25 years of preserved diesels on the main line
“It was in the post-Privatisation era that the distinction ‘preserved’ and ‘privately owned’ became clouded”
OCTOBER 1, 2019 marked the 25th anniversary of the first appearance of a preserved diesel on the main line.
The significance of this cannot be overstated; whilst today it is normal to see locos in action that are owned by independent companies and spot-hire firms, back then it was something British Rail had said would never happen. But Privatisation allowed new thinking – not least when Pete Waterman bought BR’s Special Trains Unit, which ran charters and railtours, as one of the first sell-offs.
Many predicted that when a preserved diesel would be allowed to haul a train on the main line again, it would be a twin-engined loco, such as a ‘Deltic’ or ‘Western’, as these offer a level of insurance against total failure. In the end, however, the honour of being the first fell to Pete Waterman’s green-liveried ‘Peak’ No. D172 (46035) Ixion, which had been restored at Crewe Heritage Centre.
As well as the necessary mechanical work, there was a mountain of paperwork required in order to gain main line certification. Externally, the loco had to be fitted with a headlight and a yellow warning panel larger than that originally applied in the 1960s, although subsequently it was reduced to a more traditional size.
Considering its significance, the first outing was a surprisingly quiet affair with less than 100 passengers on board the full-length train. This trip – the 1Z64 Derby to St Pancras on October 1, 1994 – was a one-way positioning move in advance of the loco working ‘The Thames-Clyde Express’ from St Pancras performed without fault on both days.
