The twenty year career of D7616/25266 commenced with just over two years on the Scottish Region, followed by eighteen years allocated to London Midland Region depots.
Built BR Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual braked (1973).
Delivered with tablet catcher recesses (both later sheeted over).
Final exhaust roof panel: flush.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 91 months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 29 months.
Allocations
D7616 was new to Eastfield (65A) on May 12th 1966. Further transfers were:
August 1968 to Liverpool Division (D08).
September 1968 to Preston Division (D10).
November 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
October 1971 to Birmingham Division (D02).
January 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
May 1973 to Toton.
January 1974 to Longsight.
August 1974 to Springs Branch.
October 1975 to Longsight.
January 1976 to Springs Branch.
May 1976 to Cricklewood.
January 1984 to Crewe.
Withdrawn September 19th 1986.
Renumbered December 5th 1973.
25266 was the 297th Class 25 withdrawn, one of seven retired during September 1986.
After withdrawal 25266 was stored at Carlisle (KD) from January 1987 to December 1988. It was moved to Carlisle Upperby on July 14th 1988 but then returned to the storage line. On December 7th 1988, 25266 was towed to Workington, the next day to Carnforth and Basford Hall. On December 16th 1988 25266 moved to Leicester depot and finally reached Vic Berry, Leicester on December 20th 1988. The locomotive was scrapped by the end of February 1989.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Crewe Works October 1969.
Noted Derby Works November - December 1973, including fitting of dual brakes & sheeting over of tablet catcher recesses.
Noted Glasgow Works January 1979 (Classified).
Noted Derby Works October 1980 for N4 repairs.
Highlights
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 D7616.
These were the only Class 25s delivered with a cabside recess to accommodate tablet catcher equipment. Although based at Eastfield these Type 2s spent much of their time in South West Scotland alongside the BRCW Type 2s quickly sending many 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 MGR workings.
On July 13th D7616 was noted at Mallaig.
On August 17th the 19.25 Stirling - Glasgow Buchanan Street was worked by D7616.
1967
An interesting working that occasionally used the Type 2s was the Edinburgh - Prestwick Regent oil train, supplying fuel for the airport. The Glenburn Colliery branch was used requiring a run round at Falkland Junction. A weekend visit to the area on September 11th found all but D7616 & D7622 present as follows:
1968
During the summer all the remaining batch (D7613 - D7623) left Eastfield for various LMR depots. With the exception of D7614 all moved to the Liverpool (D08), Manchester (D09) or Preston (D10) Divisions. The last to leave Eastfield were D7614 - D7616, the latter two went to the Preston Divsion (D10), whilst D7614 went to the Birmingham Division, joined there by D7611 - D7615 between September & November. By year's end D7616 - D7623 had all migrated south to the Nottingham Division (D16).
1969
On the morning of February 8th 7616 was light engine at Crewe.
On July 5th the summer dated 07.35 Nottingham - Llandudno Town and the return 13.52 Llandudno Town - Nottingham were worked by 7616. On July 31st the 07.33 Yarmouth - Birmingham New Street was worked forward from Leicester by 7616.
On August 16th the 08.05 Leicester - Yarmouth and the return 13.20 were worked by 7616 to/from Norwich.
1970
On July 11th the summer dated roundtrip Nottingham - Llandudno Town was worked by 7616 & 7587. Both locomotives were in green livery, nine coaches were in blue & grey and one in maroon livery.
Condition July: two-tone green livery with full yellow cabfronts, no blanking plates, hand/footholds sheeted over, tablet catcher recesses present, numbers at 'wrong' end, straight sided sandboxes, three rung bogie mounted footsteps.
1972
The 08.55 Leicester - Skegness and the return Skegness - Leicester were worked by 7616 & 7672 on July 19th.
1973
On the morning of May 13th 7616 was noted at Exeter holding sidings (two-tone green with full yellow ends and tablet catcher recesses), with headcode 4B10?
On December 5th 7616 made a test run from Derby Works. Most likely the locomotive was renumbered whilst at Derby Works.
The snag sheet for December 5th recorded:
| 25266; December 5th 1973; time ?? | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 29 | 900 | - | - | - | 2 | 48 | 850 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
Brake failure, partial loss of vacuum
A side crankcase door
End cover B side issue.
1974
At about 5.30pm on April 29th 25266 was noted at Baguley Fold with an up hopper train.
On June 25th a Congleton - Oxford mystery excursion was worked round trip by 25266.
The evening Huddersfield - Wakefield parcels was worked by 25266 on November 26th, this was diagrammed for a Healey Mills Class 40.
1975
25266 was noted at Manchester Victoria on February 15th with the 4J05.
On the afternoon of March 20th & 24th 25266 was light engine at York.
