Back to BR Locomotives

Class 14

Class 15 BTH

Class 16

Class 17 Clayton

Class 20 EE Type 1

Class 21

Class 22

Class 23 'Baby Deltic'

Class 24 Derby Type 2

Class 25 Derby Type 2

Class 26

Class 27

Class 28

Class 29

Class 30 Brush Type 2

Class 31 Brush Type 2

Class 33 BRCW Type 3

Class 35 'Hymek'

Class 37 EE Type 3

Class 40 EE Type 4

Class 41 'Warship'

Class 42 'Warship'

Class 43 'Warship'

Class 44 'Peak'

Class 45

Class 46

Class 47 Brush Type 4

Class 48 Brush Type 4

Class 50 EE Type 5

Class 52 'Western'

Class 53 'Falcon'

Class 55 'Deltic'

Class 56

Class 57

Class 58

Class 59

Class 60

Class 66

Class 67

Class 68

Class 70

Bachmann Class 25/1

The Class 25 was a follow on design from the Class 24, fitted with a more powerful engine, higher top speed and four character route boxes from new. A total of 327 were built between 1961 and 1967 numbered D5151-D5299 and D7500-D7677. The locomotives were built at BR's own works at Derby, Crewe and Darlington, with the final batch being built by Beyer, Peacock in Manchester. As can be expected with a large batch of locomotives built over a long period of time, various internal and external modifications were made, leading to various sub-classes under TOPS. Withdrawals started in 1984 and continued until 1987. Twenty have been preserved.

Due to the number of variations and sub classes, there now follows rather lengthy descriptions!

The Class 25/0 (D5151-D5175, 25 001-25 025) looked similar to the last batch of Class 24's with connecting doors on the cab front and a roof mounted headcode box.  The Class 25/0's had BTH electrical equipment and were built at Darlington.

The Class 25/1 (D5176-D5232, 25 026-25 082) were built at both Darlington and Derby. The main internal difference was a switch to AEI traction motors whilst externally the air horns had been repositioned to either of the headcode box. The cab skirt and body fairings were also dispensed with and there was a redesign of the fuel and water tanks.

Bachmann Class 25/2

The Class 25/2 (D5233-D5299, D7500-D7597, 25 083-25 247) featured more noticeable changes to the bodywork. The little used cab front connecting doors of previous batches were removed allowing the centre window to be enlarged lining up on the bottom with the other two windows. The bodyside grilles were repositioned to cantrail level resulting in a less cluttered and cleaner looking bodyside. The livery from new also changed to two tone green. Having said all that, some Class 25/2's were built at Darlington and these had the original bodywork style. D7597 (25 247) was the last locomotive to be built at Darlington.

Bachmann Class 25/3

The final sub-class is the Class 25/3 built at both BR Derby and Beyer, Peacock of Manchester. This batch incorporated various changes to the electrical system including the fitting of solid state electronics to replace some of the relays. Financial problems at Beyer, Peacock meant that they could not complete final 18 locomotives and their construction was moved to Derby Works.

The Class 25/9 sub-class was created in 1985 when twelve of the remaining Class 25/3 locomotives to be used on trains of road salt from the ICI mine at Winsford. Railfreight did not get the contract and the Class 25/9's were withdrawn along with the rest of the class.

Three of the Class 25/3's were converted to act as mobile generators for electric carriage heating in 1983 for use in Scotland. These became known as ETHEL units (Electric Train Heating Ex-Locomotives) and were painted blue/grey to match the then coaching stock livery. After use in Scotland, two ETHEL's moved to London and were re-painted into the then current InterCity Executive livery. They had all been withdrawn by 1990.

In addition to the above basic sub classes and body styles, variations within the class occurred. Some just had vacuum brakes whilst others were fitted with dual braking. Some were built without steam heating boilers. Some had their water tanks removed leaving a large gap between the fuel tank and bogies. As usual, the advice would be to find photographs  of the locomotive you want to model.

Below is the usual list of known models, but it is interesting to note that no-one has yet produced the Class 25/0 variant. It would be possible to modify a Bachmann Class 24/1.

Hornby produced a model of the Class 25 in 1977. This has appeared in various numbers over the years and represents a Class 25/1. Having said that, one number issued was D7581 which is actually a Class 25/2, but as this was a Darlington built locomotive, did not have the restyled body and externally resembled a Class 25/1.

Bachmann released their first version of a Class 25/3 in 2001. Bachmann retooled the model in 2003 with both Class 25/1 and 25/3 added to the range. Another upgrade in 2006 saw a 21 pin DCC replace the older 8 pin socket. Bachmann also produced a Darlington built Class 25/2 numbered 25 231. Another re-tool in 2022 saw a Class 25/1 and 25/2 released.

Heljan produced a Class 25/3 in 2021 in various liveries. Also released was an un-motorised ETHEL locomotive in InterCity Executive livery. Another batch of Class 25's are due to be released in 2023. These are again Class 25/3's, but also include a Class 25/9 and another ETHEL locomotive in Blue/Grey livery.

Suttons Locomotive Works released their versions of the Class 25 in 2022. The versions modelled are the Class 25/2 and Class 25/3. Like their Class 24 model, these are probably the definitive 4mm scale Class 25's to date. They just look superb.