Class 25 on the Kent &East Sussex

[crompton 33]

Class 25. D7594/25244. This has been abandoned on the Kent & east sussex railway. 

R.I.P Edited January 15, 2018 by crompton 33

[Paul-H]

Such a shame to see the old girl left to rot in this way

 

Paul

[Marshall5]

It is a shame to see any loco rotting away but, unfortunately this is not an isolated case.  A lot of diesels and other items of rolling stock were bought, with the best of intentions, for scrap prices but the enthusiasm and/or cash to restore them has run out.  The result being a "linear scrapyard" (as described elsewhere) for the host railway.  Whilst it would be nice if we could save and restore everything, in the real world that isn't going to happen and maybe we're going to have to accept letting some items 'go'. Without secure undercover accomodation in which to restore locos like this, and a lot of cash, one is just putting off the inevitable trip to the scrapyard. Sorry to be blunt but that's how I see it - I lost my rose tinted spectacles a long time ago.

Ray.

[russ p]

Its a shame to see a comparatively rare loco put out to rot there is a similar 25 on the north Norfolk

[Dava]

It looks like 7594 has been pretty well plundered for spares. Surely it's better to see a slightly smaller number of well maintained class members than a bag of rusty [and the 25s certainly did] old nails? Beyond the point of cost effective restoration unless it was the last survivor? And I like 25s.

 

Dava

[tamperman36]

Would it be that hard to cover these sort of stalled restoration projects with a tarpallin if no more work was planed, at least to slow down the weather and wildlife from further decomposition. If these projects were covered it would mean they could have a brighter future.

[MR PJ]

I could see this coming a few years ago. A group of diesel preservationists, having already restored a Class 25 made enquiries about the purchase of 25244. Even at the time (20 plus years ago) they felt this was going to be a big restoration job, but having a good number of spares, experience and the enthusiasm it would have been up and running some time ago now.

 

The owners response was that its most definitely not up for sale (not even at a ridiculous price), and they fully intended to restore it at some point. Make what you will of that...

 

Photographs of the loco a few years ago showed it sheeted up, though in the long-term this can help trap moisture. From what I remember the owners did have a replacement power unit. Problem here was that it's from a 25/3, which has a 12 pole generator and is not compatible electrically with a 25/2. This would mean the original 10 pole generator would need to be transplanted onto the new power unit - not impossible, but needs specialist skills to balance correctly.

 

Nothing is impossible, but I unless someone decides to do something very soon with this loco it will just end up mouldering away like 45015...

 

Regards,

Paul

 

[tamperman36]

Its such a shame that most people that visit preserved railways will quite happily drop a few quid in a box to help with the restoration of a steam loco however few even bother about a diesel loco. These locos deserve the same amount of care and consideration as the steam locos, they are often well used to help keeping these railways operating. Used for engineering and shunting as well as operating some passenger services. It would be great if these locos could be used to help training the younger members of the preservation groups in maintenance and repair, even if it was just to keep the external bodywork intact and weather proof.

[crompton 33]

My platform 5 book Preserved Loco's 1991. Shows it at the Swanage railway.  When did it go to the Kent & East Sussex . Shame it moved from Swanage as it may have  had a better chance. Not like the KES that just let it rot away.

[uax6]

Hang on, don't blame the railway, blame the owners. The K&ESR only happens to have it on their property, they have no responsibility for what the owners decide to do with their loco... They are probably caught in a trap too, either wanting shut or wanting to do something with it....

 

Andy G

[25901]

She looks a mess and will need a shed load of effort and money but there are things afoot regarding this little beast at the moment

Edited January 16, 2018 by 25901

[royaloak]

Hang on, don't blame the railway, blame the owners. The K&ESR only happens to have it on their property, they have no responsibility for what the owners decide to do with their loco... They are probably caught in a trap too, either wanting shut or wanting to do something with it....

 

Andy G

Thats it in a nutshell, the K&ESR gave the loco a home and the owner has done very little to the loco with the result that 'the railway' have a rusting hulk which is a very poor advert for them, as stated earlier, the loco owner could at least put a tarpaulin over to hide it from view/protect it from the weather. 

