East Coast Thoroughbred
by When the shortlist of 50 entries for this book was being finalized, the compilers had a headache deciding which loco should represent the ‘Deltic’ class – the prototype (which was the most charismatic-looking and a genuine pioneer but had never really been part of the frontline fleet) or the first of the production series, with its rich history of East Coast racing.
When the shortlist of 50 entries for this book was being finalized, the compilers had a headache deciding which loco should represent the ‘Deltic’ class – the prototype (which was the most charismatic-looking and a genuine pioneer but had never really been part of the frontline fleet) or the first of the production series, with its rich history of East Coast racing.
By a narrow margin, the prototype won it, but with the proviso that D9000 Royal Scats Grey also be featured.
No. DPI Deltic (it never carried its number) really was ahead of its time in late-1955 when manufacturer English Electric launched it onto an unsuspecting public for whom the dark days of post-war austerity were still a fresh memory.
To say its dramatic bright blue livery and yellow ‘whiskers’ captured the public’s imagination would be an understatement. And it certainly wasn’t all looks and no muscle cither, for this extraordinary machine possessed no less than 3,300 horsepower, 60,000lb of tractive effort and the ability to ‘do the ton’ with a heavy train on the level – making it the most powerful loco in the country at that time (the ex-LNER Garratt being withdrawn at about the time Deltic came into service). It was also the most powerful single unit diesel loco in the world when built.
It is said that the revolutionary new diesel owed its existence to Lord Nelson, the chairman of EE, who came up with the idea of putting Royal Navy gunboat engines into a railway locomotive! The two engines were l,650hp Napier-built units, whose delta-shaped cylinder layout gave the loco its name. Design work began as early as September 1951 and construction started two months later in EE’s Preston works.
SUPERLATIVE
Deltic was loaned to BR for the first few years and was initially allocated to the London Midland Region for working West Coast expresses. It also spent time on trials in Scotland, but it was after being transferred to the Eastern Region in 1959 that its potential was really spotted and after some superlative performances on the East Coast Main Line, the ER decided to order 22 production series versions of it to replace Pacifies on its crack expresses.
The prototype continued to work until repairs were needed in March 1961. It was then put on display in London’s Science Museum, moving in 1993 to the NRM.
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