‘Deltic’ Alycidon fails at GCR gala
CLASS 55 No. D9009 (55009) Alycidon suffered a power problem on the first day of the Great Central Railway’s April 29-May 1 diesel gala, just 3m
3ch into the journey, on the 11.30 Loughborough Central to Leicester North. The Deltic Preservation Society (DPS)owned loco reached Quorn & Woodhouse on its first run in three years. It struggled to depart from the station and was declared a failure, the loco and train were then dragged back to Loughborough by Class 25 No. D5185. This fault occurred again on the second run in the afternoon, but this time, Class 37 No. 37714 Cardiff Canton was on hand to provide assistance to complete the journey.
No. D9009 was then withdrawn from the event for inspection. Testing equipment brought in the following day produced inconclusive results. It was therefore not possible at that time to state what had caused the failure.
Testing
Alycidon has a lot of replacement electrical components, and there had been limited time for testing with no issues encountered.
No. D9009 passed static testing on May 7 and was operational on all six traction motors. It was the loss of traction from some of the motors which had caused the problem. This was followed by further rotational and loaded testing.
Alycidon was unable to attend the Severn Valley Railway’s May diesel gala, but it is planned to visit the SVR’s September 29-October 1 event and fulfil postponed footplate experience days.
■ The DPS’s No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier is currently on a three-month visit to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR). It arrived from the Great Central Railway in time for the EVR’s April 22-24 diesel gala. This was declared the railway’s busiest event it has staged since opening in 2011, other than Christmas specials. Further dates are June 2-5 on a special timetable, and June 14 and 28 on the regular timetable.