Class 55 Deltics

Thirty years ago today on 2nd January,1982 the class 55 Deltics were withdrawn from BR service. To mark the occasion a railtour ran from Kings Cross to Edinburgh behind 55.015 Tulyar and later returned behind 55.022 Royal Scots Grey. The Deltics were a superb class of loco and are sadly missed by many enthusiasts and railway staff. Thankfully, a small number are preserved and can be seen on railtours around the country. <BJ>

 

Although not on the tour I did manage to just catch it at Edinburgh before it headed south again as 15 year old spotter out on a special priced day trip ticket from Manchester Victoria and back. We went via WCML, Glasgow-Edinburgh line, ECML and Trans Pennie line . Eventful trip if I remember rightly as the train from Manchester to Glasgow failed I think near Preston. Also bagged lots of 47/7's 26 and 27's for the first time. Can't believe 30 years ago though.

 

Quite a few years later.....55022 repainted back into the same livery it was in during the final send-off in 1982. This time pictured at London Euston after a positioning turn to get it to the capital for a Kings Cross-Edinburgh railtour the next day:

English Electric Archive | 2011 Positioning Turn | 55022_20110304_07
English Electric Archive | 2011 Positioning Turn | 55022_20110304_12

Arrival at Edinburgh the next day:

English Electric Archive | 2011 The Royal Scots Grey | 55022_20110305_03