The eighteen year eight month career of D7627/25277 included allocations to Eastern Region & London Midland Region depots with its time on the LMR spent at depots on the southern half of the region.
Built: Beyer Peacock Gorton Ltd, Works No.8037.
Dual brake equipped (at least by Oct 1973).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 58 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 17 months.
Allocations
D7627 was new to Tinsley on August 12th 1965. Further transfers were:
April 1966 to Wath (41C).
August 1967 to London Midland (Midland) Lines.
September 1967 to Birmingham Division (D02).
September 1967 to London Midland (Midland) Lines.
June 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
January 1969 to Birmingham Division (D02).
May 1973 to Bescot.
Withdrawn April 15th 1984 (accident damage).
Renumbered February 1st 1974.
25277 was the 216th Class 25 withdrawn, the only Class 25 retired during April 1984.
Accident damaged 25277 was stored at Cricklewood until moved to Derby Works on January 25th 1984 for evaluation of repairs but these were denied and the locomotive was withdrawn. The locomotive remained at Derby Works until moved on February 5th 1985 to Swindon Works. By the last week of September 1985 the locomotive had been scrapped although the damaged cab lingered at Derby Works for a further year.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Crewe Works July & August 1969.
Noted Derby Works July 1971.
Noted Derby Works March - May 1979 (general repair and full repaint).
Noted Derby Works October 1983 (tyres).
Highlights
1966
On February 20th D7627 & D7631 were stabled at Wath.
1967
On the afternoon of October 27th D7627 was shunting the Research Department yard at Derby.
1968
The 05.15 Carlton Sidings - West Drayton was worked by D7627 on July 8th. This working was frequently allocated Eastern Region Brush Type 4s.
On October 2nd 7627 was westbound at Water Orton with a coal train.
1969
On the afternoon of August 11th 7627 was light engine at Crewe.
1970
On the morning of March 12th 7627 was shunting at Spring Vale.
On the afternoon of June 12th 7627 was light engine at Wolverhampton HL.
1973
The early years for D7627/25277 are devoid of reported passenger workings, its transfer to Bescot during May 1973 started to produce passenger workings. The first recorded passenger working took place on July 8th 1973 with a roundtrip Wellingborough - Yarmouth day excursion, presumed worked throughout by 7627 & 7621.
1974
On June 4th 25277 was stabled at Bescot.
On August 3rd 25277 & 25257 worked the the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich, returning from there with the 14.15 Yarmouth - Derby.
1975
25277 worked a Nottingham - Lincoln parcels on May 2nd.
On August 28th the 15.35 Norwich - Birmingham New Street was worked throughout by 25277.
On December 8th 25277 worked a Banbury - Nuneaton empty ballast.
1976
Severe gales on the evening of January 2nd affected much of the country with wind speeds consistently above 50mph. These high winds brought down the wires in the Berkswell area, a diesel multiple unit shuttle substituting between Coventry and Birmingham. 25251 & 25277 assisted 87023 with an empty coaching stock working through the affected area on the morning of 3rd, later returning to Coventry via Nuneaton, whilst 25236 arrived with a re-wiring train, though full service was not restored until January 4th. Such was the intensity of the storm that the majority of electric services into New Street were halted, with diesels substituted for many northbound workings. Delays of three to four hours were frequent. Not helping the matter was the derailment of 25242 on an engineers train south of Nuneaton, also on 2nd. This severely impacted the Leicester services, however the arrival of 25047 with the Saltley breakdown crane saw the line cleared by the evening. A little further south at Worcester the driver and guard of 1055 ‘Western Advocate’ lost their lives when their light engine ran into the rear of a Curzon Street – Worcester parcels on 3rd, the storm having affected communications in the area.
25277 & 25xxx were noted at Birkenhead North on July 13th with a train of scrap for Shotton.
On July 23rd 25286 & 25277 were northbound at Warrington Bank Quay an oil tank train.
1977
On the afternoon of May 24th 25205 & 25277 were stabled at York.
On August 20th 25277 & 25284 were noted light engines at Skipton.
On the afternoon of October 7th & 12th 25277 was stabled at York.
1978
On March 28th 25277 worked a Longbridge - Bescot yard car train, possibly part of a day's trip workings in the area.
On the afternoon of May 21st 25277 was noted at Saltley depot.
The recorded passenger workings for 1978 all feature Cambrian line workings. On June 10th the 10.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25277 & 25067. The next day (11th) the same pair worked a Plymouth - Aberystwyth day excursion roundtrip between Birmingham New Street & Aberystwyth. 25277 was stabled at Saltley on June 17th.
On August 10th 25277 was noted running light engine at Bescot. On August 12th the 04.15 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked by 25277 & 25327.
1979
January was plagued by ASLEF strikes and poor weather, on January 4th the cold weather froze the stone in the Mountsorrell – Kennett working, led by 25277 & 25296, it was several days before unloading could take place. 25277 was noted passing through Crewe station light engine on a wintry January 6th.
