2643 - Photo: Paul Bettany.

Allocation History

13.10.61
Ran light from Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, to Doncaster Works - accepted into BR service and allocated 34G, Finsbury Park TMD. "TULYAR" nameplates fitted without ceremony.

30.03.62
1E02 07:05 Bradford - King's Cross, "The West Riding" to Doncaster (engine failure) - A4 Pacific 60031 "GOLDEN PLOVER" forward.
13.04.62
1A75 19:15 Aberdeen - King's Cross, from Edinburgh to Peterborough (engine failure) - V2 60880 "GREEN ARROW" forward.
29.10.62
1A54 17:35 King's Cross - Newcastle, from York (ex D9017 from King's Cross, V2 60881 from Peterborough).
04.12.62
1A58 19:30 King's Cross - Aberdeen, "The Aberdonian" departed King's Cross 20:50 and was 5 hours late at Doncaster due to arctic weather conditions and derailment at New Barnet.

17.05.63
1A49 16:55 Newcastle - King's Cross, to Doncaster - A1 Pacific 60119 "PATRICK STIRLING" forward.

06.05.64
Released from Doncaster Works, after General repair, with series 3 power units 538 & 539 fitted.

11.10.65
Released from Doncaster Works after fitting of cast bogies (bogies No.1 1035 replaced by 9000-29 & No.2 1036 replaced by 9000-30).

21.03.66
1st EE maintenance contract expires - mileage recorded at 729,910.

02.02.67
Released from Doncaster Works, after General repair, with full yellow ends applied.

22.02.68
Released from Doncaster Works, after General repair, equipped with dual braking.

02.05.69
Released from Doncaster Works, after Intermediate repair, in blue livery - the 'D' prefix is most likely to have been dropped from the number at this time.

13.02.71
Released from Doncaster Works, after Intermediate repair, with ETH equipment fitted.
13.09.71
Following the failure of 9015 with 1B16 07:15 Peterborough - King's Cross on September 13th 1971, and subsequent failures, the DME commented thus: "The history of this locomotive shows several instances of defects in No.1 main generator field circuit. But no root cause has been established. On 24th August the GFG1 contactor was found to be badly burnt and on 17th September the locomotive was checked in service by the CM&EE representative who reported an open circuit on R33 stud. The locomotive was subsequently checked on depot but no fault can be found". 01.12.71
Following late running of 1A15 09:05 Newcastle - King's Cross "Tees Tyne Pullman" on 1st December 1971, due to fuel starvation, the DME wrote: "Loco No.1516 was diagrammed for 1A15, but due to a series of mishaps 1516 was taken to work 1A11 08:10 Newcastle - King's Cross. 9015 had been fuelled with 700 gallons after arriving on the depot at 07:45 and it was after fuelling that the trouble developed."
 

16.07.72
With yet another failure in service for 55015, this time on Sunday 17th July 1972 with the 1N29 18:00 King's Cross - Newcastle (the second failure in two days) the DME commented... "following this second casualty in two days the locomotive returned to King's Cross where at test run to Cambridge, with technical staff riding, quickly showed up the defect. These two casualties illustrate the undesirability of returning a locomotive to normal service with no fault found".
18.07.72
1B66 15:33 King's Cross - Cambridge and 1B66 17:35 Cambridge - King's Cross.

05.10.73
1B66 11:30 King's Cross - Cambridge and 1B66 13:30 Cambridge - King's Cross.

02.02.74
Locomotive officially renumbered 55015 w/e 02/02 (carried by 30/01).
27.02.74
24 hour industrial action beginning 06:00 (signalmen strike). Two train operation between Doncaster and Peterborough only, locomotives used: 40057 and 55015. Up trains 2B30 and down 2D30. 55015 worked as follows:
2B30 07:40 Doncaster - Peterborough (31 late).
2D30 10:00 Peterborough - Doncaster (42 late).
2B30 12:40 Doncaster - Peterborough (33 late).
2D30 15:00 Peterborough - Doncaster.
2B30 17:40 Doncaster - Peterborough.
22.09.74
Barrow Hill TMD - open day exhibit.

