The fourteen and a half year career of D7613/25263 commenced with just over two years on the Scottish Region, followed by almost twelve years allocated to London Midland Region depots.
Built BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Tablet catcher recess fitted (never removed).
Sheeted over Boiler Room Grilles.
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 55 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 31 months.
Allocations
D7613 was new to Eastfield (65A) on April 30th 1966. Further transfers were:
August 1968 to Manchester Division (D09).
September 1968 to Birmingham Division (D02).
January 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
November 1972 to Birmingham Division (D02).
May 1983 to Bescot.
November 17th 1980 - withdrawn.
Renumbered into TOPS June 15th 1974.
25263 was the 66th Class 25 withdrawn, one of seventeen retired during November 1980.
After withdrawal 25263, 25070, 25166 & 25293 were moved to Swindon Works on March 3rd 1981, with 25263 scrapped there by the middle of May 1983.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works March & April 1976.
1966
Although the Scottish Region had received a batch of brand new Class 24s for use on duties from Inverness depot, the Region had not, so far received any new Class 25s. However between April & September thirteen Class 25s were delivered from Derby Works to Eastfield (65A), including D7613 at the end of April.
Although based at Eastfield these Type 2s spent much of their time in South West Scotland alongside the BRCW Type 2s quickly sending many of Ayr & Hurlford’s Crabs, Black Fives & BR Standards to the storage lines and additionally helped Dumfries lose its steam allocation effective April 30th. At the end of May Ayr placed seven steam locomotives into storage because of the Type 2s arrival. Additionally at this time, with the arrival of these Type 2s, the return of some re-engined NBL Type 2s to service and the tranfer of more Claytons to Haymarket, the Scottish Region were able to put the first of the Class 26s through Works for the fitting of slow speed control equipment & dual braking for use on merry-go-round workings.
Of the thirteen Class 25s delivered new to Eastfield (D7611 - D7623), D7613 remained at Eastfield longest (4/66 - 8/68). It was also the first of the group to be retired, but was not the first of the group to be scrapped.
An early passenger working featured a service familiar to Scottish Type 2s and Gateshead Class 24s, the inter-regional Newcastle - Stranraer Harbour service. D7613 & Black 5 No.44995 were noted on the westbound service on August 13th 1966, possibly working throughout.
1967
On July 15th a seasonal Stranraer Harbour - Aberdeen service was worked by D7613.
1970
On the afternoon of September 20th stabled at Wolverhampton HL station were 7564, 7567, 7610, 7613 & 7641.
On the afternoon of October 4th 7613 was light engine at Coventry.
1971
Class 25s were occasional visitors to Basingstoke off the Reading line, so noted in July were 7613 (13th) and 7567, 7603 & 7608 (all 14th).
1972
Between September 1968 and its withdrawal, 7613/25263 was allocated only to the Birmingham & Nottingham Division depots allowing for opportunity of much summer dated passenger workings.
On July 8th 7613 & 7614 worked the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Walsall passenger diagram.
1973
At some point in its life 25263 (circa 1973/74) acquired a lengthy gash just above the frame running for about two-thirds of the length of the body.
1974
25263 was noted working the Sharpness branch on July 16th.
On the morning of September 2nd 25263 was stabled at York.
1975
25263 was stabled at Newton Heath on April 1st.
In support of the Rail 150 celebrations at Shildon there were many movements of locomotives and other rolling stock exhibits. On August 13th 25263 made a journey from West Ruislip to Shildon Works with Metropolitan electric locomotive No.12 Sarah Siddons, three cars of 1973 Tube stock (Nos. 165, 365 & 565) and an L.T.E. brake van.
On September 6th 25263 & 25127 worked the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich, returning with the 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby from Norwich.
On October 3rd 25263 was noted on Exeter stabling point.
On December 20th 25263 was stabled at Tinsley, the locomotive featured a lengthy scrape mark just above the frame on the BIS side.
1976
Having somehow reached the Exeter area on February 13th, 25263 was utilised on the 20.15 Exeter St. Davids - Newton Abbot.
On April 2nd 25263 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for April 2nd recorded:
| 25263; April 2nd 1976; 1C41 Nottingham | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 30 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 49 | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
CB4 load regulator box up
F D cover fit radiator tunnel
Speedometer fluctuating
Radiators unbalanced B side low
Buffer rams
No.5 Bicera leaking
No.1 bulkhead door seal
Various fuel pump leaks
No.2 cab ?? box not secured to bulkhead.
On August 30th a roundtrip Lichfield City - Pwllheli day excursion was worked throughout by 25263 & 25261, a total of 355 passenger miles.
1977
On the afternoon of July 25th 25263 was noted at York with several tool vans.
On July 26th 25263 worked the 9K55 Holbeck - Bramhope Tunnel, the crew returning to Holbeck with 45015.
