In March 1961 she became the first production "DELTIC" to visit Scotland and was based at Leith Central Diesel Depot for crew training purposes, hauling trains of empty stock to and from Berwick upon Tweed.
D9000 was experimentally fitted with an electric flashing light above the bufferbeams for trial purposes. The subsequent removal of this short lived experiment produced the distinctive rectangular panel around the nose end footstep which she still carries.
In August 1961 she visited the Works of Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns at Darlington for her prefabricated bogies to be exchanged for a modified version due to problems with the original design.
On 1st June 1962, D9000 visited St Rollox Works at Glasgow for the fitting of nameplates and crests. On the 18th June 1962, she officially became ROYAL SCOTS GREY at a naming ceremony at Edinburgh Waverley. This ceremony, performed by Brigadier J.E. Swetenham D.S.O., Colonel of The Royal Scots Greys, took place immediately before her departure with the Centenary Up "Flying Scotsman".
During October 1967, the green "Royal Scots Grey" entered Doncaster Plant for her scheduled Intermediate repair and for fitting of air brake equipment. When she reappeared, on the 3rd November 1967, it was in BR. blue livery and one month later, on 3rd December, she was transferred to Finsbury Park Depot (London), a temporary arrangement whilst the air braking of the class was continuing. "Royal Scots Grey" was the second Deltic to be air braked, the first being D9016 "Gordon Highlander", which also remains in preservation under private ownership to this day.
On 17th June 1968, "Royal Scots Grey" was restored to the allocation of Haymarket Depot where she was to remain until her final move, to York T.M.D., on the 13th May 1979.
High annual mileage's were a feature of the Deltic class and in February 1973, the twelfth anniversary of her entering into service, "Royal Scots Grey" passed the 2 million service miles mark.
In late November 1973, 9000 took part in high speed trials on the West Coast Main Line between Carstairs and Lockerbie. Along with class 86 Electric locomotives, she hauled a train which included in its formation, newly introduced Mark 3 stock.
During the latter half of 1973 and first half of 1974 the Deltics were renumbered into the 55XXX range and 9000 became the last of the class to run in service with the old number series, not becoming 55022 until 10th April 1974.
Photo Courtesy of Alan Knight
1977 was of course, the year of the Queens Silver Jubilee and to mark the occasion a "Silver Jubilee" service between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley was inaugurated on Wednesday 8th June. The north bound service was worked by an immaculate 55012 (Crepello) whilst the Up train left the Scottish capital in the hands of 55022 "Royal Scots Grey".
Indeed "Royal Scots Grey" seems to have been very much a big occasion locomotive and on the 1st May 1978 she hauled the Down "Flying Scotsman" on the 50th Anniversary of the first non stop run. She carried the "Winged Thistle" emblem used on this service in the early 60"s, as far as is known the only occasion it was carried in BR service by a Blue Deltic.
The next event of note involving "Royal Scots Grey" took place on the 28th February 1981. On this day she became the first Deltic to reach 20 years in service and to mark the event, she hauled the 12.20 Kings Cross to York train carrying a suitable headboard. By this time the run-down of the class had begun and withdrawals had already taken place. "Royal Scots Grey" received its last repair attention at Doncaster Plant between the 6th and 9th July with attention to the body and one power unit.
Later in this final Deltic year, 55022 was selected as one of four loco's to be smartened up for use on the many enthusiasts specials which were run to mark the end of the class and she was repainted and had a power unit changed at Stratford Depot, returning to traffic on 5th November.
Without doubt the most note worthy of the specials which
she worked during the final months was the Severn Valley Railtours "The
Deltic Venturer" which ran from York to Paddington and back on the
28th November. In addition to breaking much new ground for the class,
she gained the distinction of being the only Deltic to climb the famous
Lickey Incline.
Having been selected to work the southbound leg of the "Deltic Scotsman
Farewell" on 2nd January 1982, she had to be worked north in readiness
and on 31st December 1981 she hauled the 05.50 Kings Cross to Aberdeen
as far as Edinburgh Waverley, adding to her long list of honours the distinction
of working the last Deltic hauled service train into Scotland.
Her part in the events of 2nd January 1982 is well documented and while
the scenes which greeted her arrival at Kings Cross were a tribute to
all 22 Deltics, it was fitting that the focus of the emotion should be
"Royal Scots Grey", the longest serving member of the class.
Her duties done, she returned light engine to York Depot, where she was
officially withdrawn, having accumulated almost 3,250,000 service miles.
On Tuesday 5th January 1982 she was towed from York Depot to Doncaster
Plant in company with 55009, 55015 and 55016, all of which were to find
homes in preservation.
Photo Courtesy of 53A Models of Hull
