derby locomotive works, spike, klondike, sulzer type 2

derby locomotive works, spike, klondike, sulzer type 2 Derby Locomotive Works The Final Years 1984 - ????

1984
At the beginning of 1984 there were about a dozen locomotives receiving casual repairs, with 45069 receiving an Intermediate. 45013 would be received for a Light repair by month end.

Photograph courtesy Tony Sayer. Its January 14th 1984 and 25176 is surrounded by a variety of items including a rig used to lift Class 25 generators and the view of the backside of two new nose panels awaiting fitting to a Class 45.

45069 was released during February whilst 45040 was received for a light repair. Withdrawn locomotives totalled almost thirty, two thirds of which were Class 25's.

Early in March 25034, 25200/228/251/277, 45037 & 45056 were receiving minor repairs whilst 45013/34/40 were receiving Light classifieds.

April brought a little good news for Derby as they were now to receive ten Class 20's for a Heavy repair including dual braking. These machines shoulds have been put through either Glasgow or Crewe but delays at these Works saw Derby take up some of the slack. First to arrive at Derby was 20023. These first five locomotives had previously been allocated to Tinsley, on release from the Works they would be reallocated to Toton.

By May a second Class 20 had arrived at Derby, 20132 which was previously stored and now reinstated. Only two Class 25's were under repair, 25034 & 25286, twelve Class 45's were under repair, include Light repairs for 45034 & 45070. Thirty withdrawn locomotives remained scattered about the Works.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Its June 1984 and 20023 is undergoing a general repair, seen here heavily stripped and with repair work having already commenced to the cab sheeting. In earlioer times a general repair might have taken six weeks to complete, for 20023 it will spend eight months in Derby Works prior to release to traffic.

Arrivals for Classifieds in June were 20010 & 45103, departing was 45034.

Released from the Works during July was 45070 after a Light repair, received was 45046 & 45052, both for Light repairs.

At the end of August there was only one Class 25 under repair, 25199, elsewhere were 20010/23, 20132 receiving major repairs and twelve Class 45's receiving a variety of repairs. The slow progress on the overhauls of the Class 20's was reportedly due to awaiting materials from Glasgow.

Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover. A busy scene in the Works on August 11th 1984. 20132 is in for a General repair including the fitting of dual brake equipment and slow speed control. 25193 is received for minor repairs and will not stay long in the Works. By November 25193 will be retired.

Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover. A crowded scene in one corner of the Works on August 11th 1984 as two Class 45's sandwich a Class 43. 45122 is to the left of the picture.

At the middle of October apart from the three Class 20's receiving Generals there were only eleven Class 45's in for repair, 45046 & 45052 for Light classified and the rest for casual repairs. Recently outshopped was 45103, whilst received was 45022 for an Intermediate classified. Three more recently withdrawn Class 45's; 45023/43/50 reached the Works, presumably as a parts source for the remaining fleet, bogies being in particular need.

Christmas 1984 provided a little more activity than in recent years, although obviously not comparable to earlier years. Excluding the HST power cars there were a greater volume of Classified repairs being undertaken. Receiving Generals were 20010/23/59, 20108/132 whilst 45022 was to be given an Intermediate, and Light classified for 45029, 45108/113/117/126. Eight other Class 45's were receiving casual repairs whilst 25234 was receiving power unit attention and 25037 with electrical repairs. The latter locomotive was overdue a 'D' exam by 651 hours, whilst 25234 was overdue an 'E' exam by 62 hours. Recently outshopped were 45046 & 45052.

1985

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. 45022 nears the end of its final Intermediate repair at Derby Works, seen here on January 30th 1985. It will have a further thirty months in service before withdrawal, after which it will be re-instated for departmental service in the North East.

The gradual build up of withdrawn locomotives within the Works was eased early in February when two convoys of withdrawn and heavily stripped Class 25's were moved to Swindon Works. Both movements departed Derby late in the afternoon, presumably the night time movement would reduce the visibility of these sorry looking machines to the general public.

