The last day that Class 55 Deltics were to operate under BR auspices was the 2nd January 1982 after the rundown of the class with most withdrawn by the end of 1981, leaving only those for this railtour. The day turned out to be a dull day with freezing-fog making a lineside shot a virtual no-no. Iirc the exposure here was something like 1/30th sec @ f2.8 on XP1 film, which was 400 ASA/ISO. 55015 "Tulyar" is seen here heading North from Newcastle with many watchers as 1Z55 vanishes into the gloom with steam being emitted from leaks in the heating of the shabby Mark 1 stock. The return was entrusted to 55022/D9000 "Royal Scots Grey", the first member of the class, to a huge welcome at Kings Cross. Happily 55015 survived as did 55022, the latter currently being up for sale.
Tags: Deltic Railtour Scan Deltic Scotsman Farewell 55015 Tulyar Freezing fog East Coast Main Line
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December 28th 1981 and the Class 55 Deltics were in their final days of service. This is 55021 "Argyll and Sutherland Highlander" at York working a Dundee to Kings Cross additional. I had travelled on this from Newcastle, the Deltic was operating on one engine, as can be seen by the single exhaust plume, so it was as tired as it now looked, with only a few days left on the books. 21 was not to survive, being cut up at Doncaster
Tags: Deltic 55021 55021 Argyll and Sutherland Highlander
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In their last few months there were a number of excursions using Class 55 "Deltics", usually with one of the nominated Railtour locomotives. Some were to areas where the type had not worked, others over their home turf. This one was a simple Newcastle to Edinburgh and return, advertised as a "Merrymaker", outward via the Tyne Valley and Beattock, the return being direct using the ECML. The return was a truly excellent run, given the tired 90mph stock with BR1 bogies that composed most of the train and 55009 Alycidon performed well throughout. The driver allowed some young enthusiasts to "cab" the loco before departure from Waverley, those days have sadly long gone.
Tags: Deltic Railtour Merrymaker 55009 55009 Alycidon
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On 5th December 1981 the 05:50 Kings Cross to Aberdeen service arrives at the then Platform 8 at Newcastle, hauled by 55007 Pinza, which was due to be removed from the train here and replaced by 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier, the latter in the centre road ready to take-over for the journey north.
Tags: Deltic 55007 55019 55007 Pinza 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier
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The driver of 55019 starts the second engine as he readies the locomotive to take the 05:50 Kings Cross to Aberdeen forward from Newcastle on the 5th December 1981. It was unusual for this train to receive a loco change at Newcastle, the train was brought in by 55007.
Tags: Deltic 55019 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier
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