Deltic Swansong
Images from the collection of Neville Stead compiled by Nigel A Petre
© Images and design: Neville Stead / The Transport Treasury 2020. Text Nigel A Petre ISBN 978-1-913893-00-2 First Published in 2020 by Transport Treasury Publishing Ltd. 16 Highworth Close, High Wycombe, HP13 7PJ Totem Publishing, an imprint of Transport Treasury Publishing.
The copyright holders hereby give notice that all rights to this work are reserved. Aside from brief passages for the purpose of review, no part of this work may be reproduced, copied by electronic or other means, or otherwise stored in any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the Publisher. This includes the illustrations herein which shall remain the copyright of the copyright holder. www.ttpublishing.co.uk Printed in the UK by Short Run Press Ltd. Exeter. ‘Deltic Swansong’ is one of a series of books on specialist transport subjects published in strictly limited numbers and produced under the Totem Publishing imprint using material only available at The Transport Treasury. Front cover: (1) 55011 The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers explodes out of Scarborough under the now removed ornate signal gantry on 15 August 1981 with the summer Saturday 1A37 the 08.47 Bridlington to Kings Cross. Deltic 11 had just taken over here to take the train forward for the journey to London. Just visible on the left of the Deltic’s nose end is the portal of the disused Falsgrave Tunnel which took the 1965 closed line to Whitby along the North Yorkshire coast. Frontispiece: (2) On a cold, dark and damp Christmas Eve at Newcastle Central station in 1980, 55005 The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire has hauled its last train for a few days over the Christmas period. Again, the train is a secondary service, 1S56, the 17.34 stopping service to Edinburgh. Little did we know, but No 5 hauled its last train the following month, in the early hours of 30 January 1981, being withdrawn during a ‘B’ Exam at its home depot of York as the train heating boiler was severely defective. Rear Cover: (83) After 55015 Tulyar had hauled the outbound leg of the Deltic Scotsman Farewell to Edinburgh, the Deltic ran light back to Gateshead T.M.D. where it is seen here illuminated by the depot yard lights. Then later that evening No 15 ran light to York T.M.D. and, just like 55009, Tulyar was immediately withdrawn.
Introduction
D
eltic diesel locomotives were arguably the most iconic and at the time of their introduction the most powerful diesel locomotives in the world. Their history has been covered many times in books more relevant, but after the prototype was tested on British Railways in the second half of the 1950s the Eastern Region secured 22 of them; they had wanted 23 but the British Railways Board reduced the order by one down to 22 due to their high cost. We have here a collection of excellent black and white Deltic photographs taken by Neville Stead, the renowned north east of England railway photographer who started photographing in the days of steam. Neville is well known in railway circles by many, including professional railway staff, indeed, many of these photographs could not have been taken without their help and understanding. This collection of Deltic photographs are recorded in the autumn of their lives and many were taken after they were cascaded on to more secondary work and in places Deltics were never normally seen. As you would expect most of these photographs are taken in Neville’s home patch of Yorkshire and the north east. From a personal perspective, many people associated with Deltics know or are aware of my name. I was born three months before the prototype was seen on British Railways and was only five years old
when the first production Deltics were introduced. The first Deltic I remember seeing was D9009 from the back garden of a friend of my parents at Wrenthorpe, Wakefield, now in West Yorkshire, in the summer of 1963 on the Queen of Scots pullman service. I was instantly hooked. I joined British Rail in the diesel depots in June 1977 and worked on Deltics at Finsbury Park and York T.M.D.s until just before the class was completely withdrawn. I was also one of the very early members of the Deltic Preservation Society and was on the committee for a number of years and helped the society with the running of the locomotives in the first years of preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. I am still a professional railwayman for a train operating company in the north of England and also an enthusiastic collector of railway photographs. There are some thanks to be made in my research of the captions. Top of the list is Paul Bettany, the compiler of Napier-Chronicles.co.uk, who had the idea of collating all the Deltic workings, if known, and their history, but Paul could not have done it without the contributions from the many Deltic enthusiasts who kept their notes and photographs from years gone by and thanks must also go to them. Nigel A Petre. Leeds, July 2020
55020 at York 13 February 1977
(3) 55020 Nimbus stands in the old platform 9 (now 5) at York on Sunday 13 February 1977 with the Sunday only 1S32, 12.00 King’s Cross to Aberdeen express. No 20 would take the train as far as Edinburgh Waverley. A booked Deltic hauled train at the time. Deltic 20 is sporting what was called the ‘Domino’ head code panels, (route indicator panels) after British Rail dispensed with locomotives and DMUs showing the train head code. At first B.R. replaced them with plain black panels, which in effect was sticky backed plastic stuck to the glass with two translucent dots for the main headlights. Nimbus sadly was one of the first two Deltics to be withdrawn on 5 January 1980 and was cut up by the end of that month.
55001 Doncaster 15 August 1977
(4) With a shorter than average train, 55001 St Paddy is arriving at Doncaster on Monday 15 August 1977 with 1A14, the 08.53 from Bradford Interchange to King’s Cross. It had only been released from Doncaster works a couple of weeks previously after an intermediate repair at which the route indicator panels were plated over, and this was to become No 1’s final major works repair. St Paddy was to haul its last train on 24 March 1978 where at Retford one of No 1’s power units threw a piston whilst hauling 1S16, the 08.00 King’s Cross to Edinburgh, and was replaced at Doncaster. Along with No 20 Nimbus, St Paddy was to languish in Doncaster works for many months awaiting parts before they were both withdrawn and cut up in January 1980.
55013 at Chowdene 25 August 1978
(5) 55013 The Black Watch overtakes a lumbering coal train hauled by one of the earlier built English Electric Class 37s at Chowdene, Gateshead, on 25 August 1978 with a southbound train from Scotland to King’s Cross. The coal train is probably on the way into nearby Tyne Yard. 55013 was given a heavy general overhaul in May 1976, only one of five Deltics that were ever to get this type of overhaul, where one of the modifications was to have the route indicator panels plated over. The last major body modification to these locomotives.