The first to go were 25050/62, 25129/133/146, 25220/233/274/294 as the 9X12 17.05 to Swindon Works on February 4th. The next evening 25036/49, 25150, 25228/253/277, 25304/317/320 also as the 9X12 to Swindon Works, both making the trip in one move. Type 2's left behind were 25093, 25105/164, 25261, 25312/319 & 27203. Just outside the Works boundary over at Etches Park were 25033/88, 25248/260.

Withdrawn at Tyseley in March 1982 25261 quickly moved to Derby Works for stripping, becoming just one more scrap Type 2 shell awaiting cutting. Whilst in the process of being cut up during June 1983 a dispute arose and no further locomotives were cut up at Derby. The vast majority of the withdrawn Class 25's at Derby made one last journey to Swindon for disposal, but the condition of 25261 was such that it would be left to Vic Berry's men to lay 25261 to rest in November 1985. Seen here partially dismantled February 26th 1985.

In the middle of February there were twenty one locomotives under repair, from the Generals for the five Class 20's to the minor repairs to 25037 & 25234. Unfortunately whilst in the Works the repairs for 25234 were stopped and the locomotive withdrawn. And after about eight months in the Works 20023 was outshopped. Fifteen withdrawn locomotives remained in the Works including recently arrived 45057.

Photograph courtesy Brian Daniels. The empty workshops on February 23rd 1985 indicate the reduced repairs being done at Derby Works. Filling the picture is stripped out 20059, received for refurbishing. This machine had been stopped on December 3rd 1984 with one hour remaining until its next 'A' exam and 66 hours until its next 'B' exam. It will be withdrawn from Toton during May 1993 and reach preservation.

Photograph courtesy Brian Daniels. Another view from February 23rd 1985 finds another heavily gutted Class 20, 20108 awaiting entry into the main Workshops. Its interesting to see just how much of the panelwork above the frame level could be removed. Like 20059 above 20108 had been stopped on December 3rd 1984 with its next 'A' exam due in 27 hours.

Photograph courtesy Brian Daniels. Back in the Workshops on February 23rd 1985 the view shows 20132 being slowly put back together. The engine/generator set and much of the auxiliary/support equipment has been fitted whilst some bodywork repairs have been made. The large white paper sheet on the cab side would show a list of the work to be carried out on the locomotive. The bogie in the right foreground is chalked up as belonging to 45115.

By the middle of March 25037 had been released back to traffic, leaving no further Class 25's in the Works receiving repairs.

April saw 45113 & 45117 outshopped after Light repairs whilst 45149 was received for a similar repair.

The General repair for 20132 was completed during early May, leaving three more still in the Works; 20010/59 & 20108. Recently withdrawn 45055 turned up in the Works.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. Ex-works 20132 & 20023 make a fine site in the workshops on June 18th 1985, having presumably returned for adjustments to be made. An interesting comparison can be made with the view above, from February 23rd as 20132 undergoes repair and repaint from the corporate blue and yellow into the new Railfreight livery.

Across from the Works the frontage of Derby station was demolished on or about Sunday May 12th, bringing to an end 133 years of a very familiar Derby landmark. It would take about six months to complete the demolition, clear the site and build a new facility incorporating a new concourse, ticket office, waiting room, buffet and newsagents. Attempts to save some of the historic frontage failed after the building did not receive a listed status and later attempts to move the facade failed due to the condition of the masonry and brickwork. GBP3.5 million was allocated for the rebuilding of the station.

45104 & 45126 were released during June after completing Light repairs whilst 45051 & 45129 took their places.

Another movement of withdrawn locomotives took place on the evening of July 23rd when 25093, 25105/164, 25234/248/260, 25312/319 moved as the 9X12 17.05 to Swindon Works, this included Class 25's from the Works and several from the Etches Park sidings. The only Class 25 now left in the Works was partially dismantled 25261. For some of these locomotives sent to Swindon it would not be their last resting place, several would be dragged upto Leicester after Swindon closed, for breaking up by Vic Berry.

At the end of July six Class 45's; 45007/12/41/51 & 45129/149 were receiving Light repairs, four others were receiving casual repairs. 20010 had been released after its General repair.

