Thanks to sponsorship from www.insolvencyadvise.co.uk the Deltic Preservation Society has been able to return 55008 to the road. The trailer over the last month has been serviced and a number of other jobs carried out. Number 2 end cab of this famous Deltic locomotive is attached to a HGV trailer, Inside the cab as most already know is fitted out as a driving simulator, allowing visitors young and old to take the seat and drive a deltic locomotive using the real controls and gauges with the view via an external housed monitor.

Her first appearance away from Barrow Hill will be Leeds, the destination of many ECML expresses that 55008 would have hauled at 100 mph in the period 1961-1981. Sunday 19th July 2009 sees a vintage transport event take place at Elland Road Stadium, adjacent to J2 of the M621 in Leeds. The event, organised by Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group, http://www.typg.org.uk will see 55008 join around 60 vintage buses and an 1897-vintage tram car for a family fun day. DPS volunteers will supervise the driving simulator, while a number of vintage buses will provide free bus rides (including a service from Leeds City rail station to the event site).

Due this this very kind sponsorship the locomotive which has been overhauled is now available to attend events across the country.

D9009 is booked to work the following diagrams on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July:

11:40 Wansford- Peterborough NV
12:40 Peterborough NV- Wansford
14:00 Wansford- Peterborough NV
15:00 Peterborough NV- Wansford
16:20 Wansford- Peterborough NV
17:20 Peterborough NV- Wansford

A small group of three volunteers this week and all attention was focused on 55019 to resolve the slow vacuum brake issue. In the morning and early afternoon the air tanks were pumped up with the depot’s compressor and testing of the vacuum brake system to find the issue started. While this was happening power unit two was being topped up with coolant to the minimum level. After lunch power unit two was prepared and started and RHF was moved outside where further testing could take place on the brakes. The issue was found to be in one of the valves and it was removed, stripped down with a clogged up filter found to be at fault. Once cleaned and refitted the vacuum brakes were retested and are working much better. Some more testing will be done next week with other components possibly being removed from the vacuum system and cleaned up to see if we can get the braking application and release even quicker.

Photos from the day have been added to the gallery here.

With D9009 having started its programme of workings on the Nene Valley Railway, many of you will no doubt be photographing the loco in action on the line. A gallery covering the loco's visit will appear shortly, and contributions will be extremely welcome - please send any pictures to webmasterATthedps.co.uk (replace AT with @ to avoid the spamtrap).

As a prelude to the new gallery, to the right is a photo of D9009 Alycidon on July 4th, during the 'Mail by Rail/Beer Festival' event, arriving at Orton Mere. The next booked workings (which are now confirmed) are on July 11th/12th. (Photo courtesy of Robert Maskill)

The first and latest Bachmann Deltic 55001 ST. PADDY catalogue number 32 530DS has arrived. The model finished in British Railways Blue with plated over head code panel is the first Bachmann production Deltic to feature sound together with other improvements which were first seen on the three DPS limited editions of THE GREEN HOWARDS and the Bachmann release of D9017 THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, these being retooling on the taillights, working lights, improved cab detail, metal buffers and drive to all wheels.

The DPS provided the facilities to enable the recordings for the model to be made using 55 019 ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIER. We are pleased to have been involved in this project and hope that the model is well received and enjoyed.

CONFIRMED DATES SO FAR for the operation of D9009 ALYCIDON on the Nene Valley Railway.

Saturday July 4th - Rail Mail/Real Ale event
Sunday July 5th - Rail Mail/Real Ale event
Friday July 10th - Driver Experience Day
Saturday July 11th - Vintage event
Sunday July 12th - Vintage event
Sunday August 23rd - Pink timetable (3 round trips)
Monday September 7th - Driver Experience Day
Saturday September 19th - DPS Members Day
Monday September 21st - Driver Experience Day
Friday October 2nd - Diesel Gala
Saturday October 3rd - Diesel Gala
Sunday October 4th - Diesel Gala

FOOTPLATE EXPERIENCE DAYS
A series of 3 dates have been planned for the following dates: July 10th, September 7th/21st. The cost, payable to the Nene Valley Railway, is £195 and this will be for a 1 1/2 hour session, lunch, insurance, (NVR Membership) provided plus a goodie bag. Th first session will be at 09.15.