55002 at King Edward Bridge Junction 26 August 1978
(6) On a clear and sunny late summer day, 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry comes off the King Edward Bridge over the River Tyne from Newcastle and into County Durham at King Edward Bridge Junction on 26 August 1978 with 1A15, the 10.20 Newcastle to King’s Cross service. At the time KOYLI was allocated to Gateshead depot, its home since being delivered from Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, in March 1961, which is out of the picture to the right. No 2 was another of the five Deltics to get a Heavy General Overhaul in 1976 as the route indicators have been plated over. The other modifications were removal of sanding equipment and plating over of the cab window quarterlights.
55009 at Newcastle 26 August 1978
(7) Seen from the spectacular vantage point in Newcastle, the Newcastle castle keep, 55009 Alycidon is leaving Newcatle Central and heading towards Scotland on 26 August 1978 with 1S17, the 09.00 King’s Cross to Edinburgh. Alycidon was one of eight Deltics named after racehorses, continuing the tradition of the old L.N.E.R., naming their steam locomotives likewise. These ‘racehorses’ were named without ceremony as opposed to the regiments and were traditionally allocated to the most southerly depot on the East Coast Route at Finsbury Park. The lines diverging to the left take you over the High Level Bridge to the site of the now disused Gateshead station where the lines diverge again, to Sunderland and the Durham coast and to Gateshead Depot, and again back on to the East Coast Main Line.
55021 at Low Fell on 19 March 1979
(8) Looking at the wintery conditions, the photographer must have been using top quality equipment and film to capture 55021 The Argyll & Sutherland Highlander taking 1S28, the 13.00 Kings Cross to Berwick-on-Tweed passing through Low Fell, Gateshead on Monday 19 March 1979, a very cold overcast and snowy winter’s afternoon in the North East of England. The lighting towers of Tyne Yard are just visible in the background. Deltic 21 had actually left Kings Cross on 1S17, the 09.00 to Berwick, but the driver had found a fault with the loco and the Deltic came off the train at Peterborough and went on to the depot there. The fault could not have been too serious as No 21 was deemed fit enough to re-engine this service from Peterborough, just four hours later.
55019 at Stockton 1 April 1979
(9) An embankment collapse near Durham caused all trains to be diverted via Sunderland and the Durham coast at the beginning of April 1979. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier is seen passing through Stockton on 1 April 1979 with the Sunday 1E09, the 13.10 Edinburgh to King’s Cross. No 19 was a Haymarket allocated Deltic from being new in December 1961, except from December 1967 to June 1968, as No 19 had been fitted with air brakes and all locos fitted at the time were concentrated at Finsbury Park depot. 55019, and the other Haymarket and Gateshead allocated Deltics, would be transferred to York T.M.D. in May 1979 due to the introduction of High Speed Trains on the East Coast Route.
55013 at Benton Quarry 13 April 1979
(10) With a large area of sunshine yellow paint missing from the nose end, 55013 The Black Watch powers 1S17, the 09.00 King’s Cross to Berwick-upon-Tweed, past Benton Quarry on 13 April 1979. The previous month on 17 March 1979, the tunnel at Penmanshiel, near Grantshouse, Berwickshire, collapsed whilst British Rail were doing improvement work mainly so that British Rail could accept larger containers on trains; many trains were starting and terminating at Berwick, with a few trains, mainly sleepers and mail trains, being diverted from Newcastle via Carlisle and the West Coast to Edinburgh. A new avoiding line to the west of the tunnel was built and was opened in August of that year.
55013 at Chester-le-Street 14 April 1979
(11) One of the many graceful viaducts the old North Eastern Railway built, this one at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, is no exception. Chester Burn Viaduct, to give it its full name, was built at the end of 1868 and is now a Grade 2 listed building. 55013 The Black Watch is crossing the viaduct on Saturday 14 April 1979 with 1E14, the 14.50 from Berwick-upon-Tweed to King’s Cross, and will pass through Chester-le-Street station just to our right off picture. 55013 was another Haymarket Deltic that would be transferred to York the following month.
55005 at Tollerton (Halfway Sign) 16 April 1979
(12) In the 1930s the L.N.E.R. fixed several large mileage signs along the east coast route. The large sign at Tollerton in North Yorkshire is the grandest and indicates the exact halfway point between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh as beautifully caught here with 55005 The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire on 16 April 1979 with 1E14, the 14.50 from Berwickupon-Tweed to King’s Cross. No 5 had the longest name given to any Deltic and was officially named in a ceremony at York on 8 October 1963.
55001 at Doncaster Works 22 April 1979
(13) 55001 St Paddy was working 1S16, the 08.00 King’s Cross to Edinburgh express, on 24 March 1978 and whilst passing Retford its No 2 power unit threw a piston, what we called in the depots ‘throwing a leg out of bed’. It caused much damage and the Deltic came off the train at Doncaster and proceeded to the adjacent loco works. Deltic 1 had only emerged from Doncaster works three days before after repairs had been carried out. St Paddy was never to run again, and as we see here languished around Doncaster works until January 1980 when on the 5th of that month 55001 was officially withdrawn and was cut up by the end of February 1980.
55005 at Plawsworth Viaduct 6 May 1979
(14) Another pretty viaduct and a popular location for taking photos of trains on the East Coast Main Line was Plawsworth Viaduct in County Durham. On a Spring day, 6 May 1979, 55005 The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire is crossing the viaduct with 1E07, the Sunday timetabled 12.10 from Edinburgh to King’s Cross, though the train started at Berwickupon-Tweed due to the Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse. Gateshead allocated 55005 was transferred to York T.M.D. the following week and with it the start of the Deltics working more secondary trains.
55007 at Spittal 9 May 1979
(15) With the glorious backdrop of the estuary of the River Tweed at Spittal, north Northumberland, on a splendid spring afternoon and 55007 Pinza is skirting the coast heading south soon after leaving Berwick-on-Tweed with 1E14, the 14.50 departure for London King’s Cross, again many trains starting here due to the Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse. Pinza was one of Finsbury Park’s ‘racehorses’ unlike the ‘regiments’ from Haymarket and Gateshead being transferred to York around this time, they stayed allocated in London for another two years.
55007 at King Edward Bridge 10 May 1979
(16) A dramatic view over the King Edward Bridge, River Tyne and the Newcastle skyline, the bridge taking the railway over the River Tyne from Newcastle into County Durham. 55007 Pinza has just departed Newcastle Central station at 10.20 on 10 May 1979. The train reporting number being 1A15. From the previous photo, Pinza must have taken an overnight service back from King’s Cross to Newcastle to be back there to work this service. You can appreciate that the Deltics were used very efficiently throughout their working lives.
