Everything about British Rail Dp1 totally explained
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DP1, or
Prototype Deltic is a demonstrator locomotive built by
English Electric in
1955. This locomotive resulted in 22 similar locomotives being ordered by
British Rail, which became their
Class 55.
Construction
The English Electric company, who had absorbed the engine maker
Napier & Son into its vast empire, was (among many interests) a major builder of
diesel and
electric locomotives. EE saw the potential of
Napier's Deltic engine for rail traction and in
1955 built a demonstrator in its
Dick Kerr works in
Preston. Officially numbered DP1 (
Diesel
Prototype number
1), although this was never borne on the locomotive, it carried the word DELTIC in large white letters on its powder-blue sides. Plans to name the
locomotive Enterprise never came to fruition and it was to be known as
Deltic to all.
Long cream stripes were painted on the sides, a visual device to make the locomotive's high sides appear more slender and speedier; three curved chevrons in the same creamy white on the noses gave it the impression of speed. The locomotive's styling was reminiscent of
American locomotives (partly because English Electric initially planned to offer the type for export) with high noses and small, somewhat swept-back cab windows set back behind them; to add to the American look of the locomotive to British eyes, a large headlight was fitted to each nose (these lights were never installed but would have been of the rotating 'beacon' type as fitted to North American locomotives of the era). Two 18-cylinder Deltic engines were fitted, derated from the 3,100 horsepower (2.3 MW) of the marine engines to 1,650 horsepower (1.2 MW) each, 3,300 horsepower (2.5 MW) total. This derating decreased the stress on the engines, thereby increasing the service life and time between overhauls.
Service with British Rail
The locomotive first saw service on the
London Midland Region of
British Railways but the intention soon became to electrify the major routes on that Region. On the
Eastern Region, however, no diesel replacement of conventional design seemed to be available for
Gresley's swift and powerful Pacifics, particularly the A4. Only the Deltic appeared to offer the power and speed required within the restraints of sensible
axle load and it was soon running on that Region.
Preservation
In 1961,
DELTIC was withdrawn after serious powerplant failure; by that time the production Class 55 locomotives were coming into service. Plans to test it in Canada fell through and the locomotive was donated to the
Science Museum, London. It is now in the
National Railway Museum site
Locomotion in
Shildon,
County Durham,
England.
Further Information
Get more info on 'British Rail Dp1'.
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