D7664, 7664, 25314
D7664, 7664, 25314
97252 - ETHEL 3


Photograph courtesy Danny Preston, collection Neil Johnson.
A fine portrait of 25314 at Warrington Arpley on November 7th 1981.

The sixteen year four month career of D7664/25314 was spent allocated to several London Midland Region depots.

Built Derby Locomotive Works.
Dual brake equipped from new.
Center lampbracket & other fittings removed (No.2 cab only).
Final exhaust roof panel: raised, square.
Time between last Classified repair and withdrawal: ?? months.

Allocations

D7664 was new to the London Division (D01) on November 23rd 1966. Further transfers were:

December 1968 to Birmingham Division (D02).
July 1971 to London Division (D01).
May 1973 to Cricklewood.
Withdrawn March 20th 1983.

Renumbered into TOPS March 16th 1974.
Renumbered to 97252 'Ethel 3' July 1983

After withdrawal 25314 was stored at Crewe. It was taken to Derby Locomotive Works on June 23rd 1983 for attention prior to becoming 97252.

Works Visits

Works visits (records incomplete).

Noted Derby Works March & April 1977 (Classified).
Noted Derby Works August & September 1979.
Noted Derby Works April 1982.
Noted Derby Works June & July 1983 (Ethel conversion).

Highlights

1966
Laid down in the summer of 1966 at Derby Works as part of order No. 11001, D7664 was part of the order transferred from Beyer Peacock. D7664 was delivered from Derby during December to the London Division (D01) D7664 was delivered in blue livery with full yellow ends.

Twelve new Type 2s (D7660 - D7671) were allocated to Willesden to take over the empty coaching stock, parcels and local freight duties in the London area. With the arrival of these locomotives it was possible to release the remaining Class 24s to the Stoke Division, as part of the eradication of steam in the North West. Of this batch of Class 25s D7660 - D7669 were dual braked from new, whilst D7670 & D7671 were not, however these latter two were quickly transferred to the Nottingham Division (D16).

1968
On the morning of February 25th D7664 was at Nuneaton with a wiring train.

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 morning of July 28th D7657 and D7664 were at Nuneaton on two permanent way trains.

1969
On August 7th 7664 was stabled at Nuneaton.

On the morning of October 2nd 7664 was shunting at Hartshill quarry.

1971
On January 5th 7663 & 7664 were northbound at Atherstone with a freightliner.

1972
On July 15th & 20th 7664 was noted at Luton.

Freight and parcels observations at Luton on the morning of July 21st include:
128 6M59
117 6E43
83 8C36
5222 9C29
1804 5P49
70 8V27
109 8F20
93 6C35
Observations in the afternoon include:
93 6M48
113 3C48
109 8V21
70 8M41
5224 5C33
7664 0C51
56 6E37
Later that day at Leagrave observations included:
1949 4S43
7664 8E11
100 8F51
69 8Z21
128 8E51
1767 6E53
102 3E09

One of my earliest recorded Class 25 haulages occurred on July 29th when 7663 & 7664 were used between Derby & Leicester (on the Yarmouth service?).

Freight services noted at Luton on August 8th included:
91 4M16
36 6X01 br-cem
1909 6L22
128 6M59
1860 8C36
7664 8Z20
109 6Z43
1853 8F20
84 8V27
106 8C59
1904 6A70
49 6E49
5215 9C29
5212 0Z00
5218 6T62
1888 6E56
1853 8V21
1964 4S32
59 6E55
84 8M41
21 3D25
5215 9C29
6577 6M59.

On August 14th freight services through Luton included:
1860 8F20
7529 with Cadbury No. 11 9X01
5216 9C23
123 8V27
70 8C59
5220 5C90
7663/7664 6Z40.

A visit to a number of north London locations on August 15th included the following observations:
Cricklewood: 7558
St Pancras: 5212, 5222, 7567
Willesden: 7525, 7596, 7658
Old Oak Bridge: 5218, 7560, 7661, 7665, 7666
Willesden Junction High Level: 5218, 7526, 7586, 7662, 7665
Old Oak Pill Box: 5186, 7522, 7533, 7660
Cambridge Street: 5218, 5277, 7662, 7664

Freight trains noted at Luton on August 22nd include:
1719 4S32
79 3D48
7567 6C29
5216 & 122 6E55
7664 & 7663 8V21
5266 & 7620 8M41
5268 & 5234 8F50
1867 6V66
1827 6E37
101 3D25
1949 6E49 bogie oil tanks
5215 0O36
6569 6M54 cement for branch.

