Last-but-one
Crewe-built 24063 slips through Chester station on the sunny evening of 14 July 1977. By this time, the class had become something of a rarity, with only a dozen of the 151 still in traffic. Their subsequent decline was quite protracted, with the very last, 24081, surviving until January 1980, long enough to be preserved.
24063 lasted until 4 April 1979, the penultimate withdrawal. It's end was a bit premature as collision damage at Shotwick whilst working an iron-ore train from Bidston Dock sealed it's fate. Scrapped at Doncaster, it did donate it's power unit to departmental 24061, itself later preserved.
Pentax SP1000/50mm
Ilford FP4
Last-but-one
Crewe-built 24063 slips through Chester station on the sunny evening of 14 July 1977. By this time, the class had become something of a rarity, with only a dozen of the 151 still in traffic. Their subsequent decline was quite protracted, with the very last, 24081, surviving until January 1980, long enough to be preserved.
24063 lasted until 4 April 1979, the penultimate withdrawal. It's end was a bit premature as collision damage at Shotwick whilst working an iron-ore train from Bidston Dock sealed it's fate. Scrapped at Doncaster, it did donate it's power unit to departmental 24061, itself later preserved.
Pentax SP1000/50mm
Ilford FP4