Every loco tells a story D7672/25322 “Tamworth Castle”

Delivered new as D7672 from BR Derby Works in Feb 67, initially to D16 but by Feb 68 she had been reallocated to Kingmoor where she was largely based during her BR career. This made her uncommon locally but some known localish workings are listed below..

25322  stabled – Stonebridge Park 270575

25322  Euston – parcels 280577

25322  Willesden Yd – Norwood Yd transfer freight (and back) 200677

25322  Leicester – Wellinborough light engine – 050380

25322  Cricklewood depot – 010682 and 030682

25322  5C12 0806 St Pancras – Bedford ECS 070682

25322  Bletchley – Willesden overnight drag, then PW at Berkhamsted – 290882   

25322} 1010 Euston – Aberystwyth (ex New St) 040982

25298}

my first haulage behind 25322 on this turn, 12.89 miles only!

25322} 0735 Euston – Aberystwyth (ex Wolves) 090783

25277}

On 29th January 1984 25322 was withdrawn, but in April 1984 she was selected for display at the upcoming Tamworth Rail Week and dragged from Crewe to Tyseley Depot for a make over. She received a revised livery with full yellow cabs whih saw her nicknamed the Ice Cream Van!  Here she also gained the unofficial name of “Tamworth Castle”.

After display at Tamworth in May 84 25322 was reinstated as a BS loco in late May 84. Sectorisation demands saw 25322 nominated as a Chemicals sub sector machine and was renumbered 25912 in December 85. She was kept busy on north West chemical trains but the sub sector policy was dropped in march 87 and 25912 withdrawn on March 23rd 1987.

25322}  1010 Euston – Aberystwyth (ex Wolves) 160684

25282}

Thanks to “TC” for this Wolverhampton view of 25322 and 25282 waiting to work the 1010 Euston – Wolves forward on June 16th 1984.

25322  Crane duties – stabled in M.Keynes “bay” 260884

Any loco in Milton Keynes bay (actually then a dead end siding) was an event, EMUs being standard fare , heres 25322 with a crane awaiting the road on August 26th 1984

25322 assist failed 86230 and Manchester –  Euston ECS, Tring – Euston 060984

25322  stabled – Bletchley 061084

25322  Cricklewood – Dunstable “Small cements” 050685 and 070685

25322  St Pancras – Cricklewood – Old Oak – Cricklewood ECS turns 170685

In April 1987 25912 was reinstated once again as a training loco for apprentices at Holbeck depot and a full green BR two tone green was applied at HO and the loco rebuilt to operational condition along with cast nameplates proudly displaying “Tamworth Castle”. A test run to Skipton on February 19th 1990 was a success and so began a hectic year of pilot workings, railtours and Open Day appearences.

The Tours ect worked by “Tamworth Castle” in 1990/91

25322 pilot 47422 0825 Leeds -Carlisle and 1242 return on February 19th 1990

25322 worked the KX – Leeds “Modern Railways 500” Railtour from York to Leeds via Harrogate on May27th 1990.

25322 and 47407 deputising for a failed kettle on the Leeds – Appleby (and back ) legs of a Pullman tour from KX on June 23rd 1990

25322 attended many depot Open Days in 1990, here she is looking good at Gloucester Open Day on July 1st 1990

25322 worked the Stockport – Huddersfield – Skipton – Rylstone – Morecambe legs of the Pathfinder “Rylstone Cowboy” Railtour from Swindon on October 27th 1990

25322 worked the Preston – Copy Pit – Leeds leg of  HRT’s “Copy Pit Pullman” Railtour on December 29th 1990

25322 worked the lengthy Sheffield – Wakefield K – Stalybridge – Man Vic – Blackburn – Hellifield o/w leg and Bradford FS – Leeds – York – Harrogate – Leeds – Doncaster – Sheffield return leg of Pathfinder’s “Sulzer Salute” Railtour on February 16th 1991

25322 worked the Leeds –  Huddersfield – Man Vic – Chester – Holyhead (and back) legs of HRT”s “Rat Requim” Railtour on March 30th 1991.

Full tour details for the Rylstone Cowboy, Sulzer Salute and Rat Reqium tours here..

Sadly privitisation accountants couldn’t allow the luxury of a training loco so after the farewell “Rat Requim” tour on March 30th 1991. Preservation soon followed with the North Staffordshire Railway at Cheddleton purchasing her. She was loaned out to the KESR in 1992 returning to the now North Staffordshire Railway in 1995

25322 looking and sounding good at Tenterden on the KESR on November 7th 1992

For over 5 years she was a regular performer on the North Staffs line but then was stood down with various faults and she remains at the North Staffordshire “awaiting attention”, a sad situation after such a varied career.

end