Built: Derby Locomotive Works.
Tablet catcher recess fitted (later sheeted over).
Dual brake fitted (1974).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 87 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 8 months.
The twenty year six month career of D7618/25268 started out on the Scottish Region before transitioning to the London Midland Region.
Allocations
D7618 was new to Eastfield (65A) on August 18th 1966, further transfers were:
July 1968 to Preston Division (D10) on loan, made permanent August 1968.
November 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
November 1970 to Birmingham Division (D02).
January 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
May 1973 to Toton.
May 1981 to Carlisle Kingmoor.
November 1981 to Springs Branch.
October 1982 to Crewe.
November 1985 to Carlisle Kingmoor.
March 2nd 1987 - Withdrawn.
Renumbered into TOPS May 25th 1974.
Renumbered to 25902 December 11th 1985.
25902 was the 309th Class 25 withdrawn, one of 19 retired during March 1987.
After withdrawal 25902 was stored at Basford Hall until July 3rd 1987 when it was moved to Leicester Humberstone Road and moved into Vic Berry's yard on July 6th 1987. The locomotive was put in the stack during October 1987, then removed during the first week of November 1987 and broken up by the middle of November 1987.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works August 1969.
Noted Derby Works May 1974 (dual braking equipment fitted).
Noted Derby Works April 1977.
Noted Derby Works August 1979 - October 1979 (General Repair).
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 D7618.
On September 3rd D7618 was noted at Stirling with the six coach 16.35 Glasgow - Inverness, working the train as far as Perth. Later that evening D7618 would head south from Perth with an Inverness - Glasgow service.
1968
On April 6th the 16.05 Glasgow - Leeds with D19 had D7618 as a pilot from Dumfries due to difficulties with the Class 45. Both were replaced at Carlisle by D304, D7618 returned light engine to Dumfries.
D7615 - D7623 remained on the Scottish Region until the summer of 1968 when all were transfered to either the Preston (D09) or Manchester (D10) Divisions, D7618 moved in August to D10. Their stay here was brief for in November 7616 - 7623 were transferred to the Nottingham Division (D16).
On June 10th 7618 & 5362 worked the 20.40 Euston - Stranraer Harbour forward from Carlisle.
1969
On August 9th the 07.35 Nottingham - Llandudno Town and the return 13.52 Llandudno Town - Nottingham were worked by 7618 & 7617. On August 16th the 07.33 Yarmouth - Birmingham saw 5847 replaced at Leicester by 7618.
Condition August: two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels, builder's plate at 'wrong' ends due to presence of tablet catcher recesses, no blanking plates, hand/footholds present, straight sided sandboxes, three-rung bogie mounted footsteps, bufferbeam steam hose connections present, general dilapidated condition.
November saw contractors working on the dismantling of the old GC line between Rugby & Leicester. The recovered materials were destined for the permanent way yard at Lenton, necessitating the use of a train to remove the materials. Class 25s were mostly used, 7618 being observed on November 16th.
1971
On August 7th the 14.30 Yarmouth - Walsall was worked from Yarmouth to Norwich by 7618 & 7655, presumably the Class 25s then worked to Derby?
On the morning of October 1st 7618 was shunting at Lichfield.
7618 was noted on a down freight at Lichfield on December 3rd.
1972
7618 (Nottingham Division locomotive) was the Manchester Victoria banker (T43) on March 24th.
Condition June: full yellow cabfronts, tablet catcher recesses present.
1973
On the afternoon of February 23rd 7618 was stabled at Peterborough.
1974
May was spent at Derby Works under repair, which included the addition of dual braking equipment. Whilst in the Works the locomotive recieved its TOPS number.
On the morning of May 26th 25268 & 25254 were noted at Derby with an unidentified passenger service, heading out in the Long Eaton direction.
On June 1st the 08.50 Leicester - Skegness was worked by 25268 & 25117.
1975
On the afternoon of February 27th 25268 was stabled at York.
On the afternoon of March 13th 25268 was stabled at York.
