The headcode blinds that were damaged during the 'Eidyn Burgh Scot' tour after D9009 came into contact with a pheasant between Durham and Newcastle have been put on e-bay, with the proceeds going to the DPS. If you're interested in owning a bit of Deltic history, please click on the link below:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Damaged-Headcode-Blinds-Ex-Deltic-D9009-Alycidon-/261202310630?pt=UK_Collectables_Railwayana_RL&hash=item3cd0def5e6#ht_139wt_1014

Bids for the blinds close on April 27.

The photo (right) shows DPS Service Crew members Stuart Page and Steve Nutter, standing in front of the loco at the ELR with the damaged blinds, which they removed after the loco's movement from Crewe.

D9009 'ALYCIDON' put in an excellent performance on yesterday's railtour, 'The Eidyn Burgh Scot', from Crewe to Edinburgh and back. The train ran virtually to time all day, the only slight delay being caused by a late running train ahead of us on the Tyne Valley. Arrival into Edinburgh was a few minutes early and back at Crewe just 5 minutes late. Among the highlights was the run south between Darlington and York, where the loco remained at a steady 100 mph for several miles.

Many people will have noticed the smashed headcode panel and damaged blinds on the loco. This was the result of the loco striking a pheasant between Durham and Newcastle.

The pictures left and right show the loco stood at Manchester Victoria and leaving Edinburgh with the ECS bound for Millerhill. A selection of videos from YouTube can be found at the following addresses:

Leaving Manchester Victoria, climbing Miles Platting bank (981smithy)
Departing York (Jaymzhatstand)
Passing through Durham station (UKTransportVideos82)
Arriving at and departing Newcastle (bobnweaver)
Crossing the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick (berwickspotter)
Leaving Dunbar (sde426)
Storming out of Haymarket tunnel on the return (sde426)
Passing Carluke (drs37425)
Arriving back at Wakefield (banjostrings07)

D9009 'ALYCIDON' ran from Barrow Hill to Crewe earlier today, in readiness for tomorrow's outing from Crewe to Edinburgh and back on Pathfinder's 'Eidyn Burgh Scot'.

The photo (right) by Mick Champion shows the gleaming loco shortly after arrival at Crewe.

Just one place remains on the 2 days of Driver Experience courses with 55019 at the Swanage Railway on May 16th and 17th. Anybody interested in booking should visit http://swanage.vticket.co.uk/product.php/44/class-55-55-019-driving-experience as soon as possible for more details or to place a booking.

Following Saturday's railtour, planned movements for D9009 for the remainder of April and May are as follows:

April 8th: Crewe-ELR for fitment of GSM-R by DG8, expected to be completed April 22nd.
April 24th: ELR-Mid Hants, hauling convoy move.
April 26th?/27th/28th: Operating at Mid Hants Gala.
April 30th: Mid Hants-ELR convoy move, then light engine to Barrow Hill.
May 2nd-3rd: Barrow Hill-Swanage convoy move, via Butterley/Lydney, with 55019 in tow.
May 21st: Swanage-Didcot convoy move, with 55019 in tow. (55019 will be in use at Didcot Gala on May 25th-27th.)
May 29th: Didcot-Barrow Hill convoy move, via Lydney and Butterley with 55019.

D9009 'ALYCIDON' was run up on both power units on March 28th, prior to undertaking a run up the Springwell branch. All is ok with the loco, and it is expected to leave Barrow Hill for Crewe at around 10.00 on April 5th, running via Chesterfield and Derby and arriving at Crewe station at 12.33 before moving on to the depot.

If you want to book on this tour expected to feature Tornado northbound from Kings' X to Edinburgh and D9009 southbound from Edinburgh to Kings' X then bookings are open and can be made by following this link - please copy and paste it into your browser:

https://www.torbayexpress.co.uk/bookings/BookingForm_UK.aspx?Action=New&C=70

or call Pathfinder Tours direct.

If you want any particular seats then it is worth asking when you book. I am not sure which way round the train will be but hopefully if you specify leading coach you have a chance of getting right behind D9009. Cannot promise anything though - we just provide the loco!

D9009 is subject to availability.

Peter Kennan

The DPS will be having a Sales Stand on the forthcoming tour behind D9009 ALYCIDON, selling our usual range of items. If anybody would like a specific item from our sales catalogue, please contact Sam & Darrell via sales@thedps.co.uk and they will do their best to bring it along. There will also be a DPS raffle during the tour.

The main pick-up and set down times for the tour are as follows:

OUTWARD - Crewe 06.03, Warrington BQ 06.25/28, Manchester Vic 07.02/09, Huddersfield 07,51/54, Wakefield K 08.14/17, York 08.55/09.07, Edinburgh 12.43.
RETURN - Edinburgh 15.13, York 20.31/34, Wakefield K 21.12/15, Huddersfield 21.39/42, Manchester Vic 22.23/25, Warrington BQ 22.53/55, Crewe 23.20.

D9009 is booked to run from Barrow Hill to Crewe on April 5, and following the tour, is scheduled to run to the ELR on April 8 for fitting of GSM-R equipment.

If you're attending the 'Southern Saturday' event at Barrow Hill, don't forget to visit the DPS Sales Stand. The depot will be open, but only to those people who have paid to attend the 'Southern Saturday' event at Barrow Hill. Entry is £8 (adult) and £4 (children), and as well as the Brighton Belle vehicles on display, 33108 and E5001 will be running on shuttles with the newly arrived 4-VOP EMU stock.