55018 at Benton Quarry 11 May 1979
(17) Another favourite area for photographs on the East Coast Main Line in Northumberland was Benton Quarry Junctions, much remodelled in the 1970s with the opening of the Tyne & Wear Metro which crosses the E.C.M.L. here. It is a junction on to the north Tyneside loop and Blyth & Tyne lines. At Benton Quarry on 11 May 1979 is 55018 Ballymoss heading towards Newcastle with 1E14, the 14.50 Berwick-on-Tweed to King’s Cross. 55018 was another of the Finsbury Park ‘racehorses’.
55014 at Durham Viaduct 12 May 1979
(18) This view of the spectacular Durham Viaduct just south of Durham station is another popular spot for railway photography. Built in 1857 the viaduct crosses high over Durham City and the River Wear. On the viaduct we see 55014 The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment taking 1S31, the 15.00 King’s Cross to Berwick. The following day ‘The Duke’ was transferred to York T.M.D. and more secondary work.
55013 at Kirkham Abbey 28 May 1979
(19) Following the transfer of the Regiment named Deltics to York T.M.D. at the start of the summer timetable on 13 May 1979, the Deltics were demoted to more secondary and semi-fast trains. On Bank Holiday Monday 28 May 1979, 1L41, the 10.05 King’s Cross to York, was extended to Scarborough. This photo sees 55013 The Black Watch in the beautiful Derwent Valley at Kirkham Abbey between York and Malton. 55013 returned to London with the return working, 1A26, the 14.45 departure from Scarborough
55011 at Knottingley 17 June 1979
(20) The railways of West and South Yorkshire are criss-crossed with railways built as a result of the many deep coal mines that were in the area. This is helpful especially if there is trackwork to repair or a mishap that has temporarily closed the main lines. Such was the case due to engineering work taking place on Sunday 17 June 1979, Deltic 55011 The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers is seen rounding the curve at Knottingley South Junction with 1A06, the Sunday 11.43 York to King’s Cross; having been diverted off the E.C.M.L. the train will re-join the main line at Shaftholme Junction just north of Doncaster. The many chimneys and cooling towers of Ferrybridge power station are visible in the background.
55021 at Knottingley 17 June 1979
(21) Again, a photo of the Sunday diversions on 17 June 1979 sees 55021 Argyll and Sutherland Highlander passing Knottingley station on the station avoiding lines. The photographer notes it as 1N02, the 08.40 King’s Cross to Newcastle, but other sources say it could be 1L41, the 10.05 King’s Cross to York as No 21 is recorded working the 15.50 from York to King’s Cross later that day. No 21 was the final Deltic built and was named in a ceremony at Stirling on 29 November 1963.
55014 at Skellow Junction 17 June 1979
(22) On the Sunday diversions in Yorkshire of 17 June 1979, 55014 The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment has diverged off the Doncaster to Leeds line at Carcroft Junction and joined the old West Riding and Grimsby Railway at Skellow Junction on its way to Hull with 1D02, the 12.05 from King’s Cross. A class 47 on a tank train is seen behind waiting to follow. No 14 was named in a ceremony at Darlington on 20 October 1963
55022 at Burton Salmon 17 June 1979
(23) 55022 Royal Scots Grey is another Deltic seen meandering around the lines of Yorkshire on Sunday 17 June 1979 due to engineering work on the main East Coast Route. No 22 has just joined the old York and North Midland Railway at Burton Salmon with 1L41, the 10.05 King’s Cross to York semi-fast. Deltic 22 was in fact the first Deltic to be built, turned out from Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows on 28 February 1961 and was named in a ceremony at Waverley station, Edinburgh, on 20 June 1962.
55022 at South Milford 17 June 1979
(24) Later the same day from the previous photo, 55022 is seen again, this time powering away from a speed restriction at South Milford on the old York and North Midland route. The photographer notes No 22 with 1A10, the 15.50 from York to King’s Cross. Note the old semaphore signalling still being used on this line at the time. 55022, or D9000, its number as first built, was fitted with experimental flashing lights at the base of each nose end and if you look closely you can make out the cover plate fitted when these lights were removed.
55022 at Haydon Bridge 20 June 1979
(25) Following the Penmanshiel tunnel collapse in March 1979, the only through daytime train from London to Scotland diagrammed for a Deltic was 1S12, the 05.50 King’s Cross to Aberdeen and 55022 Royal Scots Grey is photographed on a lovely summer’s day in the pretty north Northumberland countryside at Haydon Bridge on the Newcastle to Carlisle line with this service on 20 June 1979.
55009 at King Edward Bridge South Junction 29 June 1979
(26) Photographing mail trains in daylight hours is usually only possible in May, June and July when the days are longest. The photographer has taken advantage of this here as we see 55009 Alycidon which has just left Newcastle Central on 29 June 1979 with 1A40, the 20.30 mails and passenger train to London King’s Cross, with the late evening sun casting long shadows over the railway. No 9 has departed Newcastle by the High-Level Bridge and passed Gateshead locomotive depot which can be seen behind the rear of the train.
55017 at Stocksfield 2 July 1979
(27) We have another photo of the diverted 1S12, the 05.50 King’s Cross to Aberdeen train, on the pretty Newcastle to Carlisle line on a warm day on 2 July 1979 with 55017 The Durham Light Infantry in charge. At the time, Deltic enthusiasts were enjoying these regular diverted trains as they could see more of the British countryside and it allowed different photographic opportunities. No 17 was named at a ceremony at Durham station on 29 October 1963.
55010 on Chester-le-Street Viaduct 5 July 1979
(28) A broadside view of Chester-le-Street viaduct in County Durham, or Chester Burn Viaduct to give the correct name, taken from the town’s marketplace. People in the town are mostly ignoring the train crossing the viaduct with 55010 The King’s Own Scottish Borderer heading south with 1V93, the 10.43 Berwick-upon-Tweed to Plymouth train. This was a new booked train for Deltic haulage from the start of the new timetable from 14 May, but with the Penmanshiel Tunnel collapse the train started from Berwick. The Deltic would come off the train at York and usually wait there to re-engine the 07.25 from Plymouth to Edinburgh (1S27). No 10 was named at a ceremony in Dumfries on 8 May 1965.
