As a 20 year old English Electric apprentice I worked in the locomotive final test prior to delivery and was involved in testing all systems on all 22 Deltics great days
Nice to hear. I think that the basic Deltic construction idea is pretty interesting and with modern technology it could still be a working idea. The 2-stroke technology is a bit of a trouble from emissions point of view though. I also have discovered that there's a nice animation of the engine principle on Wikipedia.
Would you remember the dyno car? We saw the Deltic on trial at Lichfield TV, in the 1950's, it was pulling what appeared to be a hollowed out Deltic with glass windows where the roof louvers are. There were a couple of drawing boards and staff in white shirts on board. The mate I was with didn't remember it though.
No "trouble" at all with emissions from 'Deltic' two-stroke oil engines @@ehsnils, in which full combustion of fuel is achieved. You must be thinking of two-stroke petrol engines which spew out PICs (products of incomplete combustion). The latest two-stroke opposed-piston oil engine from Achates has very low emissions, especially nitrous oxide, good enough to meet 2027 legislation in California.
My father, Arthur Powell, was chief inspector of the test station at Napiers on East Lancashire Road, outside Liverpool. he had come up from London during the war to help open the factory there where kits of fighter planes bought from America were built. It was where he met my mother, who was a Liverpudlian. He was very proud of the Deltic and told me of the number of trucks attached to it during testing. He brought home monochrome photographs for me and, as a result, I thought, that it was grey! Much more recently, I am proud to report that I drove a Deltic as part of the driver experience offering on the Great Central Railway. I still have his retirement watch, engraved with the name, English Electric Diesels as, indeed, the Napier company were taken over by English Electric, who were neighbours on East Lancs Road. Mike
I was introduced to the Deltic in the long hot summer of 76, whilst on a caravan holiday with my parents in Northumberland. I’d heard the sound of the twin Napiers on full song as they climbed the steep gradient of Long Houghton Bank on the ECML. My father took me to a bridge at the tip of the bank and I was enthralled. I’ve been a life long fan since. British engineering at its very best!
I used to travel regularly from Birmingham to Newcastle On Tyne as a child on a train pulled by a Deltic - a fabulous locomotive. Now I live near the Severn Valley Railway - the tracks are visible from my back garden. Once in a while they have a diesel weekend, and feature a mighty Deltic - what a glorious sight and sound it is to see one in full chat!
Sensacional ! Deve ser maravilhoso ver essas locomotivas históricas operando. Quando estive na Inglaterra em 2017 visitei o NRM emYork e vi uma Deltic manobrando para um encontro. Infelizmente o protótipo tinha ido um dia antes da minha visita. Semanas depois vi pelo youtube elas no encontro de locomotivas Deltics. Mas não vi rodando, apenas por filme.
Tip for you all in future, move your mouse pointer over the video and hold the left button down, you will have 1.5X speed until you release the button, solves all problems like this. And look at it this way, at least you are not the poor bugger that married him. ;o)
Also as an apprentice I was with Nelson research pulling the first 100amp silicon diodes that were used on the Deltic. We were also making the first transistors.
At that time I was a very successful friendly bull merchant, a bit like you... I worked on 100.75 amp rubber diodes that would bounce instead of burn up in the case of underload... You sound very genuine, but then so did Adolf.
Great Video. I lived in Potters Bar from 1956-72 and spent many hundreds of hours watching steam & diesel on the ECML and although I was sad to see the last of steam., I always enjoyed watching the Deltics thundering past with their distinctive sound including DP1. The only other diesels I thought worth watching were the 'Westerns' but I had to travel to Paddington or Reading to watch those.
What a wonderful video, I had the privilege of commuting from Kings Cross in the early seventies, and that sound, like an Orchestral Overture as they pulled their trains out of KX and into the tunnel, pure music, thank you for the memories.
Excellent film paying tribute to these great machines and the English Electric Company with some great shots, anecdotes and technical info. Many thanks for posting.
I was there when HS4000 ran trials on the ECML @simonbird1973, and can confirm that it was colourful, yes, attractive even, but no 'beast', with an over-weight, spluttering engine. The CMEs might have considered its overall weight fairly 'beastly', at 133 tons 6cwt!
I'm old enough to remember seeing the original Deltic parked up in Doncaster supposedly doing trial runs. That was back in the 1950s.....I can still remember its distinctive Blue with yellow chevrons on the front. That was a golden time in Doncaster with the old steamers A1&2&3 (the workhorse) and the A4 "streaks" as they were called with their streamlining and special whistle.
Excellent, really enjoyed that. I was offered a cab ride from Kings X to Peterborough in Meld, my father had blown a fuse the weekend before because I was never at home, always chasing some engine somewhere....my regrets to this very day, I had to decline!
When i was a kid living in UK i would think oh no not one of them. But now my thoughts towards them have changed. Even the grandson gets excited when i say " Wanna see a Deltic ".
I will never forget the trips I took in the early sixties over the vale of York one of the first 100mph sretches.. The power and the exhaust note were memorable as was the rock and roll of Mk 1 stock! I think the two tone green BR Livery really looked great. Halcyon days.
As an American, "King of Diesels" comes off as a bit rich to me, but they sure sound AMAZING. Any fan of Internal Combustion could certainly do a lot worse - and yes, that engine is a mechanical marvel. Kudos GB!
I recently was at the Tesla museum in Zagreb Croatia. On display was a Napier Deltic engine. It was almost incomprehensible to look at. Defiying all the norms of power plant design. It was a truly majestic sight. By far the most interesting Display in the museum which has many amazing items including a submarine and some aircraft.
