scrapyards, Derby, Glasgow, Swindon, Doncaster, BREL

scrapyards, Derby, Glasgow, Swindon, Doncaster, BREL Scrapyard Views

I don't know what it is about the attraction that scrapyards provide to many of us. Perhaps it is the unexpected chaos of such places, contrasted against the well oiled machine that the railways normally presented (well most of the time!). Or perhaps it was around the scrapyards that many long forgotten memories were/are invoked, of favourite locomotives remembered from much better times (those rose tinted glasses again!). Or it simply could be that its much more fun to take something apart, especially if cutting torches and sledge hammers are involved.

Hopefully you won't mind the inclusion of views depicting locomotives other than the Class 24/25's. The initial idea was just to include the Sulzer powered locomotives that ended their days at the various Railway Workshops, but in wandering through my own photohraphs and of those acquired from others over the years it seemed a pity not to include the other classes that were scrapped alongside the Sulzer powered locomotives.

Derby Works

Any photographs that were originally included on these pages at Derby Works have since been transferred to the pages that take a close look at Derby Works.

Swindon Works

Since most of the organised visits to Swindon Works took place on a Sunday this was not the easiest place to get to by rail from Derby when having to take into account the challenges of Sunday timetabling and the ever present engineering works. It was not until a driver's license and a car were available that Swindon Works became more easily visited. I've probably forgotten how many times we ran up and down the A38, A452, A46, A429 & A361 on these trips, and probably a few other routes when we got lost or diverted!

My first recorded visit to Swindon appears to have been on a cloudy November 6th 1976 when the Works contained many Class 52 Westerns and some Class 24's. Like most trips to the Works it started out by going through a gateway, under the mainlines and then up alongside one of the main shop buildings before entering the main erecting shop area. Swindon's workload at this time focused on diesel multiple units, refurbishing of Southern Region electric multiple units, Class 03 & 08 overhauls and repairs to hauled stock. After passing through the erecting shops it would be out into the yards where much stock and locomotives could be found, usually awaiting scrapping. Then it was back through the areas that looked after the diesel multiple unit repairs/refurbishings

November 7th 1976

Although mostly an overcast day the sun did shine whilst we were in the erecting shops, giving a little extra light to the view below. Also present in the erecting shop and probably ignored by most was Vale of Rheidol No.9 Prince of Wales, probably the oldest piece of active rolling stock in Works at that time.

Sunlight illuminates the main erecting shop at Swindon Works on November 7th 1976 as 24045 awaits attention from those charged with stripping out anything of value. In the foreground is the bogie and transmission from a Class 52, whilst also visible are a pair of Class 24 bogies.

Retired during April 1976 1049 is seen here undergoing removal of parts in Swindon's workshops on November 7th 1976. From here it would be out to the scrapping area, where the end came for 1049 during February 1977.

Out in the yards the sun did break through the clouds to provide a little extra light every now & then.

Withdrawn from Laira in December 1975 1046 was sent to Swindon for scrapping. Seen here on November 7th 1976 there is little time now left for 1046. The cabs have been removed from the frame and the bodysides cut into pieces and dumped on the ground little remains now apart from the frame and fuel tanks.

1012 Western Firebrand heads a line-up of withdrawn Westerns at Swindon Works on November 7th 1976. 1012 had been withdrawn for almost one year (withdrawal date November 4th 1975) and would linger at Swindon until April 1979. One must wonder just how much film was expended on all the line ups of locomotives in the yards at Swindon.

It's a dull Sunday afternoon, November 7th 1976, how about a game of golf? a movie perhaps? or a walk down the beachfront with the girlfriend? No, none of this is acceptable, lets drive a hundred miles to slog round a scrapyard full of oil, grease, rusted metal, broken glass and who knows what else. And fill a book full of numbers from places no one has heard of, eat cold sandwiches & pop and photograph things like this, the remnants of the inside of a Class 52. And tomorrow I put on my shirt & tie and become a banker for the next five days............