Observations in the north London area on December 27th included:
Cricklewood: 5186, 5215, 7663, 7664
St Pancras: 5215, 7593.

On December 30th 7663 & 7664 were noted at Luton.

1973
During May 7664 moved to Cricklewood, this was its last transfer whilst in revenue earning service as a powered locomotive.


Photograph courtesy Mark Cook.
Aylesbury, the 1970's.

1975
On March 7th 25314 worked the 17.50 Matlock - Derby.

On April 4th two northbound services from St Pancras were Class 25 hauled, 25314 took the 17.13 to Leicester and 25285 & 25037 the 17.26 to Derby.

1976
On August 21st 25308 & 25314 were noted at Nottingham with possibly the 1E47 07.52 Leicester - Scarborough, 47175 would take the train forward.

On December 31st 25314 was noted at Euston coupled to three coaches and an electric locomotive.

1977
On February 10th 25314 was noted at Clapham Junction with a lengthy freight, presumably the 7O10 09.55 Willesden Sudbury Yard - Norwood Down Yard.

25314 was at Derby Works during March & April for repair.

On a damp April 6th 25314 made a test run from Derby Works.

The snag sheet for April 6th recorded:

25314; April 6th 1977; 1C64 - train engine 45119
Load Speed Amps Volts Notes Other
1 27 950 - - -
2 48 900 - - -
3 - - - - -
4 - - - - -
5 - - - - -
6 - - - - -

Voltage regulator unstable? on top
Speedometer cover to lock?
1st diverts too low
B side crankcase door leak
Knecht fuel filter and adaptor leak
No.1 cab roof leaking both sides above window
Engine ?? plate leaking
No.6 cylinder head blowing
Blower light coming up
No.2 cab water leaks above driver's side
No.6 rocker.

On May 22nd 25314 was noted at Frodingham depot.

On the morning of June 25th 25314 was noted at Derby with the 3M36.

25314 & 25266 were noted on the last day of July assisting a southbound WCML service between Bletchley & Willesden.

On September 11th 25314 was stabled at Reddish.

On the evening of September 13th 25314 was stabled at York.

On the afternoon of September 29th 25314 was stabled at Holbeck.

On the morning of October 11th 25314 was stabled at York.

On the morning of October 15th 25199 was noted at Cambridge Street and 25178/25308/25314 were at Cricklewood.

On the evening of October 15th the following were noted along the Midland main line:
Leicester shed (19.00) 25163
Bedford sidings (19.55) 25132
Cricklewood (20.40) 25308 & 25314.

On the morning of October 18th 25314 & 25270 were stabled at York.

On November 24th 25314 was southbound at Harpenden with nine tippler wagons filled with large chunks of rock, possibly for the Thames Barrier project at Angerstein wharf.

1978
On the afternoon of March 11th 25314, 25315, 25099 & 25117 were noted light engines at Northampton.

1979
On July 17th 25324 & 25314 were northbound at Kettering with the loaded brickliner train for Garston.

25314 was back at Derby Works during August & September with NC repairs.

At an unknown date a pair of Class 25s with 25314 leading were noted derailed on the slow lines near West Hampstead whilst working a freight train, possibly an engineers/spoil train. Both Class 25s were derailed with 25314 leaning over at a 45 degree angle. Possibly the visit to Derby Works mentioned above was to provide repairs to 25314.

1980
On May 28th 25314 was northbound at Bescot with a lengthy freight.

The 18.12 Liverpool - Barrow was worked by 25314 & 40144 on October 8th.

On November 26th 25321 & 25314 were southbound at St Albans with a lengthy Redland stone train.

1981
On May 9th 25314 & 25325 were stabled together at Nuneaton.

May 16th saw a veritable feast of Class 25s in passenger service in the Birmingham area including 25033 & 25314 taking over from 46023 on a Skipton - Bridgnorth special, the Class 25's working as far as Bridgnorth.

A week later on May 23rd 25314 & 25253 worked a round trip over the Cambrian lines, out from Wolverhampton to Aberystwyth and then back to Wolverhampton.

On June 16th 25314 worked the 15.10 Cardiff - Crewe.

On June 19th 25314 & 25324 were noted at Longsight with the northbound brick train for Garston.

On August 15th 25314 worked the 07.35 Nottingham - Llandudno Town and 13.26 return.

On the morning of September 4th 25314 & 25036 were noted at Cricklewood.

On the afternoon of September 24th 25251, 25266 & 25314 were stabled at Cricklewood.


