Not a problem. Admittedly, the only reason that particular example stuck out was due to her aforementioned incident with the 303s (at my local station no less lol). I figured she had spent at least a bit of time at Inverness, despite being a Eastfield machine for most of her later years.
Wouldn't be surprised. Fairly sure there's pictures of 24s with snowplough in the green era and ploughs painted black. Reasonably sure seen similar pictures of 25s but can't remember if they were in Scotland or not.I’ve got another question.
I’ve seen a few photos of class 25s working in Scotland, including a couple of shots of them right out on the Mallaig line. There’s a couple of shots of them in the West Highlands on this site:
The West Highland Line before the Sprinters
www.eastbank.org.uk
Would these have been Eastfield based locos? But also, were any of them fitted with miniature snowploughs? Or was that more of a Welsh/Midlands thing?
Yeah. 25s were never particularly common on West Highland services despite Eastfield having a fairly sizable allocation at one time (33 examples in October 1977 as one example).I’ve got another question.
I’ve seen a few photos of class 25s working in Scotland, including a couple of shots of them right out on the Mallaig line. There’s a couple of shots of them in the West Highlands on this site:
The West Highland Line before the Sprinters
www.eastbank.org.uk
Would these have been Eastfield based locos? But also, were any of them fitted with miniature snowploughs? Or was that more of a Welsh/Midlands thing?
www.flickr.com
I always associate 25s in Scotland more with the Highland Main in the 60s/early 70s rather than the West Highland.I’ve got another question.
I’ve seen a few photos of class 25s working in Scotland, including a couple of shots of them right out on the Mallaig line. There’s a couple of shots of them in the West Highlands on this site:
The West Highland Line before the Sprinters
www.eastbank.org.uk
Would these have been Eastfield based locos? But also, were any of them fitted with miniature snowploughs? Or was that more of a Welsh/Midlands thing?
From memory, 25s were very rare on the Highland Main Line in the 60s/early 70s. The Inverness-based class 24s (D5114-5132) were much more common....plus the occasional Haymarket example - usually on freight workings.
I know Inverness had 24s and not 25s, yet all the pictures in the books I have seen to be 25+26 or 25+26+26 and few 24s to be seen... just on goods
Bear in mind that the Inverness-based 24s were the first batch to be built with roof-mounted headcode boxes instead of the 'skinhead' curved cab roof and headcode discs....so looked very much like a 25 from a distance - especially when double- or triple- heading behind another loco. I never saw a 25 on the HML prior to about 1979/80....by which time all the 24s had been withdrawn. Not saying that they didn't appear occasionally mind.
That’s a very interesting shot of it at Crianlarich. The loco doesn’t look far off ex-works condition to be fair.Yeah. 25s were never particularly common on West Highland services despite Eastfield having a fairly sizable allocation at one time (33 examples in October 1977 as one example).
Just as one example, 25231 (which had 3 seperate stints at Eastfield during it's time north of the border, the longest being from May 1978 to October 1982) lacked plows of any size. On 11th June 1980 (just within the remit of this thread lol), it worked the 08:05 Glasgow - Oban and the 12:20 return back to Glasgow. Flickr's Mike Futty was on hand to catch it pulling into Crianlarich on the northbound run.
Class 25 at Crianlarich
25 231 at Crianlarich with the 08:05 Glasgow - Oban on 11 June 1980. At the time, 27s were firmly in charge of West Highland trains but occasional visits by 25s were by no means uncommon.
scot-rail.co.uk has a basic rundown of the classes' Scottish career, link here. Though Derby Sulzers is undoubtedly your best bet for detailed workings/history.
I know Inverness had 24s and not 25s, yet all the pictures in the books I have seen to be 25+26 or 25+26+26 and few 24s to be seen... just on goods
I believe the original 25s (25/0) didn't have roof mounted horns either so difficult to tell from a 24 from a distance.
This is correct, but almost irrelevant for the discussion title. All of 25001-025 (ex D5151-D5175) were withdrawn by the end of 1980. On the other hand, all of the 1980 survivors ended their careers in Scotland.
A summary - from memory - of class 24 & 25 external design differences:
231's last Classified Repair (an Intermediate) took place at Glasgow Works between October 1979 and January 1980, so it's not too far off ex-works as you say.
I seem to recall this very service was favoured as a St Rollox running in turn, which given the good condition of the paintwork (and zero midges splattered across the front, in June) seems quite likely. If there was some suspicion about an ex-works loco, or need for monitoring, I also seem to recall it would be double-headed, have a fitter on board, and would come off at Crianlarich. It was an easy run to Craigendoran, and then considerable full throttle work beyond.
ISTR that they were used as a common pool....although the headlight-fitted locos - of both classes - were prioritised for Far North line duties, due to the large number of open level crossings on they route.
Wonderful photos guys. Thanks for posting those.
There this one on Flickr of 043 at Glasgow Central, from Lothian T's stream:
This sub-thread prompted me to have a look through Nick Meskell's excellent Scottish Class 37s (Volumes 1 & 2). Vol 1 includes a shot of 035 with well-worn black paint in the headcode boxes. Note it was taken in November 1988 by which time it had been transferred back to Eastfield. It retained its Far North line auxiliary headlight and would totally look like a genuine IS beast were it not for the inevitable dog on the bodysides. As for the stags they were so much more visible when painted black on a yellow patch.
True, I never noticed them on the pair of 26s above until this morning.
You mean, the example 26s shown on post #2 of this very thread?
Think they are all 27s, I'm on about 26s with yellow stickers, Heljan have produced 26032 with yellow sticker but I am yet to see photo of 26 carrying one.
Good grief, I was staring at those Flickr pics and my sleep-deprived brain didn't even register that I was looking at 27s!
