diff --git a/src/ccutil/tesscallback.h b/src/ccutil/tesscallback.h
index 97e5c05d67..03e7797457 100644
--- a/src/ccutil/tesscallback.h
+++ b/src/ccutil/tesscallback.h
@@ -607,72 +607,6 @@ NewPermanentTessCallback(R (*function)(P1, A1),
   return new _TessFunctionResultCallback_1_1<false, R, P1, A1>(function, p1);
 }
 
-template <bool del, class R, class T, class A1, class A2>
-class _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_2
-    : public TessResultCallback2<R, A1, A2> {
- public:
-  typedef TessResultCallback2<R, A1, A2> base;
-  using MemberSignature = R (T::*)(A1, A2) const;
-
- private:
-  const T* object_;
-  MemberSignature member_;
-
- public:
-  inline _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_2(const T* object,
-                                            MemberSignature member)
-      : object_(object), member_(member) {}
-
-  R Run(A1 a1, A2 a2) override {
-    if (!del) {
-      R result = (object_->*member_)(a1, a2);
-      return result;
-    }
-    R result = (object_->*member_)(a1, a2);
-    //  zero out the pointer to ensure segfault if used again
-    member_ = nullptr;
-    delete this;
-    return result;
-  }
-};
-
-template <bool del, class T, class A1, class A2>
-class _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_2<del, void, T, A1, A2>
-    : public TessCallback2<A1, A2> {
- public:
-  typedef TessCallback2<A1, A2> base;
-  using MemberSignature = void (T::*)(A1, A2) const;
-
- private:
-  const T* object_;
-  MemberSignature member_;
-
- public:
-  inline _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_2(const T* object,
-                                            MemberSignature member)
-      : object_(object), member_(member) {}
-
-  virtual void Run(A1 a1, A2 a2) {
-    if (!del) {
-      (object_->*member_)(a1, a2);
-    } else {
-      (object_->*member_)(a1, a2);
-      //  zero out the pointer to ensure segfault if used again
-      member_ = nullptr;
-      delete this;
-    }
-  }
-};
-
-#ifndef SWIG
-template <class T1, class T2, class R, class A1, class A2>
-inline typename _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_2<false, R, T1, A1, A2>::base*
-NewPermanentTessCallback(const T1* obj, R (T2::*member)(A1, A2) const) {
-  return new _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_2<false, R, T1, A1, A2>(obj,
-                                                                      member);
-}
-#endif
-
 template <bool del, class R, class T, class A1, class A2>
 class _TessMemberResultCallback_0_2 : public TessResultCallback2<R, A1, A2> {
  public:
@@ -793,45 +727,6 @@ NewPermanentTessCallback(R (*function)(A1, A2)) {
   return new _TessFunctionResultCallback_0_2<false, R, A1, A2>(function);
 }
 
-template <bool del, class R, class T, class A1, class A2, class A3>
-class _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_3
-    : public TessResultCallback3<R, A1, A2, A3> {
- public:
-  typedef TessResultCallback3<R, A1, A2, A3> base;
-  using MemberSignature = R (T::*)(A1, A2, A3) const;
-
- private:
-  const T* object_;
-  MemberSignature member_;
-
- public:
-  inline _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_3(const T* object,
-                                            MemberSignature member)
-      : object_(object), member_(member) {}
-
-  R Run(A1 a1, A2 a2, A3 a3) override {
-    if (!del) {
-      R result = (object_->*member_)(a1, a2, a3);
-      return result;
-    }
-    R result = (object_->*member_)(a1, a2, a3);
-    //  zero out the pointer to ensure segfault if used again
-    member_ = nullptr;
-    delete this;
-    return result;
-  }
-};
-
-#ifndef SWIG
-template <class T1, class T2, class R, class A1, class A2, class A3>
-inline
-    typename _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_3<false, R, T1, A1, A2, A3>::base*
-    NewPermanentTessCallback(const T1* obj, R (T2::*member)(A1, A2, A3) const) {
-  return new _ConstTessMemberResultCallback_0_3<false, R, T1, A1, A2, A3>(
-      obj, member);
-}
-#endif
-
 template <bool del, class R, class T, class A1, class A2, class A3, class A4>
 class _TessMemberResultCallback_0_4
     : public TessResultCallback4<R, A1, A2, A3, A4> {
diff --git a/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.cpp b/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.cpp
index fa4bb1cf84..434e52cb2e 100644
--- a/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.cpp
+++ b/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.cpp
@@ -74,41 +74,17 @@ const int kTargetYScale = 100;
 LSTMTrainer::LSTMTrainer()
     : randomly_rotate_(false),
       training_data_(0),
-      file_reader_(LoadDataFromFile),
-      file_writer_(SaveDataToFile),
-      checkpoint_reader_(
-          NewPermanentTessCallback(this, &LSTMTrainer::ReadTrainingDump)),
-      checkpoint_writer_(
-          NewPermanentTessCallback(this, &LSTMTrainer::SaveTrainingDump)),
       sub_trainer_(nullptr) {
   EmptyConstructor();
   debug_interval_ = 0;
 }
 