Photograph collection of webmaster. The 'Berth' signs on the right indicate that 45141 is in No.7 Berth for a casual repair whilst behind it 45149 is in No.6 Berth for a light repair, sometime during July or August 1985.

Outshopped in August was 45041 after a Light repair, received into the Works was 20077 for a General & dual braking.

Another Class 20 to arrive at Derby for a General and dual braking was 20163 during October. Also received about the same time were 45106/115/122 for Light repair. Released back into traffic was 45149.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. Looking back towards the main erecting shop and with a number of photographers off to the left, freshly painted 45106 shows of its new paint on October 12th 1985. The limelight for 45106 lasted barely six months, it came to grief on the 07.12 Derby - St Pancras on February 3rd 1989, initially failing, but then setting fire to itself seriously enough to warrant withdrawal.

Outshopped during October was 20059 following completion of its General repair, whilst received for Light repair were 45110/114 and 20141 for a General and dual braking.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. When Glasgow & Crewe were unable to handle all the Class 20 refurbishings a number were handed over to Derby. Here is 20090 in fresh Railfreight livery, with 20108 in the background undergo repair on October 10th 1985. 20090 would be withdrawn from Toton during April 1993 and scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow during March 1995.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. An almost timeless scene from October 10th 1985 with a fine line up of Class 45's led by 45051 undergoing a Light classified. 45051 would remain in service until April 1987.

Outshopped towards the end of the year were 20108 after its General and 45012 with a Light repair, possibly the last Class 45/0 to be so treated. At the end of November the withdrawn locomotives on the Works were 27203, 40075, 40132/163, 45023/43/45/50/55/57. Vic Berry had been called in to finally break up the remains of 25261.

At year's end there were just over twenty locomotives under repair in the Works. The only Class 25 under repair was 25200 receiving attention to its power unit, whilst 20077, 20141/163/170 were receiving Generals and dual braking with 20021/22/70, 20139/143/196 receiving casual repairs. 45107/110/114/115/118/122 were receiving Light repairs whilst 45013/37, 45133/144 were in for casual repairs.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. 20141 waits for movement into the workshops in order to continue its General repair. The date is November 22nd 1985 and 20141 would remain on Works until well into 1986. It would be retired from Toton during September 1991 and scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow during August 1993.

1986
A nearby positive event on January 6th was the opening of the new Derby Midland Station.

Completed in January was the Light repair to 45115. Arrivals were prominently Class 20s, Derby was now the primary Works for Class 20 repairs.

Activity during February centered around providing repairs to the Class 20s and the occasional Class 45. Vic Berry returned to the Works to cut up 27203 and 25033/88 from nearby Etches Park. Recent arrivals to the withdrawn locomotives were 25200 & 45109.

Photograph courtesy Michael Kaye. A view from 'the other side of the fence' finds several Peaks including 45043 & 45055 in the deadlines at Derby on February 10th 1986. There were twelve withdrawn locomotives on the Works at this time.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. 45055, 45043, 45133, 25200 & 20130 February 15th 1986. Of these locomotives only 20130 was to be repaired, requiring attention to its power unit.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. Inside the main erecting shop is 20023 receiving attention on February 15th 1986. The Class 25's are almost gone from Derby, the Class 45's have little time left, new paint may adorn 20023, but the future is grim for Derby itself.

Locomotives under repair at the end of March totalled about twenty, with the Class 20's predominating. Receiving Generals were 20077, 20141/163/170, the remainder of the Class 20 repairs were casuals whilst 45107/110/118 were receiving Light repairs, the other Class 45s were also casuals.

Photograph courtesy Jerry Glover. 25200 entered the Works with extensive damage to its power unit. It was promptly withdrawn and surrendered its bogies. 25200 is seen in the main erecting shop on March 15th 1986. This Class 25 would be the last one to remain on the Works premises.

From April BREL was restructured into two groups. Wolverton, Doncaster, Eastleigh & Glasgow would form the BR Maintenance Group providing support exclusively to British Rail. The second group comprised the Derby Locomotive Works, Derby Carriage & Wagon Works, Crewe, York and the foundry at Horwich would provide heavy repairs, component repairs and new products.

