1978 moves updated courtesy of Andrew McGee.

1962 & 1964 moves updated courtesy of Stephen Richmond.

55007's 1979 moves updated courtesy of John Miller.

John writes in that 55007 was seen with a parcels service adjacent to Glasgow Shields Road on 5th November 1979 as he departed Central with the 12:25 to Gourock. This service has so far been un-reported and little information is known, though it seems the turn fitted in between 55007's other services that day - those being:  1S08 07:05 Newcastle - Edinburgh and 1E29 17:07 Edinburgh - Newcastle. Any further information for this unusual move would be most welcome.

 

New photos courtesy of Paul Robertson, Carl Grocott, Charlie Verrall, Carl Looker, Darrell Marsh, John Woolley, Steve Miller, Anthony Roberts and Duncan Langtree added - click here.

1984 - 2010 moves for D9009, 55015, D9016 & 55019 updated courtesy of Darrell Marsh.

1964, 1968, 1980 & 1981 moves updated courtesy of Bill Jamieson.

To commemorate 55022's 50th year since introduction in March 1961 Spitfire Railtours are running a three day event from 4th until the 6th March 2011. The ultimate tour being on Saturday 5th March when 55022 will run a King's Cross to Edinburgh and return train. Provisional times for the tour, including two positioning move tours, are as follows:
 

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

Thankfully for patrons aboard Saturday's "Edinburgh Explorer" Spitfire railtour the train did reach its intended destination of Dundee after all. 55022 is seen above on the outward leg at Tollerton in exceptional wintry scenes.

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

Outward timings for tomorrows railtour are here. Note: due to the current adverse weather conditions the return times are not yet known and the mini tour from Edinburgh to Dundee will almost definitely not run to its intended destination, though it is hoped to run to another location south of Edinburgh (possibly Carlisle).

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

Apologies for recent inactivity on the site - updates and photos will be added again soon.

Light engine moves and scheduled railtour times for 55022 and the Pathfinder "West Lothian Pioneer" railtour timings:

Friday 5th November: 0Z47 55022 Light Engine.
Bury - 18:15
Castleton - 19:05
Manchester Victoria - 19:25
Warrington Bank Quay - 19:54
Crewe - 20:34
Crewe Down Holding Sidings - 20:54

Saturday 6th November: 1Z47 06:08 Crewe - Edinburgh (via Manchester, Dumfries and Bathgate).
Crewe - 06:08
Stockport - 06:32/06:35
Manchester Piccadilly - 06:45/06:47
Bolton - 07:07/07:09
Preston - 07:31/07:33
Lancaster - 07:52/07:54
Tebay - 08:24
Carlisle - 08:55/08:57
Dumfries -  09:29/09:40
Kirkconnel - 10:11
Mauchline - 10:36/10:38
Newton-on-Ayr - 11:05/11:07
Dalry - 11:27
Shields Junction - 11:55
Drumgelloch - 12:37
Bathgate - 13:09
Edinburgh - 13:33

5Z47 ECS.
Edinburgh - 13:55
Craigentinny - 14:04

5Z48 ECS.
Craigentinny - 16:45
Edinburgh - 16:53

1Z49 17:08 Edinburgh to Crewe (via Carstairs and Manchester).
Edinburgh - 17:08
Carstairs - 17:41
Beatock - 18:04
Carlisle - 18:46/18:55
Tebay - 19:28
Carnforth - 19:48, Dep. 19:55
Lancaster - 20:08/20:10
Preston - 20:34/20:36
Bolton - 20:58/21:00
Manchester Piccadilly - 21:21/21:23
Stockport - 21:31/21:33
Crewe - 22:02

Sunday 7th November: (0Z55) 55022 Light Engine.
Crewe Down Holding Sidings - 14:58
Crewe - 15:17
Warrington Bank Quay - 15:37.
Manchester Victoria - 16:13
Castleton - 16:29

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

Charles Michael Timms, born November 18th 1958 has passed away following a short illness - Michael would have been 52 next month. He was born in Bournemouth and moved to the Isle of Mull after the death of his father, Charles. Charles Timms was instrumental in the preservation of D9000 "ROYAL SCOTS GREY" and with fellow enthusiasts Michael, after his fathers death, carried on this work and saw the reinstatement of D9000 to the mainline.

