D67 emerged from Crewe Works in May 62 being initially allocated to Derby. This fine Sulzer was to remain a Midland based machine for most of her 27 year career. She received the name “The Royal Artilleryman” at Derby Works in Sep 65.
Sample workings – (primarily from notes of JW ,DS and NR)
67 – 1030 Manchester Piccadilly – Bournemouth W “Pines Express” – 080862
worked Birmingham New St – Bath Green Park
67 – Dunstable – cement to Handsworth 301170
67 – Toton (1 of 104 locos) 231071
67 – Viewed at Derby 260872
67 – Viewed at Luton on 6O33 up MGR – 190573
67 – Viewed at Luton on 1C18 0810 Nottingham – St Pancras 230673 returning North on
1D08 1130 St Pancras – Nottinham 230673
67 – Viewed at Cardiff 290873
renumbered 45118 Dec 73
45118 – Viewed at Leicester 040574
45118 – Viewed at Luton 081175
45118 – Viewed at Luton 100876
45118 – 0750 St Pancras – Sheffield Haulage Luton – Sheffield 170677
45118 – 1207 Derby – St Pancras Haulage Luton – St Pancras 060978
45118 – 1600 Sheffield – St Pancras Haulage Luton – St Pancras 171179 45118 – 0750 St Pancras – Sheffield Haulage St Pancras – Luton 250280 45118- 0750 St Pancras – Sheffield Haulage St Pancras – Luton 070380 45118 – 1855 Manchester Picc – St Pancras 160881 45118 – 0915 Cardiff – Manchester 040582
Thanks to Dave Spencer for this Cheltenham view of 45118 at Cheltenham with the 0915 Cardiff – Manchester on May 4th 1982
45118 is an unusual sight approaching Leighton with a diverted 0900 Euston – Derby on July 3rd 1982 , 1 of 11 Peaks through Leighton that July day!
45118 – 0900 Euston – Derby (via WCML booked diversion) 030782 45118 – 1404 Scarborough – Luton Haulage Nottingham – Leicester 030983
Thanks to Dave Spencer for this view of 45118 dragging some can through Washford Heath on the 1200 Wolves – Euston which the Peak worked from New St to Nuneaton on March 25th 1984
45118 – 1200 Wolves – Euston (drag New St – Nuneaton) 250384 45118 – 2352 Sheffield – St Pancras 250385 45118 – 1915 Birmingham NS – Leeds 180586 45118 – Luton – Dunstable cement portions 080487 45118 – 1419 Newcastle – Liverpool 020587 45118 Newcastle – Bristol Mails , caught fire Rotherham 080587, loco withdrawn at Tinsley 100587
After withdrawal 45118 was eventually moved to open air storage at March with a good few other classmates. 45118 was bought for preservation and moved to Pitsford on the Northampton & Lamport preserved railway with heavy restoration resulting in her engine restarting in Oct 03. She then became a regular at the NLR until Sep 2008 when metal thieves caused significant damage to 45118.
Looking the part 45118 arrives at Pitsford on the very short Northampton and Lamport preserved railway on November 19th 2005
45118 – Northampton and Lamport Railway ( 3 return trips) 191105
She was moved to LORAM at Derby a year later, with little happening until purchased by LSL in 2018 and moved to Barrow Hill for restoration. After a long wait 45118 returned to class 1 action working her inaugural Railtour on the old Table 51 route from Bristol to York via BNS on July 27th 2024.
Thanks to Craig Ross for this atmospheric Lime St view of 45118 with a return Railtour from Newcastle on November 8th 2024
Thanks to “TC” for this morning view of 45118 at Bedford with the Peak Blinders” tour on January 24th 2026
More tours followed , January 2026 saw 45118 return to Southern sections of the Midland Main Line including Luton. Saturday May 9th 2026 saw 45118 call at Leighton with a Northampton – Kingswear kettlex and she sounded and looked really superb passing Linslade allotments, yes i gave the old girl a flail too!
With that familiar deep Sulzer growl 45118 accelerates away from her Leighton Buzzard stop with a Northampton – Kingswear kettlex on May 9th 2026
45118 a true survivor from the real Midland!….
NR 5/26
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