06.10.75
To Doncaster Works for final Light repair (off 21/10).
The Deltic fleet was currently under review, Heavy General Repairs (HGR) were in progress and five examples (55002, 55013, 55016, 55019 and 55021) would be shopped for this classified repair. It was, however, found that the HGR program would be too costly for a fleet of locomotives with a short expected lifespan and after the overhaul of the first candidate, 55016, each subsequent locomotive had its HGR shortened to include less work. As a result an evaluation process was instigated to determine the length between classified repairs to the class and 55015 was chosen to run without classified repair for a number of years. 55015's next classified repair was 29.01.79 when it was shopped for Intermediate overhaul and a report on the condition of the locomotive can be found with detailed report of work carried out below.

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).
23.11.77
1D02 12:20 Kings Cross - Cleethorpes and 1A24 17:37 Cleethorpes - Kings Cross.

04.05.78
3E07 21:37 Bristol - Brian Mills Depot (from/to) (parcels).
10.08.78
1M41 21:50 York - Aberystwyth, to Stockport and 1E24 22:50 Shrewsbury - York, from Stockport.
13.08.78
1G53 09:00 King's Cross - Lincoln, "Merrymaker" (via Peterborough & Sleaford) followed by 1G53 13:26 Lincoln - Skegness, "Merrymaker" and 1G53 17:37 Skegness - King's Cross, "Merrymaker".
03.09.78
1Zxx 09:00 King's Cross - Lowestoft, charter (via Stevenage, Cambridge, Ely & Norwich) followed by 1Zxx Lowestoft - Ipswich (RR) and 1Zxx Ipswich - King's Cross (via Cambridge & Stevenage).

29.02.79
To Doncaster Works for final Intermediate repair (off 05/05).
55015 had been in traffic without a classified works visit since its Light repair during October 1975 - this to evaluate the Deltic repair program and to ascertain whether periods between classified overhauls could be lengthened. The cost for repair was too great and as a result the Deltic life expectancy was shortened. There now follows a report on the condition of the body when it was shopped for repair: 1) Both sides of locomotive batten strips beneath radiator shutter rivets loose and missing - battens coming adrift from bodyside; 2) Radiator grills fractured across corners and centre supports. Also hinges loose on numerous flaps and strained brackets; 3) Excessive lateral movement on all four cab sliding doors; 4) No.2 cab driver's side sliding window cracked; 5) Both cabs either side quarter light windows rubber surrounds and sliding windows cracked; 6) Centre roof section either side of exhaust stacks support members adrift at top; 7) General condition of front cab windscreen surrounds both ends very poor - breaking away with rust; 8) Engine room side windows badly holed and corroded away inside of framework; 9) Extensive corrosion and rust around battery vents and engine air inlet grilles; 10) Rear of sliding cab windows rotting away; 11) Both nose end route indicator mounting surrounds badly holed and corroded away at base; 12) Both nose end hatches to weld as required also calliper pins to renew - badly worn; 13) No.1 nose end exhauster motor inspection hatch surround rusted away; 14) No.1 cab top right hand corner 10" weld fractured through; 15) General condition of paintwork chipped and cracked with numerous dents; 16) No.1 nose end left hand hatch rusting away; 17) No.1 end secondman's side bodywork fractured on weld at rear of sliding window frame; 18) No.2 nose end R/H/S hatch rusting away.
12.05.79
1Z03 Carlisle - King’s Cross, from Newcastle (troop train).
19.06.79
1M73 11:28 Newcastle - Liverpool (first production Deltic to visit Liverpool) and 1E16 17:05 Liverpool - Newcastle.
28.06.79
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;

12.07.79
White window surrounds applied at Finsbury Park.

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

14.07.79
Stratford TMD - open day exhibit.
19.11.79
1A23 08:50 Edinburgh - Aberdeen and 1G65 12:40 Aberdeen - Edinburgh.

08-19.05.80
Finsbury Park TMD for 'B' exam, power unit repairs and repaint for Rainhill celebrations.
21.05.80
1Z80 09:29 York - Bold Colliery (hauling rake of vintage coaches).
24.05.80
Locomotive on display at Rainhill 150 Trials celebrations (hauling 86214 & E26020).
25.05.80
Locomotive on display at Rainhill 150 Trials celebrations (hauling Freightliner rake).
26.05.80
Locomotive on display at Rainhill 150 Trials celebrations (hauling Freightliner rake).
27.05.80
1Z34 17:15 Bold Colliery - York.

