The twenty one year seven month career of D7626/25276/25903 covered three years at Eastern Region depots followed by the remainder at London Midland Region depots.
Built: Beyer Peacock Ltd, Manchester (Works No. 8036).
Dual brake fitted.
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 73 months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 27 months.
Allocations
D7626 was new to Tinsley (41A) on August 5th 1965. Further transfers were:
April 1966 to Wath (41C).
August 1967 to Holbeck (55A) on loan and made permanent the same month.
July 1968 to Manchester Division (D09).
November 1968 to Birmingham Division.
May 1970 to Preston Division (D10).
May 1971 to London Division (D01).
October 1971 to Nottingham Division (D16).
April 1971 to London Division (D01).
August 1972 to Nottingham Division (D16).
October 1972 to Preston Division (D10).
May 1973 to Kingmoor.
May 1973 to Springs Branch.
September 1973 to Bescot.
September 1985 to Crewe.
November 1985 to Kingmoor.
Withdrawn March 18th 1987.
Renumbered to TOPS April 1974.
Renumbered to 25903 January 2nd 1986.
After withdrawal 25903 was stored at Kingmoor, it moved briefly to Upperby for inspection on August 9th 1988. It revisited Upperby on November 10th 1988 and remained there until May 31st 1989 when it moved to Crewe, then Nuneaton (February 6th), Leicester Humberstone Road (June 3rd) and entering Vic Berry, Leicester on June 5th 1989. By the last week of June 1989 25903 had been scrapped.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works April 1966.
Noted Derby Works August, September & October 1969 (possibly dual brake fitted at this time - certainly before 1974).
Noted Derby Works May - August 1974 (entered Works in two-tone green, collision damage repairs).
Noted Derby Works November 1979 - January 1981 (General Repair).
Highlights
1966
On February 20th stabled at Tinsley were 73 diesels including D5207, D7598, D7599, D7624 - D7626, D7628 - D7630, D7632, D7641 & D7643.
On the afternoon of October 15th D7626 was light engine at Saltley.
1967
On July 1st & July 8th D7626 worked the summer dated Sheffield - Llandudno Town roundtrips.
On the morning of September 6th noted in the Leeds area were D5184, D5255, D7572, 44893 & 44988 (all at Holbeck), D7626 passing Holbeck with freight 8P83, D7625 passing Holbeck with freight 8P84 and D5096 light engine.
1968
On July 27th D7626 worked the 06.15 Heysham - Manchester, the 09.30 Manchester - Barrow and the 14.55 Barrow - Manchester.
1969
A Butterley - Reading West Junction special was noted with 7626 on October 6th & 7th.
1970
On the morning of January 26th 7626 & 7629 were noted at Nuneaton.
1972
Observations on Saturday April 15th 1972 from a St Pancras - Leeds Merrymaker (1Z94) include:
Kettering: 5243
Leicester Shed: 5266, 7593, 7619
Toton Depot: 7559
Leeds area: 5162, 5165, 5174, 5185
Holbeck: 7571
York shed: 5172
Leicester shed: 5279, 7521, 7593, 7619, 7626, 7644
1973
On September 26th green liveried 7626 was noted at Heysham Harbour with the Up Ulster Express for Euston.
On November 1st 7626 was noted at Exeter arriving with a train load of sugar beet from the Eastern Region (headcodes displayed 8Z15 west end, 8E53 east end). The locomotive was in two-tone green livery with yellow ends and 'D' prefix painted over and with the emblem on one side only.
Three Coventry locals, targets 38,39 & 42 required dual braked locomotives, in this case Class 25s, since Bescot only had two at this time (7601 & 7626), this diagram was somewhat difficult to maintain! These matters were not helped by locomotives being borrowed from time to time.