55006 at Heaton 6 July 1979
(29) The photographer is again taking advantage of the long summer evenings and with the NEI Parsons engineering complex as a backdrop, 55006 The Fife & Forfar Yeomanry eases the empty stock of 1A40, the 20.30 departure from Newcastle passenger and mails, out of Heaton carriage sidings to the north of Newcastle into Newcastle Central station on the evening of 6 July 1979 for the overnight journey to London King’s Cross. 55006 was named at a ceremony at Cupar on 6 December 1964.
55018 at Oakenshaw North 8 July 1979
(30) On Sunday 8 July 1979 55018 Ballymoss is in charge of 1A01, the 08.30 Hull to King’s Cross, which is being diverted far away from its direct route. Here the train is passing Oakenshaw North Junction near Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The train was diverted via Selby, Pontefract, Aldwarke, Tinsley, Woodhouse and the Retford curve to return to the East Coast Main Line. Quite a roundabout route. These long Sunday diversions were so typical in the days of British Rail and before electrification.
55006 at Laisterdyke East Junction 8 July 1979
(31) Deltics were familiar on trains to Bradford after British Rail closed Leeds Central station in April 1967 and the end of steam in September of that year, even though if the train had come via Leeds City which was usual but not always, it had to have a reversal in Leeds with the added movement of the locomotive having to run round its train. After the start of the May 1979 timetable the Deltics had found themselves on the more secondary services, so visits to Bradford become few and far between. On this now rarer occasion, Sunday 8 July 1979, 55006 The Fife & Forfar Yeomanry is passing East Junction, Laisterdyke, just outside Bradford Interchange with 1L06, the 10.50 from London King’s Cross. The Deltic hauled train was pressed into service deputising for a failed High Speed Train.
55010 at Laisterdyke 8 July 1979
(32) The line from Bradford Interchange to Leeds, like many other railways in West Yorkshire, have many steep gradients, this, the old Great Northern Route, is no exception with a steep humpback of around 1 in 50 from both ends, the summit being at Laisterdyke East to the west of New Pudsey station. 55010 is using its full power for the climb out of Bradford Interchange at Laisterdyke with 1A12, the 16.15 from Bradford to King’s Cross via Leeds City on Sunday 8 July. Many trains have stalled on these gradients especially in the autumn during the leaf fall season.
55003 at Harthope Beattock 4 August 1979
(33) In the spring and summer of 1979 after the collapse of Penmanshiel Tunnel during heavy maintenance some through trains were diverted via Carlisle, but there was only one such train northbound during daytime hours, this was the one that 55003 Meld is seen with, 1S12, the 05.50 King’s Cross to Edinburgh at Harthope descending Beattock bank in the remote, rugged but beautiful Evan Water Valley on the West Coast Main Line towards Carstairs. In March of 1979 No 3 had received a Finsbury Park depot innovation, by painting the cab window surrounds white in the way they were painted as new, but when Deltics were two-tone green this was a shade of grey.
55010 at South Gosforth T.M.D. 14 August 1979
(34) South Gosforth T.M.D. was on the North Tyneside Loop line and was a depot primarily catering for diesel multiple units that operated these lines before the Tyne & Wear Metro took over full services in March 1980. 55010 The King’s Own Scottish Borderer is seen here on 14 August 1979 standing beside a then new Tyne & Wear Metro electric unit. The Deltic had gone to South Gosforth for tyre turning as Gateshead T.M.D. and its then home depot of York did not have that facility. It stayed there until 16 August and then returned to Gateshead T.M.D.
55022 on Benton Bank on 27 September 1979
(35) Railway catering had begun in 1879 in a fairly small way and in 1979 railway catering was celebrating its centenary so British Rail in conjunction with the National Railway Museum operated a series of special trains consisting of various British Rail locomotives and preserved steam locomotives and coaches from mainly the national collection. On 27 September 1979, 55022 Royal Scots Grey is powering up Benton Bank, north of Newcastle, on one of these trains in an out and return special from Newcastle at 18.45 to Berwick-upon-Tweed hauling a selection of vintage stock from York Railway Museum.
55006 on Lesbury Viaduct on 29 September 1979
(36) A glorious view of the spectacular Lesbury Viaduct in Northumberland. Situated north of Alnmouth this viaduct was built in 1849 by Robert Stephenson and it takes the East Coast Main Line over the River Aln on 18 stone arches, and is now the only railway bridge left over this particular river. On 29 September 1979 55006 The Fife & Forfar Yeomanry is caught beautifully on the viaduct heading 1V93, the 09.50 Edinburgh to Plymouth service, on a lovely early Autumn day.
55009 at Alnmouth on 4 April 1980
(37) Taken from South View at the south end of Alnmouth station and we are looking south with the estuary of the River Aln in the background and the Alnmouth station goods yard to the left (now a car park, aren’t they all now?). 55009 Alycidon, sporting its white cab window surrounds that had been applied the previous August at Finsbury Park T.M.D., is hauling 1S27, the 07.25 from Plymouth to Edinburgh, where No 9 had replaced the locomotive from Plymouth at York. No 9 had been released from Vulcan Foundry Newton-le-Willows on 21 July 1961 where it ran light to Doncaster Works and the nameplates were fixed there without ceremony during the following week.
55006 at Hull Paragon 30 April 1980
(38) Deltics were seen at Hull from the mid-1960s mainly at that time on the Hull portion of The Yorkshire Pullman where it joined at Doncaster with the portions from Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate. Then in the second half of the 1960s there was a morning Hull to King’s Cross leaving Hull at 08.55 which Deltics were diagrammed to work. In the 1969 to 1970 timetable British Rail started “The Hull Pullman”, leaving Hull at 06.45, diagrammed for Deltic haulage. The northbound trains to Hull though were rarely Deltic hauled. From the start of the May 1979 timetable, and after Deltics were demoted to secondary services, they became more common at Hull and on 30 April 1980 55006 The Fife & Forfar Yeomanry is at Hull Paragon waiting to leave with 1A18, the 12.45 to London King’s Cross.
