Tulyar arrived in 1987, being bought by the first ever volunteer on the railway. Tulyar arrived numbered 550015 and in a green livery, something
not quite right anyway!. Tulyar was put to use in completing the main line, and entered passenger service at easter 1987. She is a remarkable beast, and
is the reason why the SNBR has a significant collection of similar Mardyke mini-beasts. She is powered by Kabota 10hp diesel engine driving a hydraulic pump that
supplies 2 hydraulic motors. Tulyar is by far and away the most used engine on the railway, and within the membership is probably the favourite engine in the fleet.
She has recently passed her 20,000 mile of passenger hauling in 20 years of service, and no doubt several thousands of freight miles and shunts could be added in there as well.
Amazingly in 2000 we held a special event to commerate the arrival of Kestrel one of her sister engines in to the fleet. At this event the builder of all 5 of these
engines was in attendence, and we discoverd that our Tulyar originally started life as a petrol powered locomotive and was in fact slightly shorter in length. Making her
even older than originally expected.
In more recent times she was repainted into the exact colours of her big sister D9000 by kind donation of 2 tins of paint from the Deltic Preversation society. She carried this
paint until 2003, when it was starting to look at bit "jaded". So in 2003 her body was sent off for a re-spray into the exact colours she was carrying, and was returned back to her painted glory.
As the years and miles rolled on, it is impressive to note that the Deltic's popularity with the members continued, and her full overhaul was completed very quickly. She remains 1 of the few engines
to have been in service every single year since her arrival at the SNBR. If an engines have a personality, then Tulyar certainly has one of "never say die" and in her first 20 years of service has
certainly clocked up some memories.
In 2007 Tulyar was chosen to haul the Mayors special marking the opening of the 21st birthday event. The engine was chosen as it is the hardest working engine of the railway, and of course she had to be
driven by her owner, who is also member number 1.
