2699 - Photo: Pete Robins.

2637 - Photo: Paul Bettany.

Allocation History

21.07.61
Ran light from Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, to Doncaster Works - accepted into BR service and allocated 34G, Finsbury Park TMD. "ALYCIDON" nameplates fitted without ceremony.

26.10.61
1B21 15:20 Sheffield - King's Cross, "The Sheffield Pullman" to Grantham (loss of power) - A3 Pacific 60102 "SIR FREDERICK BANBURY" forward.

26.04.62
1E29 12:20 Hull - King's Cross, from Doncaster (failed at Doncaster) - A1 Pacific 60128 "BONGRACE" forward.
18.06.62
New timetable begins including full Deltic diagrams - many locomotives are specially prepared for the celebrations and D9009 is stand-by at King's Cross for either 1A12 09:30 King's Cross Edinburgh, "The Elizabethan" (powered by D9012 "CREPELLO") or 1A16 10:00 King's Cross - Edinburgh, "The Flying Scotsman" (powered by D9020 "NIMBUS").

17.10.65
Released from Doncaster Works after fitting of cast bogies (bogies No.1 1041 replaced by 9000-31 & No.2 1042 replaced by 9000-32).

21.03.66
1st EE maintenance contract expires - mileage recorded at 763,116.

15.03.67
Released from Doncaster Works, after General repair, with full yellow ends applied.
14.10.67
Locomotive achieved 1,000,000 miles.
03.12.67
Transferred to 64B Haymarket (ex 34G Finsbury Park) - until completion of dual braking to the fleet. It is doubtful, however, that D9009 was ever serviced as a Haymarket locomotive as it was seriously damaged by fire only five days later and remained at Doncaster Works until June 1968, by which time the transfers had been reversed - see 08.12.67.
08.12.67
D9009 was allocated to Haymarket TMD on the 3rd December 1967 for a loan period whilst the fleet were equipped with air brakes - those already fitted were allocated to duties out of Finsbury Park diagrammed with air-braked stock. However, D9009 only worked five duties whilst allocated to Haymarket as on the 8th December 1967, whilst working the 1A46 17:00 King's Cross - Newcastle "Tees Tyne Pullman", the locomotive caught fire at St. Neots and had to be shopped at Doncaster for extensive repairs to fire damage. It was in fact the worst fire in Deltic history with one end cubicle destroyed and damage to instrumentation in the cab. Whilst at Doncaster it was decided to give No.9 its classified overhaul and it did not re-appear until 14th June 1968, then equipped with air brakes and painted in blue livery.

14.06.68
Released from Doncaster Works, after General repair, in blue livery and equipped with dual braking (on 11.12.67 for fire damage).
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).

12.07.69-22.02.70
Carrying 'D' prefix on 12.07.69 but dropped by 22.02.70 (most likely date for this would be after Intermediate repair dated 24.10.69-07.11.69).

17.10.70
Released from Doncaster Works, after Intermediate repair, with ETH equipment fitted.

29.10.72
It is reported that on Sunday 29th October 1972, whilst stopped at its home depot of Finsbury Park, 9009 was chosen as the recipient of experiment DL/381. This was the removal of its No.1 end digital route indicators and the replacement with a black film to the outside of the glass panes with two 6" circles cut out to coincide with first and last digit lamps - the cut outs accommodating translucent white discs. This later became known as the 'domino' headcode and was fitted to all locomotives by 1974. Sightings of the locomotive would suggest this was actually carried out at a later date during November 1972 and that a date close to 24/11 would be more accurate. After release from Doncaster Works on 16th November it is likely 9009 returned to Finsbury Park for attention and that the experiment was first applied then - first sighting so far after 16th November is 1N27 18:00 King's Cross - Newcastle on 24th November.