55010 at Edinburgh Waverley 4 May 1980
(39) With the clock on the tower of ‘The Balmoral’ hotel on Princes Street, Edinburgh, showing 12.22, an on-time departure is preserved for posterity as 55010 The King’s Own Scottish Borderer leaves Waverley Station with the Sunday 12.20 Edinburgh to Plymouth cross country service. The Deltic will work this service to York and another locomotive will take over the train to its destination. Eagle eyed readers will notice that No 10 has no nameplate on this side. The nameplate was removed at Doncaster Works during an unclassified repair the previous December and was never replaced, No 10 then ran with only one nameplate until withdrawn at the end of the following year.
55003 on High Level Bridge 24 May 1980
(40) We are now at the start of the second full timetable of Deltics on secondary work, and High Speed Trains are making even more inroads onto East Coast Main Line services. Already we’d had two Deltics withdrawn, No 1 (St Paddy) and No 20 (Nimbus) in the previous January. Trains that were a mainstay of lower powered diesels were being worked by Deltics, as we see here. On the morning of 24 May 1980, 55003 Meld is seen on the High Level Bridge, Newcastle. It had worked into Newcastle with 1E08, the 07.30 from Edinburgh stopping service, and is seen with the empty stock of that train.
55014 at Holywell 22 June 1980
(41) Neville has made full use of the long days in mid-summer to photograph the London to Scotland overnight trains in Northumberland, especially whilst weekend engineering work diversions were on, taking advantage to catch Deltics in places that do not see them very often. Photographed in the very early morning light is 55014 The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment with 1S70, the 22.15 Kings Cross to Aberdeen ‘The Night Aberdonian’ at Holywell (Benton) on the Blythe and Tyne line. No 14 took over the train at Doncaster in the wee hours as on the day before The Duke had been on Hull to Kings Cross trains and ended the day at Doncaster. Another example of the Deltics being used very efficiently.
55002 at Alnmouth Summer 1980
(42) Alnmouth station was much larger when the now closed Alnwick branch was in operation before 1970, and as can be seen in the photograph, on the down side of the station are empty trackbeds. The station has been rationalised and a new footbridge has been erected. 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry is stood in Alnmouth station in the summer of 1980 (exact date is not recorded) with 1E15, the 14.25 Edinburgh to Newcastle stopping service, which Deltic 2 worked two or three times during that summer.
55003 & 55005 at Gateshead 25 December 1980
(43) With no service trains running on Christmas Day 1980, locos remained on depots and kept running to eliminate systems freezing; some depots also had fitting staff working to catch up on backlogs. So, we see 55003 Meld and 55005 The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire outside the shed at Gateshead on 25 December 1980 with both Deltics having two engines running. No 3 was in a poor condition, it had failed the previous day working 1S88, the 15.03 Kings Cross to Edinburgh relief service and came off the train at Newcastle with coolant leaks and train heating boiler faults. Meld would only be in service another week, as on 29 December No 3 failed at Thirsk hauling 1S27 the 07.25 from Plymouth to Edinburgh from York. Meld was removed at Newcastle and ran light engine that evening back to York TMD. The following day with many faults it was decided to officially withdraw No 3. Nobody actually knew it at the time, but this is probably the last time these two Deltics would be seen together with both engines running, as No 3 had one week left in service and No 5 had one month.The axeman has now seriously started the demise of this once celebrated and ground-breaking diesel locomotive class.
55002 at Bensham on 27 December 1980
(44) 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (D9002) was the third Deltic built and was released from Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows on 9 March 1961. In January 1979 No 2 had been selected by the National Railway Museum to be part of the national collection and would be preserved for the nation. It was decided that on its next intermediate repair at Doncaster Works K.O.Y.L.I. would be repainted in two-tone green with full yellow ends for its final year in service. Incidentally, No 2 was the first Deltic to be given the new corporate B.R. blue in October 1966. No 2 entered Doncaster works on 10 October 1980 and emerged the following 11 December and the following day was dedicated in a ceremony inside the N.R.M. and plaques were unveiled denoting its intended preservation. We see 55002 (D9002) at Bensham, Gateshead, hauling 1E52, the 09.10 from Dundee to King’s Cross.
55015 at Shieldfield 27 December 1980
(45) The Deltic power units are two stroke engines and like all two strokes they burn a large quantity of oil. The power units on Deltic locomotives had oil collector drums in the exhaust system that were designed to catch this oil and were drained out on examinations. The oil was passed more with engine idling and then when the driver engaged power a quantity of this oil burned and as you can see here in this picture of 55015 Tulyar as it passes through Shieldfield in the north Newcastle suburbs, No 15 is leaving a large cloud of oily exhaust behind. Tulyar is working 1S65, the 13.20 Newcastle to Edinburgh Waverley stopping service.
55017 at Newcastle Central on 3 January 1981
(46) Newcastle Central on a dark evening in mid-winter. The date is 3 January 1981 and we are at the start of the Deltics’ last full year on British Rail services and these services get fewer as with this service, where 55017 The Durham Light Infantry has just arrived at Newcastle Central with the final loco hauled 1E15, the 14.25 stopping service from Edinburgh Waverley. This train changed to a diesel multiple unit from Monday 5 January.
55012 at Newcastle 7 March 1981
(47) Late Saturday afternoon 7 March 1981 at Newcastle Central and 55012 Crepello has just buffered up to 1S15, the 17.35 stopping service to Edinburgh Waverley. You can see the local railway enthusiasts with their heads out of the front coach windows and ventilators, but other than the reverberation of Crepello’s engines on the station roof it looks like a quiet time passenger wise. No 12 carries the Finsbury Park trademark of white cab window surrounds. D9012 was turned out from Vulcan Foundry on 4 September 1961 and, as like the other ‘racehorses’, was named in Doncaster works without ceremony.
55008 at York 12 March 1981
(48) A panoramic view of the historic York station sees Deltic 55008 The Green Howards leaving the old platform 14 (now 9) on 12 March 1981 with 1S12, the 05.50 King’s Cross to Aberdeen service that No 8 will take to Edinburgh Waverley. On some occasions the Deltics did work throughout to Aberdeen. No 8 is still carrying the ‘domino’ headcode and with 55020 and 55022 they were the only Deltics never to have their route indicator panels plated over. No 8 emerged from Vulcan Foundry on 7 July 1961 and was named at Darlington on 30 September 1963.
