Photo by Chris Kirby - http://flickeflu.com/groups/933110@N21/interesting On Wednesday this week (14th September), I was travelling back to Daventry from Hemel Hempstead. At around 5:15pm, on the stretch of the M1 somewhere between junctions 9 and 11, a low loader went passed on the southbound carriageway. On the back of the trailer was the Deltic “Royal Highland Fusilier”, running number 55019.
I have to say that seeing this locomotive on the M1 was decidedly unexpected and rather bizarre, but nonetheless, a very pleasant surprise. In BR blue with yellow ends, the Deltic was in pristine condition and looked absolutely huge compared to the transporter and all the other traffic on the motorway. To suggest its presence was incongruous, would be an understatement!
The RAC published its annual report on motoring this week (covered on the BBC on the 15th - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37370828) that revealed that amongst other forms of mobile phone related abuse, 14% of drivers surveyed said they had taken a photograph or video while driving. I wish I had been in a position to take a photo, but unlike the nutters aforementioned, I didn’t give a moment’s thought to doing something so fucking stupid.
On the bright side, nobody got hurt (or worse) but on the downside, the photo that I have augmented this post with, belongs to Chris Kirby instead of me (and doesn’t have quite the right context).
I did some research when I got home to find out why 55019 was on the M1. It turned out that the loco was being transported from the Great Central Railway (Loughborough) to the Epping Ongar Railway for a diesel gala event taking place this coming weekend.
I am a real fan of the Deltic diesel locomotive; in the eighties, I used to watch these engines thunder through Hitchin station on the way to Kings Cross. They were fast, powerful and had a very distinctive sound. The roof exhausts would blast out emissions in a black ‘V’ type shape and that added to the sense of drama that went with seeing them. They eventually got replaced by 125s, which always disappointed me a little.
Tulyar was my personal favourite from the class – like the RHF, she got preserved too.
I am going to Hemel Hempstead again next week – I wonder if there will be a chance for trainspotting then too?
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I have to say that seeing this locomotive on the M1 was decidedly unexpected and rather bizarre, but nonetheless, a very pleasant surprise. In BR blue with yellow ends, the Deltic was in pristine condition and looked absolutely huge compared to the transporter and all the other traffic on the motorway. To suggest its presence was incongruous, would be an understatement!
The RAC published its annual report on motoring this week (covered on the BBC on the 15th - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37370828) that revealed that amongst other forms of mobile phone related abuse, 14% of drivers surveyed said they had taken a photograph or video while driving. I wish I had been in a position to take a photo, but unlike the nutters aforementioned, I didn’t give a moment’s thought to doing something so fucking stupid.
On the bright side, nobody got hurt (or worse) but on the downside, the photo that I have augmented this post with, belongs to Chris Kirby instead of me (and doesn’t have quite the right context).
I did some research when I got home to find out why 55019 was on the M1. It turned out that the loco was being transported from the Great Central Railway (Loughborough) to the Epping Ongar Railway for a diesel gala event taking place this coming weekend.
I am a real fan of the Deltic diesel locomotive; in the eighties, I used to watch these engines thunder through Hitchin station on the way to Kings Cross. They were fast, powerful and had a very distinctive sound. The roof exhausts would blast out emissions in a black ‘V’ type shape and that added to the sense of drama that went with seeing them. They eventually got replaced by 125s, which always disappointed me a little.
Tulyar was my personal favourite from the class – like the RHF, she got preserved too.
I am going to Hemel Hempstead again next week – I wonder if there will be a chance for trainspotting then too?
Blog Home
Blog Libray
Home
The Deltic Preservation Society
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