EACH OF THE 22 DELTICS AT KING’S CROSS (SLIDESHOW/MOVIE SCENE)

[@aljonflavin6760]

Very good thanks.

[@thefakewasp503]

You are welcome.

[@daveabbott]

Thanks for showing. I took up trainspotting as a 13 year old in 1970 and heard great things about the Deltics. We went to Grantham and my brother and his mates were bragging that they had nearly 'classed' them, Andy had the most with 19 of the 22. At the end of that day, I had seen the same 19 as he had. The thing that most impressed me was the cleanliness, not just of the Deltics but also the 40's, 46's and 47's that were seen that day. I distinctly remember Class 47 1111, it was immaculate! Happy days!

[@thefakewasp503]

I'm very pleased you enjoyed watching it. I was 14 in 1970 but didn't see a Deltic until I was 18. I do live over a hundred miles west of King's Cross so it was the GWR Main line, Somerset and Dorset Railway and diesel hydraulics for me when I was younger. It was nice to hear of your memories at Grantham and seeing a total of 19 so quickly. There were always several that were in the works or just plain elusive. Best wishes, Graham

[@AndreiTupolev]

Must have just been repainted, cleanliness wasn't the first word that would come to mind about most ECML traction at the time, or BR traction as a whole

[@xlaptopx]

Brilliant! Thanks for this upload Graham. I used to travel home from school weekends from Brighton to Peterborough and always spent an hour or two at the ends of various platforms while waiting for the train of my choice to travel home on. I recall it was mostly Ballymoss.... I must have ruined many clean shirts from hanging out that front carriage door window for most of the route. (Wouldn't be allowed now and probably not even back then!) and as nice as they look now fully restored with imacculate paintwork, I still prefer them in their filty state that they were, along with the million or two dead flies on the front. Lol. Cheers!

[@thefakewasp503]

I am so pleased you enjoyed this and glad that it brought back such memories. I don't blame you hanging out the front carriage door and taking in the sound (and the fumes). Now you do not see many dead flies on the front of locos or cars these days due to the mystery sharp decline in insect populations. Anyway at least you can think of those happy times spent at the ends of those platforms. Best wishes, Graham

[@darwinellis3074]

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[@demetriusalfred9310]

@Darwin Ellis instablaster ;)

[@darwinellis3074]

@Demetrius Alfred I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and I'm trying it out now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@darwinellis3074]

@Demetrius Alfred It worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much you really help me out !

[@TheClockwise770]

Thanks Graham . your video bought back wonderful memories as I often spotted at KC 1970 - 75

[@thefakewasp503]

I am so pleased you liked it. At least you saw them a while before I took these with original numbers snd working headcode panels. I wish that I saw them earlier and even more regrettable missed the wonderful steam there but I lived over 100 miles west of London. All the best, Graham

[@nobbyse16]

Fantastic pictures, thank you so much for taking the time to upload them.

[@thefakewasp503]

You are most welcome Colin and I am glad you have appreciated them.

[@themightyzanoss8409]

very cool wish I could have seen them in person

[@thefakewasp503]

You still can of course and on the mainline. There is one railtour booked in July from London KX. They also feature at diesel Galas. Keep your eye on the railway press or internet if you want to see them in person.

[@johnmasters504]

Great video

[@thefakewasp503]

Thank you Sir John. I am very pleased you enjoyed it. Happy New Year, Graham

[@genesis070365]

Majestic engines, nothing compared and never will again! 🤘

[@thefakewasp503]

You are right. They were very special and a good follow on to the legendary East Coast steam.

[@stephenoliver8092]

31st July 1981 was my first day Deltic bashing, I was 13 years old and they were close to retirement, so for me,it was a summer spent in search of this mesmerising engine.On that same day Prince Charles & Di we’re married and as part of the celebrations, BR offered a £1 day return from Newcastle,that allowed you to travel as far South as Huntingdon (don’t ask me why not all the way to kings X?)First trip was an HST to York, then after hanging around going to the Museum we then went onto Doncaster and from recollection on a 47 - then from Doncaster to Peterborough as the word on the st was there was a Deltic pulling from Kings X.We took a class 31 to Peterborough and waited with fingers crossed .I’ll never forget that sight as it came round the bend -,the noise as it got closer and then the smell ,the excitement of the chase had paid off.I can’t recall which one it was although from your pics it could well have been 14,(I will have it logged somewhere in my mother’s house).Always remember spotting my first though - Crepello flat out through Cramlington ,must have been just before she retired,that beautiful white cab of hers stood out in all its beauty. The rest of the summer was spent between Newcastle & York travelling on a £7 for 5 days unlimited travel Northumbria Ranger ticket clocking up as many Deltic miles as possible.I do recall a few disappointing days due to engine failures,but all in all Happy Happy exciting days and fantastic memories .I’m not a train enthusiast any longer, but the Deltics will always have a special place in my heart,I still have both my 00 models in my loft - 55006 (F&FY) & 55022 (RSG) Lol!

