Craig's Model Trains and Railway Adventures: Deltic's meet again at Shildon

Saturday 8th October

My posts are getting like buses, none for a while then two come at once! Today I've been to this amazing event held at Locomotion, Shildon. I travelled down with my Nana & Grandad who'd agreed to join me, braving the wind and rain as we set off, golf brollies and winter coats joining us for the ride. It could have been torrential, it wouldn't have stopped me grabbing the chance to see the the 7 remaining Class 55's including the resident 'Deltic' prototype together again to celebrate their 50th 'Birthday', a real once in a lifetime oppurtunity to see these quite breathtaking loco's alongside one another.

We arrived at Locomotion just after the opening time of 10am. We took shelter from the morning showers in the Reception building that houses 'Sans Pariel', local legend Timothy Hackworth's most famous creation and decided to buy tickets for the short shuttle ride from here towards the collection building. In the many times I've visited the museum, I've never had the chance to jump on board and with the weather not being great, we topped up on tea and boarded the back of two brake vans hauled by a Class 03 diesel. We travelled along past the coal drops and under the road bridge. Here we'd be greeted by the magnificent seven.

Nana & Grandad take shelter in one of the Brake Vans, ready to head
towards the Collections Building, Tea in Hand!

Looking back at the Reception building

The Goods Shed, where we left from.

Soho Building, which was originally an iron merchant’s store,
but later became a railway workshop

The first view of the 'Magnificent Seven'

We pulled into the station adjacent to the collections building where I stood a extra few seconds to take in the view of these powerhouses of British Railway technology. Although the last Deltic hauled service happened 7 months before I was born in 1982, I had heard all about these great Loco's from relatives and friends. I was lucky enough to catch 55022 'Royal Scots Grey' on it's recent return to mainline action, working in and around my local area throughout April and May on loan to GB Railfreight. But to see them all together I imagined what it must have been like to be at one of the sheds these loco's worked from in their heyday...really a wonderful sight.

We made our way around each loco, taking the pictures you see below, before making our way into and around the collection building. This was my Nana's first visit to Locomotion and she took great delight in seeing 'Hogwarts Castle' and also some of the older passenger carriages near to the back of the building. So happy she was I ended up with a pair of 'Mallard' socks from the shop as a thank you for bringing her! Bachmann had a trade stand as did the Deltic Preservation Societies that each had plenty to offer, from badges to mugs, DVD's and CD's, Prints and Posters all to secure the future of the seven Loco's outdoors.

All lined up, (right to left) No's 55016 'Gordon Highlander', 55019
'Royal Highland Fusilier' & 55002 'KOYLI'

Class 03, no D2090 on the shuttle run complete with headboard for the day

The Prototype 'Deltic' possibly one of the most striking Loco's ever made

No. 55002 'The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry'

Side view of 'KOYLI'

All you need to know

As always, one of me and a famous 'nameplate'

My Nana & Grandad on their first joint railway adventure for a few years

Me and the man responsible for my love of Railways

55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier'

55019 again flanked by 55016 'Gordon Highlander'

D9016/55016 'Gordon Highlander'

L-R: Prototype 'Deltic', 55009 'Alycidon', 55022 'Royal Scots Grey'
& 55015 'Tulyar'

Napier Deltic Headboard celebrating '50 Years' of
Deltic attached to the No1 end of 55009 'Alycidon'

55022 'Royal Scots Grey' and D9015/55015 'Tulyar'

The Cats Whiskars and Me, my Grandad took this as you can see
by the strange angle! Thanks though mate!

''Honey, I shrunk the Deltic''. At the Bachmann stand, Prototype Deltic for sale.

No 5972 'Olton Hall' / 'Hogwarts Castle' back indoors, we had enjoyed
a ride from York to Shildon & back behind her two weeks previously.

My Nana and the famous 'Hogwarts Castle' nameplate

'KOYLI' on a demonstration run, what a lovely noise!

I was pleased to catch Olton Hall as I had travelled behind her just a couple of weeks and managed to take zero photo's of her. I was quite surprised to see that the dirt collected on the day was still there for all to see, a real weathering job here! At around 11:30 we headed back outside to see the demonstration run of 'The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantary' No 55002. Although a short movement it was still a sight to behold, the rumble of those instantly recognisable engines was brilliant to hear and to see so close, as it slowly made it's way past the crowds of people and back more than a few times. At one point it passed with about 8 members of the staff in one cab, all crammed in just to get onboard! Camera's flashed and video camera's picked it all up. See my videos of the day here. After the half hour run of 'KOYLI' we made our way into the cab's of 'Deltic' and 'Alycidon' where we spoke to staff and ex-drivers of these beasts. One thing was noticable was the small windows giving the driver a very tight view of the line ahead. But very impressive nonetheless. The rain was now teaming down so we made our way back to the car park, all three of us very happy we had managed to see such a great collection of these famous and very loved Loco's.