The summer services along the
Cambrian during the 1983 season were, unfortunately, beset by
numerous locomotive failures. Generally the one working
locomotive of the pair would haul both its failed classmate and
the train. However, if a serious enough fault occurred the errant
locomotive would be detached from the train. By this time the 25s
were not being treated to expensive repairs due to their planned
demise from British Rail and many were well overdue an overhaul
in the workshops (then British Rail Engineering). A sign that
things had gone wrong was always the very late running of the
train and it's eventual appearance with just one locomotive in
charge. Seen below is 25211 arriving at Wolverhampton having lost
it's partner some considerable time beforehand.
Staying in 1983 25322 leads 25277
into Machynlleth with the 1400 Aberystwyth - Shrewsbury service
of 9th July 1983. Interestingly 25322 was allowed to run on the
main line again in 1990, roughly three years after the class had
been phased out. 322 went to Holbeck depot in Leeds for
apprentice training purposes and in the process it was tastefully
restored into two tone green livery and given it's old running
number of D7672. Ironically 322 never carried this livery as it
entered service in 1967 painted blue! It is often overlooked that
the locomotive's first passenger working as a technically
preserved example on 24th February 1990 paved the way for the
return of other preserved locomotives to the main line from 1997
onwards.
3rd September 1983 saw the very
last service train of the year hauled by 25s arrive at
Aberystwyth. A lot thought that this would be the last ever,
especially given the reliability problems; fortunately the 1984
Summer services were 25s, the less said about 1985 onwards the
better!! 25200 and 25212 are pictured (below) after their arrival
at Aberystwyth with the 1010 service from London Euston. The
locomotives were detached at this point to run round the train
before reversing all the way into the station to form the 1715 to
Shrewsbury.
Notice the repair to the front of
25200 (platform side) consisting of a piece of plate welded over
where a hole was in the cab front. After a minor collision a
visit to Derby Locomotive works took place. The buffer beam had
been slightly bent, this was straightened out by attaching
numerous chains and pulleys to both the buffer beam and workshop
pillars!