05.02.73
Shopped at Doncaster Works for Unclassified repair - work included the continuation of experiment DD/381 saw the No.2 end digital route indicators removed in favour of a black adhesive film with two 6" translucent circles fitted to the inside of the glass route indicator panels. No1 end had been similarly treated (officially) at Finsbury Park on 29.10.72.

The No.2 end was similarly treated at Doncaster Works after entry there on the 5th February 1973 - though in this instance the film was applied to the inside of the glass panel and in reports from Finsbury Park depot to the CM&EE at York dated 10.05.73 and 06.07.73 it is stated that the only problem with the films applied to the outside of the glass panels was a small area of loss of adhesion. On 23.10.73 the No.1 end was altered to the style applied by Doncaster Works, insomuch that both ends now carried the films applied to the inside of the glass panels.

Later reports made by Finsbury Park on 23.10.73 (100,00 miles since start of experiment), 11.12.73 (115,000 miles) and 08.02.74 (140,000 miles and twelve months since film applied to inside of glass panel) stated that there was no loss of adhesion of the films applied to the inside of the glass surfaces and the experiment was deemed a success and adopted to all members of the class.
09.06.73
1E21 10:25 Penzance - Bradford, "The Cornishman" from Leeds.
05.10.73
1B66 15:30 King's Cross - Cambridge.

26.01.74
Locomotive officially renumbered 55009 (carried by 24/01).
08.03.74
1M49 21:50 York - Aberystwyth, to Stockport (first appearance of a Deltic on this service) and 1E42 22:50 Shrewsbury - York, from Stockport.

11.03.75
To Doncaster Works for Intermediate repair (due 07/03). The locomotive was shopped for no specific defect and the original release date was anticipated as being 18.04.75, however, due to a severe shortage of spares to make up power units the date was subsequently amended in excess of ten times. On entrance to works 55009 gave up both units in favour of 55018 which, also on Intermediate repair, was waiting power units (having arrived works on 11.11.74). 55018 was released 21.03.75 which suggests neither power unit received attention prior to re-fitting. 55009 was finally released 05.02.76.

27.03.76
From the 27th March 1976 the individual mileage records for the Deltic fleet were abandoned by BR. Up until this date 54,705,000 miles had been achieved by the 22 units. 55010 "THE KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERER" held the record for individual miles with 2,535,411 - second was 55006 "THE FIFE & FORFAR YEOMANRY" with 2,534,563. 55010 was the first Deltic to record 2,000,000 miles during January 1973, whilst 55009 "ALYCIDON" was the last in October 1974.
15.09.76
1D00 08:30 King's Cross - Cleethorpes and 1A25 12:56 Cleethorpes - King's Cross.

20.07.77
On the 20th July the 1E17 10:35 Aberdeen - Kings Cross "The Aberdonian" was delayed by a loco failure on the Tay Bridge and was reported as running 70 mins late (14:08) at Kirkaldy behind 40162 (HA). The coaches off the down 1S12 "The Silver Jubilee" were used to form the 14:00 dep from Edinburgh enabling "The Aberdonian" to go forward at 15:05 (five minutes later than the up 1E20 "The Silver Jubilee") as a combined service calling at Dunbar, Berwick, Newcastle, Darlington, York, Peterborough and Stevenage. Despite these extra calls and a signal stop at Drem 55009 was able to bring the train into King's Cross at 21:09 - only thirty-two minutes late. 55009 carried "The Silver Jubilee" headboard but the coaches carried "The Aberdonian" paper labels.
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).

