British Rail Class 25 Gallery

The immensely versatile Type 2 Class 25, known to rail enthusiasts as "Ratters" or "Rats" due to their sheer ubiquity and ability to pop up almost anywhere on the networkwas ordered in 1961 and built between 1961 and 1967. Produced in a massive run of 327 units across various BR workshops and Beyer, Peacock & Company, they were designed as standard mixed-traffic workhorses. Powered by a reliable 1,250-horsepower Sulzer engine, they became a common sight handling everything from local passenger runs and holiday excursions to heavy freight trips. While they were gradually phased out during the 1980s as traditional wagon-load freight declined, their rugged simplicity made them a favorite in preservation, with 20 of these dependable stalwarts successfully surviving today.

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This gallery pays homage to one of the most successful, ubiquitous, and hard-working Type 2 locomotives ever built!