55007 at Low Fell 29 March 1981
(49) 55007 Pinza disturbs a quiet Sunday lunchtime in the Team Valley at Low Fell Junction, Gateshead, and takes 1V93, the Sunday 11.25 Edinburgh Waverley to Plymouth cross country service, where No 7 will take the train to York and has a loco change there. Again, a Finsbury Park ‘racehorse’ with the distinctive white cab window surrounds applied at its home depot at the end of July 1979.
55004 at Little Benton May 1981
(50) On a sunny spring evening in Northumberland, 55004 Queen’s Own Highlander hauls a short train for a Deltic. The photographer notes the train as 1S15, the 17.35 from Newcastle to Edinburgh stopping train, at Little Benton in the north Newcastle suburbs in May 1981, exact date is unfortunately not recorded. D9004 was delivered to British Railways on 18 May 1961, so when this photo was taken No 4 was just 20 years old, and was taken all the way to Inverness to be named on 23 May 1964.
55015 at Chathill 27 May 1981
(51) 55015 Tulyar stands in Chathill station on 27 May 1981 with 1S15, the 17.35 Newcastle to Edinburgh stopping service, a regular Deltic working at this time, and No 15 has the classic white cab surround. If you look between the headlights you can see a small plate. This was a plaque presented to Tulyar by The Deltic Preservation Society to commemorate the loco’s participation in the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway opening in May 1980.
55008 at Beattock Summit 28 June 1981
(52) Early on a mid-summer’s Sunday morning 55008 The Green Howards is not on its home ground but diverted over the West Coast Main Line, seen here at Beattock Summit. The summit sign is clearly visible on the left of the photograph. The train is the Saturday evening departure, 1S70, the 22.15 King’s Cross to Aberdeen The Night Aberdonian, diverted between Newcastle and Edinburgh due to weekend engineering works. The service left Newcastle for Carlisle, then up the West Coast line to Carstairs, thence from there to Edinburgh Waverley. This was a common diversionary route for many Deltic hauled East Coast services.
55016 at Berwick-upon-Tweed 25 July 1981
(53) The last summer of the Deltics working on British Railways saw them without many of their more important trains to haul so they became spare to work more unusual trains on their traditional main lines.This was one of those summer Saturday holiday trains that were so common in days gone by. On Saturday 25th July 1981 55016 Gordon Highlander is seen leaving Berwick-upon-Tweed behind with 1S97, a Summer 12.00 Scarborough to Glasgow Queen Street service. The Deltic had taken over the train at York and then took the train all the way to Glasgow Queen Street, a station that had not seen a Deltic for many years. They had worked into Glasgow in the 1960s with the Queen of Scots pullman service.
55008 at Manors 29 July 1981
(54) The sun has just emerged to illuminate 55008 The Green Howards at Manors, in north Newcastle. Manors station is visible in the background and the train is just passing under Argyle Street bridge. The train is 1S08, the 07.05 Newcastle to Edinburgh stopping service. This train conveyed sleeping car passengers from King’s Cross (2nd & 3rd vehicles) for the intermediate stations between Newcastle to Edinburgh, which No 8 had left King’s Cross with (1N00) at 01.00 that morning.
55002 at Newark 29 July 1981
(55) Newark station in high summer 1981. It is the 29 July and a Union Jack flag is mounted on the wall of the station building. This was the day Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. To mark the occasion British Rail Eastern Region sold a £2 from anywhere to anywhere return ticket within their region. It proved to be very popular as many trains were full and standing. On this day the N.R.M. designated Deltic 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry is stood at Newark with 1S76, the 09.40 King’s Cross to Edinburgh service which was a York semi-fast train extended to Edinburgh for the summer season only.
55010 at Peterborough 29 July 1981
(56) Later in the day of the Royal Wedding, 29 July 1981, the photographer has travelled the 74 miles south to Peterborough, the junction for East Anglia. Taken from the very popular vantage point for photographers of Mayor’s Walk bridge, 55010 The King’s Own Scottish Borderer is leaving Peterborough heading north with 1L42, the 12.05 from King’s Cross to York. On the left is Peterborough diesel locomotive fuelling point with a class 31 and two class 47s stabled.
55021 at Peterborough 29 July 1981
(57) Stood in Peterborough station in the afternoon of 29 July 1981 is 55021 Argyll and Sutherland Highlander with 1L43, the 14.03 King’s Cross to York semi-fast. The enthusiasts are making the most of the extra bank holiday coupled with the excellent sunny weather to enjoy another day of the dwindling days of Deltics in service on British Rail. The photographer boarded this train to its York destination as we shall see in the next photograph.
55021 at Holgate Junction 29 July 1981
(58) After the photographer arrived at York on the evening of 29 July 1981, he walked round to the old cattle dock off Holgate Road on the down side of the line to photograph 55021 Argyll and Sutherland Highlander leaving York with 1A31, the 18.14 to King’s Cross. The driver has opened his power handle and No 21 floods Holgate Road with oily exhaust but makes for a much more dramatic photograph.
55017 at Hull 1 August 1981
(59) A Sunny ‘Yorkshire Day’ 1 August 1981 sees 55017 The Durham Light Infantry stood in the terminus at Hull Paragon waiting to leave on 1A13, the 09.36 to King’s Cross. After the Deltics were cascaded onto more secondary work they took over the majority of the King’s Cross to Hull trains. No 17 had worked into Hull in the early hours of that morning with 1D62, the 03.55 from Doncaster.
55002 at Castleton 2 August 1981
(60) On two Sundays in August 1981 the Newcastle division of the Eastern Region of B.R. organised Merrymaker excursions from Newcastle to Whitby so passengers could enjoy a day on the east coast. The trains were hauled by N.R.M. designated and two-tone green Deltic 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Whilst day trippers from Newcastle were enjoying the summer sun on the beach No 2 hauled a middle of the day return from Whitby to Middlesbrough. The first of these days was on 2 August and No 2 is seen at Castleton, North Yorkshire, with 1G10, the 12.44 Whitby to Middlesbrough excursion.
55002 at Whitby 2 August 1981
(61) Whitby in North Yorkshire was a once large railway centre with a large station and locomotive depot and a goods yard. There were services direct to York, via what is now the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Scarborough, down the coast route to the south, and the only line now left is the route to Battersby and Middlesbrough. Taken from the old goods yard and with Whitby Abbey perched on top of the hill in the background 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry stands outside of the old goods shed, now a ship’s chandlers, in the late afternoon on 2 August 1981.