1974
On May 5th 5225 & 25276 were both dumped at Saltley with serious collision damage, it is presumed they had collided with each other somewhere in the Birmingham area. 5225 had damage to both cabs with the No.1 cab being the worst, including a bent buffer beam and missing buffers, the fuel and water tanks were missing and the No.1 bogie also sustained damage. For 25276 the No.2 cab bore the brunt of the damage, including the loss of the buffer beam. Both were quickly removed to Derby. Despite the damage to both cabs 5225 would be repaired as would 25276.
The continuing shortage of power on the Western Region allowed many strangers to reach deep into WR territory, the 18.00 Riverside – East Usk featured 25276 & 25089 on November 6th.
On November 1st 25276 & 25079 worked the 15.05 Whimple - Exeter and the 17.00 Chard Junction - Exeter.
During the early morning of November 13th wagons from a freight train derailed at Humber Road Junction, Coventry, blocking both lines with WCML trains rerouted via Nuneaton. 25276 was noted with a ballast working to assist with the track renewal.
1976
March 27th saw the Whitemoor – Royston tanks noted at Cambridge behind 25288 & 25276, most likely March were short of power that morning.
1977
25276 & 25272 worked the roundtrip Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Walsall diagram on June 11th.
On June 25th 25276 & 25038 were stabled at Nuneaton.
On July 3rd 25276 & 25116 worked the roundtrip 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Barmouth from/to Shrewsbury.
On the afternoon of September 27th 25276 & 25285 were stabled at Holbeck.
On the afternoon of October 21st 25276 was stabled at York.
1978
On the morning of February 7th, 9th & 13th 25276 was stabled at York.
On the morning of April 19th 25276 was stabled at York.
It was a run down the NE/SW route on July 22nd for 25276 & 25282 working the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Paignton relief throughout, returning with the 13.30 Paignton - Oxley empty coaching stock.
On July 25th 25276 was at Oxford with a short freight.
On July 29th 25276 & 25272 worked the 10.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.
A Manchester Piccadilly - Aberystwyth day excursion on August 20th was worked from Stafford (assumed) to Aberystwyth and back (out via Wolverhampton & back via Crewe) by 25276 & 25293.
On the morning of September 14th & 18th 25276 was stabled at York.
On the morning of September 29th 25123, 25124 & 25276 were stabled at York.
Observations on the Midland main line on October 28th included:
25137, 25178, 25276 Cricklewood 10.20am
25053 southbound permanent way Bedford 11.00am
25177 & 25071 Bedford stabling point 11.00
25326 Wellingborough 11.25am
25245, 25270, 25312 Leicester shed 12.05pm
25137 northbound steel Derby 3.00pm
Stabled at Saltley on the afternoon of October 28th were 25038, 25123, 25133, 25276 (noted Cricklewood earlier in the morning) & 25280.
1979
On the late afternoon of January 27th 25121 & 25276 were noted at Saltley.
On Thursday February 15th 25276 worked the 04.45 Norwood to Willesden, the 09.55 Willesden to Norwood and the return 12.00 Norwood to Willesden.
On the late afternoon of March 30th 25276 was noted at Saltley.
On the evening of April 6th 25276 was noted at Bristol Bath Road, whilst on the early morning of April 8th 25276 was at Crewe Diesel depot.
On the evening of May 4th 25276 was noted at Saltley.
On the morning of May 5th 25188, 25262 & 25276 were stabled at Saltley.
On July 14th 25276 was stabled at Reddish. On the early afternoon of July 28th 25276 was stabled at Saltley.
On the afternoon of August 29th 25260 & 25276 were stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction.
On September 1st 25276 was stabled at Gloucester Horton Road.
On October 5th 25276 was northbound at Oxford with a freight.
1980
On February 24th 25276 was stabled at Saltley.
On February 26th 87002 and five Royal Train vehicles with the Duke of Edinburgh ran from Euston to Berkswell. The train remained at Berkswell overnight in a siding with 25276 attached.
On April 29th 25276 was stabled at Saltley.
