The twenty year four month career of D7657/25307/25908 included allocations up and down the London Midland Region and a four year stint on the Western Region.
Built: Beyer Peacock Ltd, Manchester (Works No. 8067).
Dual brake equipped (Sept 1977).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: 110 months.
Time between withdrawal and scrapping: 26 months.
Allocations
D7657 was new to London Midland (Midland) Lines on July 4th 1966. Further transfers were:
March 1967 to London Division (D01).
December 1968 to Nottingham Division (D16).
September 1971 to Newport (86B) on loan, then made permanent the same month.
October 1971 to Laira (84A).
January 1972 to Bristol (82A).
May 1972 to Cardiff (86A).
December 1972 to Laira (84A).
August 1975 to Crewe.
November 1980 to Cricklewood.
January 1984 to Kingmoor (KM).
November 1985 to Kingmoor (KD).
Withdrawn November 7th 1986.
Renumbered into TOPS May 1974.
Renumbered to 25908 December 14th 1985.
25908 was the 300th Class 25 withdrawn, the only Class 25 retired during November 1986.
After withdrawal 25908 was stored at Springs Branch and taken into Departmental service under number ADB968026 based at Toton. It moved from Springs Branch to Crewe on April 4th 1987, then to Bescot the next day and to Toton on April 4th 1987. It appears the locomotive was never renumbered and saw no use whilst at Toton. 25908 moved to Vic Berry on July 5th 1988, by the end of January 1989 it had been broken up.
Works Visits
Works visits (records incomplete).
Noted Derby Works August 1967.
Works visit (Derby?) between November?? - December 1971; (repainted into blue livery, paint date 16/12/71, engine exhaust relocated).
Noted Derby Works August & September 1977 (Dual brake equipment fitted).
Highlights
1966
Noted at Nottingham shed on Sunday September 18th were D5208, D5261, D5262, D5282, D7534, D7539, D7540, D7548, D7574, D7593 & D7657.
On October 15th D7657 was light engine at Bordesley yard and was later noted with a southbound freight at Saltley.
1968
On the morning of February 25th D7646, D7657 & D7659 were noted at Nuneaton.
On the afternoon of March 25th D7657 was noted at Willesden.
On the morning of July 28th D7657 and D7664 were at Nuneaton on two permanent way trains.
1969
On the afternoon of February 8th 7657 & 7623 were stabled at Derby.
1971
The end of July saw the Class 25s make their first appearances in the West Country, to replace the NBL Class 22s. On July 30th 5180 was noted arriving at St Blazey, followed by 5179 on August 19th, bound for Laira. With these machines, and later 5181 and 7657 (September 3rd) crew training commenced. There still remained thirteen Class 22s 6308/19/22/26/30/33/34/36-39/43/56 with ten diagrams to cover. The St Blazey turns visited St Dennis Junction and the Retew branch, Tavistock Jcn and Boscarne, Goonbarrow Jcn, Drinnick Mill and Lostwithiel and the Truro area. Laira turns went to Keyham and Liskeard, Plymstock and lastly Devonport. The Newton Abbot locomotive visited Heathfield and Stoneycombe. Exeter turns went out to Barnstaple Junction and Torrington, Tiverton Junction, Hemyock and Chard Junction. The last turn ran out to Okehampton. A number of these turns were not daily.
On August 30th 7668 & 7657 were noted on 17.50 Barmouth - Loughborough return day excursion.
Condition August: two-tone green livery with small yellow warning panels, blanking plates fitted, hand/footholds plated over, engine exhaust in original location, 'D' prefix present.
7657 was noted at Exeter stabling point on September 10th, transferred from the Nottingham Division D16 for driver training. Based on further observations it appears 7657 remained stabled at Exeter for the next month, was it a failure on arrival at Exeter?
7657 was on Exeter stabling point on September 11th, 13th, 17th, 20th, 24th, 25th & 27th.
7657 was on Exeter stabling point on October 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 11th & 12th.
On October 18th 7657 was noted at Exeter shunting a dead 1739 from the yard to the works.
