Deltic 9000 Fund
Encyclopedia
The Deltic 9000 Fund was a locomotive preservation society set up to ensure that at least one example of the Class 55
diesel locomotives was preserved following their withdrawal from service in 1981.
in the late 1970s, the old Class 55 diesel locomotives began to be withdrawn. In order to ensure that the first production unit, D9000/55022 (Royal Scots Grey), was preserved, the Deltic 9000 Fund was established with the intention of purchasing the locomotive once it was withdrawn. The successful purchase was completed in 1983, and Royal Scots Grey was handed over to the fund at Doncaster
, from where she was taken to the Nene Valley Railway
for preservation. At the same time, D9016/55016 (Gordon Highlander) was also purchased by the fund. Gordon Highlander was intended to be used as a source of spares for Royal Scots Grey, but, with sentiment taking over, she too was restored to working order.
allowed private train operators to run services on the mainline. With this in mind, the Deltic 9000 Fund renamed itself Deltic 9000 Locomotives Ltd (DNLL) with a view to operate its locomotives pulling special charter trains and railtour
s. Royal Scots Grey was sent for a complete overhaul to allow the locomotive to be operated on the mainline, and in November 1996 was returned to service pulling her first railtour. DNLL, through the sponsorship of Porterbrook Leasing
, was able to overhaul Gordon Highlander for service on the mainline between 1998 and 1999. At this time, the locomotive was transferred to the ownership of Porterbrook, returning to DNLL ownership in 2002. In 1998, DNLL also entered into a ten year agreement with the National Railway Museum
to undertake the operation of their Class 55, D9002/55002 (King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry), on charter trains. However, in June 2004, DNLL went into voluntary liquidation
. At that time, both Royal Scots Grey and Gordon Highlander were offered for sale, with both entering private ownership.
engines were started successfully.
The next major leap for Royal Scots Grey was in August 2006 when TPWS
and OTMR are all certified and mainline tests were successfully completed. Royal Scots Grey worked her first passenger train for four years at the DPS
Doncaster tribute weekend at Barrow Hill and also moves to her new East Lancashire Railway
home.
Royal Scots Grey is the only mainline class 55 Deltic out of the remaining 6.
for many years until she was sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company
HNRC and was later sold to Direct Rail Services
. The locomotive was stored at Barrow Hill until purchase by the owners of 55022 'Royal Scots Grey'. It worked for a short while on the East Lancashire Railway
before her working engine was removed in early 2010 and installed in 55022 for her return to mainline twin engine operations. It is the long term aim to restore D9016 to operable condition, although extensive bodywork and power unit restoration is required, and as of December 2010, work has not started.
British Rail Class 55
The British Rail Class 55 is a class of diesel locomotive built in 1961 and 1962 by English Electric. They were designed for the high-speed express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between and Edinburgh. They gained the name "Deltic" from the prototype locomotive, DP1 Deltic, which...
diesel locomotives was preserved following their withdrawal from service in 1981.
Formation
With the entry into service of the new High Speed TrainHigh Speed Train
There are three types of trains in Britain that have been traditionally viewed as high speed trains:* Advanced Passenger Train - Tilting trains which never entered into regular revenue-earning service....
in the late 1970s, the old Class 55 diesel locomotives began to be withdrawn. In order to ensure that the first production unit, D9000/55022 (Royal Scots Grey), was preserved, the Deltic 9000 Fund was established with the intention of purchasing the locomotive once it was withdrawn. The successful purchase was completed in 1983, and Royal Scots Grey was handed over to the fund at Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, from where she was taken to the Nene Valley Railway
Nene Valley Railway
The Nene Valley Railway is a preserved railway in Cambridgeshire, England, running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction. The line is currently seven and a half miles in length...
for preservation. At the same time, D9016/55016 (Gordon Highlander) was also purchased by the fund. Gordon Highlander was intended to be used as a source of spares for Royal Scots Grey, but, with sentiment taking over, she too was restored to working order.
Deltic 9000 Locomotives Ltd
The privatisation of British RailPrivatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
allowed private train operators to run services on the mainline. With this in mind, the Deltic 9000 Fund renamed itself Deltic 9000 Locomotives Ltd (DNLL) with a view to operate its locomotives pulling special charter trains and railtour
Railtour
A railtour is a special train which is run in order to allow people to experience rail travel which is not available using timetabled passenger services...
s. Royal Scots Grey was sent for a complete overhaul to allow the locomotive to be operated on the mainline, and in November 1996 was returned to service pulling her first railtour. DNLL, through the sponsorship of Porterbrook Leasing
Porterbrook
Porterbrook is one of the three major ROSCOs in the United Kingdom...
, was able to overhaul Gordon Highlander for service on the mainline between 1998 and 1999. At this time, the locomotive was transferred to the ownership of Porterbrook, returning to DNLL ownership in 2002. In 1998, DNLL also entered into a ten year agreement with the National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
to undertake the operation of their Class 55, D9002/55002 (King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry), on charter trains. However, in June 2004, DNLL went into voluntary liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
. At that time, both Royal Scots Grey and Gordon Highlander were offered for sale, with both entering private ownership.
Life after DNLL Royal Scots Grey
In July 2004 Beaver Sports purchase 55022 Royal Scots Grey securing her future. In December 2004 preparation were made to move 55022 from Hornsey to Barrow Hill where the major work was to be undertaken by DPSCS. The move was done in January 2005 with help from the Class 40 Preservation Society, by providing their class 40 40145 East Lancashire Railway for rail transportation. In July 2005 the first section of the outer body skin was welded into place. Work was completed in July 2006 and both Napier DelticNapier Deltic
The Napier Deltic engine is a British opposed-piston valveless, two-stroke diesel engine used in marine and locomotive applications, designed and produced by Napier & Son...
engines were started successfully.
The next major leap for Royal Scots Grey was in August 2006 when TPWS
TPWS
TPWS may refer to:* Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service* Train Protection & Warning System* Terrain Proximity Warning System, see Ground proximity warning system...
and OTMR are all certified and mainline tests were successfully completed. Royal Scots Grey worked her first passenger train for four years at the DPS
DPS
-Schools:* Dearborn Public Schools, the public school district in Dearborn, Michigan, United States* Delhi Public Schools, a large number of private schools mostly in India and few in other countries run by the Delhi Public School Society...
Doncaster tribute weekend at Barrow Hill and also moves to her new East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway
The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended...
home.
Royal Scots Grey is the only mainline class 55 Deltic out of the remaining 6.
Life after DNLL Gordon Highlander
Gordon Highlander entered private ownership and worked at Peak RailPeak Rail
Peak Rail is a preserved railway in Derbyshire, England, which operates a steam service for tourists and visitors to both the Peak District and the Derbyshire Dales....
for many years until she was sold to Harry Needle Railroad Company
Harry Needle Railroad Company
The Harry Needle Railroad Company is a railway spot-hire company, based at Barrow Hill Engine Shed in Derbyshire. The company is also a scrap dealer and has dismantled many railway vehicles, either on site, or at the European Metal Recycling scrapyard in...
HNRC and was later sold to Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought...
. The locomotive was stored at Barrow Hill until purchase by the owners of 55022 'Royal Scots Grey'. It worked for a short while on the East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway
The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended...
before her working engine was removed in early 2010 and installed in 55022 for her return to mainline twin engine operations. It is the long term aim to restore D9016 to operable condition, although extensive bodywork and power unit restoration is required, and as of December 2010, work has not started.