Class 25 cab ends

[edwin_m]

I definitely recall that Central 156s were still working to Pwllheli from Birmingham during 2000 as I travelled out and back on one during the summer of that year.

Yes 156s did appear later (after the trip I noted above, my next one was on a 156 in 1997) and due to Central's "out of a hat" unit allocation policy I suspect most of their diesel units found their way onto the Cambrian at one time or another. I don't know if 156s were used there in the final days of BR.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Yes 156s did appear later (after the trip I noted above, my next one was on a 156 in 1997) and due to Central's "out of a hat" unit allocation policy I suspect most of their diesel units found their way onto the Cambrian at one time or another. I don't know if 156s were used there in the final days of BR.

Indeed, like I mentioned in my last posting, they were still present in August 2000 but on the next trip I took in May 2004 I don't recall seeing anything other than 158s during a four day visit, seemingly it was somewhere between these dates that the Cambrian became a total 158 operation plus some 170 workings on the mainline to Aberystwyth, although I stand to be corrected on the latter.

 

[Metroman62]

In the 1980s (I think!) there always seemed to be a 25 sitting at Aylesbury. I did not go past that often and wondered what it was used for. I think I also remember seeing them at Bletchley often in the 1970s. Perhaps they moved between the two locations as the line was open then and used for DMU movements. I did hear of a story that when a DMU from Marylebone to Aylesbury got stuck owing to poor rail conditions around Moor Park on the Met that another DMU tried to move it but when that failed a 25 was sent from Aylesbury onto the Met to rescue the situation


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DarloRich]

In the 1980s (I think!) there always seemed to be a 25 sitting at Aylesbury. I did not go past that often and wondered what it was used for. I think I also remember seeing them at Bletchley often in the 1970s. Perhaps they moved between the two locations as the line was open then and used for DMU movements. I did hear of a story that when a DMU from Marylebone to Aylesbury got stuck owing to poor rail conditions around Moor Park on the Met that another DMU tried to move it but when that failed a 25 was sent from Aylesbury onto the Met to rescue the situation


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I assume they saw use on the Tring Cements, Brickliners, Aggregates & Akeman Street Branch etc. Were there bin liners to Calvert in those days?

 

[Cowley]

In the 1980s (I think!) there always seemed to be a 25 sitting at Aylesbury. I did not go past that often and wondered what it was used for. I think I also remember seeing them at Bletchley often in the 1970s. Perhaps they moved between the two locations as the line was open then and used for DMU movements. I did hear of a story that when a DMU from Marylebone to Aylesbury got stuck owing to poor rail conditions around Moor Park on the Met that another DMU tried to move it but when that failed a 25 was sent from Aylesbury onto the Met to rescue the situation


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There's an article in Traction magazine this month about 25s that were allocated to Willesden for various duties including ecs work in the mid 70s written by someone who crewed them. It says that after Willesden lost their allocation they'd often use Cricklewood allocated ones. So there were obviously quite a few 25s in the area around then.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Going back to the original subject, I was looking at a picture of 97201 (originally 24061) and this appears to have had functioning nose end doors right up to it's withdrawal in late 1987 or early 1988? Don't know if it still had the gangway but it must have been one of the last locos on the network with original unplated doors. Although 37057 looks like it retained a set too but maybe these were welded closed inside? It certainly looks like it's always had the hinges.

 

[Saltleyman]

Some of the last duties performed by class 25's in the West Midlands were at Saltley they were used as "Bank" engines, assisting heavy trains from Landor Street Junction to either Bordesley Junction or Camp Hill.