett prior to the Royal party visiting Wrexham & Hawarden on 26th.
1983
On January 29th 25259 was receiving attention at Springs Branch depot.
25259 & 31280 were noted at Severn Tunnel Junction on February 20th.
On an unknown date during 1983 25259 became derailed at Bedford with one bogie buried in the ballast.
25259 was stabled at Guide Bridge on April 1st. 25259 was noted westbound at Great Rocks with a loaded ICI limestone train on April 14th.
25259 was at Crewe Diesel depot on May 2nd. 25259 was stabled at Bescot on May 21st.
Recorded passenger workings for 1983 were few. On June 18th 25259 & 25315 worked the 10.10 Euston - Shrewsbury forward from Birmingham New Street.
Two months later on August 20th the 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25259 & 25276.
25259 was noted light engine through Leighton Buzzard on September 25th.
25278 & 25259 worked the Broughton Lane - Ditton BOC empties on October 8th, whilst the same working was handled by 40118 & 25259 on October 11th. 25259 was stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction on October 30th.
25259 was stabled at Rugby station on the evening of November 7th.
The lunchtime Tyne - Healey Mills freight was worked by 25259 on December 22nd.
Month unknown: sometime during 1983 25259 was noted on the former CLC line at Stockport Tiviot Dale with an engineers train removing materials from the closed line. This stretch of line would become the route of the M60.
1984
25285 & 25259 were stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction on June 23rd. A week later on June 30th the 10.10 Euston - Shrewsbury from Wolverhampton was worked by 25259 & 25249.
25259 & 25258 were noted passing Stoke on Trent with a loaded sand train from Oakamoor on July 6th. 25282 & 25259 worked the 6V32 14.55 Ellesmere Port - Severn Tunnel Junction freight on July 17th. 25259 was noted at Derby on a four vehicle parcels train on July 25th.
On August 4th 25259 & 25287 worked the 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the return 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. August 24th found 25259 & 25279 working an early morning Ditton – Margam special throughout. Two days later on August 26th 25259 & 25279 worked the 03.33 Crewe - Preston (via Chester), the relief 13.13 Preston - Barrow and the 18.21 Barrow - Liverpool.
25259's last passenger visit to the Cambrian line took place on September 15th with 25297 working the 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the return 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton, this was the last day for scheduled Class 25 passenger haulage on the Cambrian line. 25259 & 25284 worked a train load of sand from Oakamoor to St Helens on September 19th. 25259 was stabled at Buxton on September 22nd.
On November 10th 25259 was eastbound at Manchester Victoria with possibly the Saturdays only Edge Hill - Red Bank vans. On the damp evening of November 12th 25259 was noted at Manchester Victoria with a short parcels working for the Oldham Loop. Engineering work on November 18th saw 25259 assist the 17.40 Manchester Piccadilly - Birmingham New Street with 86242 between Manchester Piccadilly & Macclesfield. 25259 was eastbound through Guide Bridge on November 21st. 25259 was stabled at Crewe Diesel depot on the evening of November 29th.
1985
On April 2nd 25259 & 25254 were noted at Crewe station light engines. On April 6th 25259 & 25302 were noted southbound at Ais Gill with the sixteen vehicle 4M12 Perth - Red Bank empty vans. On April 8th the 19.39 Crewe - Cardiff was worked by 25259. 25259 & 31280 worked the 1B83 17.35 Cardiff - Gloucester parcels comprised of three bogie vehicles on April 16th.
On May 4th a diverted early morning Willesden – Coatbridge freightliner was noted through Newcastle behind 25249 & 25259. Two days later (6th) the same pair passed through Huddersfield on oil tankers.
25259 was noted on parcels stock at Preston on the evening of June 24th.
A relief 07.59 Nottingham - St. Pancras service on July 5th was worked by 25259, the relief being added due to congestion caused by engineering work on the M1 motorway.
25259 was southbound at Chesterfield with a frieght on August 15th, next to the locomotive was an ex-works Class 08. 25259 was stabled at Warrington Arpley on an overcast August 23rd. 25259 was noted southbound at Springs Branch with bitumen tanks (from Skipton?) for Ellesmere Port on August 28th. 25259 was stabled at Birkenhead on August 29th.
On September 6th the 17.40 Euston - Chester surrendered 47523 for 25259 at Shrewsbury for the run to Chester, the Class 47 being required for other purposes. 25259 was stabled at Nuneaton station on September 14th & 15th. 25259 was southbound at Shrewsbury station with loaded ballast on September 27th.
On December 3rd 25259 worked the Albion – Waterston oil empties as far as Hereford, where it came off and took over the Hereford pilot duties due to the failure of 08481. 25259 remained on these duties until December 5th following the arrival of 08940 from Severn Tunnel Junction, with 25259 heading back to Crewe to take up that day's Manchester - Bristol parcels.
1986
On April 19th 25259 was noted at Shotton with a train of empty mineral wagons to be delivered to a location along the North Wales coast for weekend engineering work.
On a wet April 28th 25259 arrived at Crewe with a van train off the Chester line. Also this day the final passenger working for 25259 took place working the 14.17 Bangor - Cardiff forward from Crewe after 33051 failed.
On May 6th 25259 worked what is believed to be a Carnforth - Barrow trip working. 25259 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on May 7th. 25259 was noted passing Flag Lane, Crewe with a parcels train on May 9th. 25259 was noted at Crewe station on May 10th. 25259 was stabled at Crewe Diesel depot on May 31st.
25259 & 25911 were noted eastbound at Manchester Victoria with a track panel train on June 7th. 25259 was noted at Crewe station with a spoil working on June 11th. On June 16th 25259 was noted eastbound at Flint with a Speedlink freight.
47337, 25259, 25903 & 25901 were noted westbound at Slutchers Lane, Warrington on July 19th.
25259 was withdrawn on August 21st 1986.
Distinguishing Features
A builders plate from 25259 (Derby 1965) sold at Great Central Railwayana Auctions for £290 during March 2018.
Both cabside number panels were sold on from MC Metals, Glasgow during the scrapping of 25259.
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
76/6523
Page added September 14th 2013.
Back to 25258
With 25259 still allocated to Crewe during 1984 a little variety was added to the Cambrian line services. On March 18th (or 23rd?) the 10.15 York - Liverpool failed at Manchester Victoria behind 47427, 25259 worked via Bolton & Wigan (engineering work diversions) to Liverpool.
On January 3rd 25259 was noted at Northallerton with the afternoon Newcastle – Bristol postal working. The 19.30 Inverness - Euston on January 20th required the assistance of 25259 between Preston & Crewe due to power being off for engineering work. 
25259 was noted at Marylebone on January 11th.
No.2 cab: driver's side blanking plate, scrape/dent in middle of panel extending half the length of the panel: July 1984 until withdrawn.
No.2 cab: 2nd man's side blanking plate, scrape/dent in middle of panel extending whole length: September 1982 until withdrawn.
flk 1221
Last updated May 11th 2023.
Forward to 25260