The twenty year five month service life for D7647/25297/25907 saw the locomotive allocated to London Midland Region depots apart from ten months allocated to the Eastern Region.

Built: Beyer Peacock Ltd, Manchester (Works No. 8057).
Dual brake equipped (1973).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 96 months.
Time between withdrawal & scrapping: 34 months.

Allocations

D7647 was new to Tinsley (41A) on March 30th 1966. Further transfers were:

December 1966 to Barrow Hill (41E).
January 1967 to Nottingham Division (D16).
April 1967 to Birmingham Division (D02).
March 1968 to Longsight (9A).
June 1968 to Manchester Division (D09).
October 1969 to Nottingham Division (D16).
May 1973 to Toton.
January 1974 to Longsight.
May 1974 to Springs Branch.
October 1982 to Crewe.
June 10th 1985 to unserviceable store.
July 1985 reinstated to Crewe.
November 1985 to Kingmoor.
Withdrawn September 18th 1986.

25907 was the 296th Class 25 withdrawn, one of seven retired during September 1986.

Renumbered into TOPS December 15th 1973.
Renumbered to 25907 November 26th 1985.

After withdrawal 25907 was stored at Springs Branch until moved to Leicester Humberstone Road on May 24th 1989 and into Vic Berry's yard the next day. Scrapping was started sometime during June 1989 and completed by the middle of July 1989.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works November 1969.
Noted Derby Works March 1972 (collision damage).
Noted Derby Works November - December 1973 (dual brake equipment fitted & received blue/yellow livery).
Noted Derby Works August & September 1978 (Classified).
Noted Derby Works December 1982 (collision damage).

Highlights

1966
The first recorded passenger working took place on July 30th 1966 with D7647 working the 09.28 Sheffield - Llandudno Town and 14.28 return.

1967
On the afternoon of December 10th D7647 was stabled at Bescot.

1968
On February 7th whilst returning from Gosford Green D7647 became completely derailed on the approach to the mainline at Coventry. The locomotive and the first wagon were the only vehicles involved, in addition to the fuel tank being punctured the locomotive required re-railing using jacks because of the proximity of the overhead equipment.

On the evening of June 8th D7538 & D7647 were eastbound at Mirfield with a freight (6N45), later that evening they returned west light engines.

On the afternoon of June 9th D7645 & D7664 were on permanent way trains at Nuneaton whilst D7644, D7646, D7647 & D7660 were noted in the station area.

On the evening of June 13th D7647 was stabled at Crewe.

Shortly after midnight on November 23rd 7647 was noted at Stockport with parcels stock.

1969
On the afternoon of August 27th 7647 was at Manchester Victoria.

On the evening of October 24th 7647 was shunting at Longton.

1970
On the early afternoon of April 12th 7647 was light engine at Northampton.

1971
A rescue job on December 18th saw 7647 assist the 13.30 St. Pancras - Nottingham forward from Wellingborough after Class 45 No.91 failed.

1972
On June 2nd the 4B10 15.58 Bristol - Plymouth parcels arrived at Exeter St Davids with 7647 which came off the train and was replaced by 7509.

On June 10th Nottingham Division allocated 7647 worked the 1B86 02.50 Taunton - Exeter newspapers (three vans), being a portion of the 1B85. Later that morning 7647 worked the 06.20 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the return 08.32 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids. They later worked the 08.15 1B99 Paddington - Barnstaple forward from Exeter, returning with the 14.40 Barnstaple - Paddington to Exeter (see image below).

On September 23rd 7647 & 5236 worked the 14.30 Yarmouth - Walsall from Norwich.

1973
On May 21st 7647 was noted in two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels at Exeter, having arrived on the 7V61 12.00 Bescot - Exeter Riverside.

On the late evening of May 25th 7647 was noted at Stafford.

On June 23rd 7647 & 7592 worked the 08.00 Walsall - Yarmouth to Norwich.

On December 17th 25297 made a test run from Derby Works. Most likely the locomotive was renumbered whilst at Derby Works.

The snag sheet for December 17th recorded:

No.1 cab roof leaks
No.1 cab driver's window leaking
No.1 cab 2nd man's door won't shut
1 & 2 rocker covers.

1975
On the morning of January 17th 25297 was noted at Manchester Victoria with the 4J05.

On March 5th 25297 was noted at Manchester Victoria with the 4A20.

On May 14th 25297 was noted at Manchester Victoria with the 4J30.

On the early evening of May 30th 25297 & 25322 were noted at Crewe with a train of mineral wagons heading southbound off the Chester line.

25297 worked a Tunstead - Northwich ICI limestone hoppers on June 8th.

25297 was on empty coaching stock duty at Liverpool Lime Street on August 12th.

25289 & 25297 were noted on a local Teesside trip workings on November 25th.

1977
25297 was northbound through Crewe station with a loaded sand train on January 15th.