The very last picture I've got of my wife Christine is sat in the drivers seat of the Green Howards at Barrowhill, Two weeks before she suddenly passed away on the 3/9/23 Bless her❤
I enjoy steam locomotives as much as anyone, but diesel locos like the Deltic are part of my childhood. I've travelled on trains hauled by Deltics, so they're nostalgic for me, and in my opinion as much a living engine as a steam locomotive, just in a different way
As a young trainspotter, my friends and I travelled from Leeds to Doncaster. There we could spot all the steam engines traveling on the ECML. We used to boo the diesels being dedicated steam fans! We also occasionally spotted E3000 electrics at the Plant opposite. However we started taking notice of these engines, quite often Checking out the original Deltic and it’s blue paint on stand by. Great days.
What fantastic engineering! The cacophony of sound and the hulking menace of the machine ooze power and I can still hear it shooting through stevenage station to this day - Nothing like it today, dont make em like they used to boy!!
When I worked for SWT as an engineer we had a wheel lathe at Wimbledon. We could turn the wheels whilst still on the loco! We used to see the Deltics A LOT and get a cab ride up the sidings! Not only that my late father worked for EE and was a wireman on the prototype D1! He later went on to wire up the production ones! So a bit of dad is in ALL the Deltics. I have traveled behind them many times when in service. You forgot to mention - the Finsbury Park Racehorses all had cabs painted with WHITE around the windows - thats how you can tell them from a distance.👍 The GREATEST locomotive ever built in England - nothing will ever touch her. So sad to see the end.😪😪😭
My main memory of the Deltics was taking the 8 am High Speed service from Kings Cross to Darlington and return. I would always sit in the coach immediately behind locomotive just to hear the roar of the engines. However, upon departing from KC, I had to make sure that the windows were closed before entering Gasworks Tunnel. Deltics could put a steam engine to shame with the amount of smoke they produced when the throttles were opened as some of the shots in this video testified.
I don't know if I'd say king of diesels I would say in britain yes but worldwide but either way it is a beautiful well built machine and deserves to be celebrated
We lived in Peterborough and would get the train to King’s Cross sometimes instead of taking the car, it was one of these beasts that would pull the coaches, I had a model train of the deltic for the set up I had that went right around my room 🤣.
Back in the early to mid 70's I worked for a company in a trainee position in Newcastle on Tyne, part of my training was in Croydon, so I regularly travelled by train from Newcastle to Kings Cross, which were obviously pulled by Deltics. At the time I had no awareness of the significance of Deltics, but do recall their impressive sound and appearance. When arriving at Kings Cross I always enjoyed the walk down the platform past the loco, feeling the heat radiating from the hard worked power units and the throb from them. Now of course I realise I was living through an historic time and experience and really wish I'd known then so I could have taken photos to record the names of the loco's I travelled with. From memory I think 1977 was the last time I travelled on that route, but from Leeds as we had moved by then.
The age of craftmanship and excellent workmanship, from the technical drawings to the end product. A continuation of the beautiful steam engines turned out by various companies for the regions.
A nice video about these powerful brutes i remember hearing deltics as a kid flying through Ashton-under-Lyne station in the late 1970s as you can't mistake the sound's of those napier engine's growling as they're from the best era of 1960s English engineering 🥰
The sound of the Napier Engines be compared with the sound of the Rolls Royce Merlins on the Avro Lancaster & imagine hearing the 2 together. & this begs the question Is the Avro Lancaster faster than a Deltic? this has never been attempted so which would be the fastest?
0:55 This Famous Diesel Express Locomotive Deltic Is Now Preserved At The National Railway Museum In York In Yorkshire In England In The United Kingdom. Thanks Mate. X
The Deltic was built a half mile from where I'm sitting at English Electric(formerly The Vulcan Foundry) Newton-le- Willows Lancashire. One of them is still running on the North Yorkshire Railway. Pickering.
I think you will find that the English Electric locomotive works were at Vulcan village near Newton-le-Willows, not in Liverpool, although the prototype was built by Dick, Kerr & Co. in Preston.
I think you are correct, I used to run the English Electric factory at Rugby, in my office there were two models, an English Electric Lightning and and English Electric Deltic….
11.15 in, the view from the cab is looking out over the W G City viaduct on the down line heading north from Kings Cross looking west towards Welwyn, and then through Welwyn North station and into the first of two tunnels on towards knebworth ….. just saying for anyone who’s interested
I saw that too. Often my friends and I would sit on the hill above the tunnel watching Deltics power up with their distinctive whistling roar across the viaduct before disappearing beneath us.
@@TryptychUK Being from WG CITY that main line and surrounding grounds was a playground for me as a young boy growing up in the 70s, my nans house backed onto it just south of the viaduct on the down line side. I loved it when the freight would wait to give way to high speed traffic going over the viaduct then would power up from stationary those Deltics and 37s shook the ground….. best sound ever!
@@noelwallace5257 I lived on Panshanger, which is some distance from the tracks, but I would go to bed at night listening to the trains, and you just knew the Deltics from that sound, roaring off in the distance. One of my most distinct memories as a boy.
@@TryptychUK Aye, Shoplands is where I grew up, so Harwood hill backed onto the tracks where my junior school was, also there was an unofficial footpath that cut down the side of the tracks from the road bridge at Knightsfield down to Bessemer Road under the viaduct, many days spent there….
@@noelwallace5257 I had friends close to Welwyn North, so we would mess about in the woods out towards Harmer Green. There was a path that ran alongside the tracks between the two tunnels, and would often watch the trains come through.