The greater majority of the passenger workings for 1980 involved the Cambrian line to Aberystwyth. However the first passenger working for 1980 was a York - Birmingham International charter on June 27th with 25275. The next day (28th) the same pair were on the Walsall - Norwich (for Yarmouth) - Derby diagram although on the return working 25276 failed and was dragged. Then followed four workings on the Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth line, on July 26th with 25197, running about an hour late from Euston due to heavy rain, on the return working 25276 failed en-route and was removed at Shewsbury; August 2nd & 3rd with 25184 and August 9th with 25137.
1981
On January 3rd 25276 worked a train of bogie ballast hoppers from Bescot to Banbury.
On May 9th 25276 was stabled at Cockshute with 25195.
The 16.36 Birmingham New Street - Norwich on May 29th was worked to March by 25276.
A return to the Cambrian line took place on July 7th with 25275 on the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 16.05 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton.
On July 25th 25276 was stabled at Nuneaton.
On August 15th 25276 was noted on the short Kensington Olympia - Willesden motorail workings.
1982
On March 17th 25276 worked an extra Tyseley - Parkeston empty Cartics train.
At about 7pm on April 2nd 25321 & 25276 were northbound at Leicester with a freight train.
On the afternoon of May 8th 25276 was stabled at Cambridge Road.
On June 12th 25276 was at Barrow with two sleeping coaches from the previous day's service from Euston.
On June 17th 25276 was westbound at Warrington Arpley with a loaded coal train for Garston docks and presumed for export.
25276 worked the 08.57 Sheffield - Huddersfield (for Llandudno Town) on a miserably wet June 19th (portion of the 09.00 York - Llandudno Town), and worked the return 17.10 Huddersfield - Sheffield, parked in Huddersfield goods yard inbetween workings.
On the morning of August 6th 25032 & 25276 were stabled at York.
The 16.05 Leeds - Carlisle was worked by 25276 on August 9th.
On August 12th 25276 was at Moss Bay, Workington with a short engineers train.
On September 20th 25276 handled the 19.15 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria.
25276 was noted at Gloucester on October 9th.
When 27033 failed at Annan on November 2nd with the 13.45 Glasgow Central - Carlisle, 25276 took the train forward to Carlisle.
On a frosty December 18th 25276 was stabled at York.
1983
On March 20th 25276 & 25181 were noted shunting a ballast train at Leighton Buzzard.
Assistance was provided by 25276 to the 11.55 Euston - Manchester Piccadilly between Hanslope Junction & Rugby on March 23rd when the power was off because of overhead line damage.
At midday on March 30th 25211, 25276 & 25283 were stabled at Stonebridge Park.
On May 3rd 25276 was stabled at Bletchley.
Another run was made to March, working the 10.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich on May 4th, with 31263 taking over at March. The next day (5th) saw the local trip working from Whitemoor handled by 25276.
Railtour duty took place on June 26th with 25276 & 25199 working the roundtrip Llandudno Junction - Blaenau Ffestiniog portion of the 'Ffestiniog Pullman' railtour.
On June 29th 37287 & 25276 were noted at Hereford with a freight train.
On July 9th 25276 & 25306 worked the 10.10 Euston - Shrewsbury from Birmingham New Street. Two Cambrian line roundtrips followed, on August 13th with 25284 and on August 20th with 25259.
On September 2nd 25276 was at Wednesbury yard with a ballast cleaner.
On September 21st 25276 was westbound at Findern a freight train.
On the evening? of October 21st 25276 was at Warrington Bank Quay with cement tanks.
On November 1st 25276 worked the 6T33 Earles Sidings - Ashburys Yard formed of eight loaded PCA cement tanks.
1984
81011 failed with a broken pan in the Ledburn neutral just south of Leighton with a Euston - Birmingham football special on January 14th. The resultant wires down caused much chaos with 25276 assisting 81011 and train to Bletchley. January 14th saw 25276 assisting the 10.15 Manchester Piccadilly - Euston between Bletchley & Hemel Hempstead because of the power being off due to overhead line damage.