The closure of Liverpool Exchange station on April 29th was marked by a special service to Lime Street via Wigan Wallgate, comprising ten coaches and buffet hauled by 47441. Departure was at 23.45, the stock having arrived behind 25297.

On the morning of November 3rd 25297 & 25204 were stabled at York.

1978
25297 & 25313 were southbound at Springs Branch on May 13th with a train of covered wagons.

On May 27th 25297 was light engine at Guide Bridge.

It was a run up the North Wales coast for 25297 & 25272 on May 29th with the 11.11 Manchester Victoria - Holyhead. The next day (30th) 25297 worked the 20.30 Crewe - Bangor and 22.45 Bangor - Llandudno Junction.

On September 14th 25297 made a test run from Derby Works.

The snag sheet for September 14th recorded:

Pin to fit in OVR
Light fitting cover to secure in engine room
Engine governor sticking
Blow on exhaust top joint (location unclear)
No.1 bogie sand pipes lock nuts loose
Bogie and cabs to paint
AWS to seal
A/C air pipe vibrating
No.1 cab 2nd man's side door seal.

On November 17th the four coach Royal Train was top and tailed at Blackpool South by 47529 & 25297.

1979
On February 24th 25279 was noted at Chinley with a Tunstead - Northwich loaded ICI limestone train.

'The Woldsman' railtour on April 21st found 25297 & 25319 working the Liverpool - Guide Bridge leg out and back.

On the evening of August 4th 25297 was noted at Liverpool Lime Street with a wiring train.

On the morning of December 15th 25297 & 25311 were noted at Willesden on an up freight.

1980
25297 & 25289 were noted passing Hereford with an oil train on January 22nd.

25297 was stabled at Nottingham Midland on the late afternoon of April 5th and at Nottingham Carriage Sidings on April 6th. 25297 was stabled at Birkenhead on April 19th.

On May 12th electric multiple unit No.313059 was noted arriving at Healey Mills behind 25297 (for delivery to the London area?), and being taken forward by 31105.

On June 6th 25297 was noted between Kilwinning & Ardrossan with 20126 on a weedkilling train. The next day (7th) 25297 was noted on the same train at Langbank.

A short working for 25297 on August 23rd was the 08.45 Manchester Victoria - Glasgow Central as far as Preston. Also on this day it was noted at Castleton PAD with a train of rails.

1981
25282, 25297, 47128 & 47145 were light engines through Leamington Spa on January 17th headed for Sunday engineering work in the Banbury area.

25297 was light engine at Derby on February 14th. The failure of 47528 at Derby on February 24th (or 25th?) 09.50 Edinburgh - Plymouth saw 25297 work the train forward to Birmingham New Street.

On the late afternoon of March 3rd 25297 arrived at Warrington Yard with a freight.

25297 & 25279 were northbound at Crewe station with BOC bogie tankers on May 23rd.

Another failure, this time at Leicester on June 10th with 31297 on the 13.22 Norwich - Birmingham New Street saw 25297 take the train to its destination.

During September 25297 received an 'E' examination at Springs Branch.

On the morning of October 17th 25297 was at Wolverhampton.

25297 was stabled at York on November 14th.

1982
On the afternoon of March 15th 25297 was stabled at York.

Lets hope the passengers on the 20.52 Sheffield - Derby on June 5th enjoyed the ride behind 25297 & 25157.

On July 20th 25297 worked the 19.30 Crewe - Cardiff forward from Shrewsbury after the failure of 25218. On July 27th 25278 & 25297 worked an Ellesmere Port - Cranmore bitumen tank train.

On August 14th 25297 worked the relief 15.50 Crewe - Cardiff.

A Morecambe - Leeds service was worked by 25297 on September 9th. On September 11th a Wokingham - Blackpool special was reported with 25297 beyond Preston, it later worked the 22.47 Crewe - Preston.

1983
On the morning of January 18th 25297 was the Manchester Victoria banker.

On the evening of March 30th 25296, 25297 & 25300 were noted at Crewe depot.

25297 & 25250 worked the Kings Cross goods - Tring Cutting stone empties on May 20th.

Possibly 25297's first passenger working over the Cambrian line occurred on July 9th with 25327 on the 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth, which was turned around at Machynlleth due to late running, returning as the 10.45 Machynlleth - Euston as far as Wolverhampton. On July 16th 25297 was noted at St Helens Junction.

On August 3rd 25297 & 37303 worked the 07.50 Earles Sidings (Hope) – Widnes. On August 10th 25297 worked the 18.20 Glasgow Central - Manchester Victoria from Preston. August 15th proved to be a busy day for 25297, starting off with the 07.20 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria, the 09.50 to Blackpool North and 12.45 return, the 17.15 to Blackpool North and 19.14 return and finally the 21.15 Manchester Victoria - Blackpool North, for a total of 288 passenger miles.