I drove them as a second man there were fast locos for there time but were knackered by the time HSTs took over they had a distinctive sound and could do around 117 mph on a good day down hill
Great film. I rode behind RSG loved it. I saw two tone The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at York NRM. I recomend the DVD Reigements and Racehorses.
The Deltic holds the unofficial, unverified world diesel speed record. Did I get your attention ? 😀 This is all anecdotal of course. But seeing this video reminded me of a story from 40 years ago I had completely forgotten about. A story told by an old, long retired driver in my Dad's pub in Peterborough. My Dad believed him, he said he wasn't the kind of guy taken to BS-ing. Who knows for sure though. I'll tell what I can remember of the story he told in 1983. It (55020 Nimbus) hit 152.x mph (I forget the x now) running with seven carriages, on Stoke Bank at around 1:30am, on Thursday March 4th 1976 (I remember the date, because it's also my own birthday (different year though), driven by Jimmy Warner who was based out of Finsbury Park. It was Jimmy's final jaunt before retirement, and it was all set up with help of the boys at Finsbury Park and a couple of friendly local bobbies with speed guns positioned 1 mile apart. The traction motors had their governors removed, and the gearing was changed to make it possible (I may be misremembering the technical details, I was an 11 year old kid, and this was 40 years ago). They (the FP Depot) wanted to take the 1973 record for The Deltic, from the HST Prototype (143mph), which they didn't consider a "real" locomotive, and for 'Depot pride'. Mr Warner said the loco still had a little left in the tank after they hit the top speed, they just "ran out of track". He said Nimbus was always the "liveliest" of the Deltics. Once the record was taken, later on the loco was returned to standard spec and noone was ever any the wiser. Certainly not BR Management ! 🙂 There's no reason it COULDN'T happen. If a 2,250bhp HST cold hit 143, then a re-jigged Deltic could certainly power it's way through that mark. We'll never know of course. The only locos with a faster claimed speed than a HST are also totally unproven and uncorroborated.
That's a great story if it checks out, the traction motors did indeed have issues with overspeeding and causing commutators to break up and flashovers. The HSTs had a power car at each end so 4500bhp and managed 148.5mph on test.
Apocalyptic, desolate and, apart from my companion on the day, lonely was that bitterly cold day in January 82. At 14 years old we sneaked across the Pennines (having not been entirely upfront with our parents as to where we were going) to Donny. The poorly maintained chain link fence down the alley way to the left of the entrance gates was breached and after negotiating the odd piece of decaying rolling stock their stood, in the icy mist, the image seen in this video at 28:53 - indeed, this footage might well have been the same day! Perhaps one of those days most can relate to? Childhood memory that at the time was just another day. We made many journeys to York, Donny, London etc. having saved dinner money, washed cars and nipped to the shop for Mrs Haig at number 22. This day stands out most with the passage of time for many reasons. When one of the remaining mythical 'Beasts from the East' passes up the west coast on a heritage trip, thoughts return of my first trip to York, turning a corner and, for the first time, confronting the enormous mass of yellow howling away towards the north. Pinza was her name. As with the occasional Merlin passing over head I just watch, smile and, of course, listen! Then I go back to paying the bills.
My earliest memory is watching Flying Scotsman steam over Digswell viaduct on Pegler’s great run. I volunteered at Salisbury Hall, whose mallards gave the name to the most famous A4. I knew Tony Marchington, bankrupted by the Scotsman. I still think the Deltic is the greatest loco in history.
Deltic, Napier, English Electric, names that remind those of us with long memories of how engine drivers were regarded as heroes in the way that "influencers" are today. When a British engineering firm could produce the fastest jet interceptor as well as the most successful and iconic railway engine. When British manufacturing was supreme and we exported what we made instead of importing what others make. When every name on people's lips was a British name and "Made In England" meant something to all the world, a world before Kardashians and gender confusion...
I agree .The Criminal Enterprise that rules the World stole the Adamic Races . Joy , peace and harmony , adding insult to injury, the parody and mockery.
@sMansGuitarsNot to mention the feeling of pride and self worth that having a skill and actually making something of quality and value gives a person, the satisfaction of doing something worthwhile with one's days. I think that is the real tragedy, so much more learnt in the course of an apprenticeship, not least respect and life experience. So few opportunities now and only have to look around at youngsters who have given up or want to make money with the least effort and where that leads them.
On a quiet night i could here these coming from about 15 + miles away pulling hard leaving york station il never forget that deep thud as it came passed under the bridge to the side of the tracks my bedroom was on
These were akin to the Victorian Railways B Class diesels (Double ended GM Bulldog Nose) which were introduced to replace steam locomotives in Victoria around the same time as the Deltics replaced steam in Britain. 😎🇦🇺
The first time I came across a Deltic was the summer of 1981 at Newcastle. By then, the Deltics were in their last months, but nonetheless it was an impressive sight and sound.
@@PreservationEnthusiast Yes, but unfortunately six evaded scrapping and still smoke the hell out of some preserved stations, whose visitors include vulnerable young children and elderly frail men. Outrageous! Make the owners an offer then tow the beasts away.
BTW, when I once asked what "semi Fast" means, a fellow passenger said that it means half of "fast" and the fist half of fast is "FA" ! So there you have it :)
Opposed piston engines are inherently more simple and efficient with no valves or head castings once you get past the casting and design hurdles. The Commer Knockers were another iconic engine with similar design, but the Deltics truly are the Kings!
