Baby Deltic

No, I was using the NRM as a metaphor. To suggest that one loco is more important than another just because it is a steam loco from a class already well represented in preservation is just as ludicrous as suggesting the cutting of NRM exhibits. Yes, the peak is a duplicate, as is the Pacific, but unlike the pacific, the peak is the only example of its type remaining which was built with the first nose end arrangement.

I would say that 45015 is just as important as any boiler on wheels. It is the oldest of the class 45's in existance, and only one of the early examples left which originally had split headcode boxes and nose end gangway doors. I would like to see the loco restored cosmetically and offered to a museum. Obviously it probably won't run again, and is missing a few leaf springs on one of the wheelsets, but if the OP is suggesting that a loco be scrapped just because it is occupying space and will never run, perhaps a gas axe should be put to use on some of the static objects occupying space in the NRM.

The CHU's were converted at Colchester Depot. AFAIK, the traction motors were removed, and the main generator's output used solely for ETH. I also believe there were a lot of problems locating traction motors for D8233 because of this. IIRC the traction motors are the same as used on the Met-Vic 'A' class loco's in Ireland, and spare motors were sourced from there.

Just five more class 15's to get. This year my wallet is going to suffer a huge loss due to 9 different class 15's, about four different baby deltics and the Craven's DMU's coming out.

I don't think there was any particular direction of travel, although, like class 16's they were always double manned AFAIK because of visibility from the cab, for seeing signals, obstructions, etc. I have read that the poor visibility caused by having a 'hood' at each end was a major complaint of loco crews. It may have hastened their demise.

I'm looking forward fo getting my mitts on three of them on Saturday.

The mainstay of the motive power was the class 30/31. Baby Deltics were used for the Cambridge Buffet Express services aswell as the more mundane suburban non-corridor stock duties, to a lesser extent than their Brush built counterparts. In the early days, the first members of classes 21 and 26 were also used, before being transferred to Scotland. The stock was almost exclusively MK1 suburban coaches by the end of the 1960's, many still in maroon livery. The trains can be modelled using Bachy MK1's except there was usually a MK1 suburban SLO in the rake, which Bachy haven't done, but DC kits have produced a kit for one. Quad and Quint art stock would have also been a feature up until the late 50's/ early 60's. A motley rake of Gresley, Thompson and BR MK1 coaching stock can seen in photo's of the Cambridge Buffet services. Although the Baby Deltic's were based at Finsbury Park, they were often stabled at Hitchin and were worked by Hitchin loco crews.Headcodes were usually 2B6X. 2B65 and 2B66 can be seen in a lot of pictures of these services. Interestingly, the Baby Deltics were officially banned from the widened line services to Moorgate due to excessive smoke in the tunnels. There is a cracking shot by David Percival of D5906 making off from Farringdon on a rake of MK1 suburbans in 1968 in a cloud of smoke, which appeared in his article on the class in Motive Power magazine.

Looks like my class 14 will be a static exhibit or a display case canditate.

My class 14 arrived this morning. It does look fantastic, but it doesn't run very well. It lunges forward at low speed like its got a tight spot on the drive gears, or the quartering is out. Not sure whether to send it back or try running it on a rolling road for a few hours in each direction to see if it beds in.

Yippee!! I've just had an email notifying me that the loco is packed and ready for dispatch on Monday 8th.

Mind you, the class 14's weren't all that fast, so they may take a while to reach us - especially if you live across the pond.

It looks like class 15's may have already landed on our shores, and I might get my greasy mitts on a couple by next week. Edit: No chance

Likewise. Got an email last night saying they were in.

There a loads of grounded van bodies just outside Thetford on the B1088, between Thetford and Ixworth. They are being used as pig shelters, so I would be a bit wary about going off and photographing them.

Just ordered a green one ready for a later West London Line project.

This is the best clip I've seen, as far as sound is concerned.

There was plenty of nostalgia when the last Wizzo's and Deltic's ran, let alone the last diesel loco's.

I wondered what loco that was when I caught a glimpse of the freightliner at Marks Tey as I drove on the A12 this afternoon. Was it a 66 on the front? I only noticed the train as I was passing in the opposite direction. The class 70 coupled inside was unmistakeable.

Looking at the clip, I'm not very impressed with the sound of it. It sounds just like a truck.

Just entering pedantic mode.... the cab steps were positioned differently......... just exiting pedantic mode.... just incase someone thinks of adapting a class 20 chassis for a baby deltic.

The loco's spent a lot of time shedded at Hitchin. They were mainly worked by Hitchin crews.

This is true. But many loco classes were failing at the time of introduction, or it took a while for problems to rear their ugly heads, such as the power unit crankcase fractures on class 47's (and class 28's). Some of these problems were not fully resolved, and in the case of class 47's it meant the engine had to be downrated.