55003 (D9003) "MELD" approaching Wescoe Hill Tunnel with the 1A12 09.04 Harrogate - Kings Cross on 13 April 1979.

Allocation History

27.03.61
Ran light from Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, to Doncaster - accepted into BR service and allocated 34G Finsbury Park TMD.
11-14.05.61
Exhibited at Marylebone station: Golden Jubilee of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers exhibition. Also present: Hymek D7000, 9F 92220 "EVENING STAR", MR class 4 1000 (Midland Railway Compound), Gas turbine GT3 and BR class 8 71000 "THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER".
10.07.61
"MELD" nameplates fitted at Doncaster Works without ceremony.

01.02.63
1E15 17:00 Bradford - King's Cross, from Leeds to Grantham (engine failure) A3 Pacific 60112 "ST. SIMON" forward.
03.03.63
1A35 10:50 Edinburgh - King's Cross, to Grantham (engine failure)  A3 60106 "The FLYING FOX" forward.

23.12.65
Released from Doncaster Works after fitting of cast bogies (bogies No.1 1015 replaced by 9000-1 & No.2 1016 replaced by 9000-2).

21.03.66
1st EE maintenance contract expires - mileage recorded at 813,865.
23.12.66
Released from Doncaster Works, after General repair, with full yellow ends applied (not officially applied until Light repair in May 1967) (D9003 & D9010 out-shopped same day, 23.12.66, were the first to be so treated).

14.09.67
Water scoop test runs at Wiske Moor troughs: Up runs, 300 & 190 gallons at 100mph. Down runs, 250 & 190 gallons at 90 mph.
03.12.67
Transferred to 64B Haymarket (ex 34G Finsbury Park) until completion of dual braking to the fleet.

14.02.68
Released from Doncaster Works, after General repair, repainted in blue livery and equipped for dual braking.
16.06.68
Officially transferred to 34G Finsbury Park (ex 64B Haymarket) after completion of dual braking to the fleet (transfer moves actually occurred early May 1968 to coincide with the new timetable).
18.06.68
3Z29 King's Cross - Edinburgh (racing pigeon special).

15.08.70-11.09.70
Carrying 'D' prefix on 15/08 but reported dropped by 11/09 (though most likely date for this would be after Intermediate repair dated 16/09-05/12).
05.12.70
Released from Doncaster Works, after Intermediate repair, fitted with ETH equipment.

28.05.72
1E09 11:00 Edinburgh - King's Cross, to Chathill (coaches derailed at 82 mph - due to rail fracture).

18.02.74
1B66 11:30 King's Cross - Cambridge and 1B66 15:30 Cambridge - King's Cross.
23.02.74
Locomotive renumbered 55003.
01.09.74
Immingham TMD - open day exhibit.

12.10.75
1Zxx Paddington - Cardiff, RPPR "The Deltic Dragon" railtour and 1Zxx Cardiff - Paddington return (the first Deltic railtour on the Western Region)...

18.10.76
To Doncaster Works for final Intermediate repair, during which the headcode boxes wee plated over (off 14.01.77).

24.07.77
1Z33 07:00 Derby - Carlisle, from York, "The Borderman" railtour (via Newcastle - ex 44002 & 44005) and 1Z33 15:30 Carlisle - Derby, to York return (via Lancaster & Leeds - 44002 & 44005 forward).
30.08.77
1A25 12:50 Cleethorpes - King's Cross.
17.10.77
During the week commencing 17th October 1977 unofficial industrial action led to the removal of Deltics from all ECML workings. Action was taken by maintenance staff angry at the proposed closure of Finsbury Park Depot with the introduction of the new HST fleet, which was to be maintained at the new Bounds Green Depot. Maintenance staff 'blacked' the Deltic fleet thus all engines remained 'laid-up' at various installations until the dispute was settled on October 21st. A list of how the dispute affected the class is as follows:

 

Locomotive:	Notes:
55001	Haymarket TMD 13/10 - 23/10. Worked 1E35 20:20 Edin - KX 23/10.
55002	Finsbury Park TMD 14/10 - 23/10. Worked 1N29 19:00 KX - N'lce 23/10.
55003	Haymarket TMD 14/10 - 23/10. Worked 1E25 12:15 Aber - KX from Edin 23/10.
55004	Finsbury Park TMD 13/10 - 23/10. Worked 1S21 11:00 KX - Edin 24/10.
55005	Doncaster Works 'Intermediate' 31/03 - 21/10. Worked 1E48 21:15 Aber - KX from Doncaster 26/10.
55006	Finsbury Park TMD 11/10 - 24/10. Worked 1L22 15:55 KX - Leeds 24/10.
55007	York TMD 10/10 - 25/10. Worked 1A06 08:05 YK - KX 25/10.
55008	Gateshead TMD 13/10 - 24/10. Worked 1A40 20:30 N'cle - KX 24/10.
55009	York TMD 17/10 - 23/10. Worked 0D01 12:00 YK - Doncaster 23/10.
55010	Haymarket TMD 13/10 - 24/10. Worked 1E20 15:00 Edin - KX 24/10.
55011	Gateshead TMD 14/10 - 24/10. Worked 1A07 07:25 N'cle - KX 24/10.
55012	York TMD 14/10 - 24/10. Worked 1A06 08:05 YK - KX 24/10.
55013	Haymarket TMD 15/10 - 23/10. Worked 1E39 22:30 Edin - KX 23/10.
55014	Gateshead TMD 14/10 - 25/10. Worked 1A15 09:20 N'cle - KX 25/10.
55015	Finsbury Park TMD 08/10 - 25/10. Worked 1N00 01:00 KX - N'cle 26/10.
55016	Haymarket TMD 15/10 - 19/10. Sent to Doncaster Works 19/10 for 'Light repair' behind 40063.
55017	Doncaster Works 'Intermediate' 03/10 - 19.01.78.
55018	Doncaster Works 'Intermediate' 30/06 - 10/12.
55019	Finsbury Park TMD 14/10 - 23/10. Worked 1D00 08:25 KX - Cleethorpes 24/10.
55020	Holbeck TMD 10/10 - 23/10. Worked 1A47 00:43 Leeds - KX 24/10.
55021	Gateshead TMD 14-10 - 24-10. Worked 1S28 07:00 N'cle - Edin 24/10.
55022	Finsbury Park TMD 14/10 - 23/10. Worked 1S43 18:00 KX - Edin 23/10.