Also during April 45118 was outshopped, the last Class 45 to receive a Classified repair here. The previous three outshopped under the programme were 45114 (4th), 45107 (3rd), 45110 (2nd). 45112 would have been the next in line in the Light Classified repair programme, but with the programme now cancelled it received only an engine change late in May.

By May two thirds of the locomotives under repair were Class 20's, the remainder being Class 45's. Late in the month BREL redundancies were announced as part of a three year plan for the Workshops. Of the 1,500 jobs losses some were expected for Derby Locomotive Works but these were anticipated to be minor when compared to Doncaster, Wolverton & Glasgow.

On May 22nd contractors working on repairing the roof of the roundhouse set fire to the roof when a gas stove tipped over and ignited nearby materials. As the flames spread a gas cylinder exploded which propelled itself into a wall of the foreman's mess. Fortunately no one was injured.

Photograph courtesy L H Hills. Looking from the roof of the Post Office building on Midland Road, this was the scene on May 22nd 1986 as smoke from the roundhouse fire rises high into the air and drifts westwards.

A new arrival in June for a General repair was 20138 along with three other Class 20's for minor repairs. 45121 was also received for attention to the main generator. Released back to traffic was three Class 20's and four Class 45/1's.

Five more Class 20's arrived in July for minor repairs including one of the recently renumbered locomotives - 20304. Power unit attention was also given to 45120, this locomotive had just been reinstated to traffic at Toton. Outshopped were three Class 20's and 45041 & 45150.

Photograph courtesy John Robinson. HST power car 43084 is named County of Derbyshire by the leader of Derbyshire County Council on July 17th 1986. The location is adjacent to the Staff Office & Training School. It is believed the white haired gentleman standing on the first step of the podium is the Works Manager.

20057/97, 20184 were received for power unit attention during August and 20137 came in for an Intermediate repair. Outshopped was 20163. Also on Works were the standard ten to twelve HST power cars including 43022 received for collision damage repairs. Turnover for the HST power cars was about 50% of the volume in the Works, normally they would not linger here.

For September there was little activity in the Works for the Class 45's, work on the HST power cars and the Class 20's predominated. Power car 43167 was received for the exchange of its Paxman engine for a Mirlees unit.

A little more work came Derby's way in October as Class 08 shunters 08768 & 08903 were received into the Works for Classified repairs. Also received was 20118 for an Intermediate and 20035/89, 20303 for casual repairs. Released back into traffic were three Class 20's and 45121.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. 45121 stands by the Test House on October 11th 1986. It had been received on the Works for casual repairs back in June, it would leave the Works not long after this photograph was taken.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. 45139 pays a brief visit to the Works for attention and is seen here on October 11th 1986. In the background is one of the withdrawn prototype HST power cars.

Photograph courtesy Ian Hammond. With its working days done 975813 (41002, 43001) stands forlornly at the back of the Works on October 11th 1986. It would be scrapped at Booths, Rotherham during December 1990. The first prototype 41001/43000 was acquired by the NRM, York with its Paxman power unit sectioned for educational purposes. To the left is out of use APT power car 49004.

Present at the Works seven days after the above view were:

General repair: 08768, 08903
Intermediate repair: 20118/137
Casual repair: 20009/21/34/37/67/89/90/97, 20129/130/190/195/199, 20206, 20303/304, 45120.
HST power cars: 43083/88, 43108/123/141/142/167
Withdrawn locomotives: 20184, 25200, 40075, 40132/163, 45003/23/43/45/50/55, 45109/117, APT power car 49004, and HST prototype 975813.

About a week later a reduction took place of the withdrawn locomotives present at the Works. On October 22nd 45003/23, 45109 left the Works for the last time as they moved as the 9L42 to Vic Berry, Leicester. The next day 45043/45/55 made the same move. In most cases these locomotives would be swiftly dealt with by Vic Berry's men. This was a small part of a huge clean up of BR rolling stock from all parts of the country, most of which was destined for Leicester.

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. 20170 is all painted up and ready to leave the Works. The Corporate Blue & Yellow is no longer the standard for outshopped locomotives, especially those having received life extension repairs as in the case here of 20170. Noticeable on the nose front is the absence of the headcode panel, replaced by two large marker lights. The date is October 13th 1986. 20170 would be retired from Toton during September 1991 and scrapped at MC Metals, Glasgow during June 1993.

