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However, with the reinstatement of 24082 and 24073 this number climbed to 12 by February 1977.

In January 1978 two farewell railtours were run – 24082 and 24087 hauled the Merseyside Express from London St Pancras to Liverpool and return on the 14th, and 24087 and 24133 hauled the Cambrian Coast Express from Birmingham to Aberystwyth and Barmouth on the 28th. On the latter trip, 24087 failed on the outward journey, was dumped at Machynlleth on the return journey and never worked again.

On January 21st, 24133 had also taken part in the "Farewell to the 44s" tour, providing steam heating for the coaches while 44008 Penyghent provided the motive power, on the Crewe to Chester leg of a circular tour from London.

For the summer of 1978, 6 class 24s remained in service – 24023, 035, 047, 063, 081 and 082. In May, a North Wales DMU passenger diagram was converted to loco haulage on Mondays to Fridays, comprising the 09.42 Llandudno - Manchester, 13.30 return, 16.42 Llandudno - Crewe, 20.30 Crewe - Bangor and 22.45 Bangor-Llandudno Junction. At least 5 different class 24s were recorded on this diagram during the summer. Additionally, on Saturday 10th June, 24082 worked a Llandudno Junction – Euston relief train all the way to London due to a lack of a replacement loco at Crewe.

By January 1979, only 3 locos remained in use – 24063, 081 and 082. 24082 was withdrawn on the 1st March and 24063 on 9th April, leaving 24081 the last in service. The final recorded passenger duty of a Class 24 was on 2 August 1979 when 24081 rescued 40129 at Colwyn Bay on the 18.05 Holyhead – Euston, hauling the train as far as Crewe.