Friend and colleague Nigel Rollings said "The news was passed to me from several people who saw it on the forum on "End of the Line". Knowing Michael's sense of humour, he would have roared at that!!!"

 

New photos from D9009's recent EMRPS photo charter courtesy of Darrell Marsh added - click here.

12.10.10

 

New photos courtesy of Jonathan Lewis, Andrew Flusk and Anthony Roberts added - click here.

Light engine moves for 55022 in connection with this Sunday's railtour (these times may vary):

Saturday 9th October 0Z50
Bury - 18:30
Castleton - 19:30
Manchester Victoria - 20:05
Warrington Bank Quay - 20:38/20:44
Crewe - 21:09

Sunday 10th October 0Z51
Crewe - 21:30
Warrington Bank Quay - 21:56
Manchester Victoria - 22:25
Castleton - 22:43
Bury - 23:30

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

Confirmed times for Sunday 10th October Branch Line Society 'Ribble & Lune' Railtour:

1Z50
55022 leading with DB Schencker Class 66 on the rear.
Crewe - 09:00
Midlewich - 09:23
Northwich Lostock Works - 09:49
DB Schencker Class 66 leading with 55022 on the rear.
Northwich Lostock Works - 09:59
Acton Bridge - 10:25
Warrington Bank Quay - 10:33
Wigan North Western - 10:56/10:58
Ribble Junction - 11:20
Preston Docks (Ribble Steam Railway) - 11:30

1Z51
55022 leading with DB Schencker Class 66 on the rear.
Preston Docks (Ribble Steam Railway) - 13:00
Ribble Junction - 13:10
DB Schencker Class 66 leading with 55022 on the rear.
Ribble Junction - 13:17
Preston - 13:21/13:24
Lancaster - 13:52
Morecambe - 14:02
55022 leading with DB Schencker Class 66 on the rear.
Morecambe - 14:17
Heysham Harbour Power Station - 14:37
DB Schencker Class 66 leading with 55022 on the rear.
Heysham Harbour Power Station - 14:47
Morecambe - 15:07
55022 leading with DB Schencker Class 66 on the rear.
Morecambe - 15:12
Carnforth - 15:33/15:35
Settle Junction - 16:10
Hellifield Up Goods Loop - 16:16/16:31
Clitheroe - 16:53
Blackburn Up and Down Goods - 17:15/17:16
Bolton - 18:03/18:06
Manchester Picadilly - 18:32
Stockport - 18:46/18:48
Altrincham - 19:03
Northwich - 19:24
Sandbach - 19:55
Crewe - 20:07

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

22.09.10

 

New photos courtesy of Bill Jamieson,  Paul Beale and Ian Windmill added - click here.
 

D9009 will be in action this coming Sunday, September 26th, at the Great Central Railway and is booked to work the 12:15 ex Loughborough and corresponding 13:00 return.

There will be a farewell event for D9009 at the GCR on October 23rd & 24th, when the loco should perform two round trips (12:15 and 16:45 ex Loughborough).

For more information see the DPS website.

19.09.10

 

New photos courtesy of Martin Loader,  Peter Brabham, Mark Hill, Mark Thomas and from my own collection added - click here.

Full timings for Saturday's Pathfinder "The Western Wales Explorer" Crewe - Haverfordwest railtour and associated ECS and light engine moves are here.

Sundays light engine move from Crewe back to the ELR at Bury has now moved to Monday - timings remain the same, though of course may vary:

Monday 20th September
0Z55
Crewe - 12:14
Warrington Bank Quay - 12:44
Newton Le Willows - 12:55
Manchester Victoria - 13:31
Castleton - 13:50
Bury ELR - 14:45

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

The Spitfire railtour from Preston to Edinburgh and Dundee on 4th December has now been confirmed - booking form here. Provisional timings for "The Edinburgh Explorer" are as follows:

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

 

New photos courtesy of Jonny Roberts and archive photos from www.55s.co.uk courtesy of James Rose added - click here.

