Last updated 24/6/08
Napier Powerex 200
This weekend Buckinghamshire Railway Centre was host to the Napier Powerex 200 Event organised by the Napier Power Heritage Trust. Together with Alycidon were a couple of Napier powered cars, Napier engines and a large indoor D.Napier & Son time line exhibition. D9009 operated a number of trains during the weekend on the short branch line on hourly sessions. During the times the loco was shut down people were allowed on board to visit the cab and engine room and have talks by volunteers on how a Deltic works. Inside the main museum the society’s sales stand was set up as well for visitors to by souvenirs. A great weekend was had by all volunteers who enjoyed themselves and meet many interesting people.
D9009 arrived back at Barrow Hill yesturday evening and has been off loaded back on BH rails. Pictures of Alycidon during the event are available here.
19/6/08
D9009 on the move
D9009 is currently on the move to Buckinghamshire Railway Centre and is photographed below at Leicester Forest East Services. Photo's James Whincup
8/6/08
Restoration
An interesting start to the day with roughly over 900 Deltic Deadline magazines, envelopes, stamps, sales leaflets, sponsored walk leaflets and members day leaflets waiting to be packed to be sent to DPS members. Once this task was complete its on with the hard graft and on the inside of D9015 the exterior body skin was painted in top coat black on three corners while in the forth was painted in undercoat grey, this is to protect the body skin once it is covered over. In the workshop repairs were being done to the window frames for D9015 which have received a few scratches while being test fitted so are being repainted. A row of fin straightening was also done on the radiator. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
1/6/08
Restoration
Another day at the depot and it’s time to carry on with the buffering and filling on D9015. The whole length of the Tulyar has been worked on the second side and it is making good progress to have a smooth and flat body skin. At the end of the day it was covered by primer paint to protect it from moisture in the air. In the workshop there has been more painting and cutting on the inner body panels. There has been more fin straightening on the second side of the second radiator and it was near completion by the end of the day. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
Churnet Valley Railway D9016 on Saturday
D9016 has been working during the diesel gala at the Churnet Valley Railway and has proved to be a popular loco. Sadly during the afternoon on Saturday Gordon Highlander ran into problems at Leekbrook on the last normal train of the day and was removed at Cheddleton being replaced by 73138 and 16 was parked in the bay platform. Pictures from the day are available here.
The Crimpsall Update
Steve Froggatt has sent in some more updated pictures below of the Crimpsall on the 6/5/08 (top two pictures) then on the 14/5/08 showing the completition of demolition of the Crimpsall, RIP.
NYMR 55019 Sunday
55019 was booked to work two diagrams on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Sunday and performed its two runs successfully without any faults. Having chance to perform to the visiting public and enthusiasts plus clear her throat out along the way working on single engines changing them over after the first run. The volunteers with 55019 were happy that the electrical problems that had kept 19 from hauling trains at the NYMR so far were now resolved and are looking forward to having her on trains during the summer months. Some pictures from the day are below
RHF running round at, can you guess where?
Photo by James Whincup
After it's first successful train 55019 runs round to perform its second run
Photo by James Whincup
D9009 at NRM
D9009 is currently on show at the National Railway Museum during the 9 day 1968 and all that event, with the cab being open to the public. Alycidon is currently in the south yard with a range of steam locomotives both on show and open to the public. Images of D9009 and 55002 which is in the main part of the museum below
Photo by Craig Windle
Photo by Craig Windle
12/5/08
NYMR Diesel Gala
10/5/08 - One year on and the two DPS magic machines return to the NYMR. Friday was reasonably successful but sadly last thing 55019 developed a fault with it not being able to take power and was returned to the depot at Grosmont. Saturday morning and a team of engineers arrived and soon resolved the fault but annoyingly developed another electrical fault. All day was spent fixing the loco and at 16:00 RHF was allowed to join the rear of the Westerns train to push it to Goathland on a planned test run. At Goathland it was removed and placed in the sidings for further checks and await to join the following down train back to Grosmont. 19 still needed a bit more work on Sunday by the team but intial signs were good on the days repairs. Sadly though we would not be allowed to run on the Whitby branch on Sunday due to the current issues on the loco, sorry guys but we tried our best to have 19 ready. While all this was happening Alycidon was having a great time (and hopefully visitors as well) running up and down the line on its various workings with no faults at all. Pictures from the day here.
Peak Rail Diesel Gala
11/5/08 - Exactly another year later and it’s the Peak Rail diesel gala with D9016 working both freight and passenger trains, some single or double headed. Gordon Highlander entertained the visitors to the railway throughout the day providing many photo opportunities. Besides doing its own turns it did cover one of the 37s due to it failing hauling a passenger train on its own. Pictures from the day here.
RSG to Edinburgh in August
Details regarding 55022 to Edinburgh with Retro Railtours in August. "This is our first railtour, with 55022 to Edinburgh. The original plans were for a Settle & Carlisle tour, however, due to timing constraints, we are now going up the WCML then Carstairs to Edinburgh- (giving extra thrash over Shap & Beattock!) and then returing via the ECML.
The timings and station stops are:
Huddersfield (0600), Stalybridge (0625), Man Vic (0650), Bolton (0710), Horwich Pkway (0720), Chorley (0740), Preston (0800) - arriving Edinburgh about 1200."
