With the exception of the 1984 ‘Grampian Highlander’ trip – railtours were more likely to be photographed than travelled on. Whilst living in North Yorkshire I was lucky enough to have good access to The Settle & Carlisle line and regularly visited Hawes on walking days out and Horton in Ribblesdale if there were any steam specials running.

A relaxation of the rules allowing heritage locomotives to return to the mainline in the late 1990’s gave the opportunity of Deltics returning to the mainline – and it was June 2003 when I returned to London hauled by The Deltic Preservation Society’s 55019 ‘Royal Highland Fusilier’.

The steam hauled ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ was quite handy to travel on – and in the mid 1980’s and you could just buy a ticket for the York – York circular part – via Harrogate and Church Fenton which I did regularly. The train came right past our house three times a week.

More recently I have travelled on two charters run by the A1 trust – both excellent days out with both steam and diesel traction.

But basically, anything Deltic hauled will be of interest…….