551 - Photo: David Garnett.

During the cruel weather conditions of December 1981 the Deltics served out their last days for British Rail. On Christmas Eve 1981, and with no let-up from the chill, 55017 (D9017) "THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY" gets the 1S12 05:50 King's Cross - Aberdeen service away from Newcastle Central - the locomotive working the service throughout.

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