The Elizabethan 11 June - Tornado Kings X to Edinburgh, Alycidon back, all in a day!

Its all about presence and drama. A big, noisy, smelly, fast Deltic meets both requirements every bit as well as an A4.

 

Totally agree. As I said earlier I can handle a Deltic OK as they left my Bulleids alone. But put a 33 or 47 in front of me and I'm reaching for the acetylene torch! You may find this useful.

And yes. Steam has a magic no other form of rail power will ever get remotely close to for me and I guess some others of us who enjoyed it so much back in the 1960s or earlier.

 

See what Hatherton says, but really; Deltics weren't the reason for the disappearance of the A4s were they !!!! It was if I remember something to do with decisions to end steam !!. I too would have preferred to see the A4s doing their stuff, and even sitting in Top Shed which I used to bunk regularly across the coal yards ! I lived in Luton at the time, a 40 min bike ride to Hitchen and we took the Peaks in place of Scots and Jubs. Compare to Deltics ??!! and as for KENTYETI, my minds gone blank on the immediate replacements of Bulleids, just can't think though I know you ended up with 50's at some stage. (And they were pretty noisy too after we'd finished with them through Reading.

 

Beautifully put and clearly you and I are one of the many thousands worldwide who marvel at the steam locomotive. You only have to stand on a mainline station in the UK to see the unsuspecting passenger marvel at the spectacle of a steam locomotive gracing the station. Out come the mobiles to capture the moment.

No other motive power, not even a Deltic lol, would generate such excitement.

 

Or Hitchin even.

 

Royal Pete is right to a point. Yes, BR wanted rid of steam but the last scheduled steam train out of the Cross wasn't until June 1963 and my view was that the dramatic scale down of the A4, A3 and A1 duties way before then, was down to one thing - Deltics. It just all seemed far too hasty and for that reason I just have this memory as a train spotter before joining the railway in 1963, of hating (as a kid that's what I thought) any class of diesel and it has stuck with me ever since.

You may recall the Class 40's on the West Coast mainline taking over Duchess duties only for the Duchess to reclaim a lot of the duties because the D200's. as they were known then, were no match for the magnificent 4-6-2's. In fairness, the Deltics did out perform the A4's - dam!

 

In reality there has never been a successful replacement for a Bulleid. And there never will be.

On the ground back in those days it was emus they tried to replace a lot of them, but Warships to start with between Waterloo and Exeter in 1964. Then the 50s.

The 33 and 47 s started creeping in before electrification was complete on the Bournemouth line. Appearing just when and where you didn't want them. And in a move I have still not forgiven the then SR GM for, he was blamed for refusing to allow the last Bournemouth Belle each way to be a Merchant Navy. So it was a 47.

 

Ah, you weren't at York on Tuesday. I was luck to be there in good time to get into position. As soon as it stopped, lots of peoples appeared and they were there watching it leave. Considering it was 9pm, it was a good crowd.

 

Nick,I can still not get over why you try and hide you love for all things diesel,all these things you say,having stood front window behind 47245 all the way from Exeter to Yeovil.....!

There were a great amount of folk out for the Deltic on Tuesday,myself included,it's just that a lot of content doesn't make it to the same forums/people.

A video at Donny shows at least 20-30 people dashing around with cameras and i've seen at least 20 YT videos plus countless other photos from friends between Doncaster and York (the most popular area for the Deltics,it would seem,both at the lineside and the gatherings from Yorkshire that get onto railtours).

As much as i'm a fan of steam,and A4's/LNER in particular,nothing quite beats hearing a Deltic roaring away into the distance for 8 or 9 minutes like could be heard on Tuesday evening.

 

Each to there own I suppose, I grew up in the Deltic ECML heyday, and as such have a soft spot for them.

That's not to say I don't have a soft spot for A4's , and am a member of SNGLPT, however of the 2, a deltic at the ton, is something else.

The fact that a deltic on the upper ECML, is something that has just started to happen again, adds to the spectacle.

A4's are now 2 a penny......

 

Its called progress Hatherton hall Deltics did not get rid of steam it was a natural progression just as the deltics were replaced by HSTs and HSTs were replaced by Electric traction who says the Deltics are not popular the Deltic Preservation Society has over 800 members i would be surprised if any other loco group is this well supported dont get me wrong i love steam as well but progress changes the things we love if time stood still you would not be able to write and read this forum or enjoy the wonderful videos or photos on here.

 

Yeah, HITCHIN. Didn't think it looked right .. Thinking back of course, the WCML must have been among the first for Diesels as the prototype Deltic was built, I believe mid 50's although when it entered service, really don't know. All the dates of steam ends in the London termini get dimmer by the day although obviously the Southern held on well. And thanks KentYeti, of course it you had the Warships; which incidentally had been on the Western for years. But like you referring to old running logs, I have to get a piece of A4(paper!) and set out all the comings and goings to get perspective. Because you see, that info has now led me to question what took over from them on the WR ! Pending The HSTs end 70's, Westerns, Hymeks, 50's (Hoovers) and 47's I reckon.. Must have been easier in steam days when they were here to stay !!>>>Pete

 

Had a fun time on "East coast legend day: on Tuesday, I reckon it was probably sometime back in the early 60's when an A1, A4 and two Deltics all went past York! The weather could have been nicer, but the sound and sight of powerful engines at work:

Two hundred miles to go for Tornado as she passes under Overton Bridge just north of York


A1 Tornado on the Elizabethan by Loco images, on Flickr

Heading south a little later a Deltic and Class 37 head for home ...


55002 Koyli by Loco images, on Flickr

The weather didn't get any better for an A4 heading into York in the afternoon:


A4 60009 Union of South Africa near Colton junction by Loco images, on Flickr

Then for me perosnally shot of teh day was just befor e9PM when the quiet of York station was disturbed by the classic Napier sound as D9009 rolled in to the old Platform 8 looking and sounding superb. IT might not be quite the station it was but York so still has a grandeur which is so nostalgic.


York - Spiritual home of the Deltic's - D9009 Alycidon by Loco images, on Flickr

 

A nice set and the last one is the bee's knees.

 

Super shots...

 

Last shot a stunner!!!!

 

In my trainspotting days, (which ended very early as I took up steam loco timing), doing that sort of thing would have seen you quietly taken away by men in white coats in an unmarked ambulance to a rehabilitation centre.

 

Not sure which paint job is more impressive - Tornado or Alycidon. Both are superb. Love the shot of Alycidon rolling into York in particular in that set of Macko's. Thanks

Mark

 

I can just about remember my Dad taking me to Bushey station footpath (which was a very short walk from our house) to see the prototype coming through. I believe English Electric lent it to BR in the hope of getting orders, as of course they did, but not for the WCML.