The MG of the railway? Perhaps the EMD E unit of Great Britain. You tell me. Thanks for sharing. I'm American but always liked the way these locomotives looked and seemingly performed their roll.
Take a Deltic, cut it in half, turn one half around, and you have a classic A-A F7 operation (ignoring the mid-mounted steam generator; may put it in as a mini-B unit).
Fascinating engine design. They smoke almost as much as the American ALCOs, which have something of a cult following over here. Those Napier engines have a sound like nothing else. I may be a little biased, but the American GEVOs, at full throttle have quite a unique growl. Cheers.
Thank You for the review! I spent some time up at Willeseden Junction in the early 2000's watching comings and goings and am pretty sure a few of the Deltics were still running at that point, maybe heavy coal or similar? Any comments?
Nice document of this legendary loco. Who knows why not more was build? 47 class is much bigger for instance. How about the durability and fuel economy vs others?
Deltics not very good on those last two important counts. So a short production run and Eastern Region were the only railway buying them in the world. But even then no further orders after the ER experience.
English Diesel Engine Monarchs = The Deltics 12:05 Development Prototype (Dick, Kerr & Co.) 13:35 Development Prototype (Vulcan Foundry) 1:15 As Originally Transmitted With Electric
Okay I have one question. I know some small diesel locos and rail bus type things used to be driven directly by the diesel engine ie no electric motors. Is there a reason why they went for diesel-electric instead of direct drive diesel for the larger locos, could ask the same about ships, some use diesel to generate electricity to turn electric motors to turn the props and some don't, just wondering the various reasons thanks.
There's always a need for some form of transmission system as piston engines work best at specific speeds. Mechanical transmissions, like in cars, don't work well on larger locomotives as they can't really handle the amount of torque involved with heavier trains so they're only really used on smaller locomotives like shunters; you'll find that electric or hydraulic transmission systems are far more common, with electric transmissions being far more suited to high-speed operation.
I am pretty sure that allows better control of torque since the engine is at constant speed and by diverting field windings from the main generator which is direct current it's simpler systems for speed and torque control
30:10 MICHAEL TIMMS LOOKS LIKE ROBERT DAWS, DOCTOR ORMROD IN THE ROYAL HIS ON SCREEN AND OFF SCREEN WIFE AMY ROBBINS IS BANG TIDY THE DELTIC IS INDEED KING OF DIESELS 😊
Awesome to look at and listen to those diesel engines puffing at full speed! Thanks for sharing. In the US we take our diesels for granted now because that's all we use and they're not very pretty or good sounding at all.
Thanks Andrew, Glad you enjoyed it. There is a good description of a flashover on an old post on Railukforums - 'A flashover occurs when the brushes in the commutators of DC traction motors touch each other because of a unusual movement or bump, such as when a locomotive goes over a grade crossing. If the brushes touch each other, an electrical short can occur almost like a lightning strike. Obviously, this can severely damage the traction motors. Locomotives with DC traction motors must have the throttle reduced slightly when going over a grade crossing to reduce the risk of a flashover. Newer locomotives with AC traction motors have no commutator brushes and therefore do not have to be throttled down at grade crossings.'
This is very cool stuff! I heard about the Deltic engine and discovered the New York Fire Department had a pumping unit made with Deltic power! The Deltic sounds like a 2 stroke Detroit Diesel engine. On the other hand I live almost 2 US miles from the main BNSF line heading west northwest from Minneapolis. Can sometimes hear the thrum of their locos under full power! Especially at night...All 5 or 6 of them!! Would that be a 5 or 6 header?? I'm not enough of a railroad geek to tell you what kind of locos BNSF uses...
Hi there my real Name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris, I have another interesting idea for most of us Class 507, Class 508, Class 313, and Class 314 and that also includes those interesting Class 315 Fans out there, rather than scrapping most of those Class 507, Class 508, Class 313's Class 314 including the Class 315's maybe you guys can convert them. Including the refurbishment into the Volvo TD102KF Engine, Volvo B10M Engine, Scania N112 Engine, Leyland 510 Engine, Cummins M11 Engine, Gardner LG1200 Engine, Gardner 6LXB Engine, Gardner 8LXB Engine, Class 507, Class 508, Class 313's, Class 314's and the Class 315's and convert all of them into a 2 Carriages and Three Carriages of the Class 313's, Class 314's and that is including those Class 315's for most of us Class 314 and Class 315 Diesel Train Fans PLEASE? Are you still going to do this interesting type of Project for all of us out there Pretty Please.
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As a 20 year old English Electric apprentice I worked in the locomotive final test prior to delivery and was involved in testing all systems on all 22 Deltics great days
Nice to hear.
I think that the basic Deltic construction idea is pretty interesting and with modern technology it could still be a working idea. The 2-stroke technology is a bit of a trouble from emissions point of view though.
I also have discovered that there's a nice animation of the engine principle on Wikipedia.
That’s cool
Write a book!
Would you remember the dyno car? We saw the Deltic on trial at Lichfield TV, in the 1950's, it was pulling what appeared to be a hollowed out Deltic with glass windows where the roof louvers are. There were a couple of drawing boards and staff in white shirts on board. The mate I was with didn't remember it though.
No "trouble" at all with emissions from 'Deltic' two-stroke oil engines @@ehsnils, in which full combustion of fuel is achieved. You must be thinking of two-stroke petrol engines which spew out PICs (products of incomplete combustion). The latest two-stroke opposed-piston oil engine from Achates has very low emissions, especially nitrous oxide, good enough to meet 2027 legislation in California.
