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Class 25, D5185 stabled at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway, 22nd December 2007.
Locomotive History
D5185 was the last of a batch of thirty five class 25’s built by Darlington Works, being released to traffic on the 24th May 1963, and was one of a batch of thirty five class 25’s (D5183 - D5217) delivered to Toton as part of the dieselisation of the lines north from St Pancras. It was also one of the class 25’s fitted with a steam heating boiler (stone Vapour). It stayed on Midland Lines duties (moving between Toton, Leicester and Cricklewood) until July 1969 when it was transferred to Willesden. A transfer to the Eastern Region followed three years later when it moved to Leeds Holbeck in July 1972. One of the last bastions of steam heating was the Scottish Region and therefore the steam heating boiler of 25035 made it attractive to the Scottish operating authorities and it transferred to Haymarket in February 1975 as part of a swop of four non boiler fitted class 25/0’s (25006/07/08/11) to the Eastern Region (Tinsley) in exchange for four boiler fitted class 25/1’s (25026/33/34/35) transferred to Haymarket. June 1978 was spent under repair at Glasgow Works, with the locomotive being dual braked during this overhaul. On the 12th May 1979 the SRPS operated a railtour which included the freight only line from Dyce Jct to Fraserburgh and 25034 and 25035 were the chosen motive power north of Aberdeen. 25035 was out of service with main generator trouble at Glasgow Works towards the end of 1979 and for the early months of 1980. After almost five years on the Scottish Region 25035 moved to Crewe during November 1980, this was to be its last transfer. A collision at Crewe fuelling point occurred on 6th October 1982 between 25035 and 25190, the former sustaining damage to the cab. This would have normally by this date have resulted in withdrawal but surprisingly repairs were effected at Derby Works between December 1982 and February 1983 with a replacement cab being fitted from recently withdrawn sister 25036. Classified repairs for the class 25’s had long since ceased so it was remarkable that 25035 should receive this repair. On the 14th March 1987 it was left to 25035 to handle the last passenger trip for a class 25 in regular service. The train locomotive, failed on the 1V05 07.09 Holyhead - Cardiff service at Chester. 25035 took the service to Crewe where it was replaced. The following day at tea-time 25035 was withdrawn, moving to Basford Hall on the morning of the 19th March 1987. 25035 was towed with 25057, 25109 and 25265 in the 9L37 10.50 Basford Hall to Leicester Humberstone Road on the 14th July 1987. It remained here until the 9th September when it tripped to Vic Berry's yard with 25109. After an extended stay 25035 left for preservation, heading to the Northampton & Lamport Railway on the 14th July 1988.