A slideshow capturing each of the 22 Deltics at London King’s Cross station during the Rail Blue/TOPS era from mid-1975 to mid-1981 with various SLR cameras (Zenit-E, Practica, Pentax SP500, KM and K1000). There are three views of each class member across the time period. I was spoilt for choice with images for some locomotives but had rather a dearth for others and my instamatic shots prior to 1975 are pretty grim. I did not manage to obtain reasonable photographs of two of the Deltic nameplates (55002 and 55006) although I have included an image of the hand carved wooden pattern for the Knight on horseback regimental crest of “The Fife & Forfar Yeomanry”.
The scenes during 1975 show that the station throat had changed little since the days of steam with the signalbox, although decommissioned in 1971, still standing proudly as it did for the many past historic achievements and occasions at the station. Major changes occurred in 1976 with the closure of King’s Cross York Road station that served the widened lines overground suburban services which ceased during that year. By 1977 overhead wires had appeared for the inner and outer suburban services and the works being undertaken for platform and track alterations is much in evidence during that year but the Deltics were still in charge of the Anglo/Scottish expresses. In the late 70s/early 80s work was undertaken on the station canopy which made the station much lighter. The locomotive servicing/stabling yard had closed and locomotives travelled light to the station from Finsbury Park depot. HSTs first started appearing late in 1977. The Deltics are regarded by many as worthy successors to the elegant East Coast pacific steam locomotives and it was a joy to witness the sight and sound of these mighty powerful beasts within their restricted sphere of operation before their final demise in the New Year of 1982.
I did not possess an audio cine camera at the time but besides taking many stills of these locomotives (and not just at King’s Cross) I did make some audio recordings of Deltics with a cassette tape recorder. I have used some of a crude recording made on the 18th December 1976 as a soft background accompaniment to this slideshow which also contains sounds of Class 31, 47 and first generation dmus. The video concludes with several views of preserved Deltics at King’s Cross together with a video sequence of a Deltic "coming home" with "The Talisman" special excursion. The environs of King’s Cross have now changed out of all recognition since the Deltic era although the station canopies and the Gasworks Tunnel portals are thankfully still instantly recognisable.
ALL MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT GRAHAM R SMITH