Pointing the camera at the sun is not recommended, but then the sun was such a rarity at Swindon on Sunday afternoons we probably didn't know what it was. Hence the inclusion of this technically abominable shot of soon to be scrapped Class 24 & 52's surrounded by generators, presumably from the Class 24s, November 7th 1976.

In the above view the indicator blind on the front of the locomotive shows '72' which some (including your webmaster) may have taken to indicate that this locomotive was 1072 Western Glory. More learned enthusiasts would know that the locomotive in the photograph could not be 1072 because the photograph shows one of only five Westerns equipped with the experimental square ventilator grille on the cab front. These were 1012, 1028, 1039, 1056 & 1071. Additionally 1072 was only withdrawn on November 2nd 1976, five days before the photograph of 1012 was taken. Withdrawal for 1072 came at Bristol Bath Road and the locomotive was utilised at the end of November in the making of a safety film concerning rerailing. It would be towed away from Bristol on February 24th 1977 on its last journey - to Swindon Works.

All that remains now for 24056 is to be parted from its bogies to allow the cutters to do their job. Seen here in Swindon Works Yard on November 7th 1976, 24056 has already been stripped of all re-usable components or those with significant scrap value. The locomotive still retains its nose end gangway doors and is a fine example of Derby's standard blue livery application with the BR emblem centred on the side.

24064 & 25016 await the final movement from here to the scrapping area. Seen here towards the end of 1976, 24064 had been withdrawn that January from Crewe, and wouldn't see the year out, dispatched by Swindon's cutters in December. Interestingly the scrap from 24064 and a number of Class 52s was later reported in RA King's Snailwell scrapyard.

In the above view is 25016, the last of the three ex-Tinsley allocation that had been stored at Barrow Hill for a while before being towed down to Swindon for scrapping. 25017 & 25020 had already been broken up, 25016 would be gone by year's end. Apart from the Class 25 the locomotives awaiting scrapping were all of Classes 24 & 52. Tucked away in the lines in the yard were the last two LMR examples of green liveried Class 24's: 24092 & 24136. On this day they were not parked in positions conducive to decent photographs, especially to highlight their faded green livery!

Photograph courtesy Neil Phillips. A sunny view of 24092 on August 18th 1976, having recently arrived with 24049/58/62 from Basford Hall. By Christmas 1976 all four would be gone, with 24092 cut up in December. Swindon also dealt with green liveried 24136 whilst Doncaster despatched ex Scottish green liveried 24090.

Photograph courtesy Neil Phillips Another view from August 18th 1976 - for two years Swindon Works was graced by numerous Class 24's sent for scrapping. Here is newly arrived 24049 being logged into the books of visiting spotters. One cab has gained the roof from a Class 24/1, 24049 spent much time in 1974 in and out of Derby Works, possibly the roof was fitted during one of those visits. As D5049 this was one of the few Class 24's ever to be allocated to Tinsley (41A), for the month of June 1965.

January 23rd 1977

The next trip to Swindon was on a truly overcast day, January 23rd 1977. The locomotives in the Works were still dominated by the withdrawn Class 24's & 52's. Vale of Rheidol No.9 was still present and PWM 652 had been recieved for repair.

Little time remains for 1043 as the grounded body begins to receive the attention of the cutters. Seen here on an overcast Sunday January 23rd 1977 by the beginning of February the locomotive will be no more.

24059 on January 23rd 1977, still with at least one builders plate attached. Regretably this seemed to be typical weather for many of our visits around the Workshops.

March 7th 1978

Two views from Bryan Johnson from March 7th 1978 - it looks like Bryan had some good weather on this visit!

Photograph courtesy Bryan Johnson. A typical view of the Works yards showing a line up of locomotives in the foreground and scrap diesel multiple units in the background.

Page added September 18th 2001.
Page updated June 1st 2020.

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