Class 25 makes a return – after 23-year absence
Heritage Trust (WRHT)'S Class 25, D7659, returned to service on Peak Rail on October 12 – its first passenger workings for more than 23 years.
The locomotive, immaculately restored to two-tone BR green livery, hauled services on the Derbyshire heritage line, double-heading with Class 44, D8 Penyghent, throughout the day.
It is believed D7659 last worked a passenger service in 1998. Since then it has been based at various locations, but several attempts to overhaul it failed to progress beyond the stripping down phase. When it moved to Peak Rail, it was in a dismantled condition.
The revival of the locomotive has been spearheaded by WRHT engineer Martyn Adshead at Rowsley South after it arrived in early 2017.
The Class 25 has been completely rebuilt, with a lot of attention paid to rebuilding the cabs and rewiring, along with extensive metal fabrication work to the framework, cabs and bodywork. Some of the electrical machines have been overhauled or replaced.
Work on its restoration was largely completed in 2019, but the coronavirus lockdowns meant that final testing and commissioning was delayed. It is now expected that D7659 will enter regular traffic on Peak Rail, being used alongside D8 on services on the railway.
Peak Rail services generally operate in top-and-tail formation due to the lack of a run-round facility at Matlock Town station, with a steam locomotive at the Matlock end of the train and a diesel at the Rowsley end. Anyone wishing to travel behind the newly restored Class 25 is advised to check with Peak Rail as to when it will be in service on the line.
D7659 was the final locomotive to be built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton Works in Manchester, and was purchased by Pete Waterman in 1988 – the first locomotive to be bought by the prolific businessman, preservationist and enthusiast.
WRHT engineers are currently concentrating on two of the trust’s steam locomotives, with the commissioning of GWR 2-6-2T 5553 and overhaul of GWR 2-8-0T 5224.
Also at Rowsley awaiting attention are another GWR steam locomotive, 0-6-2T 6634, and British Rail Class 46 ‘Peak’ 46035. 08830 is another WRHT locomotive on site.
Asked about plans for the possible restoration of 46035, WRHT engineer Andrew Civil told Railways Illustrated that the locomotive is stored and in reasonable condition, but there are no immediate plans for restoration work to be carried out to it – although there are hopes to tackle it at some point in the future.
Preventative maintenance and regular checks are constantly being carried out on the locomotive, which became the first preserved diesel locomotive to be recertified for use on the national network under its own power back in 1994 – although it has been out of service for several years now.
A more detailed report on the restoration of D7659 will be featured in a future issue of Railways Illustrated.