The first time I saw D9000 since its return to the national rail network
was on 8 March 1997 working the West Coast Pioneer railtour to Manchester,
photographed at Chelford in Cheshire.
It was not until later that year I had my first ride behind D9000 when it worked Virgin Train's 0910 Edinburgh - Reading on 14 November 1997, seen here leaving Crewe.
My next run behind D9000 was a year later when it worked the 0845 (Sun) Birmingham New Street - Preston. This is D9000 arriving at Macclesfield, 29 November 1998.
On the train at O & GB Junction, Ashton joining the line to Manchester Victoria.
D9000 in the winter sun at Bolton, 29 November 1998.
In February and March 1999 D9000 was again in action for Virgin Trains working diverted services over the Settle - Carlisle line. It is seen at Carlisle on 27 February 1999 having arrived on the 1037 Birmingham International - Edinburgh.
D9000 with 47844 at Crewe working the 0910 Edinburgh - Birmingham, 20 March 1999.
It was not just D9000 which saw use on the main line. DPS owned D9009 and 55019 were also allowed out on railtours, photographed here in the early morning of 17 July 1999 at Wilmslow on a tour from Crewe - Stirling
55019 again, this time in the Peak District at Chinley working a DPS tour from Crewe via Sheffield to Holyhead, 13 May 2000.
The 4th Deltic to be
returned to service was D9016, painted in purple and pictured here at
Scarborough on Pathfinder Tours 'Napier Navigator', 6 April 2002.