25 265

 

This locomotive enjoyed a residency at the Great Central Railway who are based at Loughborough. 265 arrived there from the Shackerstone Railway where it had spent some time with 25 067 (which has moved to Barrow Hill). 25 265 was joined at the GCR by 25 279. The railway's four day diesel event was to have seen both locomotives in action. Sadly this was not to be as hours of patient attention on 25 279 came to nought and the locomotive was not fit to work at all owing to a water leak from one of the engine cylinders - hardly a five minute job to rectify this! All credit to the loco's new owner for his perseverance.

Meanwhile 25265 started off in full running order and put in some notable performances until Saturday night. The locomotive would only power in one direction (fortunately out of harm's way in a siding at Loughborough). First thing Sunday morning investigations were underway, by lunch time repairs had been carried out and the locomotive was available once again. For reasons best known to whoever was concerned 265 was not used much to the chagrin of people who had turned up on the day to sample the loco. Should the powers that be at the GCR have been paranoid about another failure surely an instant solution would have been to pair it with the line's resident Class 20? - not to worry they knew best

As of April 2023 25279 is resident at The East Lancashire Railway while 25265 is at the Burton premises of Nemesis Rail

25 265 makes a delightful sight at Loughborough Central on 21st September 2000.


Click HERE for 25 313 at the Llangollen Railway in October 2000