55011 at Filey 15 August 1981
(62) In the summer of 1981, the Deltics’ last summer in service with British Rail, and another one of the class is seen on a secondary line with a summer Saturday holiday train. 55011 The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers had worked light engine from York to Scarborough in the early hours of the morning of 15 August 1981. At Scarborough No 11 picked up a train of empty coaches and proceeded down to Filey, where No 11 ran round the train and formed 1N60, the 08.54 Filey to Newcastle. Here 55011 is waiting at Filey to leave with this Newcastle summer Saturday train. At Scarborough another locomotive took the train forward to York.
55022 at Seamer Junction 15 August 1981
(63) Deltic enthusiasts were treated on this day, 15 August 1981, with two Deltics at Scarborough. The second Deltic to be seen on the Scarborough to York line was 55022 Royal Scots Grey seen here passing Seamer West signal box with 1S51, the 15.08 from Scarborough to Edinburgh summer Saturday train. The Deltic took the train all the way to its destination. No 22 had arrived in Scarborough earlier in the day from Edinburgh on 1E28, the 08.10 from Glasgow Queen Street.
55009 at Kirkham Abbey on 29 August 1981
(64) It is the Saturday in the late summer bank holiday 1981 and the Scarborough line sees another two Deltics working on this picturesque line. 55009 Alycidon has now been transferred to York T.M.D. but before they were transferred from Finsbury Park that depot painted out their iconic white cab window surrounds. No 9 is seen in the pretty Derwent Valley at Kirkham Abbey on Saturday 29 August 1981 with 1N60, the 08.54 Filey to Newcastle summer Saturday train. The Deltic would work the train from Scarborough to Newcastle.
55013 at Kirkham Abbey 29 August 1981
(65) A second Deltic on 29 August 1981 on the Scarborough line that day was 55013 The Black Watch. It is seen here passing Kirkham Abbey signal box at the site of the former Kirkham Abbey station, closed back on 22 September 1930. No 13 is working 1A37, the 08.37 Bridlington to King’s Cross summer Saturday train. No 13 had come on to the train at Scarborough.
55002 at Dawdon Junction 30 August 1981
(66) The second day of the Eastern Region Newcastle to Whitby Merrymaker excursions was on 30 August 1981, again with N.R.M. designated and two-tone green liveried Deltic 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, but it was touch and go for Deltic No 2 to be available for this day as it was in Doncaster Plant Works until the previous Friday having a power unit change. No 2 is seen at Dawdon Junction, Seaham, County Durham, on the outbound from Newcastle, the 1G30 08.53 Newcastle to Whitby.
55010 at Royal Border Bridge Berwick 4 September 1981
(67) We have mentioned the beautiful viaducts of the north east of England several times in this collection of photographs, but the largest and most majestic is The Royal Border Bridge which spans the River Tweed in Northumberland. This though is not the border between Scotland and England as this is three miles to the north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Crossing this 28 arch, Grade 1 listed viaduct on 4 September 1981 is 55010 The King’s Own Scottish Borderer on another unusual train for a Deltic, 1S15, the 15.53 Carlisle to Edinburgh via Newcastle service.
55017 at Hett Mill on 10 September 1981
(68)) A regular Deltic hauled train in their last years was this one, 1E10, the 09.10 from Dundee to London King’s Cross, sometimes, as on this occasion, the Deltic worked this train throughout for the 450 or so miles. 55017 The Durham Light Infantry is seen passing Hett Mill signal box and level crossing in County Durham on 10 September 1981. Remarkably Deltic No 17 had also worked this train throughout the previous three days!! With working overnight trains back from London to Scotland, this was some mileage in a short space of time for a locomotive in the autumn of its life.
55009 at Carlisle 21 September 1981
(69) On a sunny autumn day Deltic 55009 Alycidon finds itself off its beaten track at Carlisle Citadel on 21 September 1981. Although Deltics worked trains through Carlisle on the West Coast Route many times on diversions due to engineering work on the East Coast route, but in a bay platform there, Deltics were not common. We see Deltic No 9 stood in the bay platform 6 at Carlisle waiting to leave on 1S15, the 15.53 to Edinburgh via Newcastle train.
55004 at Victoria Bridge 17 October 1981
(70) The Victoria Bridge, now known as Victoria Viaduct, carried the old Durham Junction Railway over the River Wear near Washington, County Durham. The line was used as a diversionary route as seen here on 17 October 1981 where 55004 Queen’s Own Highlander is passing over with 1S27, the 07.34 from Plymouth to Edinburgh. The Deltic worked the train from York. Little did anyone know, but Deltic No 4 only had 11 days left in service and was withdrawn on 28 October 1981. This line was closed in 1991, but the viaduct still stands as it is a grade 2 listed building.
55015 at Riverside Junction, Byker 24 October 1981
Deltic Line-Up at York T.M.D. 22 November 1981
55022 at York T.M.D. 22 November 1981
Opposite top: (71) We are now getting into the final weeks of the Deltics in normal British Rail service and with it came a series of Deltic hauled rail tours taking them far and wide around the country. The Deltic Preservation Society was formed in 1977 to secure at least one Deltic for preservation. At the time the D.P.S. was formed it was unclear whether one would be saved for the nation as part of the national collection. The final D.P.S. rail tour was from York to Aberdeen and return on 24 October 1981. The Deltic Salute was hauled by 55015 Tulyar specially painted for the occasion including the white window surrounds that had been reapplied by Finsbury Park for another rail tour the previous week. Tulyar is seen here at Riverside Junction, Byker, in the north of Newcastle suburbs. Opposite bottom: (72) Neville Stead was well known as a celebrated railway photographer in the north east of England and he knew many British Rail staff around the area. On Sunday 22 November 1981 there just happened to be six Deltics around York T.M.D. and it was arranged for them to be lined up for photographs. The Deltics from left to right are: 55013 The Black Watch, 55017 The Durham Light Infantry, 55008 The Green Howards, 55016 Gordon Highlander, 55014 The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and 55022 Royal Scots Grey. Above: (73) A fine portrait of a resplendent 55022 Royal Scots Grey at York T.M.D. on 22 November 1981. Deltic 22 was another of the Deltics, of which there were four in total, especially painted and kept as special rail tour Deltics based at York. 22 was also co-numbered with its original British Railways number of D9000. These Deltics were tested on York to Liverpool trains, which 22 operated the following day, and the normal test service for the following Saturday’s rail tour was generally on the Thursday 08.49 York to Liverpool and 13.05 return to York.