On January 21st 25286 & 25276 were light engines at Gaer Junction, Newport.
On January 22nd 25276 was stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction under snowy & freezing condiions.
On the Crewe – Cardiff line the failure of 25276 on January 25th on the 15.02 Manchester – Bristol parcels near Leominster causing heavy delays to services, rescue arriving with 47056 off a Margam bound coal train.
On February 5th 25276 was noted at Ashton (Manchester) on a permanent way train.
On March 25th 25276 was at Tunstead ICI sidings waiting for its next job. 40155 was also present.
On March 29th 25324 & 25276 were noted on the Settle & Carlisle with the lengthy 04.25 Glasgow - Preston vans.
On April 1st 47403 failed before departure on the 12.45 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria, 25276 assisted throughout.
On April 6th 25276 was eastbound at Manchester Victoria with an inspection saloon and was also the Manchester Victoria banker this day.
On April 21st 25276 was stabled at Warrington Arpley with 25189, 25198 & 25303.
A charter train on May 6th was worked roundtrip by 25276 & 25283 between Wolverhampton (out)/Shrewsbury (back) and Aberystwyth.
On June 16th 25276 was northbound over Shap with coal wagons.
On July 13th 25276 was northbound at Radlett.
On August 1st 25276 was stabled at Chester.
The Cambrian line was revisited on August 25th with 25276 & 25298 on the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 17.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury.
The 18.15 Birmingham New Street - Norwich failed behind 31420 at Nuneaton Abbey Junction on October 4th, 25276 took the train on to Peterborough.
On October 13th 25276 was stabled at Workington station.
On October 16th 25276 worked the 21.44 Preston - Liverpool (off the 18.20 Glasgow - Manchester).
On October 17th 25276 worked the lengthy Liverpool - Red Bank empty vans.
On November 23rd 25276 was at Guide Bridge with an electrification train in connection with conversion of the line from 1500V DC to 25kV AC.
1985
January 2nd found 25276 at Manchester Victoria on banking duty. On a snowy January 7th 25276 was noted eastbound through Wakefield with empty bolsters.
On February 4th 25276 was noted towing a failed HST through Chesterfield, later seen at Derby with just the two power cars 43099 & 43064.
On February 16th 25276 was stabled at Birkenhead Mollington Street.
Visitors to Severn Tunnel Junction included 25276 on March 6th leaving with the Mossend vans including a dead 47606.
25276 was north of the border on April 3rd working the relief 13.50 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh forward from Carstairs with 25300.
25276 was light engine at Carlisle Citadel on April 19th.
May 4th saw 25324 & 25276 southbound over the Settle & Carlisle with a parcels train. On May 18th 25276 & 25051 worked the 13.40 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton forward from Shrewsbury, being extended due to late running.
25200 and 25276 paired up to take the Severn Tunnel to Mossend Speedlink on July 24th.
When 33047 failed at Shrewsbury on July 31st with the 12.00 Cardiff - Crewe, 25276 dragged the train to Crewe.
On the evening of September 3rd 25276 was stabled at Warrington Arpley.
On September 4th 25276 worked car carriers from Speke to Arpley yard and was also noted this day at Arpley with BOC oxygen tanks for Ditton.
On September 8th 25276 was stabled at Wapping Sidings, Carlisle.
On September 9th 25276 worked the 12.40 Carlisle - Glasgow Central.
On September 10th 25276 was southbound at Warrington Bank Quay with a continuous welded rail train from Mossend to Bletchley.
On September 12th 25276 was light engine at Warrington Arpley.
On September 13th 25276 was southbound at Preston with coal empties from Deepdale.
On the afternoon of September 24th 25276 was shunting at Spondon.
On September 25th 25276 was noted southbound at Toton with a ten wagon mixed freight.
On October 12th 25276 was at St Pancras with parcels stock.
On October 21st 25276 was at Crewe with an engineers train.
On the afternoon of October 25th 25276 was at Warrington Walton sidings light engine.