On June 16th 25268 was noted at Crewe with a passenger train, possibly the Llandudno Town - Nottingham service.
The 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich and the 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby from Norwich were worked by 25268 & 25131 on August 30th.
1976
On the early morning of July 31st 25268 was noted at Gloucester Central with a down freight.
On August 28th 25268 & 25280 worked the 1V77 09.49 Nottingham - Paignton, a journey of about 260 miles, one of the highest mileages worked by 25268 on a timetabled passenger train. Two days later (30th) a Wellingborough - Hastings mystery excursion was worked roundtrip Wellingborough - Cricklewood by 25268 & 25280.
On the afternoon of September 9th 25268 was stabled at York.
1977
A brief visit was made to Derby Works during April.
A Wolverhampton - Brighton day excursion was worked by 25268 & 25039 to Birmingham New Street on June 7th.
On the afternoon of August 5th 25268 was stabled at York.
The 08.52 Leicester - Skegness and the 12.35 Skegness - Leicester were worked by 25268 & 25073 on August 20th.
On the morning of November 30th 25268 was stabled at York.
On the morning of December 8th 25268 was stabled at York.
1978
On the afternoon of February 22nd 25268 was stabled at York.
On the morning of April 10th 25268 was stabled at York.
25268 worked the 15:51 Nottingham - Carlisle service from Leeds on June 3rd.
The Derby - Norwich - Yarmouth - Norwich - Walsall diagram was worked by 25268 & 25286 on July 8th. The 07.30 Nottingham - Llandudno Town was worked by 25268 on July 22nd, the return 13.02 Llandudno Town - Nottingham was worked as far as Stoke-on-Trent where 25104 took over. 25268 was stabled at Toton on July 29th.
During the 2nd week of September 25268 was active on the Scottish Region, on September 8th 25268 worked the 08.44 Glasgow Queen Street - Dundee and the 11.38 Dundee - Glasgow Queen Street. At about 9am on September 16th was noted stabled at Nuneaton.
1979
On the morning of February 23rd 25067, 25101 & 25268 were stabled at York.
25268 was stabled at Longsight on May 31st.
The 08.25 Leicester - Skegness and the return 18.30 Skegness - Leicester were worked by 25268 & 25291 on June 3rd. 25268 was stabled at Saltley on June 10th.
On the afternoon of July 15th 25268 & 25277 were noted on York shed. 25268 was stabled at Cockshute on July 28th.
August - October were spent at Derby Works as 25268 received it's last general repair.
On December 12th (also reported as 13th) 25268 worked the 15.15 Plymouth - Manchester north of Gloucester after 46039 was declared a failure.
1980
February 2nd found 25268 arriving at Sunderland on the 21.40 parcels ex-Bristol. It remained in the area being noted on the 15.45 Tyne - Carlisle on February 4th.
25268 was stabled at Toton on July 7th.
On July 21st 25268 was noted at Derby towing multiple unit working the 09.14 Derby-Crewe.
On September 1st 25268 was southbound at Toton Up yard with a short freight. On September 24th the 07.30 Birmingham New Street - Newcastle was worked by 25268 & 25178 (presumed throughout) and worked the 13.40 Newcastle - Swansea at least as far as Gloucester.
On December 15th 25268 was stabled at Stonebridge Park.
1981
On January 2nd 25268 was stabled at York.
25268 was northbound at Chesterfield with loaded ballast on January 5th.
When the 21.24 Coatbridge - Felixstowe failed at Peterborough on February 12th behind a Class 47 the only available power was 25268 which took the train to March where 37171 was added, the Type 2 being removed at Ipswich, returning west light engine.
On the afternoon of March 4th 25268 & 25298 were northbound at Warrington Bank Quay with grampus wagons.
On the last day of July the Friday's only Reading - York was extended to Newcastle and was worked by 25268 & 25285, they returned south the next day on a Newcastle - Poole relief as far as Birmingham New Street.
