Looking superb and complete with a replica Flying Scotsman thistle adorning the front, D9009 (55009) 'Alycidon' accelerates away from Banbury leading the outward leg of The Golden Jubilee Pullman charter that started out from London Victoria. It hauled the lovely, mainly, vintage Pullman stock to the Severn Valley Railway where GWR 2-8-0 2857, SR 4-6-2 34053, LMS 2-6-0 43106 and 55019 all were involved in hauling some special trains for the day. Despite the familiar whisp of blue exhaust from the Deltic it was, unfortunately, not being worked particularly hard at this location, the rising gradient being one of the reasons that I chose this spot, as the charter was right behind a Chiltern service and running under caution; the best-made plans and all that!
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