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Deltic Class 55 Photos


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I was surprised that there appears to be no Deltic photo thread here so I thought I might as well start it. Dedicated to English Electrics finest! I bashed them from 1978 till the end and although I have lost touch after they entered preservation I still have my 400 odd photo's from the glory days.

 

To start off, here is my shot of 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier waiting to leave Gainsborough Lea Road while 55002 KOYLI approaches on 19.4.81. Oh to have had my mobile phone with its 12 megapixel camera and been able to record the sound!

 

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Never one to miss an opportunity of promoting the most grievous main line loss under Beeching, here are some goings-on on the penultimate day of operations:

 

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/l/lyneside/lyneside%20(kenneth_gray1.1969)old2.jpg

 

http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/monorail/bmcc01_htm_files/135.jpg

 

http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/monorail/bmcc01_htm_files/140.jpg

Edited by 'CHARD
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Didn't know any Deltics ever ran on the old GC?

 

This Gainsborough (Lea Road) was/is on the GN & GE Joint line. In 1980/81 there was a lot of engineering work so they would be diverted all weekend, in which case it was "phone in sick at work" - Why? - "Delticitis" !  Here is 55016 Gordon Highlander at Lincoln Central also 19.4.81.

 

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Oh I wish I had a decent camera when I worked on them at KX!!

 

There is a separate class 55 group in the "specialist" section, and somewhere on here there's a thread about the fastest Deltics, including a timed log of  very fast run I had with one in 1978, 110+ mph for many miles...

Edited by roythebus
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post-13196-0-96075400-1398700361_thumb.jpg

 

55020 "Nimbus" shortly before she became the first fleet casualty.

Seen at Doncaster on a London to Edinburgh train, I rode behind her from Retford to Doncaster.

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Oh I wish I had a decent camera when I worked on them at KX!!

 

There is a separate class 55 group in the "specialist" section, and somewhere on here there's a thread about the fastest Deltics, including a timed log of  very fast run I had with one in 1978, 110+ mph for many miles...

 

Yes I saw that group but it appears solely modelling related so I thought this was more appropriate for the real thing.

 

JeffP I think I had Nimbus once in 1978 but no photos even though I must have had her and St Paddy many times before I got into the Deltics.

 

TTAMTWASOOC great shots esp the "CLAG" shot!

 

Here's 55013 zooming south at Alnmouth with 1V93 on 10.4.1980

 

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55013 Alnmouth par PinzaC55, on ipernity
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A very humble offering of 2 rather poor quality images.

 

Date 2/1/1982

 

No more explanation other than a young man and his dodgy camera found Craigentinny footpath was busy but it was nothing nothing compared to the suburban platform at Waverley that day. 

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More beautiful in green than blue, I'd have to say.

 

I dunno. I never knew them in green, only in blue. To me it wasn't just about the paint scheme, it was that magical roar. "Sob".

I found this great clip on Youtube which gives us something to look forward to.

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I used to be dragged up to college by Deltics (green ones) in 1969-73. Great noise, very exciting.

Why did they emit such huge amounts of smoke? It was like watching a steam loco sometimes.

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Although its 34 years  :O since I took this shot at Sleaford North Junction I can still remember 55022 roaring up the bank from the station and having to hurry to make it to the road bridge. I have heard that the boxes here have closed recently which is sad. 14.9.80

Thanks to all those contributing to this thread BTW !

 

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Only pictures I've got to offer were taken at King's Cross in 1980 when I went up to the model shop that used to be there - now long gone.

 

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55 010 King's Own Scottish Borderers

 

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55 015 Tulyar

 

I offered to buy something for #2 son - and he wanted a boat... He looks pleased with it though. (He's now 37, bearded, tattooed and in the States riding a motorbike).

KeiratKingsX_zpsec4daf99.jpg

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I used to be dragged up to college by Deltics (green ones) in 1969-73. Great noise, very exciting.

Why did they emit such huge amounts of smoke? It was like watching a steam loco sometimes.

 

It is because they are two strokes designed to run at far higher power output than in Class 55. The clearances between piston and cylinder allow for this, which means that at tickover there is more clearance than might be found on other engines. And since the pistons move over and seal the inlet/exhaust ports, this results in more lube oil being able to find its way in to the cylinders/exhaust than would be the case otherwise. The end result being that the oil accumilated during idling gets burnt off when full power is applied. Once the engines have been running at full power for fifteen minutes or so and burnt off all the oil, they do run quite clear - just a little blue haze which can be less dense than the black smoke you might get from any other diesel working flat out. Just look at any video showing a Deltic at 100mph and you will see what I mean!

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