Deltic D9000 had been trialled on some Virgin Trains services in 1997 with a view to it being used occasionally on their services. The
railway press and lineside rumour mill were saying that it would work an out and back service between Birmingham New Street and
Ramsgate every Saturday during the 1998 summer timetable. Things that sound too good to be true usually are, but I turned up at the
lineside on the first Saturday of the summer timetable half expecting the train to be a 47. About ten minutes before the train showed up,
I had confirmation that the Deltic was on the train as the sound of twin Napier engines could be heard in the distance and getting louder.
D9000 races through Roade with 1O99 0658 Birmingham New Street to Ramsgate. Not only did D9000 operate this Saturday only service
during summer 1998, but it did so in summer 1999 too - happy days!
Date: 30 May 1998