Derreck is an LNER A1 Peppercorn class locomotive who works with his best friend Jay the Southen Railway West Country Class loco to pull the GTR's top link express train called The Togilian. Derreck was designed by Arthur Peppercorn and built at Doncaster Works along with his twin brother Allen in August 1948. Derreck is named after Derek Worlock, a famous British priest who at the time was the priest of Westminster Cathedral. Derreck's name was originally splet D-e-r-e-k but this was later changed to D-e-r-r-e-c-k. After completion both engines were allocated to Copley Hill Sheds near Leeds. Where they were assigned to run mostly express passenger trains either north to Edinburgh and beyond or south to London. Throughout their wonderful working life's the 2 engines worked along side their 48 other brothers and sisters. And their Cousins too. But in 1952, Derreck and Allen would hit a sad day in their life's. Derreck had to be moved to Kings Cross Top Shed for unknown reasons. And the pair had to be separated for the first time in their lives. This was a heartbreaking moment for them and apart from passing each other on their runs every now and then. The 2 would never see each other ever again. This tragic event would greatly sadden Derreck, so to cheer him up, Derreck was sent for a repaint. He was originally painted LNER apple green but when he emerged from the paint shops, he was painted in BR express passenger blue. He would stay in this livery for 4 more years until 1956. When Derreck moved sheds again, this time to Aberdeen Ferryhill. And was given another repaint into BR Brunswick green. Then in 1960 he was moved again to York North steam shed and painted into BR Black with red lining. And that's how he stayed for the last 6 years of his working life. His very last run in BR service was a double headed service with his last surviving brother Mungo in June 1966. Afterwards, both engines were sent to Barry scrapyard and it looked like they would both face the cutters torch. Luckily only one of them had that fate as the other (Derreck) went to The Great Togial Railway. At the time, Jay was the only primary express engine the GTR had. And he was struggling to cope with the booming express traffic on the line. The GTR directors could see that Jay needed help, so in 1967 they went to Barry scrapyard looking for one. They found all sorts of rusty and broken down express engine's there but eventually they chose Derreck. Derreck was sold to the directors and a few days later, he left Barry scrapyard for the island of Togial. When he arrived he was immediately moved into the GTR's main workshops for restoration. Derreck's restoration took 3 years to complete, but finally in late June of 1970, he moved under his own power again for the first time in 4 years. And entered service the following month, just in time to help Jay with the busy summer holiday traffic. Derreck has been pulling the GTR's express ever since and is now on his 4th boiler ticket in preservation which expires in 2022. And Derreck's new-built brother Tornado has come to visit the GTR quite a few times since he was built in 2008. Derreck and Tornado are fond pen pals who like to visit each other from time to time. In this photo we see Derreck pulling the GTR's express on a cold, grey and snowy morning in February 2014.
Yes I know this is a real life picture of Tornado with Derreck's face and I know it may look unprofessional, but I'm not a very good artist OK?