On October 25th(?) 7657 worked the 16.05 Exeter St David - Barnstaple and the 17.55 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids mixed (passenger & milk). On October 27th(?) 7657 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk tanks, later returning to Exeter stabling point.
7657 was at Exeter on November 1st. 7657, 7675 & 7677 were noted at Exeter stabling point on November 5th.
On November 12th 7657 & 818 worked the 6B16 17.50? Lapford - Exeter milk tanks.
On November 15th the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple Junction - Exeter vans utilised 7657 & 6339, the latter was a complete failure, at Exeter St Davids both retired to the stabling point.
7657 was noted at Exeter St Davids on December 31st.
1972
7657 was noted at Exeter St Davids on January 1st.
On January 3rd 7657 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids (two vans). On January 7th 7657 worked the 6B67 19.05 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids.
On January 10th 7657 worked the 6B74 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk tanks, later returning to Exeter stabling point. 7657 then worked the 2B84 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.
At about 4pm on August 2nd 7657 was noted at Swindon with the 8B71 up freight to Cocklebury.
About noon on August 17th 7657 (Cardiff 86A allocation) & 7624 (86B Newport allocation) were on Exeter stabling point.
At lunchtime on August 18th 7657 (Cardiff 86A allocation) was noted at Exeter stabling point.
1973
On January 27th 7657 worked the 6B27 16.35 Hemyock - Exeter milk.
On February 1st 7657 worked the 6b66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans. It would later work the 7B70 13.15 Exeter Riverside - Hemyock milk empties.
On February 8th 7657 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk.
On March 3rd 7657 worked the 6B18 14.55 Exeter - Chard Junction milk empties (three tanks), returning with the 6B58 16.55 Chard Junction - Exeter milk (six tanks).
On March 16th 7657 worked the 6B64 13.45 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Riverside (11 wagons?), the locomotive retiring to Exeter stabling point.
On March 17th 7657 worked the 6B27? 14.30 Exeter - Hemyock.
On March 30th 7657 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans, the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (ten tanks) and the 20.10 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot.
On March 31st 7657 worked the 6B66 10.40 Barnstaple - Exeter vans. Later this day it worked the 15.55 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the 17.55 return.
On April 6th 7657 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk.
On April 10th the 1B94 18.00 Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads with Class 52 No.1030 was assisted by 7657 from Exeter St Davids to Bristol.
On April 13th the 1B94 18.00 Penzance - Bristol Temple Meads with D1065 was piloted by 7657 between Newton Abbot & Exeter St Davids.
On June 24th the 6A21 16.40 St Erth - Acton milk was noted passing Liskeard with 7676 & 7657.
On June 29th 7657 worked the 6BXX 18.40 Plymouth Friary - Ripple Lane special freight to ?
On July 14th Exeter stabling point included 7577, 7656, 7657 & 7676.
On July 24th 7657 worked the 7B64 13.25 Plymouth Friary - Exeter Riverside freight (ten vehicles).
On August 18th 7657 worked the 4B17 13.20 Penzance - Bristol vans to Plymouth, returning west with the 2B24 17.42 Plymouth - Penzance passenger.
1974
On January 12th 7677 & 7657 worked the 6B31 Plymouth Friary - Truro freight, being two vans and one tanker.
On January 24th 7657 was noted at Liskeard and later worked to St Blazey with vanfits ex-Liskeard goods, 12.10 at Lostwithiel.
On the afternoon of March 7th 7657 & 25325 were noted with ballast empties at Plymouth, they would later work an additional 22.xx St Blazey - Stoke loaded clay to Exeter Riverside.
On May 22nd 25307 worked the 2B48 20.15 Exeter - Newton Abbot (eight coaches).
On May 23rd 25307 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk and later worked the 2B48 20.15 Exeter - Newton Abbot (nine coaches).
On May 24th 25307 worked the 2B48 20.24 Exeter - Newton Abbot (nine coaches).
On May 25th 25307 worked the 2B99 12.20 Barnstaple - Exeter.
On May 28th 25307 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (one tank).