During November 45120 was released back to traffic leaving no Class 45s under repair in the Works.

As the year drew to a close 08745, 08904/907 were received for generals amongst the usual mix of Class 20's and HST power cars. Other Class 08's received for casual repairs were 08462 & 08687. Outshopped locomotives included 45113 after minor repairs.

1987

Photograph collection of webmaster. 08904 at Derby Works during February 1987, undergoing repair.

Recently withdrawn 20037 & 20067 were now at the Works. Also at the Works was 45118 for attention to the bogies. The remaining withdrawn locomotives were hauled away to Vic Berry, Leicester in the third week of January. First to go on 19th were 25200, 40075, 45057 & 45117 as the 9X87 09.45 departure to Humberstone Road and hauled by 47199. The Class 47 returned the same day to work 40132/163 & 45050 as the 9X88 14.04 to Humberstone Road. All would be tripped into Berry's yard by January 27th. The movement of 25200 away from the Works severed a thirty year relationship with Derby Works and the BR/Sulzer Type 2's.

Photographs collection of webmster. Two views from February 2nd 1987 featuring 20113 and 20034. Both will survive the visit to the Works, unlike many arriving at the Works during 1987.

The establishment of the British Rail Maintenance Group at the end of March and the continued and growing use of the major depots to carry out heavy repairs meant a very bleak future for Derby Locomotive Works. A sell-off saw a consortium comprising property company Trafalgar House, ASEI Brown Boveri (ABB) and the management and employees of BREL becoming the 'winning' bidders. At this point all remaining members of the Class 25 fleet had been taken out of service whilst the future for the Class 45's did not look promising. Repairs for the Class 20's were expected to end soon leaving just the Class 08's and the HST power cars.

By March seven further Class 08's had been received for General repair, whilst only 20104 & 20224 came into the Works for casual repair. Outshopped were a large portion of the Class 20's previously under repair as well as repairs to 45118. After the earlier clear out of the mostly long withdrawn locomotives the Works yard was once again acquiring more such machines, mostly in the shape of Class 20's: 20011/37/39/67, 20115/116/125/184 with 08253, 08722 and 45116 also present.

Departures from the Works in April were 20034 & 20154 along with three Class 08s that had completed their General repair. 08441, 08507/517, 08883/896, 08908/932 were received for Generals, no Class 20's were received.

Photograph collection of webmaster. A somewhat gloomy view of 08908 at Derby Works during March/April 1987.

Preserved 44004 was almost received by Derby Works during 1987 for retyring of the wheelsets. The cost was expected to be about GBP12,000, which included the lifting of the locomotive from its bogies. Unfortunately the cost of GBP 2,000 for moving 44004 from Butterley by rail to Derby Works proved prohibitive, leading to the work being carried out elsewhere.

20052 returned to traffic in May after repair at Derby, also outshopped were three Class 08's and an abundance of HST power cars.

The stockpile of withdrawn locomotives at the Works continued to grow with recent arrivals being 08474 & 20049.

Activity in August saw the continued shopping of Class 08's and HST power cars. Received were 08742 for a General and 08661 for power unit repairs, whilst outshopped were 08517, 08883 & 08932 after General repairs and 08633 & 08911 with casual repairs.

1988

Photograph courtesy John Glynn. Its March 31st 1988 as 08463 positions 43118 for its next step in its overhaul process, which appears to be a visit to the paint shop for a fresh coat of paint. 08463 had one more year in service, being withdrawn from Derby during March 1989 and scrapped at CF Booth, Rotherham during May 1992.

Photograph collection of webmaster. 08492 & 08856 undergo repair at Derby Works on March 15th 1988. Both would have long careers, 08492 remained in service at Motherwell until December 2000 and was broken up at EMR Kingsbury during February 2012. 08856 remained in service at Old Oak Common until April 2004 and was scrapped at TJ Thomson, Stockton during December 2011.

