TULYAR ON TOUR
During the summer of 1986, Tulyar toured the south of England; the climax of the tour involving participation in the Aylesbury Rail Fayre on Saturday 15th June.
The following day, Tulyar was due to be towed, along with 20-099, 56-066 & 58-012, by class 40 D200 from Aylesbury to Saltley TMD, en route to Midland-Railway Centre. As one of the DPS volunteers present, I was asked if I was interested in travelling with the Deltic to Saltley. I didn't need asking twice!
Sunday arrived, and Paul, Kevin and I turned up at Aylesbury to meet our very genial driver from Saltley. He explained that the Class 58 would tow the whole convoy to Princes Risborough, where the load would be split in two. D200 would then tow Tulyar to Saltley, with the Class 56 leaving fifteen minutes later with the 20 and the 58. However, problems in releasing the Class 58's brakes meant that this plan was partially abandoned, with all locos being coupled together for the initial journey to Princes Risborough.
We climbed on board Tulyar in the sidings where it had been stabled overnight and, once the other locomotives had been marshalled together, we then set off for Princes Risborough. While there were a lot less people on the platforms at Aylesbury, compared with the previous day, there were still quite a number present. We discovered much later that this was due to the presence of a local radio station on the platform, broadcasting a reggae show. It also transpired that the DJ was somewhat less than amused by our departure amidst a fanfare of horns and threw his microphone down on the platform in rage. Unfortunately, we missed seeing this particular incident....
We arrived in Princes Risborough and the train guard set about uncoupling the two halves of the convoy. The delays at Aylesbury meant that we had missed our path on the single line to Anyho Junction and a further wait ensued. However, this did give the opportunity for some further photography before we all boarded the convoy again.
As a result of these delays, a decision was then taken to join the two groups of locomotives back together again for the run to Saltley. After fitting the "Hull Executive" nameboard to the front of D200, we set off again at 1630. The run along the single line to Anyho Junction was lively enough but the 'Saltley Seagull' driver really opened the throttle once we had rejoined the main line.
We headed north and soon we noticed an increasing amount of photographers out on either lineside. The reason for this soon became clear. Today was one of the first runs of the A4 steam engine 'Sir Nigel Gresley' working the Sunday afternoon luncheon special from Marlyebone. As we approached the Stratford on Avon area the number of photographers and sound recorders about increased and as we came into a cutting where there were millions of photographers about, who should come from the other direction? Yes, Sir Nigel Gresley! Naturally, our convoy marked his approach with a fanfare on the air horns and we wondered what the effect on these steam fans would be with this multi-coloured cavalcade of very noisy diesels going through at that exact minute....... Certainly, one of our number thought it was absolutely hysterical and was rolling about the cabfloor in fits of laughter. I'm sorry to say that, yes, I was that guilty party!
Anyway, sanity was quickly restored and we continued on our way into the outskirts of Birmingham. We soon rolled into the arrival road at Saltley Depot where our train was split, and D200 and Tulyar moved to the refuelling point. Unfortunately, the shed foreman quickly realised that Tulyar was NOT to be refuelled and was shunted back out into the yard. After a few more photographs we said our farewells to our driver and started our trek back to the South East.
All in all, it was a very pleasant Sunday afternoon drive....
© Brian Elliott
Last updated 1st April 1999