Two railtours on February 11th ran from Paddington to Crewe, being the 'The Crewe Campaigner' & 'The Crewe Campaigner Relief'. 25277 & 25282 worked the 'Crewe Campaigner Relief' (outward leg) between Birmingham New Street & Crewe and the 'Crewe Campaigner' (return leg) between Crewe & Birmingham New Street.
On the morning of February 20th 25277 was light engine north of York.
On May 4th 25277 was stabled at York.
On May 26th 25277 worked the 07.30 Nottingham - Llandudno Town forward from Derby, returning with the 11.30 Llandudno Town - Nottingham.
On June 30th the 08.25 Leicester - Blackpool North was worked roundtrip between Nottingham & Blackpool North by 25277 & 25320.
On the evening of July 6th 25320 & 25277 were noted at Crewe station with a down coal train. On July 7th the 08.25 Leicester - Blackpool North was worked roundtrip between Nottingham & Blackpool North by 25277 & 25320. On the afternoon of July 15th 25268 & 25277 were noted on York shed. On July 21st the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25277 & 25259.
1980
25277 was the Manchester Victoria banker on April 29th.
The passenger workings for 1980 were dominated by Cambrian line trips. On May 31st the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the 16.10 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury were worked by 25277 & 25305.
The 04.10 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked three times by 25277, on July 5th with 25327, on August 8th with 25197 and on August 16th with 25259. The following day (Aug 17th) 25277 & 25259 worked the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth and the 18.00 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton.
On November 4th 25277 & 25323 were noted at Roade with a loaded merry-go-round train.
On December 7th 25277 was assisting electric services at Rugby with the station shunt.
1981
1981 has so far produced one recorded passenger working, on August 11th the 15.37 Leicester - Birmingham New Street was worked by 25277 following the failure of the diesel multiple unit. 25277 arrived at Holbeck at 01.45am on August 15th off the L51 working.
25277 was stabled at Saltley on September 5th.
On the evening of October 7th 25277 ran light from Holbeck to Leeds.
25277 was stabled at Tinsley on October 25th.
On a snowy December 9th 25277 was noted derailed on the approach to Birkenhead Mollington Street.
1982
The 12.40 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria on January 19th was worked by 25277.
On February 17th 25277 was stabled at Manchester Piccadilly.
On March 5th 25317 & 25277 worked a Mountsorrel - Barham extra.
On April 5th 25317 & 25277 worked a Mountsorrel - Kennett stone train.
A Toton - Acton freight was worked by 31159, 25277 & 25323 on May 12th. The next morning the two Class 25s were stabled at Wellingborough.
25288 & 25277 were noted northbound at Rugby with a lengthy train of mineral wagons on June 1st.
25277 & 40170 were noted eastbound at Chester with an oil train on July 29th.
25277 was stabled at Birkenhead Mollington Street on August 1st.
The 07.38 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton were worked twice by 25277, on August 14th with 25269 and on September 11th with 25298.
The failure of 47545 on October 30th at Preston working the 11.15 Barrow - Liverpool saw 25277 complete the working.
On December 31st 25277 & 25266 worked the Kings Cross - Tring cement empties, then returned light engines to Bletchley.
1983
On February 19th 25277 was noted northbound at Warrington Bank Quay with a parcels train. The third week of February saw 25277 work the 22.47 Crewe - Blackpool North forward from Preston on February 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th. Additionally on February 25th 25277 worked the 15.00 Euston - Blackpool North from Preston.
On May 24th 25277 was eastbound through Manchester Victoria with a parcels train. On May 28th 25277 was the Manchester Victoria pilot.
On June 5th 25277 was the Manchester Victoria pilot. Two days later on June 7th 25277 worked a Northwich - Tunstead train of empty ICI hoppers. On June 10th the 10.16 Barrow - Nottingham was worked to Preston by 25079, which was replaced by 25277 for the run to Nottingham. 25277 then returned with the 16.40 Nottingham - Barrow. 25277 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on June 15th and was also noted at Manchester Victoria on June 17th.
During July two more Cambrian line trips were handled. On July 9th 25277 & 25322 worked the 07.35 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton and the 14.00 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton. A week later on July 17th the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Birmingham New Street and the return 17.15 Aberystwyth - Crewe (extended from Shrewsbury) were worked by 25277 & 25285.
The final recorded passenger workings for 25277 took place on August 14th, engineering work on the WCML saw 25277 & 25250 assist three services between Rugby & Bletchley. On August 26th 25277 was noted northbound at Leicester with LT underground stock (Nos.21121 & 25583).
November 25th found 25277 on duty at Euston handling the evening’s empty coaching stock movements. After drawing forward from the stock for the 22.10 sleeper, the stock rolled forward hitting the locomotive, derailing the Class 25 and two sleepers. Rerailing was completed by 8.00am the next morning, though some outbound overnight services were inconvenienced. Although the damage suffered by 25277 was minor it was enough to bring about withdrawal following a trip to Derby Works for evaluation.
1984
25277 was withdrawn on April 15th 1984.
Distinguishing Features
No.1 cab front: driver's side corner: missing paint/rust on corner above handrail: September 1981 - June 1983 (and presumably until withdrawn).
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
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flk 0322 (3)
Page added September 15th 2013.
Last updated May 12th 2023.
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