My father, Arthur Powell, was chief inspector of the test station at Napiers on East Lancashire Road, outside Liverpool. he had come up from London during the war to help open the factory there where kits of fighter planes bought from America were built. It was where he met my mother, who was a Liverpudlian. He was very proud of the Deltic and told me of the number of trucks attached to it during testing. He brought home monochrome photographs for me and, as a result, I thought, that it was grey! Much more recently, I am proud to report that I drove a Deltic as part of the driver experience offering on the Great Central Railway. I still have his retirement watch, engraved with the name, English Electric Diesels as, indeed, the Napier company were taken over by English Electric, who were neighbours on East Lancs Road. Mike
I was a child in the early 1960s and listened to the Deltics in the distance when falling asleep.
I was introduced to the Deltic in the long hot summer of 76, whilst on a caravan holiday with my parents in Northumberland. I’d heard the sound of the twin Napiers on full song as they climbed the steep gradient of Long Houghton Bank on the ECML. My father took me to a bridge at the tip of the bank and I was enthralled. I’ve been a life long fan since. British engineering at its very best!
GERMAN ENGINEERING it was designed for JUNKERS JUMO 302
@@AIRPORT-mc2ys Yes based on, but total redesign to the deltic form. No point reinventing the wheel. Just improve it.
Not alot of folks know that!😊@@AIRPORT-mc2ys
I used to travel regularly from Birmingham to Newcastle On Tyne as a child on a train pulled by a Deltic - a fabulous locomotive. Now I live near the Severn Valley Railway - the tracks are visible from my back garden. Once in a while they have a diesel weekend, and feature a mighty Deltic - what a glorious sight and sound it is to see one in full chat!
Sensacional ! Deve ser maravilhoso ver essas locomotivas históricas operando. Quando estive na Inglaterra em 2017 visitei o NRM emYork e vi uma Deltic manobrando para um encontro. Infelizmente o protótipo tinha ido um dia antes da minha visita. Semanas depois vi pelo youtube elas no encontro de locomotivas Deltics. Mas não vi rodando, apenas por filme.
Hearing the guy talking at the 3 minute mark would put me to sleep, says a few words, then pauses, then few words then pauses. does my head in.
Yes. One or two words at a time will drive one nuts!
It really hurt what was an otherwise very interesting program.
@@chugwaterjack4458 you…… made the comment…….. that I……. Was going to make😂
Tip for you all in future, move your mouse pointer over the video and hold the left button down, you will have 1.5X speed until you release the button, solves all problems like this. And look at it this way, at least you are not the poor bugger that married him. ;o)
Also as an apprentice I was with Nelson research pulling the first 100amp silicon diodes that were used on the Deltic. We were also making the first transistors.
At that time I was a very successful friendly bull merchant, a bit like you... I worked on 100.75 amp rubber diodes that would bounce instead of burn up in the case of underload... You sound very genuine, but then so did Adolf.
Great Video. I lived in Potters Bar from 1956-72 and spent many hundreds of hours watching steam & diesel on the ECML and although I was sad to see the last of steam., I always enjoyed watching the Deltics thundering past with their distinctive sound including DP1. The only other diesels I thought worth watching were the 'Westerns' but I had to travel to Paddington or Reading to watch those.
Great compilation of historical and current footage of the almighty Deltic Locomotive. Thanks for posting this.
What a wonderful video, I had the privilege of commuting from Kings Cross in the early seventies, and that sound, like an Orchestral Overture as they pulled their trains out of KX and into the tunnel, pure music, thank you for the memories.
Excellent film paying tribute to these great machines and the English Electric Company with some great shots, anecdotes and technical info.
Many thanks for posting.
Many thanks.
I’m no train spotter, but I will say it’s a crying shame we don’t have a HS4000 Kestrel in the UK either in a museum or running. What a beast!
I was there when HS4000 ran trials on the ECML @simonbird1973, and can confirm that it was colourful, yes, attractive even, but no 'beast', with an over-weight, spluttering engine.
The CMEs might have considered its overall weight fairly 'beastly', at 133 tons 6cwt!
It is rumoured to still exist in Russia somewhere.
I'm old enough to remember seeing the original Deltic parked up in Doncaster supposedly doing trial runs. That was back in the 1950s.....I can still remember its distinctive Blue with yellow chevrons on the front. That was a golden time in Doncaster with the old steamers A1&2&3 (the workhorse) and the A4 "streaks" as they were called with their streamlining and special whistle.
I remember her in that early livery on a down train at King's Langley.
Cracking good story! Thanks for this from a Deltic fan across the pond.
Excellent, really enjoyed that. I was offered a cab ride from Kings X to Peterborough in Meld, my father had blown a fuse the weekend before because I was never at home, always chasing some engine somewhere....my regrets to this very day, I had to decline!
When i was a kid living in UK i would think oh no not one of them.
But now my thoughts towards them have changed. Even the grandson gets excited when i say " Wanna see a Deltic ".
Always loved the prototype Deltic - I was born on the 13th December 1955!
I was born on the twelfth December 1903 and you Young uns don't know yer born.
Between that engine and the lightening jet fighter ..Britain reigned
I will never forget the trips I took in the early sixties over the vale of York one of the first 100mph sretches.. The power and the exhaust note were memorable as was the rock and roll of Mk 1 stock! I think the two tone green BR Livery really looked great. Halcyon days.
Wonderful film! What an amazing engine!
As an American, "King of Diesels" comes off as a bit rich to me, but they sure sound AMAZING. Any fan of Internal Combustion could certainly do a lot worse - and yes, that engine is a mechanical marvel.