[@thefakewasp503]

Thanks for taking such trouble sending me your wonderful vivid memories. Obviously the Deltics had made such a major impression on you during your youth and this will always remain with you. There were some strange deals BR offered in those days but some were indeed extremely good value. Strangely enough the 31stJuly 81 was the last time I visited King's X in the Deltic era as I did not bother towards the end once they had a massive following. Anyway even if you are no longer an active railway enthusiast, there are some Deltic railtours on the mainline so I would keep your eye on the railway press or the internet. There is one in July 21 planned to go KX York and return plus steam York to Edinburgh and return (fingers crossed). All the very best, Graham

[@spongebobgrumpypants6862]

I was a spotter from the mid 70's to early 80's. My local line was the west coast mainline just south of Preston. I travelled to York most summers at least once (York was my favourite station) and saw all the Deltics over the years. The only time I got "pulled" by one was on a Liverpool train from York (as far as Manchester where I had to change) when returning to Preston after a day trip to York. It was a special day for me, probably 1981 when they had been demoted to some of the trans pennine services.................

[@Steven_Rowe]

I can remember the A4s at KX and even the prototype Celtic running,,I'm talking 1959 then in 1961 came the Deltic era. Of course they were Deltics or an English Electric Type 5 pre tops. In the 1960s Kings Cross was wreathed in blue diesel smoke and still a wonderful place to be even though steam had gone. I must admit I loved them in two tone green

[@thefakewasp503]

What lovely memories Steven, east cost pacifics and the prototype Deltic. Although I was twelve when steam finished I never had the joy of seeing an A4 in service. As for the Deltics I agree, they did look much better in two tone green but they were the most impressive class of all diesels.

[@Steven_Rowe]

@@thefakewasp503 well I was 15 when steam finished. Always loved the GN main line Mt brother worked on the Deltics he was an electrician at 34G Finsbury Park. I also remember baby Deltics on outer suburban workings. My favourite rolling stock were the Quadart sets

[@thefakewasp503]

@@Steven_Rowe Wow all of that is something special. I have always lived over 100 miles away from the southern end of the GN although I was well aware of the trains you had witnessed at the time. I did live near the Midland and Somerset & Dorset Railway as well as the GWR mainline so I did see a great variety of steam (much of which was run down) and of course all the diesel hydraulic classes, blue pullman and prototype Falcon.

[@Steven_Rowe]

@@thefakewasp503 being in London was like the centre of the hub, you could see Eastern Midland Western and Southern all in one day. I remember seeing the Brand new Midland Pullman also steam at Euston and also Paddington plus Merchant Navy locos

[@thefakewasp503]

@@Steven_Rowe Well you do have it all in London and it is great to see virtually all the trains/rolling stock from different regions apart from the Scottish Region.

[@markcf83]

Wow. Never seen King's Cross before electrification took place.

[@thefakewasp503]

Wel it is certainly very different now and the station throat is now boxed in plus the overhead clutter. It remained relatively unchanged since steam days up until 1975/76.

[@markcf83]

@@thefakewasp503 At the time most of the footage in this was shot,I was in infants school in Berkshire. I could only imagine the chaos if a points failure took place pre electrification.

[@thefakewasp503]

@@markcf83 You are right especially before the track was rationalised in the mid-70s. The locos had to go backwards and forwards several times to access the servicing yard and repeat all this again to back onto a train. I was 19 in 1975 but I wish I went there earlier in life to witness the legendary steam locomotives, although I have always lived over a 100 miles away from London.

[@paulcaswell2813]

Wonderful stuff. I'd forgotten how long the signalbox at The Cross lingered on for!

[@thefakewasp503]

Thanks Paul I am glad you enjoyed it. There seemed acres of space after the signal box was sadly removed before all the overhead clutter appeared.

[@AndreiTupolev]

One of the great mysteries of our time was: how do you pronounce some of the racehorse names? I've never known how to pronounce Alycidon. And Tulyar I presume is "tully-are", but I wouldn't want to bet on it.

[@thefakewasp503]

No I'm not so sure either. The two you picked are in my opinion the worst of the racehorse names. Maybe it is Tull yar and Alicidon? All the best Graham

[@Simonize41]

Tul-yar and Alissy-don.👍🏻

[@johnnypoker46]

D9006 / 55006 should have been called "Needlezan" Then its name and the next one together would be "Needlezan Pinza" (If you don't get it: think Jackie de Shannon / Searchers)

[@thefakewasp503]

I haven't heard that one before but the version of the song by Smokie back in the 70s made me laugh as I used to replace the words with Nimbus and Pinza. All the best, Graham

[@graemekornicki6810]

@@thefakewasp503 you have some nice shots here nimbus was my favourite thought they looked better with domino headcodes cheers

[@thefakewasp503]

@@graemekornicki6810 Thanks. Nimbus did not have the front side windows blanked off and was close to original condition. I agree with you that the domino marker lights do look much better than the sealed beam lights or better still with the original roller blind headcodes. All the best, Graham