London Midland & Scottish Railway 4-6-0 No. 45025 (5025)
Aviemore, Highland, UK 		Location: Strathspey Railway
Status: Operational
Posted: Nov 27, 2024 @ 06:11:15 by Russell Newman
This is the history of ex LMS Black Five 4-6-0 No. 5025, which is the oldest Black Five in preservation as it was from the very first batch of Stanier designed Black Fives to be built at the Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire in 1934 for the London Midland & Scottish Railway. No. 5025 was based in Scotland from August 1934 until October 1935 when it moved to Liverpool Edge Hill Depot. In 1939 while hauling an express passenger train from London Euston to Stranraer (piloting a Royal Scot class 4-6-0 No. 6130) was involved in a bad accident when it was in collision with another locomotive No. 9169 an LNWR 0-8-0 class G2A, which was attaching a van to the rear of an Inverness train at Bletchley station in Buckinghamshire. Four people were killed and more than 30 were injured. Numbered as No. 45025 in British Railways days, its last shed on BR was Carnforth shed from April 1966. From February 1968, No. 45025 was regularly rostered on the last BR steam hauled named train the "Belfast Boat Express" from Manchester to Heysham. It often achieved a speed of 80mph whilst hauling this train before ceasing to do so in May 1968. No. 45025 was another end of steam survivor when it was withdrawn from service in August 1968 at the end of steam operations on BR. Its last task was to double heading with sister Black Five No. 45390 on the Carnforth- Hellifield-Lostock Hall leg of the Locomotive Club of Great Britain‘s Farewell to Steam railtour on the 4th of August 1968. No. 45025 was purchased for preservation by Scottish railway heritage pioneer, Ted Watkinson for use on the Strathspey Railway. In 1969 No. 45025 was sent to the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds for a full overhaul and restored to its LMS livery and number No. 5025. But at the time the Strathspey Railway was not ready for heritage operations yet, so from 1969, No. 5025 was loaned to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway where it operated trains there until 1974 when it finally was able to move to its new home at the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore in Scotland. From 1975 it then went for another overhaul at Andrew Barclay’s works in Kilmarnock in May that year and enjoyed another few years operating at the Strathspey Railway as well as some mainline running from 1981 to 1983 until it was withdrawn again in 1993. After a time in storage, another overhaul began in 2012 which was to be quite a rebuild which was completed in 2021. No. 5025 has been put back to near original condition as it would have looked when it left the Vulcan Foundry works in 1934 with a slightly taller chimney now 2½ inches taller in line with the first fifty Black Fives built at Vulcan Voundry then. It also has been fitted with a domeless boiler and the step between the frame plates has been removed. There are a number of other changes which are less visible. Today No. 5025 is still a good performer at the Strathspey Railway working trains through some spectacular Scottish Highland scenary there.
Posted: Jul 28, 2021 @ 05:07:15 by Russell Newman
The ex LMS Black Five 4-6-0 No. 5025 the oldest Black Five in preservation was unveiled in its new LMS Lined Black livery yesterday as the locomotive was launched back into traffic on the Strathspey Railway. The locomotive will now be kept busy hauling trains there over the summer and coming seasons ahead and the possible visits to other preserved railways around the UK too in the future.
Posted: May 16, 2021 @ 06:05:58 by Russell Newman
On the 13th of May 2021 ex LMS Black Five No. 5025 the oldest Black Five in preservation was steamed and moved under her own steam for the first time in 28 years. Which this now marks the completion of the locomotive’s overhaul and rebuild and will start testing and running in trials and final painting before entering service at the Strathspey Railway very soon.
Posted: Feb 19, 2020 @ 14:02:37 by Russell Newman
LMS Black Five No. 5025 has reached a milestone in its overhaul as the newly overhauled boiler was refitted to the frames of the locomotive today. But with still a lot of work left to do it won’t be long till No. 5025 will be running again at the Strathspey Railway this year soon.
Posted: Jul 20, 2019 @ 09:07:01 by Russell Newman
The boiler of LMS Black Five No. 5025 has returned to Aviemore following its overhaul and rebuild at Riley & Sons Engineering Ltd at Heywood in Lancashire. It will soon be put back on the frames of the locomotive with a possible steaming later this year.
Posted: Dec 22, 2017 @ 12:12:04 by Russell Newman
LMS Black 5 No. 5025 has reached a milestone in its heavy overhaul and rebuild as the frames of the locomotive have been put back on its driving wheels. No. 5025 should be returning to service at the Strathspey Railway in 2018.
Posted: Aug 23, 2016 @ 06:08:49 by Russell Newman
5025 is the oldest Black 5 in preservation as it was built in 1934.
Posted: May 25, 2009 @ 07:05:17 by
Some 18 of these most-famous of locomotives have been preserved and only a very small number have not worked outside of BR/LMS service. 5025 is the only one of these engines to have been preserved in Scotland, where it really stands out among the smaller industrial shunters of the Strathspey Railway.