Finsbury Park - 6; Gateshead - 4; Haymarket - 5; Doncaster Works - 3; York - 3; Holbeck - 1; Locomotives moving in this period - 1 (55016, Haymarket to works).
16.11.77:
On the 16th November the 1E17 10.30 Aberdeen - King Cross "The Aberdonian", hauled by 55003 "MELD" passed Berwick on time but was then delayed by a signalmen's dispute concerning the use of close-circuit television at level crossings. Delays at both Crag Mill and Plessey resulted in a nineteen minute late arrival into York, where the H.R.H. Prince of Wales joined the train, en route to visit his sister. 55003 had to be removed from the train at Doncaster after suffering traction motor flashovers and 55004 "QUEEN'S OWN HIGHLANDER", which was at Doncaster for maintenance, took over the train - departure being fifty six minutes late. Worse was to come, however, as one of the engines of 55004 cut out. Stoke was passed seventy minutes late and assistance was taken at Peterborough in the shape of 31222 which came on as pilot, departing eighty five minutes late and reaching King's Cross eighty minutes late. The delays caused His Royal Highness to miss the party at St. Mary's Hospital and he was reported to be not amused! (RCTS "Railway Observer" January 1978).

05.03.78
1Z15 08:15 Paddington - Paignton, "The Deltic Ranger" RPPR railtour (re-run from 19/02 after heavy snow forced 55018 "BALLYMOSS" back at Bristol)) and 1Z15 12:35 Paignton - Newton Abbott and 1Z15 17:25 Newton Abbott - Paddington return legs.
23.07.78
1Zxx Chesterfield - Carlisle, to Carnforth, BR "Merrymaker" service (via Sheffield, Barnsley & Settle Jn - 84003 fwd). Then 0Zxx Carnforth - Carlisle and 1Zxx Carlisle - Chesterfield return (via S&C, Skipton, Barnsley & Sheffield).
07.12.78
One nameplate from 55003 was removed whilst the locomotive was at Doncaster Works during November 1978. It was sent to Derby where a plastic injection mould was taken from it. the plate was returned to Doncaster by the 7th December.

11.01.79
1D03 13:04 King's Cross - Cleethorpes and 1A32 17:33 Cleethorpes - King's Cross.
06.04.79
White window surrounds applied (first of the Finsbury Park allocated 'rachorse' Deltics to be so treated). 55003 was the only 'white-cab' Deltic to visit the King's Cross Loco, the stabling point and maintenance shed, as the servicing point closed in May 1979 prior to any other 'racehorse' Deltic receiving the same treatment.

Perhaps the most notable event in 55003's career occurred during April 1979 when the white window surrounds, previously carried with the two-tone green livery, were re-applied. This action was in fact a moral boosting enterprise by Allan Baker (then Finsbury Park depot manager) to his staff at 'the Park' after the announcement of the Deltics impending withdrawals and the obvious implications that the depot would close. They were applied to No.3 on the 6th April 1979 and her first outing in the revised livery was the very next day, when she hauled the 'The Northumbrian' railtour. This form of livery was to be applied to all the remaining Finsbury machines by the end of 1979 after the approval of the then British Rail chairman Mr. Peter Parker.

The full list for white window application (in order) is as follows:

07.04.79
1G31 08:15 King's Cross - York, "The Northumbrian Limited" SLOA railtour (V2 60800 "THE GREEN ARROW" forward) and 1G31 York - King's Cross return (ex 60800).
14.05.79
1D04 17:05 King's Cross - Hull, "The Hull Executive" (with headboard - inaugural 'accelerated' service).
27.10.79
1M67 09:28 Newcastle - Liverpool and 1E88 16:05 Liverpool - Newcastle.

19.02.80
1A38 14:55 Edinburgh - Aberdeen and 1G20 18:20 Aberdeen - Edinburgh.
07.09.80
1Z27 09:00 Castleford - Blackpool, BR "Merrymaker" service and 1Z27 18:10 Blackpool - Castleford return.
29.12.80
1S27 07:22 Plymouth - Edinburgh, to Newcastle (power unit failure at Thirsk due to coolant leak).
30.12.80
Locomotive withdrawn  (7,219 days in service).
31.12.80
Towed to Doncaster Works for disposal by 55006 (official date of withdrawal).

09.03.81
Cutting-up begins at Doncaster Works (completed by w/e 21/03).