25083
An ex-works factory portrait of D5233, just prior to entering traffic.
1963
D5233 was constructed at Derby during the last quarter of 1963, being released to traffic in December to Toton (16A). This locomotive was the first to be delivered featuring the re-styled body work and two tone green livery similar to that carried by the Brush Type 4's (class 47's). The redesign principally affected two areas, the cab and the location of the air intakes. The gangway doors fitted to the earlier examples were rarely used, their presence certainly added to the complaints of noise and draughts in the cabs. The removal of the air filters to the cantrail was the result of a comparison carried out at Inverness between a batch of Derby built Type 2's and a batch of BRCW Type 2's, the tests targetting the air quality within the engine room.
The tests revealed the location of the grilles on the Derby build allowed for much more debris to reach the filters (especially the lower ones), clogging them quicker, leading to poorer air quality within the engine compartment, and so potentially affecting performance and engine wear. With such a large order to be completed it was felt that a redesign of these areas would have a cost savings in the long run, in addition to a better working environment within the cabs, and with a general less cluttered look about the locomotive's exterior.
Steam heating equipment was fitted, but this would be discontinued by D5239, all future Class 25's were without boilers.
1964
By January D5233 had been reallocated to Derby (16C).
1966
During April reallocation took place to the Midland Lines (ML).
1967
On March 24th the 20.05 Luton - Bathgate car carrier, normally a Type 4 diagram found D7508 & 5233 working the trip throughout, returning south the next day on the 06.40 Millerhill - Carlisle freight.
1968
It was back to the Midland Lines (ML) during May.
1971
On June 16th 5233 & 5226 made a rare appearance working the 17.57 St Pancras - Nottingham.
1973
The Scottish Region beckoned during September with Haymarket becoming the new home for 25083. It's stay here was brief for it returned to Tinsley in October.
1975
After its spell on the Eastern Region it was transferred to Bescot during March. On March 29th a Bletchley - Lowestoft excursion arrived at Norwich behind 25065 & 25083. The new summer season began on Saturday May 24th with the Walsall - Yarmouth in the hands of 25083 & 25102. Two weeks later 25083 & 25253 visited Yarmouth twice over the weekend of June 7/8th arriving on Saturday with the regular service from Walsall, the next day bringing in a special from Burton on Trent.
1976
During June 25083 once again returned north of the border, this time to the Highland capital of Inverness. On a visit south 25079 & 25083 were borrowed by Derby on September 18th to work a football special to Norwich!
1979
Railtour duty befell 25002 & 25083 on June 23rd, handling the Edinburgh - Perth leg of an SRPS excursion to Kyle of Lochalsh. On October 22, the 08.44 Glasgow - Dundee service in the hands of an ailing 25083, having suffered intermittent loss of power throughout this journey was eventually stopped at Invergowrie with binding brakes. Due to a breakdown of safety procedures the following service, the 09.35 Glasgow - Aberdeen headed by 47208 ran into the rear of the stopped train. The impact threw three coaches of the Dundee train into the Tay estuary, killing one passenger and the crew of 47208, the Class 47 and five coaches were heavily damaged. Shortly after this incident 25083 was noted at Glasgow Works undergoing intermediate/collision repairs, not being released until January 1980.
1980
After four and a half years 'up north' Springs Branch became home for 25083 during December.
25083 at Cockshute, October 10th, 1981.
1982
The last transfer took place in October with 25083 headed for Crewe. On November 27th 25083 made one of those unusual trips by working a Manchester - Bournemouth newspaper train throughout, and then managing to return with the empties.
1983
April 2nd found 25083 & 25057 in charge of a Manchester Piccadilly - Aberystwyth day excursion. Exactly one month later a similar excursion was in the hands of 25083 & 25086. During July yet another trip to Aberystwyth, this time from Derby featured 25083 & 25199. The Cambrian lines west of Shrewsbury were familiar territory to 25083, being a regular performer on the scheduled summer diesel hauled passenger workings. It was on one such working, the 17.15 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury on August 6th, with 25032 when the multiple unit working capability failed, requiring both locomotives to be manned. Valiant efforts to get the m.u. to work proved ineffective.
1984
A railtour from the West Country on April 14th was taken over by 25083 & 25042 at Coventry, running south through Rugby, Bletchley flyover, Claydon LNE Jct, Aylesbury, Amersham and into Marylebone. On April 23rd 25083 & 25245 handled an excursion between Derby and Llanelli, via the Central Wales line, 47140 took over for the final miles into Tenby. After refuelling at Landore the Class 25's rejoined the train at Llanelli returning home via Cardiff and Birmingham, 37297 assisting up Lickey. Still together on May 22nd 25083 & 25245 were noted at Coventry in charge of a returning Blackpool special.
July 9 saw the withdrawal of 25083 with a main generator fault, a day that also saw York Minster severely damaged by fire after being hit by lightning, one presumes these two incidents were unrelated. During August 25083 was noted dumped at Crewe Electric depot, a location that would prove to be important for the continued existance of this machine. It would outlive all its non - preserved sisters, finally reaching preservation with the Caledonian Railway Diesel Group here in Brechin, late in 2000, having spent over sixteen years withdrawn!
No Enlarged Pictures Available
July 7th 1980 finds 25083 working a short freight at Mossend. Obvious signs of a visit to Glasgow Works are the numbers positioned behind the cab doors on the main body work, and of course they are the larger size numbers then only applied by Glasgow.
With Springs Branch now the home to 25083 this view at Warrington Arpley on July 26 1981 would be nothing out of the ordinairy. Tony Sayer
On a dull overcast day in February 1984, with a hint of snow on the ground, 25083 rests at Longsight. By the summer 25083's working life with BR would be over, stored in relative obscurity at Crewe Electric Depot 25083 would outlive all its non-preserved sisters by at least a decade. Philip Moore
Having spent sixteen years withdrawn, most of that time at Crewe Electric Depot, and having somehow avoided the final trip to the scrapman, it was probably to be expected that 25083 would eventually reach preservation. Late in 2000 25083 did reach preservation, with the Caledonian Railway Diesel Group here in Brechin. In this May 2001 view 25083 stands at Brechin, revealing a little of the work it will need to bring it back to working order. Phillip Moore