In recognition of the society's new status as an Educational Charity there will be the first "Lord Nelson Memorial Lecture". (It was Lord Nelson who as Chairman of English Electric "signed the cheque" to fit two Deltic engines in a rail traction unit - DP1 DELTIC). After the formal business has concluded non members are cordially invited to participate in the afternoon's activities which will commence at around 13.30. This will be composed of the lecture, a sales stand and the seventeenth annual auction.

This year's lecture will be presented by the eminent photographer and author Gavin Morrison who now has more than forty railway books to his credit. The subject of the first annual lecture will be entitled "Deltics Off The ECML".

June
End of the DNLL
DELTIC 9000 LOCOMOTIVES LTD have announced on there website that the company has gone into voluntary liquidation. The decision was made on the 10th June to cease trading due to financial problems currently being facing. The website has announced that they will be selling D9000 "ROYAL SCOTS GREY" in due coarse, also the class 50 the DNLL were looking after will be pass to the D400 Fund who will now take care of 50050 "Fearless".

55008 cab with its new Deltic simulator
Photo by James Whincup

D9009 looking great at the National Railway Museums "Railfest"
Photo by James Whincup

July
DPS Deltics at Barrow Hills diesel gala
Barrow Hill had its diesel gala and this mean't that the DPS Shed was open for business and for the first time in many years 55002 was on display again to the public. Photo's are here.

The end of the rails for DNLL
After the recent sale of D9000 the offical website for DELTIC 9000 LOCOMOTIVES LTD is to be closed. In June this year the DNLL announced that the company was going into voluntary liquidation after recent problems. Both Deltics previously owned by the DNLL have now been sold off to new owners, identities to be confirmed.

August
D9000 new owner
After the recent sale of D9000 the new owner is Martin Walker who is Chairman of the Class 40 Preservation Society. In an exclusive statement to the website Martin says "At this stage my engineering experts are working on a spec. of work considered neccesary, for example this will more than likely involve re-skining both body sides and overhaul of the 2 generators, obviously much more work is also required. It is hoped to have her back operational on a 'Northern preserved railway' for next summer with a view to main line by the end of the year. Obviously we have to see how things go.""Plan to operate 4 or 5 railtours per year and see what's available for limited use on charters etc. Don't wish to run her into the ground, but she'll hopefully pay her way once sorted." Martin also told the website that "My aquisition of 'Royal Scots Grey' is in no way associated with the CFPS or my current position of Chairman."We wish Martin and his new Deltic the best of luck and hope to see it running soon. Please support this venture when the loco is back in service.

September
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October
"DPS Press Release" Deltic Preservation Society Announce Tour Dates for 2005
After a year out of the mainline scene during which the DPS completes its Engineering Plan the Society is now pleased to announce the provisional dates for its forthcoming 2005 Railtour programme.

They are as follows:
Saturday April 23rd
Saturday July 2nd
Saturday October 1st
Thursday December 29th

An exciting series of Railtours are planned with interesting itineraries and innovative ideas; more details of which to follow soon. DPS members will be given advanced booking preference for all tours.
Railtours Officer Guy Middleton said 'We look forward to welcoming Deltic enthusiasts both old and new on to our trains in 2005. By publicising these dates in advance we hope that there will be no clash of heritage diesels on the main line in 2005'.

Deltic items in Auction
The two items below are Deltic memorabilia for sale in Sheffield Railwayana Auctions and any Deltic Enthusiast should not miss out. Both photos are courtesy of Sheffield Railwayana Auctions.
The worksplate is off 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier. The Deltic is now owned by the Deltic Preservation Society.
The headboard "Celtic Deltic" was carried by Deltic 55002 King Own Yorkshire Light Infantry also preserved by the NRM and currently stabled at the DPS depot. This tour ran on 31st October 1981 on a British Rail organised Kings Cross - Edinburgh (1F52) and return to Peterborough.
These items will be in Auction 11th December 2004. For more details look here.

November
NRM event
The Deltic Preservation Society display D9009 and D9008 cab at National Railway Museums "CAB IT" weekend over the days of the 13 and 14 November.

D9008 cab, the new DPS simulator in use outside the main hall.
Photo by James Whincup

D9009 meeting noses with 45112 inside the main hall at the National Railway Museum.
Photo by Alan Whincup

December
Sheffield Sheffield Railwayana Auction Sales
Today 55019 Worksplate and the headboard "The Celtic Deltic" (featured on 15/10/04) went under the hammer at Sheffield Railwayana Auctions.
A price of £2,900 was paid for the worksplate from 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier.
The Headboard "The Celtic Deltic" carried by 55002 King Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on a British Rail organised Kings Cross - Edinburgh (1F52) and return to Peterborough tour fetched £200.

Martin Walker, the new owner of 55022 hopes to have the locomotive moved from Hornsey to the DPS Depot at Barrow Hill in late January 2005. Details of the move will be publicised on the DPS website once known.

DPSCS will be the principal contractor for the repair; no DPS volunteers will be involved in this contract as the Society continues to work on its own three Deltics.

It is intended that the locomotive will receive a full body overhaul including inner and outer re-skinning. In addition generators will be split from the engines for cleaning and all necessary repairs. Other work on 55022 will include the hydraulic testing of the air receivers, calibration of critical equipment and fitting of TPWS before the locomotive will be released.

The locomotive will not be on view whilst this work is being undertaken. It is intended to illustrate the progress of the overhaul of RSG via the DPS website www.thedps.co.uk.