[royaloak]

She looks a mess and will need a shed load of effort and money but there are things afoot regarding this little beast at the moment

That is good to know, fingers crossed for the baby Sulzer.

[russ p]

People can restore stuffnlike this these days. Shame the D600 and the NBL 2 isn't still about as these days they would be restored

[tamperman36]

As the saying goes, from little acorns great oaks grow. Hope that this could be the start of a great future.

[EddieB]

My platform 5 book Preserved Loco's 1991. Shows it at the Swanage railway.  When did it go to the Kent & East Sussex . Shame it moved from Swanage as it may have  had a better chance. Not like the KES that just let it rot away.

Definitely one that slipped through the preservation net.

 

To the best of my knowledge, it was sold straight out of service into preservation, such that it was complete and was presented in a good state mechanically and cosmetically (retaining Rail Blue) at the Basingstoke Open Day in September 1987.

 

 

As noted, it was then based at Swanage for a number of years, before being transferred (some time between 1991 and 1994) to the Nene Valley.  It was then transferred again to the K&ESR, where it has been languishing ever since.  Here's a picture from May 1996 - shortly after its arrival there, I believe - of it in the store line at Rolvenden.  It has been given green livery and reverted to its former number, but the grilles are missing and probably some other parts too.

 

 

(Sorry, I probably have more exact records of transfer dates and apologise for b&w pictures - too late in the day to be digging out old bulletins and scanning slides).

[EddieB]

As the saying goes, from little acorns great oaks grow. Hope that this could be the start of a great future.

What, inside the 25?  Reminds me of the steam locomotive brought over from India with a tree growing up through it!

 

A year later it was restored and in steam (the loco, not the tree) - that's what they do at Statfold..

[roythebus]

Last time I shunted anything up the Headcorn siding/headshunt at TN the 25 was still there. It may have been dragged out recently as Things are being Stored in the new carriage shed at RN.

 

There are moves afoot to move the delapidated stock from the pointless siding into the storage shed too. Unfortunately some historically interesting stock has been lost over the years on a number of railways as there haven't been the funds or the interest to restore them.

Edited January 20, 2018 by roythebus

[37114]

Definitely one that slipped through the preservation net.

 

To the best of my knowledge, it was sold straight out of service into preservation, such that it was complete and was presented in a good state mechanically and cosmetically (retaining Rail Blue) at the Basingstoke Open Day in September 1987.

 

PICT1474.jpg

 

As noted, it was then based at Swanage for a number of years, before being transferred (some time between 1991 and 1994) to the Nene Valley.  It was then transferred again to the K&ESR, where it has been languishing ever since.  Here's a picture from May 1996 - shortly after its arrival there, I believe - of it in the store line at Rolvenden.  It has been given green livery and reverted to its former number, but the grilles are missing and probably some other parts too.

 

PICT7504.jpg

 

(Sorry, I probably have more exact records of transfer dates and apologise for b&w pictures - too late in the day to be digging out old bulletins and scanning slides).

 

I recall reading that the traction motors were damaged at Swanage after local flooding in the station area so that is to add to the list of jobs. Anything is possible but realistically in the grand scheme of class 25 preservation, the best thing is for it to be used for spares...

[roythebus]

I've subsequently found that the loco is owned by TREATS Ltd, the same group that owns the 04, 08 and DMMU at Tenterden. The chap who runs it is working almost single-handed to keep the DMMU and 04 operational and has the engine out of the 08. I understand from top management that plans are afoot for this loco with an appraisal of its condition due to be made in the near future. I tried to post a few pics on here the other day but they were too big to upload to this site and I don't know how to reduce them.

 

Having also shared my pics to one of the FB railway staff groups, somebody has come forward with a tentative offer to help get this loo working again, but I won't make any further comment on that for obvious reasons.