Photograph courtesy Ken Cook. 43118 has been through the paintshop and received a fresh coat of paint. For the numerologists amongst us by chance the last Class 45 to receive a Classified repair was 45118. The power car is situated under the 'Monsoon Hut' - high pressure water jets tested the roof and sides against the ingress of water.

The last locomotive to receive a repair at Derby Locomotive Works was Class 08 shunting locomotive No. 08856. This was a well travelled shunter, being delivered as D4024 to St Phillips Marsh on July 4th 1961, with transfers as follows:
Bristol Bath Road October 1961
Newport Ebbw Junction January 1972
(renumbered 08 856 March 1974)
Derby June 1974
Toton October 1974
Crewe Diesel October 1985
Chester May 1986
Allerton May 1987
This loco received the last classified repair at Derby Works to a loco and was fitted with plates on 15/5/90 which read �08 856 1839 � 1988 Derby Locomotive Works. Last Locomotive Overhauled� .
Eastleigh May 1998
Cardiff January 2001

After completion of the overhaul 08856 returned to traffic during April 1988.

1989

Photograph collection of webmaster. Two bogies in front of the Administration block waiting for a body that maybe will never arrive.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Decay is in the air as four brakevans and a track machine pose in front of the Locomotive Works administration building. It appears that demolition has started on the footbridge from the station carpark into the Works.

Photograph collection of webmaster. An interesting view from the Railway Technical Center looking across the Tech Center yard, the running lines, the carriage sidings (once the site of Derby steam shed), the compact diesel fuelling point and then the bulk of the Locomotive Works. The line-up of Class 45s is headed by 45126 with 08453 to the extreme right. The date is sometime during August 1989.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Buildings and oil tanks within the Locomotive Works complex, circa August 1989.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Derby Locomotive Works power station, circa August 1989.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Diesel multiple unit engines awaiting repair at the Locomotive Works, circa August 1989.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Derby Locomotive Works undertook the repair of a variety of smaller engines towards the end of its existance, circa August 1989.

The last Open Day at Derby Locomotive Works took place on September 16th 1989. Admission was GBP1.50 for adults and 75p for children, old age pensioners and the unemployed. With the Works by this time in serious decline it would be unfair to expect an event on the scale and variety of the major Works Open Days held during the 1960's & 1970's. But the remaining employees who organised the event were able to arrange for a truly interesting mix of preserved steam & diesel locomotives. On display were:

Diesels
Class 25: D7671
Class 55: D9000, 55015

Steam
Black 5 4-6-0: 44932
7F 2-8-0: 53809
4MT 2-6-4T: 80080
MR 2-4-0: 158A

Locomotives reported on the Works were:
20011, 20070, 20072, 20099, 20218
45121, 45136

Photograph collection of webmaster. 'Timmy The Twenty' stands on the traverser, date unknown but possibly the 1989 Works Open Day. 20011 acted as a testbed for the powerunits of the more fortunate Class 20s still undergoing repair.

Photographs courtesy Ken Cook. Two views of the preparations for the Open Day. In the top view under overcast skies BR Standard 4MT No.80080 shunts D7671 into position, whilst in the lower view the exhibits are more or less in place, to the left stands the Test House.

Photographs courtesy Ken Cook. Two views of the final Derby Works shunter, a boomless diesel powered crane assisting engine test bed Timmy the 20 on another trip to the Test House.

The continued creativity of the Derby Works staff was highlighted towards the end of locomotive repairs when a partially dismantled self-powered crane filled in as the Works shunter. In the closing years the rail movements in and out of the Works became very few, which included the occasional Speedlink van with Land Rover MOD engines, which were being overhauled in No 25 Shop. The only internal movements were Timmy the 20 being used as a mobile test bed for Class 20 power units, Timmy had to be moved around to accomodate this.

Ken Cook remembers: With such little activity the manager decided to discontinue the hire of the Class 08 shunter from 4 Shed. Our gaffa said there was an old crane at One Shop which was due to be scrapped but still worked. Cranes were fairly good at self propelling for short distances, hence the problem was solved! So it was modified by us all and then used as the most unlikely shunting locomotive ever! But there were problems if more than one wagon was being pushed/pulled, and on a slight gradient it struggled especially if the rails were wet. But it still served its purpose all be it very slowly, but nobody cared in those declining days. I drove it a few times along with other yard gang staff. It carried on even when the rail link from the main line was severed.