13.01.78
1P32 11:30 King's Cross - Cambridge (last of class to work a Cambridge Buffet Express) and 1Bxx 13:30 Cambridge - King's Cross.
24.09.78
1xxx 09:00 Edinburgh - Inverness, to Perth.
03.11.78
Three Deltics received plated over destination blinds at Finsbury Park, rather than during intermediate overhaul at Doncaster Works. The first, 55009 "ALYCIDON", underwent this treatment on the 3rd November 1978 one month prior to entering Doncaster for classified repair. The practice of plating over the panels was adopted with 55016 in 1975 during the locomotives Heavy General Repair (HGR) and carried out as and when the locomotives were shopped thereafter. As a cost cutting exercise the treatment was abandoned in 1978 and locomotives were to be so treated only if the glass panels became broken. At this time six locomotives were still equipped with glass panels and destination blinds, although the later had been disused in favour of black blinds with white spots since 1975, those being 55007/8/9/15/20 & 22. Three of these locomotives; 55008 "THE GREEN HOWARDS", 55020 "NIMBUS" and 55022"ROYAL SCOTS GREY" retained the blinds until withdrawal whilst the remaining three; 55007 "PINZA", 55009 "ALYCIDON" and 55015 "TULYAR" all received plated marker panels at their home depot, Finsbury Park, in 1978 and 1979.

The dates (in order) are as follows;

26.03.79
2C20 17:10 Edinburgh - Cardenden.
21.08.79
White window surrounds applied at Finsbury Park.

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

14.10.79
1Zxx 09:25 York - Carnforth, "The Deltic Detour" DPS railtour (via Selby, Leeds & Settle Jct) and 1Zxx 17:05 Carnforth - York return (route as out).
28.12.79-09.01.80
Tinsley TMD - load regulator repairs.

01.02.80
1A23 08:50 Edinburgh - Aberdeen and 1G65 12:40 Aberdeen - Edinburgh.
04.05.80
1G07 08:45 Hull - King's Cross and 1G08 14:30 King's Cross - Hull (Rugby League specials).
13.11.80
1M77 15:30 Newcastle - Liverpool and 1E89 20:40 Liverpool - York.
23.11.80
1Zxx 17:30 Doncaster - Finsbury Park, "The The Yorkshire Terrier" (Worcester Locomotive Society special).

03.05.81
1G48 15:25 King's Cross - Bradford (rugby league cup final special).
25.05.81
1Z15 Finsbury Park - Nene Valley, "The Deltic Fenman II" railtour (via Cambridge & March) and 1Z15 Nene Valley - King's Cross return (via ECML).
31.05.81
1L43 16:05 King's Cross - York (carried headboard "Farewell Finsbury Park").
01.06.81
Locomotive transferred to York TMD (ex Finsbury Park).
02.10.81
2G92 11:05 North Berwick - Edinburgh (assisting failed DMU).
17.10.81
1F52 06:45 Newcastle - Inverness, "Merrymaker" to Perth and 1F52 Inverness - Newcastle, "Merrymaker" from Aberdeen (17:25).
14.11.81
1Z37 09:20 King's Cross - Carlisle, "The Deltic Cumbrian" railtour (via S&C) and 1Z37 Carlisle - King's Cross return (via Newcastle).
18.11.81
1F50 07:00 Edinburgh - King's Cross (Association of University Teachers charter).
12.12.81

1Z55 09:42 Edinburgh - Aberdeen, "The Grampian Deltic" railtour and 1Z55 15:43 Aberdeen - Edinburgh return.
14.12.81
1E13 10:25 Aberdeen - King's Cross, from Edinburgh to York (vice HST).
15.12.81
1M04 07:18 Edinburgh - Carlisle (last Deltic visit to Carlisle) and 1S15 15:53 Carlisle - Edinburgh.
19.12.81
1G10 08:20 King's Cross - Norwich, "The Deltic Broadsman" railtour (via Grantham and Sleaford) and 1G10 13:00 Norwich - Liverpool Street return (via Ipswich).
27.12.81
1M69 09:45 Edinburgh - Liverpool, from York (carried headboard "Trans-Pennine, Deltic Lament") and 1E22 19:10 Liverpool - York.
29.12.81
1G06 King's Cross - Hull, "The Deltic Executive" (via Harrogate & York - final Deltic at Hull) and 1G06 Hull - King's Cross return (via Doncaster).