4/5/08
Restoration
A good weekend was had by all as we got D9009 and 55019 prepared to run at the NYMR diesel gala. 55019 was prepared and dragged outside by the 03, ran up to have brake testing done, which it passed then went on a couple of test runs. While this was happening D9009 not taking power issue was resolved and she had a series of test runs up and down the branch line. Once back at the depot D9009 also had brake tests done, which it passed. Then the two locos were put back to bed ready to be taken to the NYMR. First thing that morning 55022 was outside on load bank testing but sadly had a few issues, details from 55022 website "Unfortunately, following further technical problems today (Saturday) with the fuel pumps on no.2 engine & pipe work for the newly-installed pre-heating system, a decision was taken earlier that 55022 will not now power the North East Railtours’ excursion on Monday from Newcastle to Oban. Please accept our apologies that on this occasion Royal Scots Grey will not be available. It is thought that a DRS Class 37 and WCRC 37248 will now be in charge for the tour. If anyone who hasn’t bought a ticket so far now wishes to travel please purchase a ticket from Sam Walker in coach L once on-board. Thanks to all who helped to try and get the loco fit and sorry to anyone inconvenienced by this news at this late stage". Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
27/4/08
Restoration
A good days progress today with a small number of volunteers on site while the DPS directors had a meeting in the round house. The fire bottles for 55019 and D9009 have arrived back at the depot and these have been reinstalled back into the loco's. 55019 has had some repairs done on one engine, both generators were checked for dirt and broken brushes, the AWS and dead man pedal systems were also checked and these systems passed with no problems found. On D9009 the traction motor gears had fresh motak put in and grease in the traction motors. Inside Alycidon in the engine room the battery box covers were put back on and one engine was bared over and started up, an issue was found that D9009 would not take power at either end of the loco but the engine was running ok. 55022 who is currently at Barrow Hill has had its fuel tanks returned and these now await fitment. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
The Crimpsall
Steve Froggatt has sent in the two pictures below of the Crimpsall on the 10/4/08 and it current demolition state, RIP Crimpsall.
27/2/08
The Deltic Pioneer
55022 operated The Deltic Pioneer tour from Liverpool Lime Street to Edinburgh and return last Saturday hauling the train the whole way with 47787 on the rear to do the ECS movements. The tour has proved to be a big success amongst tourers on the day and the Deltic community, which has painted a positive picture for future 55022 and other Deltic tours. Images from the day here.
DPS AGM, Auction & Lord Nelson Memorial Lecture
Saturday 1st March is the DPS AGM, formal business of the AGM begins at 11.00 and is open to members only. Members wishing to download the unapproved minutes of the 2007 AGM can do so by logging onto the DPS website and downloading these via the 2007 AGM minutes post. Re-elections due at this meeting are Murray Brown (current chairman), Richard Senior (current membership secretary) and Graham Clarke (current committee member without portfolio) with addition to this Ian Dobson (current Deltic Deadline editor) has indicated he will retire from his position at this meeting. Currently known to be standing to join the board are Roger Radcliffe and Stuart Page who have indicated they will bring fresh and new idea's to the DPS, the committee and it's members. Stuart and Roger are current volunteers with the DPS and other Deltic owners. Roger has previously had committe experience and has worked for the DPSCS, which has included projects like the overhaul of 55022. Stuart was the NYMR Volunteer Liaison Officer which covered looking after 103 new volunteers, liaison with the NYMR and looking after 9 & 19 under the guidance of Engineer Ray Ekins, this was in the early days of the DPS when the loco's were based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has been a project leader with the building and current operating of the Deltic simulator cab in 55008.
In the afternoon, the society's annual auction will take place along with the Lord Nelson Memorial Lecture on the concept and development of the Napier Engine following recent research by Nigel Paine. This lecture is open to members of the public. A sales stand will be in attendance. The location of the AGM is at Aston Court Hotel, Midland Road, Derby, outside the station.
10/2/08
Restoration
Another successful day in the DPS depot with a number of jobs completed or advanced. On D9009 the nose floors have been cleaned and wait the air tanks to be reinstalled with one so far done. In the engine room the cable conduit was being installed. On D9015 the piping on the inner body skin has been temporally fitted completely down one side, the other side should be started shortly. 55019 has had its air distributor removed and taken away to Wabtec to be overhauled. This is done every seven years as standard. There have recently been issues with the vacuum braking on 55019 so after checks on the piping, which were fine, the AV2 system and air filters were removed. The AV2 was found to be dirty inside so has been stripped, cleaned and left to dry. This should be rebuilt and put back soon. The vacuum brake system air filters were extremely dirty and these are most likely going to be replaced. During the day the depot had numerous visitors who were welcomed and were able to walk around the depot. At the end of the day once the public had left the depot fire alarm system was tested satisfactory, which has to be done every three months. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
24/1/08
Restoration
Another busy day in the DPS depot, more welds have been ground down on D9015 outer body skin. The inside of Tulyar has been cleaned, yes it does happen, we create the mess and clean it up. Some more inner body skin has been trial fitted and piping fitted to it. Also drainage piping has been welded in. On D9009 a crack in the outer body skin on the nose end was recently found next on to the side door, this has recently been cut out and is waiting for a new piece of body skin to be fitted. Pictures of activities are available here.
Update courtesy of Craig Windle