On August 17th an excursion from Banbury to Aberystwyth used 25242 & 25268 throughout, the locomotive running up 336 miles on this round trip.
25268 was light engine at Peterborough station on foggy, snowy December 29th.
1982
25268 was stabled at Northwich on February 9th.
On March 18th 25268 was parked at Lawley Street FLT.
On the morning of September 14th 25258 & 25268 were stabled at York.
September 29th's 14.00 Sheffield - St Pancras required the use of 25268 from Nottingham to St Pancras after 45106 became a failure at Nottingham. 45106 remained on the train, possibly to provide power for the train air conditioning?
On the evening of November 12th 25268 was stabled at York.
1983
On February 14th the 08.02 Bletchley - Bedford diesel multiple unit failed prior to departure, 25268 and two hauled coaches substituted, presumably this combination handled the return service?
On the early evening of March 30th 25268 was noted arriving at Warrington Arpley with a freight from Croes Newydd.
On April 29th 25215 & 25268 were southbound at Nuneaton with a freight.
On May 7th a Paddington - Bewdley special arrived behind 25236 (failed) & 25235, having taken over from 92220 'Evening Star' at Dorridge, the return working being taken by 25202 & 25268 as far as Swindon, where 47508 took over for the return to Paddington. A week later on May 14th the 16.43 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 19.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25268 following the failure of the booked diesel multiple unit.
The 11.15 Norwich - Birmingham New Street failed at March behind 31141 on June 9th, 25268 worked the train forward.
On June 16th 25268 & 40141 were noted southbound at Hereford with bitumen tanks from Ellesmere Port. Due to engineering works the 09.20 Glasgow Central - Birmingham New Street with 87001 and thirteen coaches was hauled by 25268 from Preston to Stockport on June 18th (see view above). 25268 then assisted the 11.45 Euston - Glasgow Central between Stockport & Preston.
25268 was noted light engine at Crewe on July 5th. On the afternoon of July 6th a Manchester bound diesel multiple unit failed in Northwich station, 25268 was brought off shed to assist the unit. However there was an issue with coupling up the locomotive so 25191 substituted and was successful in taking the service forward. 25268 & 25305 were noted at Winwick Junction and Warrington Arpley on July 11th. The next day (12th) 25268 & another Class 25 worked the 6M35 Exeter - Ellesmere Port tanks. A Birmingham New Street - Holyhead relief was worked throughout by 25268 on July 23rd. 25268 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on July 26th.
On August 6th 25268 was at Chester with the Chipman's weedkilling train. On August 30th 25268 was northbound at Water Orton with a ballast working.
The 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25268 & 25256 on September 3rd.
On October 1st a Birmingham New Street - Leicester football special failed at Nuneaton behind 45003, 25268 worked the train to Leicester.
25268 was noted at Severn Tunnel Junction on November 1st.
The 15.02 Manchester - Bristol parcels continued with Class 25 haulage, on November 15th 25154 failed on this working at Hereford, remarkably 25244 was available to take the train forward, the following day 25268 was in charge. After this date Class 47s took over possibly because of the heavier pre-Christmas parcels traffic. Also working over this route were 25296 & 25268 on the recently reactivated Ellesmere Port - Exeter tar tanks, working through to Exeter on December 13th.
1984
On January 28th the 07.39 Settle - Leeds was worked by 25268 following the failure of the diesel multiple unit.
On February 5th 25268 and a single engineers wagon were noted at Great Rocks headed for Buxton. On February 19th 25268 worked a Tunstead - Northwich ICI limestone train. On February 20th 25268 was noted at Peak Forest with ICI limestone empties for Tunstead. On February 24th 25268 & 25307 were eastbound at Chester with an oil train.
On March 6th the 18.23 Barrow - Liverpool failed at Carnforth behind 40063, 25268 worked the service to Liverpool.
On April 18th 25288 & 25268 were noted at Warrington Bank Quay with a lengthy oil train.
25326 & 25268 worked an Oakamoor - St Helens sand train on May 18th.
