Class 55 "Deltic" action this week

Ever since I was little (c. 1982 - 1985, I reckon), I've had a pretty major thing for the BR Class 55 "Deltic" locomotives, especially when visiting the nearby North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Grosmont (streetview), and they had 55009 / D9009 "Alycidon" there.

Back in 2002, a pair of them were back at the NYMR for the summer..... at exactly the same time I'd been sent there to do work experience. I even had a chance to look around inside them (on the one day I'd forgotten to bring my sodding camera with me!).

This week it seems at least one of them is back at the NYMR, having seen 55022 "Royal Scots Grey" on Monday running passenger trips to Whitby and back. I've heard it going past on the days since, too.... here's the video footage I captured..........

There's more than one way to improve a railway system.....

Regardless of whether or not you agree with High Speed 2*, there are other things that need doing to improve the state of the UK's Railway system, and over on the Transport section of the ConservativeChitChat Messageboard I've been putting down some ideas I've had brewing for a few years, tagged with "Real Rail Improvements" in the topic title. A handful are new, some others I've previously submitted via the Conservative's Transport in the North commission they ran before the 2010 General Election.... and there may be more to come if / when I get round to it. Included so far:

• Re-open the Picton to Battersby Railway Line
• Re-open a line from Northallerton to Ripon, Wetherby & Tadcaster
• Bring the Esk Valley Line back to double track at Whitby, Ruswarp, Sleights & Grosmont
• Lincoln Rail Bypass
• Create a "Pickering South" Railway station to re-connect the town to York & Scarborough by Rail.

* I'm sort of in favour of HS2, but would prefer another proposal I've seen for an ULTRASPEED MagLev train.

Originally posted HERE.