Deltic Locomotive 55022/D9000 ‘Royal Scots Grey’ will be making a very special and fitting tour for Intercity this Friday the 21st of April 2023, which will see a one-way journey from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh.
British Rail Class 55s, also known as Deltics or English Electric Type 5, saw 22 locomotives produced from 1961 to 1962. The innovative locomotives were created to run at high speeds specifically for express passenger services operating on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh.
The tour will be operated by Locomotive Services Group and will see seating provided using a ‘Scot Rail’ carriage set.
Both First and Standard Class tickets are available as follows:
- First Class tickets are £75 and include reserved seating in tables of 4 or 2 and provide extra legroom, wider seating and panoramic windows.
- Standard Class ticket prices are £50 and include reserved seating in tables of 4.
A buffet bar which serves hot and cold beverages, light refreshments and alcoholic drinks is available for both ticket types.
To book seats for the railtour, please visit: https://inter-city.co.uk/book/
The impressive locomotives were named Deltic after their Deltic Napier power units which made them the most powerful single unit Diesel locomotives in the world, capable of operating a 100mph passenger service, however, they could run at much higher speeds recorded including 117mph on level ground and 125mph descending the infamous Stoke Bank.
Whilst the Deltics were successful in service and well-loved by diesel enthusiasts, the locomotives were expensive to run. They only saw 20 years of commercial service due to the introduction of ‘InterCity 125′ High-Speed Trains in 1978. Deemed as being non-viable, the Deltics were fully withdrawn from service between January 1980 and December 1981, with just six of the iconic locomotives being preserved.
Responses
Absolutely devastatingly gutted having just discovered this 2wks late, aaaarrggghhh!!! Ive never experienced deltic haulage and as a 50yr old enthusiast who’s recently getting back into it after 20+yr hiatus it’s top of my rail bucket list followed by some 40 & 37 haulage (bashing) for old times sake, (how i’d love to exp D200 across the Ribblehead viaduct again, those where the days).
I can only hope this majectic beast does public duties again soon tho i’d settle for any one of six but RSG is the pride of the class. (-;<
Hopefully it won’t break down again this time.