DPS targets 2022 return for D9015
THE DELTIC Preservation Society (DPS) is to accelerate work on the restoration of its ‘forgotten’ Class 55 Deltic, D9015 Tulyar, which has been out of service for almost a quarter of a century.
The DPS owns three of the six surviving production Class 55s, with the society also maintaining and operating main line registered D9009 Alycidon and 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier from its depot at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.
D9015 last operated in 1997 when it took part in the East Lancashire Railway ‘3 Deltics’ event – which also featured Royal Highland Fusilier alongside the National Railway Museum’s 55002 The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry – followed by a farewell running event at 55015’s then home base at Midland Railway Butterley. It was then laid up for an overhaul which began at the MRB and continued after the DPS built its depot facility at Barrow Hill. The overhaul has involved new bodyskin framing and panelling, as well as mechanical and electrical restoration work, but with attention often focussed on other locomotives, the restoration of D9015 has taken much longer than originally envisaged.
Pete Stojanovic, the DPS’S power unit engineer, is leading the return to working order of D9015 under the leadership of chief engineer Graham Clarke.
A small number of volunteers have been working steadily at Barrow Hill on the myriad of tasks, checking wiring and components, while two Napier power units have been identified for installation inside the Deltic. Once work on the overhaul has been completed, D9015 will be tested and run in on a heritage railway.
The DPS needs to overhaul a main generator for fitting into D9015 at a cost of approximately £15,000, as it currently has no overhauled spares available.
Details on how you can donate towards the main generator overhaul and progress updates on the revival of D9015, along with the DPS’S other locomotives, can be found online at www.thedps.co.uk