Kudos GB!
I recently was at the Tesla museum in Zagreb Croatia. On display was a Napier Deltic engine. It was almost incomprehensible to look at.
Defiying all the norms of power plant design. It was a truly majestic sight.
By far the most interesting Display in the museum which has many amazing items including a submarine and some aircraft.
Wonderful. What a lovely racket they make.
Deltic...always been my favourite xx
The very last picture I've got of my wife Christine is sat in the drivers seat of the Green Howards at Barrowhill, Two weeks before she suddenly passed away on the 3/9/23 Bless her❤
So sorry for your loss. May you see her again in the next.
I enjoy steam locomotives as much as anyone, but diesel locos like the Deltic are part of my childhood. I've travelled on trains hauled by Deltics, so they're nostalgic for me, and in my opinion as much a living engine as a steam locomotive, just in a different way
As a young trainspotter, my friends and I travelled from Leeds to Doncaster. There we could spot all the steam engines traveling on the ECML.
We used to boo the diesels being dedicated steam fans!
We also occasionally spotted E3000 electrics at the Plant opposite.
However we started taking notice of these engines, quite often
Checking out the original Deltic and it’s blue paint on stand by.
Great days.
Love the triangle engine.... English men of Genius.. Sterling Mate's here here!!!
What beautiful machines! Thank you for posting this
What fantastic engineering! The cacophony of sound and the hulking menace of the machine ooze power and I can still hear it shooting through stevenage station to this day - Nothing like it today, dont make em like they used to boy!!
Very polluting locomotives. The best thing that happened to the Deltics was cutting up for scrap as happened at Doncaster Works in the 1980s.
When I worked for SWT as an engineer we had a wheel lathe at Wimbledon. We could turn the wheels whilst still on the loco! We used to see the Deltics A LOT and get a cab ride up the sidings! Not only that my late father worked for EE and was a wireman on the prototype D1! He later went on to wire up the production ones! So a bit of dad is in ALL the Deltics. I have traveled behind them many times when in service. You forgot to mention - the Finsbury Park Racehorses all had cabs painted with WHITE around the windows - thats how you can tell them from a distance.👍 The GREATEST locomotive ever built in England - nothing will ever touch her. So sad to see the end.😪😪😭
All my 9yrs on swt i never ever saw a Deltic at wobble land
My main memory of the Deltics was taking the 8 am High Speed service from Kings Cross to Darlington and return. I would always sit in the coach immediately behind locomotive just to hear the roar of the engines. However, upon departing from KC, I had to make sure that the windows were closed before entering Gasworks Tunnel. Deltics could put a steam engine to shame with the amount of smoke they produced when the throttles were opened as some of the shots in this video testified.
I don't know if I'd say king of diesels I would say in britain yes but worldwide but either way it is a beautiful well built machine and deserves to be celebrated
We lived in Peterborough and would get the train to King’s Cross sometimes instead of taking the car, it was one of these beasts that would pull the coaches, I had a model train of the deltic for the set up I had that went right around my room 🤣.
@@ramps2402 Very polluting engines. They all need cutting for scrap.
Back in the early to mid 70's I worked for a company in a trainee position in Newcastle on Tyne, part of my training was in Croydon, so I regularly travelled by train from Newcastle to Kings Cross, which were obviously pulled by Deltics. At the time I had no awareness of the significance of Deltics, but do recall their impressive sound and appearance. When arriving at Kings Cross I always enjoyed the walk down the platform past the loco, feeling the heat radiating from the hard worked power units and the throb from them. Now of course I realise I was living through an historic time and experience and really wish I'd known then so I could have taken photos to record the names of the loco's I travelled with. From memory I think 1977 was the last time I travelled on that route, but from Leeds as we had moved by then.
The age of craftmanship and excellent workmanship, from the technical drawings to the end product. A continuation of the beautiful steam engines turned out by various companies for the regions.
8:00 "The noise ... confronted one with a lot of sound." Must be the most British statement of the century.
As a kid, the sound of a Deltic used to scare but at the same time, enthralled me. Been fascinated by them ever since.
A nice video about these powerful brutes i remember hearing deltics as a kid flying through Ashton-under-Lyne station in the late 1970s as you can't mistake the sound's of those napier engine's growling as they're from the best era of 1960s English engineering 🥰
The sound of the Napier Engines be compared with the sound of the Rolls Royce Merlins on the Avro Lancaster & imagine hearing the 2 together. & this begs the question Is the Avro Lancaster faster than a Deltic? this has never been attempted so which would be the fastest?
@@ANDREWLEONARDSMITH Are you serious?
used to see DP1 in service when i was a schoolboy trainspotter at Potters Bar tunnel.
Iconic locomotive as a steam man ; these diesels are wonderful machines powerful beasts.
When these pulled out of station the engine noise was apocalyptic. Absolutely fantastic locomotive :)
Not a train buff but love engineering and must admit it’s a beautiful machine ! What a shame Britain has lost its engineering prowess.
0:55 This Famous Diesel Express Locomotive Deltic Is Now Preserved At The National Railway Museum In York In Yorkshire In England In The United Kingdom. Thanks Mate. X
Thanks Luke. This was made quite a few years ago but thought worth putting up for us Deltic fans
It's actually at Locomotion - the train museum in Shildon, County Durham.