 

I've been told there is a spare engine for this loco stored at another location on the railway and other critical spares have been removed for safe keeping elsewhere. Having had a quick look round, the cab floors are rotten but not beyond replacement. Having spoken to my son about this (he's a rolling stock engineer) he says that most diesels of that era are rot buckets and he's seen the state of the recently refurbished 73s before they got refurbished.

 

Remember the 33 on the KESR, that's been out of service for a number of years with electrical problems. That is owned by a separate group and is also welcoming any funds or offers of help to get it running again.

[pheaton]

2

 

I've subsequently found that the loco is owned by TREATS Ltd, the same group that owns the 04, 08 and DMMU at Tenterden. The chap who runs it is working almost single-handed to keep the DMMU and 04 operational and has the engine out of the 08. I understand from top management that plans are afoot for this loco with an appraisal of its condition due to be made in the near future. I tried to post a few pics on here the other day but they were too big to upload to this site and I don't know how to reduce them.

 

Having also shared my pics to one of the FB railway staff groups, somebody has come forward with a tentative offer to help get this loo working again, but I won't make any further comment on that for obvious reasons.

 

I've been told there is a spare engine for this loco stored at another location on the railway and other critical spares have been removed for safe keeping elsewhere. Having had a quick look round, the cab floors are rotten but not beyond replacement. Having spoken to my son about this (he's a rolling stock engineer) he says that most diesels of that era are rot buckets and he's seen the state of the recently refurbished 73s before they got refurbished.

 

Remember the 33 on the KESR, that's been out of service for a number of years with electrical problems. That is owned by a separate group and is also welcoming any funds or offers of help to get it running again.

25s are particularly prone to rot with water leaking through the headcode box down the pillars and pooling under the floor, generally most 25s in pres have had the cabs removed to sort this.

 

Spare engine is a good sign as the heads on 6ldas are very rare now, commanding a 3k individual price tag from romainia. Its the electrics that always get you in the end though, hope it does come back.

[MR PJ]

I too hope there is a future for 25244, as they are nice loco's and useful on preserved railways being a small loco.

 

I did manage to salvage an old schematic wiring diagram for a steam heat early series Class 25/2, I think I have a couple of copies in the back of a wardrobe at home somewhere - if I could get in touch with the owners somehow they would be welcome to have a copy.

 

I did have a look at some pictures of 25191's restoration at the South Devon Railway (a loco in similar external condition), which are quite interesting - indeed the cabs had to come off to get to what remained of the cab floors.

To be fair it looks like some attempt has been made to keep the elements out of 25244 as best as possible- but not only bodywork - items such as electrical machines will need attention. They can be repaired by the likes of Bowers, but it can be quite expensive.

Cheers,

Paul

[25901]

I too hope there is a future for 25244, as they are nice loco's and useful on preserved railways being a small loco.

 

I did manage to salvage an old schematic wiring diagram for a steam heat early series Class 25/2, I think I have a couple of copies in the back of a wardrobe at home somewhere - if I could get in touch with the owners somehow they would be welcome to have a copy.

 

I did have a look at some pictures of 25191's restoration at the South Devon Railway (a loco in similar external condition), which are quite interesting - indeed the cabs had to come off to get to what remained of the cab floors.

To be fair it looks like some attempt has been made to keep the elements out of 25244 as best as possible- but not only bodywork - items such as electrical machines will need attention. They can be repaired by the likes of Bowers, but it can be quite expensive.

Cheers,

Paul

 

Main gen overhaul and 4 traction motors to be checked, and not much change out of £40K. That's what one type two cost last year

[russ p]

Main gen overhaul and 4 traction motors to be checked, and not much change out of £40K. That's what one type two cost last year[/quoteo]

 

And that's before any bodywork

I would put a conservative estimate on a full restoration of this loco by contractors at around £250k

[Tug002]

Main gen overhaul and 4 traction motors to be checked, and not much change out of £40K. That's what one type two cost last year[/quoteo]

 

And that's before any bodywork

I would put a conservative estimate on a full restoration of this loco by contractors at around £250k

Fundraiser event anyone...?