On one occasion we had to go to the Top Stores ramp using the crane, which meant operating over the main BR freight line which runs alongside Derby station's Platform 6. It was a show stopper as we passed by the station, people couldn't believe what they were seeing! Control didn't like the movement and on the way back the crane failed on the main freight line! We didn't half get some grief from BR! But rightly it does have its own page in the history of the Loco Works decline and demonstrated the austerity measures we had to go to to try and save our Works from the eventual ultimate doom. (KC)

Photograph courtesy Ken Cook. With its working days over, the final Derby Works shunter, now heavily stripped, awaits the final onslaught by the scrapman.

1990

During February 31449 arrived to remove 20011 (ADB 968032) from the Works.

It would seem that Class 20 No. 20011 (Timmy the Twenty) was the last locomotive of any sort to be on the premises of Derby Locomotive Works. Not perhaps an upbeat honour to remember 20011 by, but the Class 20's certainly had a very long association with the Works. D8011 was introduced to traffic on November 2nd 1957 at Devons Road, Bow (1D). It was briefly loaned to Bradford Hammerton Street (56G), for testing in tunnels on the 'Queensbury Lines' with regard to the impact of diesel fumes. It returned to Devons Road during February 1958. To Willesden (1A) February 1964, then the London Western Lines Division (D01) in April 1966. To Nottingham Division (D16) during July 1969 and to Toton in May 1973 when the LMR Division allocations were abolished.

Further moves were to Eastfield during August 1973, then Tinsley December 1979, Immingham January 1980, Tinsley July 1981, Eastfield July 1983 and finally Tinsley November 1984.

20011 was withdrawn from traffic for spares on February 2nd 1987 and moved to Derby Works during the same month. Although taken into departmental stock as ADB 968032, the number was not applied. After removal from the Works grounds 20011 remained at Derby Etches Park until moved to MC Metals, Glasgow arriving 13 January 1994. The grounded body was still on site until about June 1994 when it was finally cut up.

Photograph collection of webmaster. One last view of 20011 inside one of the shops at Derby Works, date unknown. On February 9th 1958 both D8010 & D8011 were noted in the diesel shop at Derby Works after their testing in the Bradford area. This was possibly D8011's first visit to Derby Works.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Its July 3rd 1990 and the Test House has been recently demolished, it was located to the left of the crane.

Photograph collection of webmaster. Its July 3rd 1990 and the Locomotive Works yard is virtually an empty wasteland, redevelopment of parts of the area is already underway.

On December 7th it was announced that Derby Locomotive Works would be closed over the next two years. Approximately 200 jobs would be lost, with the bogie and small engine repair business being transferred to Litchurch Lane and the large engine repair business to Crewe Works. The rundown saw most of the facilities demolished with just the former 7 & 9 Shops remaining in use, operated by Adtranz (a merger of ABB & Daimler Benz).

2000

On August 4th it was announced that the Adtranz organisation was to be acquired by Canadian based Bombardier for US$ 725 million.

2004

On March 17th Bombardier Transportation announced redundancies within its European operations. To improve profitably the restructuring included the transfer of bogie production away from the remaining facility that represented the last functioning vestige of the former Derby Locomotive Works.

2005

The last operational shops from the former Derby Works complex closed in December 2005. The site was soon cleared and was quickly redeveloped as the last remaining parcel of land within the Pride Park site.

Photograph courtesy Adrian Healey. With bogie production transferred away, the end comes for the former 7 & 9 Shop, cleared to make way for the further expansion of Pride Park. This view shows the last bay of 7 Shop to remain intact, taken approx February 2006. By the last week of February 7 Shop was gone.

2007

Photographs courtesy Richard Tatlow. After the demolition of 7 & 9 Shops the only remnants of the former Locomotive Works were buildings in the 1 Shop complex which included the administration/office block and the roundhouse.

Page added October 28th 2007.
Last updated May 14th 2022.

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