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55003 (D9003) "MELD" arrives at Doncaster on the 25th February 1978 with the 1S16 08:00 King's Cross - Edinburgh service and a displaced marker light cover - probably the result of 'bird strike'.
55003 had been released from
Doncaster Works, following power unit exchange, on the 23rd February. Doncaster boasted of its ability
to turn out locomotives requiring power
unit changes within an eight hour shift (not much evidence in the history files
though!), however
during 1978 a chronic shortage of power units led to lengthy
stays at Doncaster for many of the class. 55003 had in fact
arrived at the works on the 19th January for its No.2 power unit
(412) having 'breathing' problems, the No.1 power unit (457) was ok and was removed in favour of 55012,
shopped on the same day as 55003, with its No.2 power unit (538) 'aerating'
badly.
55003 would return to Doncaster Works for further sojourns in
1978 - again for power unit exchanges - from the 30th March until
30th April and from 16th August until the 9th December. Other
members of the class were not so lucky - two locomotives, 55001
and 55020, would never receive replacement units.
