Deltics for scrap
The Class 55s not destined for preservation were assembled at Doncaster Works for an appointment with the scrap man.
For the 16 Deltics not fortunate to secure a second working life in preservation on heritage railways, the call to Doncaster Works meant just one thing – an appointment with the cutter’s torch.
The first member of the Class 55 fleet to be dispatched for scrap was 55020 in January 1980.
The former Nimbus had been stored out of service at Doncaster, along with 55001 St Paddy, since spring 1978. Despite indications a year earlier that both locomotives could be returned to traffic, this did not materialise and they were officially withdrawn on January 5, 1980, heralding the start of British Rails Class 55 withdrawal programme – a process that would be completed within two years. Within days of its official condemnation, work started on the dismantling of 55020, with 55001 dispatched almost immediately after work on 55020 was completed. There were no further Deltic disposals during 1980.
Three Class 55s – 55003/006/012 – were disposed of at Doncaster during 1981. First to go was 55003 in March, with 55006 surviving a further four months until its turn arrived in July. For 55012, it was broken up in September 1981.
With the final Deltics withdrawn from service at the beginning of January 1982, this year was the busiest for disposals of the fleet, with 55002/009/019 and 55022 secured for preservation, but seven locomotives would not see the year out.
55018 was the first disposal of the year, being scrapped during January 1982, with 55014 being cut up the following month. All surviving locomotives after 55014 had been scrapped were displayed at BR’S Doncaster Works Open Day on February 27 (see pages 64/65 of this issue). Three months later it was the turn of 55010 to be scrapped, with 55007 and 55008 both following in August 1982. The No. 2 end cab from 55008 survived, having been bought for preservation. September 1982 saw the majority of 55021 scrapped, although the No. 1 end cab and a section of bodywork was purchased privately and spent several years located in the garden of a home visible from the East Coast Main Line, which had once been its stomping ground.
The final disposals of 1982 were 55011 and 55013, which were both broken up during December.
By 1983, just five Deltics remained in limbo at Doncaster, and while new owners were found for 55015 and 55016 in the preservation sector, the other three faced a much bleaker future. First to go was 55017 in January, with NRM reserve locomotive 55005 scrapped the following month, having survived for two years since it had been withdrawn from traffic. The final member of the fleet to be broken up was 55004 in July 1983, bringing to an end the Deltic disposals.