On October 27th 25276 was at Warrington Arpley with loaded ballast wagons.
25276 was stabled at March on November 3rd.
On November 22nd 25276 was at Manchester Victoria with parcels stock.
On December 11th 25903 was noted at Haymarket depot. December 15th & 17th found 25276 at Crewe on local duties, the first date in the pouring rain, whilst Christmas Day 1985 found 25276 stabled at Warrington Arpley.
1986
Attempts to move 25276 to Carlisle for a 'C' exam were not completed until after the New Year, New Year's day was spent at Skipton, with Carlisle reached on January 2nd, renumbering to 25903 taking place the same day.
On January 24th 25903 & 25909 were noted light engines at Chester.
On February 27th 25912 & 25903 worked the 7D26 06.25 Warrington Arpley - Shotwick Speedlink with cement wagons and loaded log wagons.
On February 28th 25903 & 25912 were noted at Hooton headed toward Chester with the Albion oil tanks.
On March 15th 25903 was stabled at Chester.
On May 1st 25903 & 25909 worked a Stanlow - Hunslet East oil tank train.
25909 & 25903 were noted at Manchester Victoria with oil tanks on the afternoon of May 8th.
On May 14th 25909 & 25903 worked the 7M35 14.23 Leeds - Stanlow empties.
On May 29th 25903 & 25902 were noted at Chester with a Mossend - Dee Marsh timber working and the next day (30th) were noted at Chester with the empty log carriers.
20071, 20075, 25903, 25908, 20147 & 20029 were southbound light engines at Warrington Bank Quay on June 22nd.
On July 1st 25903 was northbound at Derby with empty container flats.
On July 19th 47337, 25259, 25903 & 25901 were noted departing Warrington Arpley westbound.
On July 30th 25903 was active at Warrington Arpley.
On August 14th 25903 & 25910 were stabled at Kingmoor.
On September 8th 25903 was noted at Helsby with a mixed freight.
On October 13th 25910 & 25903 were noted at Frodsham with an empty log train.
On October 14th 25910 & 25903 worked a Stanlow - Hunslet East oil tank train.
On October 28th 25903 was southbound at Warrington Bank Quay with a freight.
25901 & 25903 worked a Warrington - Reading salt special on October 31st.
A visit to Llandudno Junction on December 6th found 31176 present for driver training, with three of the ‘old guard’ present, 25191, 25213 & 25903.
Pre-Christmas travellers on December 23rd needed assistance from 25903 when the 20.30 Inverness - Euston failed at Thrimby Grange behind a Class 81, the train was pushed the two miles to Harrisons Sidings.
1987
Winsford - Deanside (Scotland) salt specials ran on January 8th & 10th with 25903 & 25904. On January 16th 25903 & 25904 worked a Deanside - Over & Wharton (salt empties?), then worked the 19.05 Warrington - Healey Mills freight.
February 8th - 25903 noted arriving at Springs Branch with an electrification train from the north.
February 9th - the final recorded passenger working for 25903 took place when 45139 working the 13.53 Scarborough - Liverpool required assistance from near Parkside Junction to Liverpool.
February 17th & 18th - 25903 was stabled at Warrington Arpley.
February 28th - with 25904 passing Carstairs with a container train, southbound.
March 5th - noted at Warrington Bank Quay light engine.
At lunchtime on March 12th 25903 was at Ellesmere Port, with 25904, these two remained together at least until Monday March 16th when 25903 alone handled the 1P20 02.30 Crewe - Barrow vans forward from Preston, with a load of one van. Following this 25903 made its way to Kingmoor for eventual withdrawal.
25903 was withdrawn on March 18th 1987 (along with 25191, 25265, 25279, 25313 & 25910).
Of the last 27 Class 25s overhauled only four would be in service at the end, six years later: 25057/265/276 (as 25903) and 25278.
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
flk 0123
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Page added July 1st 2013.
Last updated March 11th 2024.
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