On June 19th 25268 & 25035 were noted at Stockport. The 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the return 14.00 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25268 & 25287 on June 30th.
25268 was noted at Nuneaton on July 13th. 25268 worked the 6M85 17.40 Acton Yard - Willesden Brent Yard freight on July 30th.
On August 4th the 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25268 & 25279.
The 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the 17.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25268 & 25313 on August 18th.
On August 25th the 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the return 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Shrewsbury were worked by 25268 & 25288.
On September 19th the 13.50 Cheltenham Spa - Swindon was worked by 25268 following the failure of the booked diesel multiple unit. A Scottish passenger working on September 24th involved 25268 on the 16.10 Edinburgh - Liverpool as far as Carstairs.
An unusual pairing on November 13th's evening Aintree - Garston freightliner was 25268 & 47190.
This first week of December saw the afternoon Manchester - Bristol parcels almost totally in the hands of the Class 25's, so noted were 25268 (3rd), 25307 (4th), 25259 (5th), 25279 (6th) and 25288 (10th).
25268 was noted southbound through Hereford on Christmas Eve with a five coach parcels train.
1985
On a damp February 25th 25268 & 25269 took a train load of HKV empties to Oakamoor and returned with the hoppers loaded with sand presumably for St Helens.
On May 3rd 25268 & 25325 were noted passing through Manchester Victoria with a train of oil tanks. 25268 was noted southbound at Crewe station on May 25th with a parcels train. The 14.42 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the return 17.12 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25268 on May 28th due to the failure of the booked diesel multiple unit. On May 29th 25903 & 25902 were noted at Chester with a Mossend - Dee Marsh timber working.
On June 1st the 13.40 (also reported as 16.13) Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton was worked between Shrewsbury & Cosford by 25268 & 25206, at Cosford 25268 failed and was dragged to Wolverhampton. On June 10th 25268 was noted passing Helsby Junction with a special train (two coaches sandwiching a research (?) wagon. The 12.40 Carlisle - Glasgow Central was worked by 25268 on June 21st.
On July 6th 25268 & 25042 worked the 08.55 Kilmarnock - Blackpool North charter forward from Preston and were also noted this day at Shrewsbury with empy coaching stock.
On July 7th the 'Cambrian Scot' railtour/charter from Caersws to Ayr utilised the following:
25268 & 25042 Caersws - Shrewsbury - Wrexham General - Chester - Mickle Trafford Junction - Helsby - Frodsham Junction - Acton Grange Junction - Warrington Bank Quay - Wigan North Western - Ince - Crow Nest Junction - Westhoughton - Lostock Junction - Chorley - Euxton Junction - Preston (engineering work saw 20172 & 20173 assist between Wigan NW and Lostock Junction); 81019 Preston - Carlisle; 37042 Carlisle - Dumfries - Kilmarnock - Barassie Junction - Troon - Ayr - (return as outward route) - Carlisle - 86230 Carlisle - Preston - Warrington. At Preson a stock change was made after a fault on the stock led to a dual braked set from the Euston - Barrow service substituting, after 86230 worked Preston - Warrington Bank Quay, 25266 & 25285 took over at Warrington Bank Quay running as the outward route to Caersws.
On July 8th 25268 was southbound at Preston with high sided hoppers. On July 17th the 16.45 Euston - Blackpool North was worked forward from Preston by 25268. On July 31st the 08.46 Leicester - Birmingham New Street was worked by 25268 following a broken speedometer on the booked locomotive, 31415. The return working, the 10.20 Birmingham - Norwich service was worked by 25268 as far as March where 31427 took over.