At about 18.30 on June 13th 25307 was noted arriving at Exeter stabling point.
On August 4th 25307 was stabled at Long Rock, Penzance.
On September 21st 25307 worked the 2B99 15.55 Exeter St Davids - Barnstaple and the 17.55 Barnstaple - Exeter St Davids.
On September 23rd, 24th & 27th 25307 was noted at Exeter stabling point.
On October 7th 25307 was noted at Exeter stabling point. It later worked the 2B48 20.15 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (eight coaches).
On November 8th 25307 worked the 6B59 14.57 Ponsandane - Exeter Riverside freight (ten vehicles).
On December 9th 25307 worked the 6B59 14.57 Ponsandane - Exeter Riverside (11 vehicles).
1975
On January 6th 25307 was noted at Exeter stabling point.
On January 9th 25307 worked the 15.05 Whimple / 17.00 Chard - Exeter Riverside (at least nine milk tanks).
On January 10th 25307 worked the 6B70 16.57 Hemyock - Exeter milk (three tanks). It later worked the 2B48 20.13 Exeter St Davids - Newton Abbot (eight coaches).
On January 11th, 13th, 15th & 17th 25307 was noted at Exeter stabling point.
On January 20th 25307 worked the 6B58 15.05 Whimple - Exeter Riverside.
On March 11th 25307 & 25171 were noted at Exeter with the 6A19 13.50 St Erth - Acton milk (seven tanks).
On March 14th 25307 & 25171 were noted at Exeter with the 6A19 13.50 St Erth - Acton milk (four tanks).
On May 31st 25307 worked the 6B70 11.07 Barnstaple - Exeter vans.
On July 22nd 25307 was noted 16.05 light engine from Exeter Riverside - City Basin, later working the 17.00 City Basin - Exeter Central?
On July 26th the 13.20 Liverpool - Plymouth with 1012 required 25307 as pilot from Totnes after the Western suffered an engine failure. Also on this day the 1V48 09.23 Manchester Piccadilly - Penzance (11 coaches) was noted departing Exeter behind green liveried 47365 & 25307, both locomotives were working. During the early evening 25307 returned to Exeter stabling point.
On July 29th 25307 was noted at Exeter stabling point.
During August 25307 was transferred to Crewe.
On August 3rd 25307 was stabled at Saltley.
The 07.54 Huntingdon - Kings Cross was hauled by 25307 on September 30th.
1976
At about 11.30am on October 30th 25307 was noted arriving at Llandudno Junction yard with an up freight.
On December 19th 25307 & 25161 were stabled at Birkenhead.
1977
On March 20th 25307 was noted at Gloucester with a train of mineral wagons.
On July 14th 25307 was busy shunting in Colwyn Bay goods yard.
25307 & 24082 worked the 09.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury on July 16th, being replaced by 24091 & 25156.
On September 26th 25307 made a test run from Derby Works.
The snag sheet for September 26th recorded:
| 25307; September 26th 1977; 1C21 Derby | |||||
| Load | Speed | Amps | Volts | Notes | Other |
| 1 | 30 | 850 | - | - | - | 2 | 49 | 825 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | - |
No.2 cab floor sticking up in places
No.2 cab driver's side door seal
Brake pipe in ?? to clip
Knecht fuel filter seal
AWS to seal
No.1 bulkhead door seal
Auto drain valve blowing through
Floor plate cover to fit
No.2 brake valve blowing through
Vacuum to set down
B&H? crankcase rear door won't close
Load regulator arm to check for tightness.
The 17.10 Edinburgh - Berwick upon Tweed was worked by 25307 on October 18th.
1978
On August 12th 1978 25307 & 25163 worked the 09.19 Manchester Piccadilly - Yarmouth to Lincoln Central, returning with the 09.15 ex-Yarmouth.
On September 15th 25307 was at Norton Bridge with four empty bogie bolsters and brake van and also this day worked a Stoke on Trent - Stafford trip freight.
On the morning of December 21st 25307 was stabled at York.
1979
On Tuesday March 13th 25307 worked the 12.25 Willesden to Norwood and presumably the 14.00 Norwood - Willesden.