On June 7th 25298 & 25266 were noted passing Oxley with an oil tank train, possibly a Stanlow - Patent Shaft Steelworks (West Midlands) working. On June 24th 25266 was noted at Manchester Victoria light engine.
On the morning of July 18th 25266 was stabled at York.
On August 10th 25266 was stabled at Skipton.
25266 was the Manchester Victoria banker (T42) on December 13th.
1976
An east – west cross country working which occasionally featured Class 25s was the evening Norwich – Liverpool Lime Street parcels, 25266 & 25269 were noted on May 5th.
On June 19th the Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Walsall diagram was worked by 25266 & 25243.
The 09.20 Derby - Skegness and the return 13.05 Skegness - Derby were worked by 25266 & 25210 on July 10th. On July 22nd a roundtrip St. Pancras - Skegness day excursion was worked by 25266 & 25250 for a total of 401 passenger miles.
On October 24th the 10.45 St. Pancras - Derby failed at ?? (at least south of Leicester) and was taken forward to Derby by 25266 & 25221.
1977
On July 31st the 20.45 Barrow - Euston with 86235 was dragged from Bletchley to Willesden by 25266 & 25314.
The 09.15 Derby - Skegness and the return 18.15 Skegness - Derby were worked by 25266 & 25264 on August 22nd. A week later on August 29th the same pair worked the relief 08.07 Alfreton & Mansfield - Skegness and the return relief 18.55 Skegness - Alfreton & Mansfield.
1978
On Wednesday May 10th 25266 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and (presumably) the 12.10 Norwood - Willesden.
On September 12th the 22.30 Perth - Euston failed at ?? behind 85008, 25266 & 25309 dragged everything to Euston.
1979
On Thursday March 29th 25266 worked the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and the return 12.00 Norwood to Willesden.
1981
Although the West Country was now without an allocation of Class 25s they were still frequent visitors, 25266 & 25318 were noted on January 29th in charge of the loaded Ellesmere Port – Riverside tar tanks and the afternoon return empties. Two days earlier (27th) 25266 was in charge of a nuclear flask train from Whitemoor to Parkeston.
On July 28th 25266 & 25315 were noted at Bedford with a lengthy freight, possibly wagons loaded with bricks.
Originating from Heysham were a series of ‘out of gauge’ loads - concrete beams destined for the Tyne & Wear Metro, 25266 handled the second shipment on October 20th.
1982
On April 18th 25266 & 25060 were noted at Newcastle with an unidentified passenger working.
25266 was stabled at York on May 31st.
On June 2nd a coke train was noted passing through Wakefield behind 40195 & 25266. On June 5th 25266 was noted southbound at Royston with empty coaching stock from Leeds. On June 18th the 16.05 St. Pancras - Derby failed at Bedford behind 45013, 25266 took the service forward to Leicester where 46056 took over.
A northbound brick train was noted at Sharnbrook on August 3rd with 25266. The 16.10 Glasgow Central - Carlisle was worked by 25266 on August 20th.
On September 16th 25266 & 25279 were noted southbound at Crewe with a freight.
25266 was noted at Newcastle station on October 4th.
On December 31st 25277 & 25266 worked cement emties to Tring Cutting, then ran light to Bletchley.
1983
On February 20th 25034 & 25266 were stabled at Northampton.
A down Freightliner was noted at Coventry coming off the Leamington Spa branch on March 7th hauled by 25266.
25266 was noted eastbound through Manchester Victoria with an engineers train on April 3rd.
On May 12th the 22.47 Crewe - Blackpool North was worked from Preston by 25266. The Cranmore - Ellesmere Port bitumen tanks were worked by 25266 on May 25th.
On June 5th 25266 was receiving attention at Toton depot.
Engineering work on July 31st saw 25266 (25198 had failed earlier) assist two electric services between Bletchley & Rugby due to the power being off.
On August 9th 25266 was noted at Euston on parcels (?) duty. On August 14th 25266 was noted at Euston. On August 20th 25266 & 25300(?) were noted passing the closed station at Calvert on a UKF Fertilisers train, headed for their Akeman Street facility.
25266 was noted southbound through Wellinborough with a ballast train on September 2nd.
On October 1st 25266 & 25245 worked a roundtrip Coventry - Aberystwyth charter.
1984
On February 24th 25266 having brought in a Garston – Newcastle freightliner returned quickly south with a Heaton – York empty coaching stock working.
A couple of days during early March saw 25266 quite active. On March 6th 25266 worked the 14.40 Euston - Blackpool North forward from Preston. The next day (7th) 25266 worked the 06.30 Preston - Barrow and the 08.22 Barrow - Liverpool.