-LSTMTrainer::LSTMTrainer(FileReader file_reader, FileWriter file_writer,
-                         CheckPointReader checkpoint_reader,
-                         CheckPointWriter checkpoint_writer,
-                         const char* model_base, const char* checkpoint_name,
+LSTMTrainer::LSTMTrainer(const char* model_base, const char* checkpoint_name,
                          int debug_interval, int64_t max_memory)
     : randomly_rotate_(false),
       training_data_(max_memory),
-      file_reader_(file_reader),
-      file_writer_(file_writer),
-      checkpoint_reader_(checkpoint_reader),
-      checkpoint_writer_(checkpoint_writer),
-      sub_trainer_(nullptr),
-      mgr_(file_reader) {
+      sub_trainer_(nullptr) {
   EmptyConstructor();
-  if (file_reader_ == nullptr) file_reader_ = LoadDataFromFile;
-  if (file_writer_ == nullptr) file_writer_ = SaveDataToFile;
-  if (checkpoint_reader_ == nullptr) {
-    checkpoint_reader_ =
-        NewPermanentTessCallback(this, &LSTMTrainer::ReadTrainingDump);
-  }
-  if (checkpoint_writer_ == nullptr) {
-    checkpoint_writer_ =
-        NewPermanentTessCallback(this, &LSTMTrainer::SaveTrainingDump);
-  }
   debug_interval_ = debug_interval;
   model_base_ = model_base;
   checkpoint_name_ = checkpoint_name;
@@ -119,8 +95,6 @@ LSTMTrainer::~LSTMTrainer() {
   delete target_win_;
   delete ctc_win_;
   delete recon_win_;
-  delete checkpoint_reader_;
-  delete checkpoint_writer_;
   delete sub_trainer_;
 }
 
@@ -129,9 +103,9 @@ LSTMTrainer::~LSTMTrainer() {
 bool LSTMTrainer::TryLoadingCheckpoint(const char* filename,
                                        const char* old_traineddata) {
   GenericVector<char> data;
-  if (!(*file_reader_)(filename, &data)) return false;
+  if (!LoadDataFromFile(filename, &data)) return false;
   tprintf("Loaded file %s, unpacking...\n", filename);
-  if (!checkpoint_reader_->Run(data, this)) return false;
+  if (!ReadTrainingDump(data, this)) return false;
   StaticShape shape = network_->OutputShape(network_->InputShape());
   if (((old_traineddata == nullptr || *old_traineddata == '\0') &&
        network_->NumOutputs() == recoder_.code_range()) ||
@@ -303,7 +277,8 @@ bool LSTMTrainer::LoadAllTrainingData(const GenericVector<STRING>& filenames,
                                       bool randomly_rotate) {
   randomly_rotate_ = randomly_rotate;
   training_data_.Clear();
-  return training_data_.LoadDocuments(filenames, cache_strategy, file_reader_);
+  return training_data_.LoadDocuments(filenames, cache_strategy,
+                                      LoadDataFromFile);
 }
 