For 10th July contact the NVR office direct, 01780 784444 to book and pay. The maximum is 10 people per day. Please quote DPS or NVR membership number for priority booking.

D9009 will be operating at The Nene Valley Railway this weekend Saturday 5th July and Sunday 6th July on both passenger trains and the Travelling Post Office.

The timetable for the weekend can be found by clicking HERE.

Exchanges of mail at "Sutton Cross". Exchanges of mail at "Yarwell Cutting".

Railway Letter Service available Beer tent available, selling a wide selection of Real Ales Second hand book shop open

Confirmation of future running dates at the NVR will be updated shortly.

Along with the above running at the NVR the DPS sales team will be out in the North and South of the country.

4th – 5th JULY 2008

Ken Wilkinson will be at the
Basildon Model Railway Exhibition

Saturday (10 - 5:00)
Sunday (10 - 4:30)

James Hornsby School
Leinster Road/Nicholas Lane
Laindon SS15 5NX

Trade Support – Demonstrations
Layouts
Refreshments – Car parking (free 200 + spaces)
Wheel-chair suitable – no stairs or lifts!

More details on
http://www.basildon-mrc.org.uk

Whilst in the North of the country

Middleton Railway Model Railway Exhibition

Up to 14 layouts from N to O gauge and traders including Deltic Preservation Society, DC
Kits, Keiths Model Railways, Buffer Stop Shop and Uncommon Kits.

Layouts will include vintage Triang (00 & Big Big), O gauge Hornby, Andmidown Town
(N gauge), and Rose & Berry (16.5mm Narrow Gauge)

See the exciting miniature layouts and then try the real thing

with steam traction* all weekend.

Admission
MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION ONLY
Adult £3
Child £2
Family £8

Adult is 16 years and over, Child is 3 to 15 years, Family is up to 2 adults & 3 children.

TRAIN RIDE** & MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION

Adult £5.50, Child £3.50, Family £15.00

Adult is 16 years and over, Child is 3 to 15 years, Family is up to 2 adults & 3 children.

*Every effort will be made to provide steam traction but it is not guaranteed.

** Day Rover Train Ticket valid for multiple journeys on day of issue.

We hope to see you at one of these events.

With D9009 on her holidays the main focus of the volunteers returns to D9015. Externally more sanding and body filling on one of the quarters while at the opposite corner she was being painted in undercoat, this will show any unevenness in the body. Internally the fun job of renewing old and damaged cabling continued. In the workshop gloss paint was being painted on the cable tray covers and compressor components. The stores tidy and compaction is progressing well. Number three road has been cleaned of various stains and lose sand/grit has been swept. A couple of visitors were also shown around the power units and Deltics 15/19 after they had seen the society on “Britain’s Greatest Machines” TV show.

Photos from the day have been added to the gallery here.

The DPS Sales Stand will be at this weekends English Electric event at the Midland Railway Butterley.

The Sales stand will be on the platform at Butterley. Help is required for both days. Please contact Mike Hallam-Rudd (vloATthedps.co.uk) or Ian Lewis (salesATthedps.co.uk), please replace AT with @ if e-mailing this is to stop unwanted SPAM if you can help.

Attractions are to include

40 012
50 007
08 331
08 590

with visiting locomotive
37 248

and of course the DPS Sales stand.

All exhibits subject to alteration.

FARES
Adults - £12 (with gift aid.)
£10.90 (without gift aid.)
Over 60's - £11.05 (with gift aid.)
£9.95 (without gift aid.)
Children - £6.05 (with gift aid.)
£5.50 (without gift aid.)
Family - £33.00 (with gift aid.)
£30.00 (without gift aid.)
(Family Ticket includes 2 Adults and up to 3 Children.)

Dogs (Must be kept on a lead at all times) - £1.00

Paying Gift Aid means the railway can claim 28p from every £1 from the Inland Revenue.
Gift Aid prices include free vouchers to use in the railway's shops, buffets and on train bar.

The Midland Railway - Butterley
Butterley Station
Ripley
Derbyshire
DE5 3QZ