DPS looks towards an ambitious future
THE Deltic Preservation Society (DPS) is at a pivotal moment in the history of its three Class 55s, says Graham Clarke, DPS’s head of engineering.
He said that an ambitious vision has been set out for these locos and the DPS’s “crown jewels”, the Deltic power units. The DPS is now facing its greatest ever challenges, and failure to meet them would lead to the cessation of ‘Deltic’ operation within a few years.
Next year marks the 40th anniversary the ‘Deltic
Scotsman Farewell’, the very last ‘Deltic’ working for BR, on January 2, 1982. This may be the last opportunity to celebrate a memorable ECML anniversary date as by the time of the
45th, and definitely the 50th anniversaries, ERTMS (in-cab signalling), will be in full flow at the south end of the route. Without this equipment, costing about £650,000 for each loco, they will not be able to be operated in that area.
New generation
The vision for the future includes a number of objectives such as passing on the skills and knowledge to keep ‘Deltics’ safe and working. This will allow the type to operate beyond the lives of those who saved these iconic locos, by creating a new generation of ‘Deltic’ fans who will support them long into the future. Also, to maintain the three locos as mainline registered with two kept available for such use at any time.
Similarly, all the power units need to be overhauled to zero hours condition over the next 10 to15 years. Other mechanical and electrical equipment, and bogies, need to be overhauled and renewed. Exhaust emissions require to be cleaned up to a high standard, suitable for a sustainable future.
The first step is to return No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier to main line use. In order to achieve this it is estimated £255,019 is required. This is to cover the fitting of OTMR and GSM-R equipment, carrying out repair work to worn components in the bogies, and for certification and testing.
Those wishing to make donations to the project to secure an operational future for No. 55019 on the main line and heritage railways, should visit the DPS Virgin Just Giving site. See also www.thedps.co.uk or the DPS Facebook page.