 // Keeps track of best and locally worst char error_rate and launches tests
@@ -345,10 +320,10 @@ bool LSTMTrainer::MaintainCheckpoints(TestCallback tester, STRING* log_msg) {
     if (TransitionTrainingStage(kStageTransitionThreshold)) {
       log_msg->add_str_int(" Transitioned to stage ", CurrentTrainingStage());
     }
-    checkpoint_writer_->Run(NO_BEST_TRAINER, this, &best_trainer_);
+    SaveTrainingDump(NO_BEST_TRAINER, this, &best_trainer_);
     if (error_rate < error_rate_of_last_saved_best_ * kBestCheckpointFraction) {
       STRING best_model_name = DumpFilename();
-      if (!(*file_writer_)(best_trainer_, best_model_name)) {
+      if (!SaveDataToFile(best_trainer_, best_model_name)) {
         *log_msg += " failed to write best model:";
       } else {
         *log_msg += " wrote best model:";
@@ -366,7 +341,7 @@ bool LSTMTrainer::MaintainCheckpoints(TestCallback tester, STRING* log_msg) {
       *log_msg += "\nDivergence! ";
       // Copy best_trainer_ before reading it, as it will get overwritten.
       GenericVector<char> revert_data(best_trainer_);
-      if (checkpoint_reader_->Run(revert_data, this)) {
+      if (ReadTrainingDump(revert_data, this)) {
         LogIterations("Reverted to", log_msg);
         ReduceLearningRates(this, log_msg);
       } else {
@@ -376,18 +351,17 @@ bool LSTMTrainer::MaintainCheckpoints(TestCallback tester, STRING* log_msg) {
       stall_iteration_ = iteration + 2 * (iteration - learning_iteration());
       // Re-save the best trainer with the new learning rates and stall
       // iteration.
-      checkpoint_writer_->Run(NO_BEST_TRAINER, this, &best_trainer_);
+      SaveTrainingDump(NO_BEST_TRAINER, this, &best_trainer_);
     }
   } else {
     // Something interesting happened only if the sub_trainer_ was trained.
     result = sub_trainer_result != STR_NONE;
   }
-  if (checkpoint_writer_ != nullptr && file_writer_ != nullptr &&
-      checkpoint_name_.length() > 0) {
+  if (checkpoint_name_.length() > 0) {
     // Write a current checkpoint.
     GenericVector<char> checkpoint;
-    if (!checkpoint_writer_->Run(FULL, this, &checkpoint) ||
-        !(*file_writer_)(checkpoint, checkpoint_name_)) {
+    if (!SaveTrainingDump(FULL, this, &checkpoint) ||
+        !SaveDataToFile(checkpoint, checkpoint_name_)) {
       *log_msg += " failed to write checkpoint.";
     } else {
       *log_msg += " wrote checkpoint.";
@@ -518,7 +492,7 @@ bool LSTMTrainer::DeSerialize(const TessdataManager* mgr, TFile* fp) {
 void LSTMTrainer::StartSubtrainer(STRING* log_msg) {
   delete sub_trainer_;
   sub_trainer_ = new LSTMTrainer();
-  if (!checkpoint_reader_->Run(best_trainer_, sub_trainer_)) {
+  if (!ReadTrainingDump(best_trainer_, sub_trainer_)) {
     *log_msg += " Failed to revert to previous best for trial!";
     delete sub_trainer_;
     sub_trainer_ = nullptr;
@@ -533,7 +507,7 @@ void LSTMTrainer::StartSubtrainer(STRING* log_msg) {
     stall_iteration_ = learning_iteration() + 2 * stall_offset;
     sub_trainer_->stall_iteration_ = stall_iteration_;
     // Re-save the best trainer with the new learning rates and stall iteration.
-    checkpoint_writer_->Run(NO_BEST_TRAINER, sub_trainer_, &best_trainer_);
+    SaveTrainingDump(NO_BEST_TRAINER, sub_trainer_, &best_trainer_);
   }
 }
 
@@ -926,7 +900,7 @@ bool LSTMTrainer::SaveTraineddata(const STRING& filename) {
   SaveRecognitionDump(&recognizer_data);
   mgr_.OverwriteEntry(TESSDATA_LSTM, &recognizer_data[0],
                       recognizer_data.size());
-  return mgr_.SaveFile(filename, file_writer_);
+  return mgr_.SaveFile(filename, SaveDataToFile);
 }
 