On August 7th 25268 was southbound at Crewe with bitumen tanks. 25268 was noted passing Wigan on August 8th with eight coal/mineral wagons. A derailment at Winsford Junction on August 9th saw WCML services diverted via Chester with 25268 assisting between Warrington & Crewe the 09.05 Glasgow Central - Poole and the 09.15 Euston - Inverness. Also on August 9th 25268 & 97407 were noted at Crewe station. 25268 was noted at Crewe station with empty freightliner flats on August 20th. 25268 was noted at Llandudno Junction on August 22nd. More problems took place on August 28th with damaged overhead line equipment leading to 25268 & 25321 assisting the 21.10 Euston - Stranraer Harbour between Willesden & Birmingham New Street, being diverted over Western Region lines. On August 31st the a Nottingham - Warwick Road football special failed at Basford Hall behind 31189, 25268 worked the train forward to Warwick Road.
On September 4th 25268 was stabled at Crewe depot, there were at least seven withdrawn Class 25s also stabled at the depot.
During September 25268 was active on the Scottish Region, working three services between Edinburgh & Carstairs, which included on September 9th the 12.06 Bristol Temple Meads - Edinburgh relief with 25262, on September 24th the 13.05 Carstairs - Edinburgh (portion off 09.27 Liverpool - Glasgow) and also on September 24th the 16.10 Edinburgh - Carstairs (portion for 16.15 Glasgow - Liverpool).
On October 4th a Dundee - Blackpool North day excursion was worked forward from Preston by 25268. Two days later (6th) the 23.05 Glasgow Central - Euston was assisted between Preston & Warrington by 25268 due to the power being off for engineering work. The East Anglian Ltd railtour ran from Cardiff to Norwich via Liverpool Street on October 12th. The Coventry - Liverpool Street leg and return were handled by 25268 & 25297 (outward) and 25268 & 31144 (return), whilst being serviced 25297 was stopped at Stratford due to issues with its brake blocks. 25268 was stabled at Saltley on October 19th.
The changing nature of the organisaton of British Rail led to a new concept, one of Sectorisation, which in its most visible form saw the creation of specialised locomotive pools to handle specific traffic flows, with the locomotives renumbered to recognise this fact. These pools would handle a variety of traffic flows. One such pool was established at Motherwell in March 1986 for British Steel traffic using dedicated Class 37/3s, whilst in April 1986 eight Class 20/3s were fitted with modified triple valves for handling limestone traffic from Tunstead.
However the original pool, based at Kingmoor Yard was created late in 1985 involving a dozen Class 25s for dedicated freight traffic in the north west, the locomotives owned by a BR subsidiary, Railhaul Ltd. All the remaining Series 3 machines were load bank tested at Crewe depot, with cylinder peak pressure, electrical machine condition and tyre wear being closely checked. Twelve were selected, with six spare and given 'E' exams at Crewe or Carlisle to handle traffic for the Chemicals sub-sector based at Kingmoor. They were restricted to 60mph to mitigate traction motor problems and were to receive preferential maintenance. They began their duties during December 1985 with the re-numbering of 25283 to 25904 but the traffic they were assigned to handle diminished rapidly. ICI lost the rock salt contract from Over & Wharton, sulphur imported through Mostyn Dock ended in 1987. The Speedlink traffic between Dumfries and Carlisle came under critical review and the proposed purlite and sugarstone traffic never materialised. Regional Control at Crewe established some diagrams based on Warrington and Garston, involving much oil traffic out of Stanlow. Once this particular 'Sectorisation' plan was cancelled the BRB mandated the Class 25/9s be treated like any other Class 25.
Thus in November 25268 was re-allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor, as were all the Class 25/9s, with 25268 renumbered to 25902 during December.
On the night of November 21st 25278 & 25268 were stabled at March. Two days later (23rd) the same pair worked the Stanlow - Neville Hill oil tanks, out and back.
On November 23rd 25278 & 25268 were noted at Ravensthorpe with oil tanks (possibly Hunslet - Stanlow tanks). On November 23rd Birkenhead Mollington Street held 25057, 25268, 25278 & 47247, the depot would close effective November 25th.
25268 was noted with a short ballast train at Bolton on December 1st. On December 3rd 25268 worked a Manchester - Bristol parcels.
