The withdrawal of the Deltic fleet began in January 1980 and was completed by January 1982. The final Deltic-operated service was the 16.30 Aberdeen-York on December 31, 1981, arriving in York just before midnight. The last train was an enthusiast special, the Deltic Scotsman Farewell on January 2, 1982 from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh and return. During the previous 18 years they had clocked up 64 million miles on the King’s Cross to Edinburgh, Leeds and Hull routes.

Four locomotives were selected and repainted for rail tours in 1981, and during the locomotives’ farewell runs station staff had never seen such crowds.

As 55015 Tulyar departed Kings Cross on that grey January day in 1982 – I would see the train go north through Doncaster clicking away on my camera with a nagging feeling that the resistance on my camera frame advancer had less resistance than normal. It was a sad enough day as it was – but to then find that my film had torn, and I had no pictures, remains one of my biggest regrets to this day.
The final southbound run on January 2, 1982 was hauled by 55022 Royal Scots Grey. At York, the station was packed. At Doncaster, Royal Scots Grey departed nine minutes late amidst the army of enthusiasts. The farewell special arriving at King’s Cross made ‘News at Ten’.

Diesel fans had been addicted to the intoxicating waste spewed out by the EE Co's twin Napier engines for twenty-odd years...one whiff of the stuff compelled enthusiasts from all over the country to converge at Doncaster on Saturday, February 27th 1982, when no fewer than fifteen machines were herded together for a restricted 'Farewell to the Deltic' open day at BREL Doncaster Works.
The event was organised by BREL employees with proceeds going to charity.

I’m not really sure how we got to know about this event prior to mobile phones and the internet – clearly the grapevine had been working overtime because by the time we arrived – it was packed.