Class 44 Demise

Newspaper article. Dated January 13th 1978.

"A special excursion a week tomorrow will mark the last planned appearance of Derby built Class 44  diesel locomotives at the head of a passenger train. The excursion is to Chester and will use many lines not normally used by passenger trains. The train will carry a headboard bearing the title 'Farewell to the 44's'.
Two locos of Class 44 or Peak Class, will be used during the journey. This class of only 10 locos built at Derby in 1959 have for the last 15 years been restricted to freight operation in the East Midlands mainly hauling coal from Toton Yard.
Now they are being phased out as new locos come into service and with interests no longer confined purely to steam there have been many requests from enthusiasts to see them in passenger service again.
The Class were named after mountain peaks in the North of England and Wales and the two being used for the excursion will carry their original nameplates.
Enthusiasts were warned that it would be a cold ride since, although the locos were originally designed for express passenger work, their heating boilers were removed when they were allocated to freight.
Now, however, British Rail have decided to provide a heating van formerly used in the Royal train and the journey should not be cold after all"