In the morning of March 22nd & 28th 25307 was stabled at York.
On the morning of April 13th Midland main line observations included:
25145 & 25189 Cambridge Street
25089/25208/25302/25307 Cricklewood
25310/25311 Bedford shed
25214/25309 Leicester shed
25267 Loughborough yard
On April 22nd 25307 was stabled at Holbeck.
On the evening of May 16th 25307 & 40008 were at York with the 18.33 York - Lancaster return excursion.
On June 9th 25296 & 25307 were northbound through Toton with an oil train.
On June 28th 25307 & 25326 were noted at Wellingborough with the Stewartby - Garston.
On September 22nd 25307 & 25216 were light engines at Crewe station.
1980
February 5th found an interesting test carried out using the 04.15 Stanlow Rowley Regis oil tanks. The 2,000 ton train hauled by 25307 & 25311 worked to Nuneaton, here 25307 was replaced by 56051 and 25311 was shut down. The train then set out for Leicester Marton Wellingborough Bedford Bletchley, where 56051 was removed and 25307 rejoined the train for the run to Rowley Regis.
April 17th found 25307 working the 12.46 Holyhead - Euston as far as Crewe, arriving on time with a 12 coach load.
On the evening of May 13th 25307 was at Crewe with a short Freightliner from Holyhead.
A visit to the Cambrian line on June 15th saw 25307 & 25282 working the 08.45 Birmingham New Street - Aberystwyth, returning with the 18.10 Aberystwyth - Euston to Wolverhampton.
On September 9th 25307 & 25321 worked the 07.40 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton, returning with the 17.55 Aberystwyth - Wolverhampton.
On December 2nd 56055 failed on the southbound Tarmac working, 25307 & 25311 were noted southbound at Wellingborough with this train running about an hour late.
On December 15th 25307 was stabled at Stonebridge Park.
1981
On January 24th 25307 was receiving attention at Toton.
On July 22nd 25326 & 25307 were noted at Bow Brickhill with a Fletliner train.
On August 1st 25307 was stabled at Toton.
25307 & 25296 were noted light engines at Toton on August 24th.
The only recorded working for 1981 took place on September 18th with 25307 working the 09.17 Leeds - Poole as far as Sheffield.
On the afternoon of December 1st 25307 & 25075 were noted at Saltley.
1982
25307 was noted passing through Workington with an engineers train on May 18th.
It was a roundtrip over the Settle & Carlisle for 25307 on June 14th, working the 10.00 Carlisle - Leeds and 16.05 return.
On June 26th 25307 & 25269 were southbound at Crewe with oil tanks off the Chester line.
25307 was noted at Derby on August 2nd with a mixed freight. On August 4th 25307 worked the 6H39 Northwich - Tunstead ICI limestone empties. 25307 was stabled at Northwich on August 18th.
On August 28th 25307 & 25245 worked the 10.07 Aberystwyth - Euston from Machynlleth to Wolverhampton, 25307 having replaced 25141.
On the afternoon of December 11th 25307 was noted at Manchester Victoria on passenger stock (3.45pm Bangor?).
On a snowy December 18th 25307 was stabled at Blackburn.
1983
25307 was noted at Manchester Victoria on January 11th.
The passenger workings for the 1983 - 1986 period had a very distinct north west area bias. On February 16th 1983 25307 worked the 18.23 Blackpool North - Euston to Preston, returning with the 22.47 Crewe - Blackpool North.
On March 31st 25262 & 25307 were noted departing Clifton sidings, York with a southbound empty coaching stock move.
25307 was noted southbound at York on April 12th with an empty coaching stock train of four coaches.
On April 9th 25307 & 25311 were noted in the Lune Gorge with oil tanks.
On July 22nd 25307 was southbound at Milton Keynes with fifteen empty Presflos.