Photograph courtesy Paul Bettany.
25320 & 25314 slog north through Nuneaton on October 28th 1981.

On November 8th 25314 was stabled at Arpley.

On December 5th 25314 worked three ferryvans from Akeman Street to Bletchley for onward forwarding to Ince & Elton.

1982
25314 was stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction on January 30th.

On February 27th 21.24 Bristol Temple Meads - Glasgow Central took banking assistance from 25314 for its ascent of the Lickey Incline.

On March 14th the 15.02 Manchester – Bristol parcels failed at Shrewsbury behind 25314, nearby 25318 & 25319 on a Cranmore – Ellesmere Port tank train took the parcels forward to Hereford. Here 25318 continued south, still with 25314 attached, whilst 25319 returned north to continue on with the tank train.


Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer.
25314 receives attention at Derby Works on April 24th 1982.

On the afternoon of May 15th 25314 was light engine at Derby.

On the late afternoon of July 2nd 25314 was stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction.

On July 3rd 25314 was stabled at Cockshute.

September 5th found 25314 at the southern end of the WCML assisting one southbound service between Watford Junction & Willesden because the power was off for engineering work. During 1982/83 25314 was one of a small pool of locomotives maintained at Bletchley specifically to handle the Fletton sidings - Wembley brick trains. Bletchley handled the A & B exams and tried to keep them on locals turns in between the brick workings and the Tring cement jobs.

1983
On January 19th 25314 was westbound at Manchester Victoria with a lightly loaded Freightliner train.

On a snowy February 8th 25314 was noted with empty cement tanks on the Dunstable branch.

25314 was withdrawn on March 20th and stored at Crewe.

June 23rd found Crewe depot sending withdrawn 25314/319 & 40007/019 eastwards, the Class 25's to Derby and the Class 40's to Doncaster. The Class 25's had been out of service for about three months and were received at Derby for generator and bogie work prior to their moving to Aberdeen to join ADB 97250 as generator vehicles. 25314 would become ADB 97252 and allocated to Eastfield during July 1983. Unfortunately 25319 would not leave Derby as intended, eventually being scrapped at Swindon in December 1985.

Photograph collection of webmaster
25314 receives attention sat Derby Works sometime during June/July 1983 prior to its movement to Aberdeen.

By the end of September 25314 had reached Aberdeen Ferryhill, with work already underway on its conversion to ETHEL 3.

On October 13th 97252 was noted at Fort William with a Class 37.

On October 17th 97252 was noted at Fort William with reasonably smart paintwork.

On October 22nd 37085 & 97252 worked the previous day's 22.10 Euston service from Glasgow to Fort William.

On November 16th 97252 was noted at Eastfield.

1984
On March 8th & 14th 97252 was noted at Eastfield.

On April 9th 37033 & 97252 were noted at Glasgow Queen Street with a sleeper service.

On April 14th 37081 & 97252 were noted at Tyndrum with a sleeper service for Fort William.

On April 30th the previous day's overnight sleeper from Euston was in the hands of 37027 & 97252 from Glasgow.

On July 2nd 37264 & 97252 worked the previous day's overnight sleeper service from Euston forward from Glasgow.

On July 3rd 37033 & 97252 worked a Glasgow - Fort William service.

On Sunday July 27th 37027 & 97252 worked a roundtrip Edinburgh - Oban day excursion.

On July 31st 97252 was at Oban suppporting a service from Glasgow.

On August 2nd 97252 & 37151 were at Ardlui with a passenger service.

On August 4th 97252 was at Fort William with sleeper stock.

On August 7th 37039 & 97252 were noted at Rannoch Moor with a passenger service.

On August 22nd 97252 was noted at Fort William in support of the overnight sleeper to Euston.

On November 18th 97252 was noted at Eastfield.

1985
On February 26th 97252 & 37012 were at Fort William supporting the previous day's 22.10 from Euston.

On March 1st 37012 & 97252 worked a morning Glasgow - Fort William service.

On March 4th 37191 & 97252 worked a Glasgow - For William service.

On May 26th 97252 was stabled at Eastfield.

On June 1st 97252 and a Class 37 were noted at Glasgow Queen Street with a southbound? sleeper service.

On June 2nd & 29th 97252 was stabled at Eastfield.

On July 12th 37108 & 97252 were at Fort William having worked from Glasgow the previous day's 21.00 sleeper from Euston.

On August 1st the previous day's overnight sleeper from Euston was in the hands of 37188 & 97252 north of Glasgow.