On September 7th 25297 was at Ribblehead quarry siding with loaded ballast wagons. 25297 was stabled at Skipton on September 10th.

On the evening of September 19th 25297 was northbound at Toton with a Speedlink service. On September 22nd 25297 was noted at Wigan with short wheelbase ICI tanks.

25297 was at Northallerton with bogie oil tanks on October 1st.

1984
On April 20th 25297 assisted 45140 with the 1E16 15.10 Bangor - Scarborough from Llandudno Junction to Manchester Victoria. A very short working took place on April 26th when electric multiple unit 304036 got into trouble on the 20.58 Walsall - Birmingham New Street, requiring the aid of 25297 fron Aston. It was back to the Cambrian line on September 15th with 254297 & 25259 on the 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth and the return 10.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton.

The afternoon Halewood – Whitemoor (later Dagenham) car train, a booked Class 47 turn occasionally featured Class 25s, so noted on May 8th was 25297. 25297 was stabled at Saltley on May 23rd.

On June 9th 25297 & 25325 were noted northbound at Carstairs with bogie oil tanks (Stanlow - Bishopbriggs?). 25283 & 25297 were noted southbound through Crewe station on the early evening of June 23rd with bogie oil tanks, they had been seen earlier in the day at Aberystwyth.

On the evening of August 23rd 25297 was at Preston with an up freight.

25297 worked the Warrington - Middle Gates (North Wales) Speedlink on August 31st.

25297 was stabled at Speke on September 4th. On September 15th 25259 & 25297 worked the 07.44 Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth.

On December 16th 25257 & 25297 were stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction. On a snowy December 28th 25297 & 25xxx were noted northbound at Greenholme, possibly with the Stanlow - Dalston oil tanks.

1985
The workings for 1985 started on February 25th with the 19.02 Manchester Piccadilly - Paddington requiring assistance from Stoke-on-Trent to Wolverhampton after the Class 86 failed.

25297 was light engine westbound at Manchester Oxford Road on March 5th. 25297 and a brake van worked through Manchester Victoria on March 9th.

The 15.10 Bangor - Scarborough was assisted twice by 25297 during April 1985, on April 10th from Manchester Victoria to York after a Class 47 failed and on April 20th from Rhyl to Manchester Victoria after 45140 failed and was dragged to Manchester Victoria. 25297 was stabled at Manchester Victoria on April 13th and at Severn Tunnel Junction on April 16th.

25297 was stabled at Crewe Diesel depot on May 28th.

25297 was stabled at Crewe Diesel depot on July 14th.

25297 was suthbound at Crewe station with empty container flats on August 2nd.

Railtour duty occurred on October 12th 1985 with 25297 & 25268 working the F&W 'East Anglian Ltd' between Coventry & Liverpool Street. On reaching London, Stratford failed 25297 with defective brakeblocks and was replaced by 31144. 25297 was noted at Guide Bridge on October 15th.

25297 was on a track panel train at St Helens Junction on October 27th.

On November 16th 25296 & 25297 were noted at Bolton with a lengthy train of empty newspaper vans for Red Bank. On November 26th 25297 was under repair at Allerton, at which time it was renumbered 25907. In renumbering the locomotive from 25297 to 25907 the staff painted over only the 3rd & 4th digits and replaced with new numbers, creating a rather uneven look on both cabsides.

Christmas Day at Allerton found thirteen locomotives stabled here rather than at Speke, included were 25145, 25205 & 25907.

1986
On February 22nd 25907 was eastbound under Bank Quay station with a freight for Warrington Arpley yard.

On March 1st 25906 & 25907 worked a Northenden - Appley Bridge rubbish train, on the late afternoon of March 2nd both were stabled at Warrington Arpley.

The 11.45 Stranraer – Tyne, frequently a Class 27 working was in the hands of 25907 on April 4th, returning with the 23.05 to Mossend.

The 100th anniversary of the Mersey Railway was celebrated in early April. Part of the festivities included an Open Day at Birkenhead North depot on Sunday April 6th. Amongst the twelve diesel locomotives featured was 25907, 26027 & 33026.

The final recorded passenger working took place on July 21st 1986, now as 25907 and with 25904 assisting the 07.30 Aberdeen - Penzance from Weaver Junction to Crewe after 85024 failed. 25904 & 25907 were noted at Warrington Arpley on July 30th.

25907 was at Warrington Arpley on July 30th.

25907 was at Speke stabling point on August 3rd.

25907 was stabled at Warrington Arpley on September 7th.

25907 was withdrawn on September 18th 1986.

Distinguishing Features
No.2 cab front: multiple dents/areas of missing paint: on 2nd man's side above and below the handrail, towards the middle between the lamp brackets, driver's side lower down near the corner: at least 1979 until withdrawn.

Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.

38/2013
flk 1121 (2)

Page added June 28th 2013.
Last updated May 13th 2023.

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