One of the eight Deltics to be based at Haymarket depot, Edinburgh (but operated as one pool by the Eastern) D9016 was delivered nameless but was given the name Gordon Highlander in keeping with all the Scottish based (and Gateshead, North Eastern Region) Type 5s, these two Regions continuing the tradition of naming their locomotives after regiments. 

However, it was to be nearly three years after delivery that a naming ceremony was conducted involving the regiment, held at Aberdeen on July 28 1964.

The locomotive was to be allocated for most of its service life at Haymarket with the exception of a short stint from December 3 1967 to June 16 1968 where it was maintained by Finsbury Park depot. Its final - and new - depot was to York when all the surviving Deltics were transferred to York from May 13 1979 and the York City Fathers agreed to the York Deltics bearing the York City Coat of Arms - a nice touch.

By now the HSTs had taken over the bulk of the Anglo-Scottish services leaving the York-based Class 55s for the York Semi-Fast services, a bit of a misnomer as these trains had to get a move on to prevent HSTs catching them up. They broadened their activities and ventured to Cleethorpes and Liverpool. There were then only a couple of daylight Class 55-hauled trains north of York.

Other milestone moments in D9016's 20-year BR life included the fitting of air brakes at Doncaster Works (ex-Works October 7 1967), and modified to provide Electric Train Heating (ex Works October 12 1971).

55016 was the only one of the 22-strong fleet to be given a full Heavy General Overhaul at Doncaster Works, emerging on April 27 1976. This involved extensive refurbishment, but the cost meant that the four others which followed it were not given the same amount of treatment. 

All-over Corporate Blue livery saw the Deltic debut in this, at the time, not appreciated colour scheme as it dispensed with the two-tone livery, deliberately chosen by the BR Design Panel to break up the tall bodyside. It exited from the Doncaster Works paint shop in October 1967. Years later, BR Corporate Blue became a popular historical livery!

Gordon Highlander's final BR revenue-earning train was the 1D08 19.40 King's Cross-Hull after which it took the empty stock to York (5L04). This took place on December 23 1981 after which it stood out of use at York depot until December 30 when official withdrawal took place.

After being towed to Doncaster Works on January 5 1982 by Class 47 47552 (along with 55009, 55015 and 55022) and placed in the scrapline, 55016 was one of those which were offered for sale by tender.

It is here that an interesting fact emerges because of all the preserved Class 55s, 55016 has had the most owners since entering the preservation arena.

The D9000 Locomotive Ltd bought 55016 in 1983 as a source of spares for its recently purchased D9000 (55022) Royal Scots Grey which was then domiciled on the Nene Valley Railway.

However, a change of heart saw a concerted effort to start up 55016, led by March-based engineer, Chris Wayman. 55016 burst into life at Wansford, NVR, on March 15 1985.

A remarkable phase in 55016's existence was the sponsorship deal arranged with Porterbrook Leasing for the overhaul of 55016 at Brush Traction, Loughborough, the Deltic reverting to D9000 Locomotive Ltd afterwards. The sponsorship contract saw the Deltic unveiled in Porterbrook purple colours in September 1999. In 2002, this Deltic regained its original two-tone green livery.

With the cessation of D9000 Locomotive Ltd D9000 Royal Scots Grey became the property of Martin Walker, Beaver Sports, Huddersfield, in July 2004 with 55016 also transferring to Martin Walker in 2009.

Later owners were Harry Needle Railroad Company and Direct Rail Services.

In late 2017, both D9000 and 55016 were sold to Locomotive Diesels, part of Locomotive Services, based at Crewe. After cosmetic attention and repainted in two-tone green, D9016 Gordon Highlander was later roaded to the company's storage facility, known as One : One at Margate.