 // Writes the recognizer to memory, so that it can be used for testing later.
diff --git a/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.h b/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.h
index 82a8c9b83c..a9e6bf5f19 100644
--- a/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.h
+++ b/src/lstm/lstmtrainer.h
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 // File:        lstmtrainer.h
 // Description: Top-level line trainer class for LSTM-based networks.
 // Author:      Ray Smith
-// Created:     Fri May 03 09:07:06 PST 2013
 //
 // (C) Copyright 2013, Google Inc.
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
@@ -67,15 +66,6 @@ enum SubTrainerResult {
 };
 
 class LSTMTrainer;
-// Function to restore the trainer state from a given checkpoint.
-// Returns false on failure.
-typedef TessResultCallback2<bool, const GenericVector<char>&, LSTMTrainer*>*
-    CheckPointReader;
-// Function to save a checkpoint of the current trainer state.
-// Returns false on failure. SerializeAmount determines the amount of the
-// trainer to serialize, typically used for saving the best state.
-typedef TessResultCallback3<bool, SerializeAmount, const LSTMTrainer*,
-                            GenericVector<char>*>* CheckPointWriter;
 // Function to compute and record error rates on some external test set(s).
 // Args are: iteration, mean errors, model, training stage.
 // Returns a STRING containing logging information about the tests.
@@ -89,11 +79,7 @@ typedef TessResultCallback4<STRING, int, const double*, const TessdataManager&,
 class LSTMTrainer : public LSTMRecognizer {
  public:
   LSTMTrainer();
-  // Callbacks may be null, in which case defaults are used.
-  LSTMTrainer(FileReader file_reader, FileWriter file_writer,
-              CheckPointReader checkpoint_reader,
-              CheckPointWriter checkpoint_writer,
-              const char* model_base, const char* checkpoint_name,
+  LSTMTrainer(const char* model_base, const char* checkpoint_name,
               int debug_interval, int64_t max_memory);
   virtual ~LSTMTrainer();
 
@@ -416,13 +402,6 @@ class LSTMTrainer : public LSTMRecognizer {
   STRING best_model_name_;
   // Number of available training stages.
   int num_training_stages_;
-  // Checkpointing callbacks.
-  FileReader file_reader_;
-  FileWriter file_writer_;
-  // TODO(rays) These are pointers, and must be deleted. Switch to unique_ptr
-  // when we can commit to c++11.
-  CheckPointReader checkpoint_reader_;
-  CheckPointWriter checkpoint_writer_;
 
   // ===Serialized data to ensure that a restart produces the same results.===
   // These members are only serialized when serialize_amount != LIGHT.
diff --git a/src/training/lstmtraining.cpp b/src/training/lstmtraining.cpp
index b6644259c8..71d140eb26 100644
--- a/src/training/lstmtraining.cpp
+++ b/src/training/lstmtraining.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   checkpoint_file += "_checkpoint";
   STRING checkpoint_bak = checkpoint_file + ".bak";
   tesseract::LSTMTrainer trainer(
-      nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, FLAGS_model_output.c_str(),
+      FLAGS_model_output.c_str(),
       checkpoint_file.c_str(), FLAGS_debug_interval,
       static_cast<int64_t>(FLAGS_max_image_MB) * 1048576);
   trainer.InitCharSet(FLAGS_traineddata.c_str());
diff --git a/unittest/lstm_test.h b/unittest/lstm_test.h
index 06c2320d46..0a22fddfd1 100644
--- a/unittest/lstm_test.h
+++ b/unittest/lstm_test.h
@@ -84,8 +84,7 @@ class LSTMTrainerTest : public testing::Test {
                                   nullptr, nullptr));
     std::string model_path = file::JoinPath(FLAGS_test_tmpdir, model_name);
     std::string checkpoint_path = model_path + "_checkpoint";
-    trainer_.reset(new LSTMTrainer(nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr,
-                                   model_path.c_str(), checkpoint_path.c_str(),
+    trainer_.reset(new LSTMTrainer(model_path.c_str(), checkpoint_path.c_str(),
                                    0, 0));
     trainer_->InitCharSet(file::JoinPath(FLAGS_test_tmpdir, kLang,
     absl::StrCat(kLang, ".traineddata")));