Oh Really. Deltic Also Went To The Science Museum In London In England In The United Kingdom As Well. Thanks Tom Dude Mate. X
Not made in Liverpool. Made in Newton-le-willows near Warrington
The Deltic was built a half mile from where I'm sitting at English Electric(formerly The Vulcan Foundry) Newton-le- Willows Lancashire. One of them is still running on the North Yorkshire Railway. Pickering.
This is a great documentry about my fav British locomotives
I loved 'em in the early 60s...still do😊
Is it just me or did all the drivers have a look of contentment, it must have been a brilliant job.
Like the man said the Deltic even among diesel loco's was a cut above, a rare honour indeed.
I think you will find that the English Electric locomotive works were at Vulcan village near Newton-le-Willows, not in Liverpool, although the prototype was built by Dick, Kerr & Co. in Preston.
I think you are correct, I used to run the English Electric factory at Rugby, in my office there were two models, an English Electric Lightning and and English Electric Deltic….
@@christophertipping9482 What a diverse pair. One travels horizontally, the other vertically ((almost) !
11.15 in, the view from the cab is looking out over the W G City viaduct on the down line heading north from Kings Cross looking west towards Welwyn, and then through Welwyn North station and into the first of two tunnels on towards knebworth ….. just saying for anyone who’s interested
I saw that too. Often my friends and I would sit on the hill above the tunnel watching Deltics power up with their distinctive whistling roar across the viaduct before disappearing beneath us.
@@TryptychUK Being from WG CITY that main line and surrounding grounds was a playground for me as a young boy growing up in the 70s, my nans house backed onto it just south of the viaduct on the down line side. I loved it when the freight would wait to give way to high speed traffic going over the viaduct then would power up from stationary those Deltics and 37s shook the ground….. best sound ever!
@@noelwallace5257 I lived on Panshanger, which is some distance from the tracks, but I would go to bed at night listening to the trains, and you just knew the Deltics from that sound, roaring off in the distance. One of my most distinct memories as a boy.
@@TryptychUK Aye, Shoplands is where I grew up, so Harwood hill backed onto the tracks where my junior school was, also there was an unofficial footpath that cut down the side of the tracks from the road bridge at Knightsfield down to Bessemer Road under the viaduct, many days spent there….
@@noelwallace5257 I had friends close to Welwyn North, so we would mess about in the woods out towards Harmer Green.
There was a path that ran alongside the tracks between the two tunnels, and would often watch the trains come through.
This is absolutely fantastic.
I drove them as a second man there were fast locos for there time but were knackered by the time HSTs took over they had a distinctive sound and could do around 117 mph on a good day down hill
Great story. Different than other deltec docs ive seen. Usually it focuses on the prime mover and not the story of the whole train
I lived close to the English Electric company on the Lancs .
A company everone wanted to work for .
Great film. I rode behind RSG loved it. I saw two tone The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at York NRM. I recomend the DVD Reigements and Racehorses.
Thank you very much for the upload it is really very informative.
Watched these as a teenage in the 60’s at York and the A4’s etcetera.
Thanks
The Deltic holds the unofficial, unverified world diesel speed record. Did I get your attention ? 😀
This is all anecdotal of course. But seeing this video reminded me of a story from 40 years ago I had completely forgotten about. A story told by an old, long retired driver in my Dad's pub in Peterborough. My Dad believed him, he said he wasn't the kind of guy taken to BS-ing. Who knows for sure though. I'll tell what I can remember of the story he told in 1983.
It (55020 Nimbus) hit 152.x mph (I forget the x now) running with seven carriages, on Stoke Bank at around 1:30am, on Thursday March 4th 1976 (I remember the date, because it's also my own birthday (different year though), driven by Jimmy Warner who was based out of Finsbury Park.
It was Jimmy's final jaunt before retirement, and it was all set up with help of the boys at Finsbury Park and a couple of friendly local bobbies with speed guns positioned 1 mile apart.
The traction motors had their governors removed, and the gearing was changed to make it possible (I may be misremembering the technical details, I was an 11 year old kid, and this was 40 years ago).
They (the FP Depot) wanted to take the 1973 record for The Deltic, from the HST Prototype (143mph), which they didn't consider a "real" locomotive, and for 'Depot pride'.
Mr Warner said the loco still had a little left in the tank after they hit the top speed, they just "ran out of track". He said Nimbus was always the "liveliest" of the Deltics.
Once the record was taken, later on the loco was returned to standard spec and noone was ever any the wiser. Certainly not BR Management ! 🙂
There's no reason it COULDN'T happen. If a 2,250bhp HST cold hit 143, then a re-jigged Deltic could certainly power it's way through that mark.
We'll never know of course. The only locos with a faster claimed speed than a HST are also totally unproven and uncorroborated.
Absolutely fascinating . I love the idea of a secret unofficial record involving the police. Very different times. Many thanks for sharing.
That's a great story if it checks out, the traction motors did indeed have issues with overspeeding and causing commutators to break up and flashovers.
The HSTs had a power car at each end so 4500bhp and managed 148.5mph on test.
Apocalyptic, desolate and, apart from my companion on the day, lonely was that bitterly cold day in January 82. At 14 years old we sneaked across the Pennines (having not been entirely upfront with our parents as to where we were going) to Donny. The poorly maintained chain link fence down the alley way to the left of the entrance gates was breached and after negotiating the odd piece of decaying rolling stock their stood, in the icy mist, the image seen in this video at 28:53 - indeed, this footage might well have been the same day! Perhaps one of those days most can relate to? Childhood memory that at the time was just another day. We made many journeys to York, Donny, London etc. having saved dinner money, washed cars and nipped to the shop for Mrs Haig at number 22. This day stands out most with the passage of time for many reasons.