55009 at Crawford (Clyde Valley) 28 November 1981
(74) The bridge over the River Clyde just to the north of Crawford between Carlisle and Glasgow on the West Coast Main Line was always a very popular location for railway photography. On 28 November 1981 55009 Alycidon is seen crossing the Clyde with a Farewell to the Deltic Merrymaker excursion organised by the Newcastle Division of the Eastern Region of British Rail. The tour started from Newcastle and went to Edinburgh via Carlisle and return to Newcastle via the direct E.C.M.L. No 9 was another of the specially prepared rail tour Deltics.
55016 at Newcastle Central 2 December 1981
(75) We now enter the final month of the Deltics in service, December 1981, which turned out eventually to be a very cold and snowy month. In the evening of 2 December 1981, 55016 Gordon Highlander is stood in Newcastle Central with 1S15, the 15.53 Carlisle to Edinburgh via Newcastle service. No 16 hauled trains with not too much trouble until 21 December when, unfortunately, a fire in No 1 engine exhaust system at Peterborough resulted in the loco being restricted to run on just one engine. 55016 was officially withdrawn on 30 December 1981.
55015 at Waitby 5 December 1981
55008 at Riverside Junction, Byker 16 December 1981
Right: (78) The 19 December saw the final rail tours running on a Saturday for Deltic haulage in 1981. Again, the day proved cold and snowy. The two-tone green and N.R.M. designated Deltic 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry is stood in the main platform at Scarborough on 19 December. It had arrived on the F. and W. Railtours, Napier North Eastern which had started at Plymouth at a very early time of 05.10. Deltic 2 had come on to the train at York and from Scarborough took the service via the Yorkshire Coast line through Bridlington, but avoiding Hull, and on to Selby and Doncaster. At Doncaster the Deltic was replaced by a class 50 for the return to Plymouth.
55002 at Scarborough 19 December 1981
Opposite top: (76) Deltics were no strangers on the Settle & Carlisle line, they worked many rail tours and excursions over this scenic but bleak rail route, but on 5 December 1981 55015 Tulyar would be the last Deltic to work over the S & C in the service of British Rail. 1Z35, The Hadrian Flyer, originated from Peterborough and travelled up the GN/GE joint line to Doncaster then on to Leeds, where it avoided Leeds City Station, and up the Aire Valley and on to the Settle & Carlisle line where No 15 is seen at Waitby between Kirkby Stephen and Crosby Garrett. After a few hours there, Deltic 15 returned to Peterborough via Newcastle and the E.C.M.L. to Doncaster and onto Peterborough again via the Joint Line. The tour was arranged by British Rail as one of their final Deltic rail tours. Opposite bottom: (77) December 1981 was not the best month for chasing the last of the Deltics. It turned out to be a very cold and snowy month, as can be seen in this photograph of 55008 The Green Howards taking 1S12, the 05.50 from King’s Cross to Aberdeen, out of Newcastle towards Scotland past Riverside Junction, Byker, on 16 December 1981. On this occasion the Deltic did work the train throughout to Aberdeen. Deltic 8 was a strong performer in the last month of the Deltics in B.R. service, but on the final day, 31 December, when it was allocated to work the 14.03 King’s Cross to York semifast, No 8 failed on Finsbury Park T.M.D. with flat batteries and was then officially withdrawn.
55021 at Gateshead T.M.D. 24 December 1981
(79) It is the evening of Christmas Eve 1981 and 55021 Argyll & Sutherland Highlander has hauled its last train before the holidays, which was 1N12, the 00.05 from King’s Cross to Newcastle that morning. We see Deltic 21 stabled at Gateshead depot for the Christmas holidays when no passenger trains ran. No 21 was another to be well used until the last day of Deltic hauled trains in normal service, 31 December , when it hauled the last train from King’s Cross to York, 1L41, the 09.40 departure.
55009 at Newcastle Central 30 December 1981 (80) The penultimate day of the Deltics in normal service was 30 December 1981. 55009 Alycidon started the day working 1M04, the 07.18 Edinburgh to Carlisle via Newcastle, but the train heating boiler was faulty, so No 9 came off at Newcastle and went to Gateshead T.M.D. for repairs. After the repairs had been carried out Alycidon is seen shunting mail vans in platform 12 at Newcastle Central station. No 9 then worked 1A40, the 21.00 Newcastle to King’s Cross service. This was Deltic 9’s final revenue earning service.
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55015 at Newcastle Central Yard 2 January 1982 (81) Saturday 2 January 1982 was a sad day for all Deltic enthusiasts and also for many other general railway enthusiasts as this was the day of the final special train hauled by Deltic locomotives in British Railways service. The train, 1F50, the Deltic Scotsman Farewell, left King’s Cross at 08.30 and we had a run to Edinburgh and return up the East Coast Main Line without any deviation. The northbound leg was hauled by 55015 Tulyar and the train was put into Newcastle Central Yard instead of through the main station and we see it here on this very dull and cold day. On the nose end the Deltic is carrying headboards made especially for the occasion and a wreath that was provided by the Yorkshire branch of The Deltic Preservation Society. The train was booked to be hauled by the N.R.M. Deltic 55002 but it was deemed unfit and 55015 was substituted.
55009 at Newcastle Central Yard 2 January 1982
(82) There was also a standby Deltic on 2 January 1982, this was 55009 Alycidon seen here in Newcastle Central Yard. Deltic 9 was and still is my personal favourite as it was the first Deltic I worked on at Finsbury Park depot. 55009 started out in the early hours from Finsbury Park T.M.D. and ran light to Peterborough where it then left at 08.05 as 0G50 light engine to Newcastle where No 9 stayed until 15.37 when it departed light to Peterborough. No 9 is carrying the ‘Thistle’ Headboard that was carried on the loco of the Flying Scotsman train in the 1960s and the headboard of the specials No 9 had hauled during the previous week. From Peterborough Alycidon made its final journey light engine to York T.M.D. and was immediately withdrawn.