1986
25902 & 25904 were noted at Warrington Arpley with a train of tankers on February 7th. On February 24th 25902 & 25909 were noted passing through Runcorn with a train of mixed oil tanks.
On March 8th 25902 & 25909 worked the 6T65 Warrington - Speke freight. 25902 was stabled at Warrington Arpley on March 29th.
On April 2nd 25902 & 25910 worked a Stanlow - Neville Hill oil train. 25902 & 25910 were noted at Chester depot on April 19th. 25902 & 25910 were passing Warrington Bank Quay on April 28th with a freight, including seven log carriers and some tankers. 25902 & 25910 were noted eastbound at Chester on April 29th with 97405 & 47236 in tow.
25902 was noted at Springs Branch on May 9th. The 09.38 Swansea - Shrewsbury was noted at Craven Arms on May 24th with 25902 hauling diesel multiple unit set No.C802. On May 30th 25902 & 25903 worked the afternoon Dee Marsh - Warrington Arply Speedlink which included a block of empty log carriers.
On June 4th 25902 & 25912 were westbound at Chester with a freight train (of lumber?). On June 30th 25901 & 25902 were noted at Kingmoor yard with a northbound salt train.
25903 & 25902 were noted at Floriston on July 7th with a northbound salt train. On July 10th 25910 & 25902 passed southbound through Warrington Bank Quay with a freight. 25902 was noted at Warrington Arpley with ferryvans on July 21st.
A Winnington (British Salt) - Inverness salt train was worked by 25902 & 25905 to ?? on August 1st. Two days later (3rd) the same pair were noted northbound at Warrington with another salt (?) working.
25902 & 25910 worked the 6M54 10.18 Leeds - Stanlow empty oil tanks on November 18th.
On November 21st 25902 & 25910 were southbound at Nuneaton with bogie oil tanks.
Winsford - Deanside (Scotland) salt specials ran on December 18th & 29th with 25902 & 25904 and with 25901 & 25902 on December 30th.
25902 was stabled at Warrington Arpley on Christmas Day.
1987
The final months for 25902 were spent in the Crewe - Liverpool - Wigan - Manchester area, with some trips to Carlisle. The New Year opened with 25902 attached to 25901, being noted at Castleton CE on January 2nd and also passing westbound through Manchester Victoria with bogie bulk wagons (and also on January 3rd?).
By January 11th 25902 was working with 25912, they were noted at Bescot on January 13th. The last passenger haulage for 25902 occurred on January 15th when the 07.10 Chester - Manchester Victoria failed at Warrington. 25902 & 25912 were on hand to take the train forward to its destination. On January 17th 25902 worked an engineers train along the North Wales main line to Rhyl.
25902 was noted with 25910 at Warrington, Deanside and Winsford on a wintry January 19th, presumably on a rubbish train diagram. The next day (20th) 25902 attended to a derailment near Dee Marsh Yard with the Crewe breakdown crane, during the course of the recovery the crane itself became derailed.
By January 29th 25902 was attached to 25912, the pair reaching Carlisle later that day. The next day 25902 received an 'A' exam at Carlisle. 25902 and 25912 were noted together on February 18th at Warrington, its not certain if they had remained together since January 29th. By February 21st 25901 was attached to 25902.
On February 24th 25902 ran light to Shap Summit to work the 6P32 to Preston Dock Street. 25902 arrived at Wigan TMD in the early hours of February 28th and was stopped for an 'A' exam, which was not completed. The locomotive's last move was to Crewe on the afternoon of March 2nd where it was taken out of service.
In the Sheffield Railwayana auctions from September 2003 a builders plate from D7618 realised GBP190.00.
Distinguishing features
Non-BIS side intermittent scrape along upper part of body, most prominent on the boiler room blanking plate July 1986.
Battery isolating switch cover - top panel not blue, more of an undercoat green? October 1985
With thanks to Alan Baylis and Neil Cannon for their detailed input.
76/6964
flk 1221
Page updated October 25th 2001.
Last updated May 12th 2023.
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