Deltic 55009 back on the main line

at its Barrow Hill depot facility over the past few months, the Deltic Preservation Society’s main line-registered Class 55 Deltic 55009 Alycidon has returned to the main line for testing – ahead of its first main line charter in more than four years.

On March 28, 55009 carried out its first main line test hauling West Coast Railway’s 57012 from Barrow Hill to Carnforth, before working a loaded test with coaching stock and 57012 on the rear of the train the following day, seeing the Deltic work from Carnforth to Carlisle. The testing was deemed a success, allowing the Deltic to be cleared for a return to charter use. The locomotive has been off the main line since suffering a catastrophic failure at Drem while working ‘The Auld Reekie’ charter for the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

The Deltic suffered from a suspected power surge while working the charter, which caused extensive damage to the locomotive’s traction motors, a generator and other electrical machines.

Following extensive repairs to the locomotive, it spent the beginning of last year undergoing recommissioning on the Great Central Railway before making working visits to both the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam Railway and the Severn Valley Railway, returning to Barrow Hill over the winter to allow some rectification work to be carried out.

The first main line charter to be worked by 55009 since the fateful 2019 train will be UK Railtours, which will see the Deltic operate the ‘Coronation Deltic’ on May 13.

Find out more about the society at www.thedps.co.uk

John Hales Welcome back: For the first time in just over four years, 55009 Alycidon returns to main line action, hauling 57012 from Barrow Hill to Carnforth through Garstang on a rather overcast March 28. The main line tests of the locomotive were operated by West Coast Railways, with the Class 57 provided as insurance.

John Hales The following day, March 29, 55009 was charged with working a loaded test train, consisting of West Coast Railways coaching stock and 57012 on the rear, with the train heading through Scout Green on its trip from Carnforth to Carlisle.