On the evening of July 30th 25113 & 25263 were working empty coaching stock between Shrewsbury and Oxley. The 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth and the return 17.30 Barmouth - Birmingham New Street was worked by 25263 & 25113 on July 31st.
On September 4th the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth was worked to Shrewsbury by 25263 & 25274, returning from there with the 17.30 Barmouth - Birmingham New Street.
1978
The 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth was worked by 25263 & 25150 on June 11th, they returned with the 17.45 Barmouth - Euston to Wolverhampton. Just over a month later on July 15th 25263 & 25245 worked the 10.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury. On July 30th the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth and the 17.45 Barmouth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25263 & 25260.
25278 was noted at Warrington Arpley on August 13th.
On September 1st 25263 was noted southbound at Helwith Bridge with a train of loaded bogies ballast hoppers.
On the evening of December 30th 25263 (Bescot allocated) was noted at Exeter stabling point, also present were 25206, 25223, 25225 & 31107. Heavy snow had begun to fall during the evening, the precurser of several days of very cold, wintry weather. That night the 2B95 22.48 Exeter St Davids - Exmouth multiple unit was cancelled due to snow blocking the points at Exeter West. It was also reported the the 1B79 18.08 Penzance - Bristol was stuck in a snowdrift at Largin. A special train ran in its place from Plymouth but only reached Lipson Junction before it too became stuck in a snowdrift.
1979
Heavy snow over the New Year plagued services with delays and faulty equipment making life even more difficult to maintain the timetable. In the West Country Exeter proved to be a graveyard for frozen up locomotives, with temperatures reaching down to –13C most things simply froze up. At Exeter the local services were cancelled with the diesel multiple units frozen solid. The diesels fared little better with eighteen frozen up locomotives including 25052, 25206/225/263.
At about 2pm on a very, very cold January 2nd Exeter stabling point contained 08288, 08641, 08953 (station pilot), 25052, 25206, 25225, 25263, 31107, 31138, 33009, 33114, 46020, 47008 & 50022. Most of these locomotives were unserviceable, either unable to start, or unable to heat a train. The diesel multiple units were in equally poor condition. Set P464 had been obtained from Newton Abbot to work the Exmouth branch on a go-when-ready basis. At about 7am 46020 was sent from Laira to Exeter equipped with a steam lance and carrying a fitter and an electrician. Later in the day when the 'Golden Hind' failed at Brent 46020 went to its rescue, taking it as far as Newton Abbot. All the trains passing through Exeter were standing room only. 47008 had arrived with empty coaching stock from Newton Abbot to work the 07.15 to Plymouth, whilst waiting to depart the brake gear on the locomotive froze solid.
25263 was noted at Didcot on January 19th.
On June 2nd 25263 worked the 10.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich throughout.
The 04.15 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the return 10.09 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25263 & 25122 on June 30th. The next day (July 1st) 25263 & 25274 worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth and the return 17.45 Barmouth - Euston to Wolverhampton. The last week of August were busy for 25263 & 25151. On August 25th they worked the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich, returning with the 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby from Norwich. The next day they worked a roundtrip Leicester - Skegness, the next day the locomotive were noted at Derby, possibly their intended service to Skegness did not run. On 28th they again worked a roundtrip Leicester - Skegness turn.
On October 13th the returning 'Pennine Rose' railtour was worked between Coventry & Marylebone by 25263 & 25038.
Class 25s stabled at Bescot on the morning of November 10th were 25038, 25122, 25124, 25263 & 25273.
Another returning railtour, the WLS 'Yorkshire Terrier' on December 9th was worked between Dalston West Junction & Birmingham New Street by 25263 & 25129. On December 11th 25263 was noted passing Saltley with a loaded ballast train.
1980
The early afternoon Peterborough - Crewe parcels was worked by 25263 on March 26th.
On April 19th a Paddington - Aberystwyth excursion was worked roundtrip Wolverhampton - Aberystwyth by 25263 & 25209.
On June 14th 25263 & 25269 worked the 08.35 Derby - Yarmouth to Norwich, the return working was handled by 47351.
A Blythe Bridge - Blackpool North on July 2nd was worked roundtrip by 25263 & 25118. On the afternoon of July 10th 25263 was noted at Carnforth. On July 18th 25263 was noted passing Bescot with a short freight. On July 19th the 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the return 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25263 & 25274. The next day (20th) the same pair worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury. On July 29th the 17.15 Nottingham - Birmingham New Street was worked forward from Derby after the diesel multiple unit failed and dragged.
On August 9th the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the return 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25263 & 25299. A Leamington - Edinburgh charter on August 30th utilised 25200 & 25263 to and from Coventry.
25263 was noted at Saltley on September 27th.
25263 was withdrawn on November 17th 1980.
Distinguishing Features
BIS side: lengthy deep scrape just above frame level from 2nd man's cab door to center of locomotive: at least December 1975 until Works visit during mid-1976.
43/4918
flk 1021
Page added October 5th 2012.
Last updated May 12th 2023.
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