 

New photos from my own collection and courtesy of Vic Wild, Alan Padley and Gordon Lacy added - click here.

 

New photo courtesy of Daryl White and archive photos from www.55s.co.uk courtesy of James Rose, Paul Waring, Nigel Petre and Richard Thompson added - click here.

55022's ECS move on Sunday 12th September has altered due to engineering. The new schedule is as follows:

Doncaster - 12:01
Wakefield Kirkgate - 12:24
Mirfield - 12:34
Hebden Bridge - 12:55
Blackburn - 13:32
Preston - 13:46
Carnforth - 14:13

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

Light engine timings for 55022 in connection with this weekend's Spitfire Railtour:

Friday 10th September

0Z55
Bury ELR - 07:15
Castleton - 08:00
Manchester Victoria - 08:25
Bolton - 08:40
Preston - 09:01
Carnforth - 09:24

Sunday 12th September

0Z55
Carnforth - 17:08
Preston - 17:55
Wigan North Western - 18:15
Warrington Bank Quay - 18:33
Crewe - 19:04

Note light engine move times are always subject to alteration - the loco could easily move early or late.

Full timings for Saturday's Spitfire "The Norseman" King's Cross - Newcastle railtour are here.

Further timings for Pathfinder's "The Western Wales Explorer"  Crewe - Haverfordwest railtour, and associated light engine move, are as follows:

Saturday 18th September
1Z50
Crewe - 06:50
Stafford - 07:16/07:23
Wolverhampton - 07:39/07:41
Soho South Junction - 07:55
Birmingham New Street - 08:00/08:10
St. Andews Junction - 08:15
Barnt Green - 08:32/08:34
Chelenham Spa - 09:03/09:06
Gloucester - 09:16/09:18
Chepstow - 09:45
Newport - 10:09/10:11
Cardiff Central - 10:30
Port Talbot Parkway - 11:04/11:42 (attach DB Schencker Class 66 to the rear)
Landore Junction - 12:09
Swansea Loop West - 12:17
Llanelli - 12:44
Carmarthen Junction - 13:12
Haverfordwest - 13:50/13:54
Robeston Sidings - 14:20

1Z51
Robeston Sidings - 14.30 (DB Schencker Class 66 leading)
Haverfordwest - 15:01
Clarbeston Road - 15:09/15:24 (detach DB Schencker Class 66)
Fishguard Harbour - 15.45/17:00
Clunderwen - 17:27/17:29
Carmarthen Junction - 17:47
Pembury & Burry Port - 18:03
Llanelli - 18:06
Felin Fran - 18:25
Port Talbot Parkway - 18:40/18:42
Cardiff Central - 19:15
Newport - 19:29/19:31
Chepstow - 19:50
Gloucester - 20:18/20:22
Cheltenham Spa - 20:32/20:36
Barnt Green - 21:12/21:15
St. Andrews Junction - 21:36
Birmingham New Street - 21:45/21:52
Soho South Junction - 21:57
Wolverhampton - 22:10/22:19
Stafford - 22:37/22:41
Crewe - 23:08

Sunday 19th September
0Z55
Crewe - 12:14
Warrington Bank Quay - 12:44
Newton Le Willows - 12:55
Manchester Victoria - 13:31
Castleton - 13:50
Bury ELR - 14:45

More information regarding 55022 on the RSG website.

55022 has once again become the recipient of work due to the lack of availability of other heritage locomotives. With the recent failure of CFPF's 40145 55022 is now to haul two organized tours on 10th October and 6th November. Branch Line Society's tour from Crewe to Preston Docks, which runs Sunday 10th October and the 6th November Pathfinder Tour from Crewe to Edinburgh, via Glasgow & South Western and the soon to be re-opened Airdrie-Bathgate route will now be Napier traction.

