Loco List

D123 emerged from Crewe Works in November 1961. Like most of the class, it was initially allocated to Derby, where the class worked express trains on the Cross Country and the Midland Main Line routes. The engine kept to shed close to the Midland Main Line all its life although its last six months in traffic were based at Tinsley in Sheffield for trans Pennine services, after the introduction of HSTs to the Midland route.

As new, D123 was painted green with a off-white lower body-side strip. The strip was lost following overhaul at Derby in 1967, and by the end of the following year it was painted blue. In 1971 the engine became one of the fifty engines in the class to be fitted with electric heating, which mean on renumbering in April 1974 it became 45125 in the 45/1 sub class.

The engine was withdrawn on 7th May 1987, and was towed for storage at March on the 20th May. The engine was stored with a number of others for four years before purchase for preservation. It was towed to Hull Dairycoates depot in late 1991, where it stayed for the next seven years. Following an abortive attempt the previous year, D123 moved to Loughborough. As number 89423, it was towed to Brush works, Loughborough, from were it went by road to Quorn, arriving on April 2nd 1998. The following day it was towed by 6990 to Loughborough, where it immediately went into the shed, and the batteries were put on charge.

This locomotive is available for traffic.

5305 Locomotive Association

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