25248 leads 25253 as they head east through Netherfield, heading for the Spalding Flower Festival with a Manchester Piccadilly – Spalding excursion, 7th May 1977. 25248 was the first of the class 25/3 sub class and was built during the winter of 1965/66 at Derby works. The class 25/3 locomotives had a modified main generator, still classified as a RTB 15656 but now a ten pole machine with a modified assembly that was incompatible with the earlier version (mixing of the main generators between class 25/3 and the other sub classes was not allowed) and an infant electronic control system, whereby speed was detected electronically rather than mechanically. Originally numbered D7598 it formed part of a batch of thirteen locomotives (D7598 - 7610) destined for Tinsley (41A), being released to traffic during February 1966. In October 1966 it moved to Scotland (Eastfield) for a year before returning south in September 1967 to the Birmingham Division (Bescot). During the next few years 7598 would feature regularly on the transfer lists with spells at nearly all the main London Midland Region depots in the Midlands and North West until a final move to Toton in October 1978. During March and April 1975 it received a classified repair at Crewe works (its last classified repair) when it gained its “non-standard” bodyside numbers. 25248 never received dual brakes and therefore was a relatively early casualty, being the first of the 25/3 sub class to be condemned when it was withdrawn in November 1982 and stored at Crewe. By 1985 it had migrated to Derby works and on the 23rd July 1985 45060 hauled 9X12, a large consist of locomotives from Derby works to Swindon works comprising 25093, 25105/164, 25234/248/260, 25312/319. It was broken up at Swindon works during April 1986. 25253 was originally D7603 and would survive until September 1983 and would also be broken up at Swindon works during October 1985