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Although selected as one of the four Deltic locomotives to work the many farewell railtours in early October 1981, 55022 (D9000) "ROYAL SCOTS GREY" was looking a poor candidate by the end of the same month. Released by Stratford TMD on the 13th October, following slight collision damage repairs and cleaning for the farewell tours, 55022 got off to a bad start by derailing at Finsbury Park on the 14th. Remaining at Finsbury Park until the 21st it was turned out for 1D08 19:40 King's Cross - Hull, however failed at Peterborough. Sent back light to Finsbury Park it was restricted to air brake stock and managed two days 'out-and-back' trains from King's Cross to York successfully. Unfortunately on the 24th October whilst in charge of 1S12 05:50 King's Cross - Aberdeen, seen above arriving at Selby, the locomotive suffered a power unit failure and worked the service on one unit as far as Newcastle only. 55022 was dispatched light engine from Newcastle to home depot York for 'C' exam and repairs and did not re-emerge until 4th November when it worked 1M62 08:50 York - Liverpool, duly failing with the returning 1E99 13:05 Liverpool - York on departure from Liverpool. 45005 assisted 55022 and 1E99 from Manchester and on return to York "ROYAL SCOTS GREY" was put on decision pending any further use. Reprise came only one day later after it was decided to withdraw 55011 (D9011) "THE ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS", itself one one power unit only, and donate its good unit to 55022. The power unit exchange came about at Stratford TMD from the 6th until the 12th November after which 55022 resumed its duties. 55022 did, however, only work one of the farewell railtours prior to the final "Deltic Scotsman Farewell" tour on the 2nd January 1982, when it was turned out on the 28th November for 1Z38 08:12 York - Paddington "The Deltic Venturer". The locomotive mainly saw use on York - Liverpool trains one of which, the 1M69 09:45 Edinburgh - Liverpool on the 20th December, which it powered from from York was adorned with "The Deltic Lament" headboard..
