DPS to celebrate milestone anniversary in the Cotswolds

THE Deltic Preservation Society (DPS), in conjunction with Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR), is to commemorate over August 19-21 the 40th anniversary of the preservation of production Class 55 ‘Deltics’. The DPS took ownership of Nos. 55009 (D9009) and 55019 (D9019) from BR at a ceremony at Doncaster Works on August 20, 1982. A special ‘Deltic’ running day is due to be held at the GWSR on August 19. This to be followed by a weekend dedicated to celebrating the preservation of these locos, with a ‘Deltic’ rostered for the railway’s diesel diagram. No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier is visiting the Cotswold line from mid-July until the end of October and is the star guest at the railway’s July 29-31 diesel gala. This event is expected to see some of the resident locos returning to traffic following varying periods of absence due to maintenance. It is hoped DPS’s No. D9009 Alycidon will also be attending the August event. This is subject to successful testing in the meantime. Following its failure at the Great Central Railway gala on April 29 (RM June p75), it has been receiving attention at DPS’s Barrow Hill base with the problem resolved. No. D9009’s appearance at Toddington is a strong possibility, enabling two train sets to be operated all day on Friday the 19th. No. 55019 will be on one, and No. D9009 on the other, crossing at Winchcombe. An early-evening train will depart Toddington at 18.00 for Cheltenham Racecourse, Broadway and back to Toddington featuring both locos.