02.01.81
1D04 17:05 King's Cross - Hull, "The Hull Executive" (with headboard and wreath - final 'official' loco hauled "The Hull Executive").
17.03.81
On Tuesday 17th March 1981 55015 was affixed with commemorative plaques denoting its part in the 'Rocket 150' cavalcades during May 1980. Two plaques were fitted between the front end marker lights on the nose ends and were oblong in shape and split into two sections. The top section had a black background whilst the lower was red - the inscription was as follows;

The plaques were unveiled at Finsbury Park TMD by Mr. Neville G. Davies (Divisional Maintenance Engineer, King's Cross) in the presence of Mr. Alan Baker (Manager, Finsbury Park) and Mr. David Carter (Chairman, DPS). As a point of interest the plaques actually saved 55015 from withdrawal in May 1981, the locomotive was more overdue a classified overhaul at Doncaster than 55012 "CREPELLO", which was withdrawn instead.
01.06.81
Locomotive transferred to York (ex Finsbury Park) - locomotive had its white window surrounds painted blue.
16.10.81
White window surrounds re-applied prior to "Wessex Deltic" railtour.
17.10.81
1Z47 09:15 Finsbury Park - Bournemouth, "Wessex Deltic" (via Basingstoke & Eastleigh) and 1Z47 13:10 Bournemouth - Finsbury Park return (via Eastleigh & Portsmouth).
24.10.81
1F50 09:30 York - Aberdeen, "The Deltic Salute" DPS railtour (final DPS railtour) and 1F50 Aberdeen - York return.
25.10.81
White window surrounds painted over blue.
07.11.81
1F51 King's Cross - Edinburgh, "The Deltic Queen of Scots" T&N railtour (via Leeds, Hartlepool & Sunderland).
05.12.81
1Z35 Peterborough - Carlisle, "The Hadrian Flyer" railtour (final Deltic over the S&C) and 1Z35 Carlisle - Peterborough return (via Newcastle).
31.12.81
1A26 15:50 York - King's Cross (final Deltic arrival at KX in normal service). Locomotive ran to Finsbury Park TMD and was prepared for farewell railtour, including re-application of white window surrounds.

1F50 08:30 King's Cross - Edinburgh "Deltic Scotsman Farewell" railtour. Following removal from the 1F50 "Deltic Scotsman Farewell" at Edinburgh on the 2nd January 1982 55015 ran light to Haymarket for fuel - thus becoming the last Deltic to visit and leave the depot as a British Rail locomotive. 55015 then ran light behind 40024 on the 1E29 17:18 Edinburgh - Newcastle service, which departed Edinburgh over 1 hour late due to the late arrival of the stock on a relief from King's Cross. Attempts had been made at Haymarket to allocate 55015 to 1E29, but to no avail. On arrival at York TMD 55015 was withdrawn.
05.01.82
To Doncaster Works for disposal.
21.01.82
55015 and 55019 were started up at Doncaster Works on the 21st January 1982 to provide ETH on coaching stock as static equipment was out of action.
16.12.82
On December 16th 1982 the auctioneers Christies held an unusual sale at their showroom at Old Brompton Road, London. Included in the sale were five Deltic nameplates and one Deltic locomotive! 55015 went under the hammer as well as plates from 55009 "ALYCIDON", 55012 "CREPELLO", 55013 "THE BLACK WATCH", 55015 "TULYAR" and 55019 "ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIER". Below is a table of events at the sale:

55015 was finally secured for preservation in early 1984.