The 08.10 Birmingham New Street - York on July 24th presented a problem to the new crew at Leicester who were not passed for 37068, it was replaced by 25307 which worked through to York. On July 26th 25307 was noted in charge of a Hartlepool Widnes car train. The remarkable combination of a Class 25 & 40 on the Ditton Broughton Lane BOC tanks continued throughout the summer, although pairs of Classes 25 or 40 were occasionally seen, such as 25106 & 25307 on July 28th.
On August 8th 25323 & 25307 were noted southbound at Lancaster with loaded mineral wagons. On August 11th 25316 & 25307 were noted northhbound at Warrington Bank Quay with empty bogie flats.
On September 17th 40104 & 25307 were noted westbound at Sheffield Midland with the BOC tanks from Broughton Lane, assisting at this point was 31325.
On October 19th 25307 was light engine at Chester.
On November 1st 25307 was light engine at Bolton East Junction.
On November 6th 25296 & 25307 were noted on engineering trains along Woodvale aerodrome (Merseyside).
On November 14th 25307 was at Chester with oil tanks.
In the early afternoon of December 18th 25 307 arrived at Holbeck from a T51 were ballast working.
On the morning of December 21st 25307 was light engine northbound at Sheffield Midland.
1984
On a wet January 6th 25307 was northbound at Preston with a short engineers train.
25307 was noted southbound at Gresty Lane, Crewe with a freight on February 9th.
On February 14th 25307 was at Speke Junction with an engineers train.
On February 23rd 25307 worked the afternoon Kings Lynn - Whitemoor Speedlink.
On March 12th 25191, 25307, 31144 & 31280 were stabled at Bletchley.
25307 worked the 9C06 08.15 Severn Tunnel Junction - Hereford on March 28th.
On April 8th 25307 was stabled at Speke Junction.
On April 14th 25307 (leading) & 40002 worked the Broughton Lane - Ditton BOC tanks.
25307 worked a trip freight on June 12th in the Hexham area. On June 14th 25307 was eastbound at Manchester Victoria with an engineers train which included withdrawn 25157. 25307 was the Manchester Victoria pilot on June 16th, 18th, 19th & 20th.
On June 26th 25307 was northbound at Carlisle with empty bogie bolsters.
On July 5th 25307 was light engine passing Willesden with 82005.
The last passenger working for 25307 on the Cambrian line occurred on July 14th 1984, with 25296 it worked the 10.10 Euston - Aberystwyth from Wolverhampton (with air-conditioned stock - the first on this route?). The return working was the 17.05 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury, however 25296 was declared a failure at Machynlleth, the locomotive remained with the train as 25307 worked on to Shrewsbury.
On September 6th 25307 handled the 21.44 Preston - Liverpool (the portion off the 18.20 Glasgow - Manchester. 25307 was noted at Whitehall Junction, Leeds on September 19th with fifteen cement tanks. On September 22nd 25307 was at Toton. 25307 was noted southbound at Derby with a freight on September 24th.
On November 5th 25307 worked 5Z05 Neville Hill - Newton Heath empty multiple unit.
On December 1st the SO 3V16 11.05 Curzon Street PCD, Birmingham - Worcester Shrub Hill N.P.C.C.S. van train was worked by 25307 with one bogie parcels van.
25307 was stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction on December 9th.
1985
On a snowy January 6th 25284 & 25307 were at Aberystwyth with the oil tanks from Stanlow.
1985 produced a small variety of workings, starting on February 9th with the 21.44 Preston - Liverpool.
When the 07.37 Cleethorpes - Manchester Piccadilly failed behind 31431 on April 5th 25307 assisted the train from ?? to its destination.
On June 15th 25259 & 25307 worked the 6F26 Dalston - Stanlow oil tanks.
On June 29th the 09.50 Edinburgh - Blackpool North came forward from Preston with 25307, returning to Preston on the 16.30 Blackpool North - Euston.
25307 was noted northbound through Rotherham on July 2nd with the 6E44 08.50 Cardiff Tidal - Scunthorpe empty steel flats. 25307 was noted on a scrap train at Peterstone, Newport on July 3rd. 25307 worked a Severn Tunnel Junction - Gloucester New Yard freight (all mineral wagons) on July 14th. 25307 was stabled at March on July 19th & 28th.