On May 25th 25266 started out with the 00.59 Garston - Forders brickliner but failed at Ditton with a traction motor flashover, where 25226 took over. 25266 went on to Allerton for repairs.
On December 9th locomotives on permanent way duty at Rugby included 25064, 25089, 25266, 31301 & 08648.
1985
On January 31st 25266 worked the 06.18 Blackpool North - Euston to Preston and later that day the 09.34 Blackpool North - Euston to Preston.
25266 was stabled at Bescot on March 2nd & 3rd.
On May 11th 25266 was stabled at Wolverhampton station and on this day had rescued 86247 on a WCML service which had failed at Bescot Yard, taking the service to Wolverhampton.
On the evening of May 23rd 25266 & 25269 were stabled at Bletchley along with 31112, 31121, 31122 & 31126.
On June 9th 25248 & 25266 were noted at Birmingham New Street dragging 86210 on the 09.35 Coventry - Aberystwyth charter.
On June 11th the 11.40 Poole - Manchester Piccadilly was dragged between Bescot & Wolverhampton by 25266 after 86247 failed. On June 22nd 25266 was stabled at Crewe. On June 27th the relief 13.50 Bristol Temple Meads - Edinburgh was dragged between Stockport & Preston by 25266.
An Ayr - Caersws return charter was hauled by 25266 & 25285 from Warrington to Caersws on July 7th. The next day (8th) the same pair worked the relief 13.50 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh as far as Preston. A week later on July 13th the 01.30 Stranraer Harbour - Blackpool North was worked forward from Preston by 25266, returning to Preston with the 09.45 Blackpool North - Stranraer Harbour. On July 19th 25266 worked the 06.30 Blackpool North - Euston to Preston.
On August 14th 25266 was noted at Crewe with the 3V20 Manchester - Bristol parcels. The next day on August 15th 25266 worked a relief 09.06 Bristol Temple Meads - York throughout.
25266 was noted passing through Crewe station northbound on September 5th with a train of hoppers. On September 20th a relief 13.50 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh was worked forward from Carstairs by 25266 (& 25199?). 25266 was stabled at Springs Branch on September 29th.
25266 & 25269 were noted at Ashburys on tanks on October 15th. 25266 & 25279 were stabled at Manchester Victoria on October 24th. 25266 is also reported as working merry-go-round empties from Didcot to Three Spires on October 24th. 25266 was noted at Severn Tunnel Junction on October 26th.
25266 was noted stabled at Buxton depot on a damp December 22nd.
1986
25266 was noted at Birmingham New Street on February 27th. On February 28th 25266 was noted light engine at Crewe.
25266 was noted northbound at Abbotswood on the evening of April 2nd with a train of flyash from Didcot. 25266 was noted southbound at Chesterfield with an oil tank train on April 4th. On April 12th 25266 was noted at Bristol Bath Road.
25266 was noted on April 20th at Dock Street sidings, Preston with a track machine. 25266 was noted at Trostre on April 21st. 25266 was noted shunting passenger stock at Chester on April 26th, leaving with the Bangor - Northampton parcels.
25266 & 25278 were noted passing Garsdale on the afternoon of May 3rd with a diverted northbound twelve coach parcels train. On May 9th 25266 was noted at Workington with a train of brake vans (at least eight). On May 16th 25266 was noted at Preston with an engineers train.
25266 was noted light engine at Carlisle station on June 6th. On June 29th a special from Caersws to Edinburgh, the Cambrian Railways Society 'Edinburgh Flyer' utilised 25266 & 25313 on the Caersws - Chester & return legs, 25313 would fail (on the return leg presumably?). The next day (30th) 25266 assisted a failed four car Swansea - Shrewsbury diesel multiple unit from at least Llanwrtyd Wells to Shrewsbury.
On July 1st 25266 was noted light engine at Wellington (Telford).
25279 & 25266 were noted at Stoke on Trent on July 8th, 25266 was noted stabled at Stoke on Trent station on July 11th. On July 22nd 25266 was stabled at Rugby station.
On Saturday August 2nd 25059 & 25266 were two of six locomotives stabled at Rugby over the weekend.
On September 2nd 25254 & 25266 were noted westbound at Leeds City, possibly with the Neville Hill - Stanlow empty oil.
25266 was withdrawn on September 19th 1986.
Distinguishing Features
No.1 cab front: center lampbracket fitting but other fittings absent: (present September 1983 & September 1985) July 1986 (may need more research?).
No.1 cab front: driver's side below handrail, a couple of pieces of missing paint and paint missing from below center window: at least April 1983 until withdrawn.
No.2 cab front: to left of center lampbracket missing paint: (not present August 1983) at least June 1985 until withdrawn.
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flk 0121 (1)
Page added October 8th 2012.
Last updated May 12th 2023.
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