When one of the remaining mythical 'Beasts from the East' passes up the west coast on a heritage trip, thoughts return of my first trip to York, turning a corner and, for the first time, confronting the enormous mass of yellow howling away towards the north. Pinza was her name. As with the occasional Merlin passing over head I just watch, smile and, of course, listen! Then I go back to paying the bills.
My earliest memory is watching Flying Scotsman steam over Digswell viaduct on Pegler’s great run. I volunteered at Salisbury Hall, whose mallards gave the name to the most famous A4. I knew Tony Marchington, bankrupted by the Scotsman. I still think the Deltic is the greatest loco in history.
100% you done the right thing with the roof blind. Imagine spending a grand on it and the new buyer leaves it open forever
Deltic, Napier, English Electric, names that remind those of us with long memories of how engine drivers were regarded as heroes in the way that "influencers" are today. When a British engineering firm could produce the fastest jet interceptor as well as the most successful and iconic railway engine. When British manufacturing was supreme and we exported what we made instead of importing what others make. When every name on people's lips was a British name and "Made In England" meant something to all the world, a world before Kardashians and gender confusion...
I agree .The Criminal Enterprise that rules the World stole the Adamic Races . Joy , peace and harmony , adding insult to injury, the parody and mockery.
@sMansGuitarsNot to mention the feeling of pride and self worth that having a skill and actually making something of quality and value gives a person, the satisfaction of doing something worthwhile with one's days. I think that is the real tragedy, so much more learnt in the course of an apprenticeship, not least respect and life experience. So few opportunities now and only have to look around at youngsters who have given up or want to make money with the least effort and where that leads them.
Watching this whilst fitting a compressor to a Cummins 😊
Impressive engine design 👍
On a quiet night i could here these coming from about 15 + miles away pulling hard leaving york station il never forget that deep thud as it came passed under the bridge to the side of the tracks my bedroom was on
When I left school I applied for a job at Paxmans in Colchester, never got in though.
They were building the Deltic engines at that time.
These were akin to the Victorian Railways B Class diesels (Double ended GM Bulldog Nose) which were introduced to replace steam locomotives in Victoria around the same time as the Deltics replaced steam in Britain. 😎🇦🇺
Great .music towards the end!
The first time I came across a Deltic was the summer of 1981 at Newcastle. By then, the Deltics were in their last months, but nonetheless it was an impressive sight and sound.
I was more interested in the scrapping and disposal of the deltics. Very polluting engines.
@@PreservationEnthusiast
Yes, but unfortunately six evaded scrapping and still smoke the hell out of some preserved stations, whose visitors include vulnerable young children and elderly frail men. Outrageous! Make the owners an offer then tow the beasts away.
BTW, when I once asked what "semi Fast" means, a fellow passenger said that it means half of "fast" and the fist half of fast is "FA" ! So there you have it :)
hi, have been round DP 1 loads of times when it was in south ken museum in 1992
It’s now on display at Locomotion in Shildon, as part of The National Collection. I think KOYLI is still on show in York.
Opposed piston engines are inherently more simple and efficient with no valves or head castings once you get past the casting and design hurdles. The Commer Knockers were another iconic engine with similar design, but the Deltics truly are the Kings!
Commer TS3 Knocker motor is just a Deltic cut in 3 ! Lol
The beating heart of this engine can also be found in the long retired and legendary FDNY Super Pumper.
FDNY? Huh?
Actually don’t bother, can’t be important or relevant if the abbreviation is so obscure.
@@billpugh58 Fire Department New York. Hardly obscure after 9/11!
@@billpugh58Says a lot more about you than the name....
Came back from York a cab ride back to Selby on the old east coast main line 1978 we hit 120 mph
I used to work in a foundry in the west Midlands that cast the engine blocks for these trains
The MG of the railway? Perhaps the EMD E unit of Great Britain. You tell me. Thanks for sharing. I'm American but always liked the way these locomotives looked and seemingly performed their roll.
Take a Deltic, cut it in half, turn one half around, and you have a classic A-A F7 operation (ignoring the mid-mounted steam generator; may put it in as a mini-B unit).
Fascinating engine design. They smoke almost as much as the American ALCOs, which have something of a cult following over here. Those Napier engines have a sound like nothing else. I may be a little biased, but the American GEVOs, at full throttle have quite a unique growl. Cheers.
excellent
Every morning on my way to work at Doncaster station I'd love seeing the heatwave from these beasts.🤠👍🇬🇧💯
A Factory in Preston, not Liverpool. Dick Kerr Works on Strand Rd
The prototype Deltic was built in Preston not Liverpool. The production Deltics were built in Newton-le-Willows.
Very nice locomotive.
Thank You for the review! I spent some time up at Willeseden Junction in the early 2000's watching comings and goings and am pretty sure a few of the Deltics were still running at that point, maybe heavy coal or similar? Any comments?
Protoype actually built at the Dick Kerr Works, Preston. 1955
5:42 Three crankshafts became redundant!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Three crankshafts was the new format.
So0metimes I do wonder!!!!!
At 13:25 that cat is like, no thanks!
Nice document of this legendary loco. Who knows why not more was build? 47 class is much bigger for instance. How about the durability and fuel economy vs others?
Deltics not very good on those last two important counts.
So a short production run and Eastern Region were the only railway buying them in the world. But even then no further orders after the ER experience.
10:00 so the steam boiler would send steam to the passenger cars for heating?
English Diesel Engine Monarchs = The Deltics
12:05 Development Prototype (Dick, