Every loco tells a story class 25 7629/25279

A typical “roving rat” during her 30 yea BR career doing every imaginable duty from assisting the prestigious “Royal Scot” to the more humble Bedford – Luton pick up freight. From Glasgow Central to Llanelli and Dunstable to Aberystwyth this fine machine covered a fair bit of the network too!   As a preserved machine 25279 has perhaps kept her roving roots being operational at several preserved lines before establishing herself at the Great Central North where she is a regular performer. Click on the thumbnails for a larger image

Sample 25279 turns 1965-2010

0965 delivered new ex Beyer Peacock, Manchester to Tinsley, viewed Derby 070965. Soon becoming an established Midland loco for the rest of her BR career.

010870 stabled Bescot

home depot was D02 at the  time

280473 stabled Edge Hill

home depot was D08 at the time

300174 7629 renumbered 25279

290176 9C29 Bedford-Luton “pick up freight”

usual mix of oil and coal trucks plus vans, also stopped at signal boxes to drop off water supplies en route!

300676 25221/25279 Luton Bute St-Dunstable cement portions

replaced 2 x 33 at Luton as booked

050881 25279/25271 1240 Glasgow C-Carlisle

an uncommon “English” nb pair on the GSW

051081 1810 Bletchley-Bedford DMU drag

080583 25279/25211 ballast through Leighton

210883 25279/25288 1S57 0945 Euston-Glasgow "Royal Scot"

booked Sunday drag Bletchley-Rugby

010584 25279/25316 Forders – Kings X “brickies”

usually thrashing South around 2000 through Leighton

280784 25279/25325 0735 Euston-Aberystwyth (ex Wolves)

booked Cambrian Summer Saturdays turn

010884 25279/25282 Kidderminster-New St - Tenby Adex (and back)

Outward via Central Wales line!, rtn via Marches rats worked to Llanelli o/w and from Cardiff on return leg

020287 Stabled at Sudbury (Stonebridge Pk) HS

likely to have worked in on a van train

150287 Withdrawn at Springs Branch

140787 arrives Vic Berrys

081287 purchased for preservation and eventually moved to Llangollen

231093 25279/25313 1425 Llangollen-Glyndwrdyfy “Cornish Riveria Express”

200595 25279/25313 thrashing through the Dee Valley on a variety of turns

191096 25279 out solo at Llangollen

210997 25279 1200 Chinnor-Thame Jn

loco based at Chinnor for 1997 operating season

220901 25279/25265 1720 Loughborough-Leicester

storming performance from both 25’s on Great Central South

111106 25279 pilots 67016 on the “Edwalton Equinox” Railtour 

works Rushcliffe-Ruddington W Jn on Great Central North

290907  25279 hired out to the Foxfield Railway, starring at their gala

231010 25279 thrashing nicely on another GCR(N) gala turn

Any more 25279 memories to share?

Thanks to the excellent Derby Sulzers website for some of the gen