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BR Derby Type 2 - Class 25 Locomotives
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A snapshot of the Hornsey Sulzer type 2 fleet, featuring from left to right, Holbeck
allocated 5173, Willesden 7525, Longsight Class 24/1 5146, Cricklewood 5184, Willesden
D7516 and Longsight D5153 at rest on Hornsey Road depot.
Class 25/0 - 25002 (5152) at Wibdenshaw.
25002 on the headshunt at Pudsey Junction stabling point, Wibdenshaw. This is a conversion
using the Bachmann Class 24 with added Hornby headcode boxes, removal of one underslung tank,
discs removed and recesses filled.
Class 25/0 number D5153 is seen with a rake of 24.5 ton mineral wagons. This model is a
conversion from a Bachmann Class 24/1.
Class 25/1 - 25027 (5177) at Shenston Road. An early Bachmann Class 25 with major
alterations to the solebar area.
By the next morning the saloon has headed off early into darkest West Wales as Ebbw Junction
regular 5180 works a special freight back to Margam Yard in between its booked duty back east.
Class 25/1 5184 from the Hornsey fleet is a Sutton Locomotive Works model, one of a batch of
advanced decorated samples for evaluation and testing before expected delivery in Autumn 2026.
BR Sulzer type 2 number 5193 is seen here waiting at the signal for the road ahead. This
is one of the Eastwell fleet locomotives. It's a double motored Hornby Class 25, numbered
to a pre-TOPS example from a photograph dated early 1970s. The numerals at each end are
of a different font on this side of the loco.
25043 (5193) - Another Bachmann model from the Shenston Road fleet.
Late 1970s 25 047 (5197) for Canada Street is a Hornby model finished with light weathering.
Bachmann Class 25 - 5201 at BSC Shenston sidings (early modified Bachmann).
Canada Road - A rarely photographed model is 25 052 (5202), a re-work of the Hornby Class
25. Currently it has two of the original 3-pole Ringfield bogies fitted, which gives good
load hauling, but not such good slow speed performance. This has limited its use on
Canada Road, and a conversion to a single 5-pole power bogie is planned.
Green D5204 was modelled to a picture from 1965, and reflects the era before depot washing
plants were common, and locomotive cleaning in general had been minimised in an attempt to
cut costs. This particular loco would have carried the GSYP livery from new, and retained
it until 1969 at least, but would have probably had self-adhesive datapanels applied around
that time. The weathering of the bodysides was done with Humbrol matt varnish heavily tinted
with a mix of matt dark earth and black. This was applied with a brush, and worked to remove
any obvious brush strokes before it dried. As it dried, the windows, yellow panels, and other
small areas were selectively cleaned with a smaller brush or cotton buds loaded with clean
white spirit.
A new addition to the Canada Street fleet, 5216 is a Class 25/1 model based on a Hornby body
with a Bachmann chassis 1969-1974 period, up to the adoption of TOPS numbering.
Bachmann later body style D5233 with modified solebar at Shenston Road.
From the Sheepcroft fleet is a Heljan Class 25 - 7504 re-numbered to represent a Western region
loco that replaced the Class 22s. It is an excellent runner and also DCC sound fitted.
Toton allocated BR Sulzer type 2 D7516 gets ready to depart East London with a rake of
Prestwins. This is a Bachmann SFX Class 25 from the Hornsey Broadway fleet.
Willesden allocated 7525 from the Hornsey Bdy fleet - a 2022 Bachmann model with factory fitted sound.
7527 is another Bachmann sound fitted 2020 model from Bachmann, from the Shenston Road fleet.
7551 & D7668 are seen hauling a coal train towards East London. These two Heljan models are
from the Shenston Road fleet.
New into the Shenston Road fleet is a Bachmann Class 25 - 25221 (7571).
25221 stops at the station with a short rake of mark 1 coaches, bringing back fond
memories for Driver Greg Brookes when he drove a few regular Class 25s on the Cardiff -
Crewe service.
A brace of BR type 2 locomotives 7576 & 5189 (Bachmann) head a long rake of empty
21 ton hopper wagons back to the Midland Region at Hornsey Broadway.
Class 25/1 for the late 1970s is D7577 which wore this livery from 1968 to 1972, and
moved from the Midland to the Western region during the same period.
7583 from the Shenston Road fleet - a Bachmann 2020 model with factory fitted sound.
25 242 (7592) was Canada Road's first Hornby / Bachmann hybrid, as featured in Rail Express
magazine when completed. Since then it has proved a reliable performer, seeing use on
Canada Road, Wibdenshaw and Easington Lane at various times. Modelled to a photo of it
rolling through Manchester Victoria on a mixed freight, it always brings back good memories
of those carefree 1970s summer days sat on the GPO trolley at the platform end.
25274 (7624) at Hebble Vale Goods is a Hornby body on a Bachmann chassis.
Class 25/2 Hornby conversion D7629 has been treated to new flush-glazing and a Hornby
5-pole mechanism, from the Canada Road fleet.
A pair of Pete Johnson's modified Hornby Class 25s at Wibdenshaw. The adaptations involved
have previously been the subject of a feature within Rail Express magazine No.102 - November 2004.