On August 5th 37026 & 97252 were at Fort William with the previous day's overnight sleeper from Euston.

On August 19th 97252 was at Fort William depot.

1986
On February 7th 97252 was stabled at Perth.

On a snowy February 22nd 97252 was stabled at Perth.

On May 25th 97252 was stabled at Eastfield.

97252 was noted at Carlisle Kingmoor during October for a generator exchange - after this it was forwarded on to Willesden on October 23rd.

97252 was noted at Marylebone on December 26th.

On December 28th 97252 commenced operating out of Marylebone on the steam specials originating there. Its first working was with 4472 on a Sunday Luncheon Marylebone - Stratford service. Unfortunately 97252 failed at West Ruislip, was removed at Banbury and remained there overnight.

On December 29th 47187 & 97252 were noted with a charter train at Banbury.

1987
97252 received Inter-City livery sometime around March 1987.

On March 14th 97252 was stabled at Marylebone in Inter-City livery.

On March 21st 97252 in very fresh paint supported steam locomotive 4472, being noted at Sheffield en-route to Marylebone with the 'South Yorkshire Pullman'.

On March 29th 97252 was stabled at Bletchley.

On April 11th 47613 with 97252 worked a London - Straford upon Avon InterCity special, 97252 would be needed for the return trip hauled by a steam locomotive.

On a wet May 23rd 97252 was stabled at Marylebone (protective metal screens not yet applied to the cab windows).

On June 20th 97252 was an exhibit at an Aylesbury Rail Day.

On October 24th 97252 was stabled at Marylebone.

1988
On January 20th 97252 was stabled at Old Oak Common.

On February 6th 97252 was noted at Derby supporting 'The White Rose' steam excursion (with protective windscreen shields).

On March 5th 97252 and D200 were noted at Stratford (east London), both would move from Stratford to Euston on March 12th to take up an excursion.

On March 12th 97252 supported D200 (in grey undercoat) on the Pennine Forty Farewell from Euston to Manchester, Rochdale, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Manchester and Crewe.

On March 13th 47332, 40122 & 97252 and passenger stock were noted at Macclesfield.

On April 2nd 97252 was noted at Stratford on Avon.

On April 17th 97252 was in support of steam locomotive 5305 at Marylebone for a steam special.

On April 25th 97252 was noted at Old Oak Common.

On August 16th 97252 was noted at Fort William depot.


Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond.
97252 at Willesden during November 1988.


Photograph courtesy D Gurney.
Driver's desk of 97252 at Marylebone, date uncertain.

On November 12th 97252 supported steam locomotive 48151 over the Settle & Carlisle on a Cumbrian Mountain Express charter.

1989
On February 11th 97252 was at Carlisle supporting a steam hauled charter.

On November 25th 97252 supported steam locomotive 5407 on a Cumbrian Mountain Express charter.

On November 26th 97252 supported steam locomotive 48151 on a Cumbrian Mountain Express charter.

On a gloomy December 2nd 97252 was in support of steam locomotive 34027 on a special to Stratford upon Avon.

1990
On January 20th 34027, 97252 and a support coach were noted at Marylebone.

On February 2nd 97252 was stabled at Marylebone, keeping company with 968000.

On February 24th 97252 was supporting steam locomotive 60009 on a charter at Carlisle.

On March 10th 97252 was at Carlisle in support of a steam hauled charter.

On November 10th steam locomotive 46203 and 97252 were at Didcot to work a special to Nottingham.

On November 12th 97252 was noted stabled at Nottingham station.

On December 1st 97252 was supporting steam locomotive 35028 at Crewe.

1991
On January 5th 97252 was stabled at Skipton and later to be used on a Cumbrian Mountain Express with steam locomotive 4771.

On January 12th steam locomotive 6024 and 97252 worked the 1Z17 Didcot - Derby charter.

On January 14th 97252 was noted at Didcot with 08905.

On April 22nd 97252 was noted at Marylebone.

Sometime in 1991 the Ethels were returned to Inverness for use on InterCity sleeper services, but generator coaches were used instead.

On August 5th 97252 was noted at Inverness with two buffet coaches.

1992
On July 18th 97252 was noted stored at Inverness.

On September 25th & 27th 97252 was stabled at Kyle of Lochalsh.

1994
97252 (25314) was moved by road from Inverness to MC Metals, Glasgow on June 14th and was broken up during August 1994. Prior to scrapping its power unit was rescued for use in preserved 25244.

00/00
flk 0224

Page added August 5th 2006.
Last updated February 12th 2024.

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