Active Class 25s at Toton on September 15th were 25048 & 25307. The failure of a Class 47 on September 20th working the 12.55 Scarborough - Bangor saw 25307 take over at Manchester Victoria to Bangor, returning with the 19.10 Bangor - Manchester Victoria.
On October 27th 25307 was at Warrington Arpley.
On November 2nd 25307 came to the rescue of 27051 which had failed at Corby Gates on the early morning Tyne Carlisle cement. On November 3rd 25269 & 25307 were noted at Duke Street crossing, Birkenhead.
Another failure, this time north of the border on November 9th saw the 22.00 Stranraer Harbour - Euston worked by 25307 from Ayr to Carlisle. 25307 was recorded later in the month handling 19ths evening Parkeston Mossend, a working that regularly featured Scottish Type 2s. On a snowy November 27th 25307 was noted at Wilmslow with a container train.
In the early hours of December 4th a Stanlow - Dalston oil train was worked to Warrington by 97408 & 25307, here 25904 & 25912 took over for the run to Dalston. The first week of December saw the afternoon Manchester Bristol parcels almost totally in the hands of the Class 25s, with 25307 noted on 4th. Possibly the first Class 25/9 to visit the South Wales area was 25908 & 25201 on a Margam Crewe coal empties on December 17th. 25908 was stabled at Preston on December 22nd.
1986
Noted through Huddersfield on January 12th were 25908 & 25901 on a Stanlow Hunslet oil train, returning the next day with the empties.
On February 22nd 25908 was noted at Helsby with oil tanks.
On March 13th 25908 was southbound at Springs Branch with a short Speedlink freight.
A Class 47 failure (date?? )saw 25908 & 25901 working the 17.03 Holyhead - York from Chester to Manchester Victoria. Similarly on April 8th 1986 45146 failed on the 09.31 Bangor - Newcastle at Colwyn Bay, 25908 with its freight train pushed the passenger train to Rhyl, here it was joined by 25288 to take the train forward to Manchester Victoria.
On April 20th 25908 was noted at Llandudno Junction.
On April 21st 25908 was at Blaenau Ffestiniog with a Speedlink working.
Another failure led to the last passenger working for 25908 on May 2nd when the 14.17 Bangor - Cardiff with 33201 failed at Llanfairfechan, 25908 worked the train to Crewe.
25908 was noted at Warrington Arpley on July 16th. 25908 was noted eastbound at Slutchers Lane, Warrington with a Speedlink working on July 17th.
On July 21st 25908 & 25906 were northbound at Oxenholme with a loaded salt train.
On July 26th 25906 & 25908 were at Preston (southbound?) with an oil train.
On July 29th 25908 & 25906 worked a 6Z50 Winsford (British Salt) - Mossend, noted at Greenholme.
On July 30th 25906 & 25908 were stabled at Warrington Arpley.
On August 1st 25908 & 25906 worked the 6F18 Shotton - Warrington Arpley via Wrexham.
On September 7th 25908 was stabled at Warrington Arpley.
On September 21st 25908 was stabled at Warrington Arpley.
On September 22nd 25908 & 25906 were noted at Chester station.
25908 was noted at Ellesmere Port on October 19th with a lengthy train of bulk powder wagons. 25901 & 25908 worked a Warrington - Reading salt special on October 22nd.
On October 26th 25908 was noted at Lostock Hall Junction headed north with an engineers train.
On October 31st 25910 & 25908 worked the 7M54 12.52 Leeds - Stanlow empty oil train.
25908 was withdrawn on November 7th 1986.
Distinguishing Features
No.2 cab: 2nd man's side: unpainted side window frame: August 1978 until withdrawn.
Non BIS side: lengthy scrape just above frame level from No.1 cab to middle of bodyside (scrape painted at some point): April 1986 until withdrawn.
Not all known passenger workings are recorded on this page.
Resources:
1970s Western Region information courtesy online notebooks of Sean Greenslade.
32/2260
flk 1124
Page added June 27th 2013.
Last updated November 12th 2024.
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