Provisional timings for Branch Line Society's "The Ribble Lune" on 10th October 2010 (top & tailing with class 66 - 55022 leading from Crewe):

Route is as follows:
Crewe – Sandbach – Middlewich – Northwich Up & Down Goods – Wade Works Branch to Network Rail Limit (reverse) – Hartford CLC – LNW Curve – Acton Grange Jn – Warrington Down Slow – Winwick Jn – Golborne Jn – Wigan Plat 6 (Pick Up) – Balshaw Lane Jn – Down Slow then Down Goods to Ribble Sidings – Strand Road Crossing – RSR line to Museum Platform (for 1½ hour visit, admission included in tour price) – Strand Road Crossing and, with Class 40 leading, the 1 in 30 gradient back to the main line – Ribble Jn (rev) – Preston Down & Up Goods Loop – Barton & Broughton DPL – Lancaster – Bare Lane Jn – Morecambe Run Round Loop non-platform road (rev) – Heysham, Power Station branch NR limit (rev) – Morecambe Run Round Loop nonplatform road (rev) – Hest Bank Jn – Carnforth No1 Up & Down Goods – Carnforth Station Jn – Wennington – Settle Jn – Hellifield Up Goods Loop – Clitheroe – Daisyfield Jn – Blackburn Up & Down Goods Line to Bolton Branch Jn – Darwen – Bolton  – Moses Gate UPL – Salford Cres – Ordsall Lane Jn – Manchester Piccadilly (Set Down) – Longsight Up & Down Goods Loop – Stockport – Northenden Jn – Altrincham – Northwich Up & Down Goods – Middlewich – Sandbach – Crewe.

Provisional timings for Pathfinders "The West Lothian Pioneer" on 6th November 2010:

Confirmed pick-up  and set-down times for Pathfinder's "The Western Wales Explorer"  Crewe - Haverfordwest railtour on Saturday 18th September are as follows:

The Baby Deltic Project today announced its intention to create a replica of an EECo Type 2 (Class 23) ‘Baby’ Deltic, using its testbed loco 37372 as the starting point.

The project, which has sought and been granted the patronage of the following august organisations;

• National Railway Museum,
• Transport Trust,
• Napier Power Heritage Trust, and
• Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust,

will be formally launched at the forthcoming ‘Model Rail Live’ event to be held at Barrow Hill Roundhouse on 25/26 September 2010.

The decision to build a replica of this long absent locomotive type follows the presentation of a detailed feasibility study to Project members at a meeting in early July. The study investigated the options available for conversion, the engineering processes required, the facilities required and the likely cost of conversion.

In brief, the Project intends to shorten the nose and body length of 37372, restyle the body and mount the loco on Class 20 bogies so as
to reproduce, so far as reasonably practicable, the appearance of a Class 23.

The bogies (a fundamental part to the recreation) have been acquired already while the heart of the loco – the sole remaining Napier T9-29 engine – has been rebuilt from a ‘seized solid’ hulk to an operational unit by Project members over the last two and a half years.

The conversion will be undertaken within the Deltic Preservation Society’s depot at Barrow Hill, Chesterfield where the Project will maintain a display and periodically offer the opportunity to inspect the work in progress.

The timescale for the conversion will be almost entirely determined by the funds available; the Project has sufficient funding to undertake the underframe conversion work for the bogie change and to begin the loco shortening but not, at the time of this release, to complete the work. The conversion will not be started in earnest until the funds are in place.

With an estimated £30,000 required to complete the project, an appeal for funding will be launched on 25 September, for details of how your
readers can help the project and to see more information on us;

• Write to The Baby Deltic Project, Black Dub, Twyford, Barrow on Trent, DE73 7GA
• E-mail the Project at info@thebabydelticproject.co.uk
• Visit the website at www.thebabydelticproject.co.uk

Preservation moves & information added from Deltic Deadlines No.147-150.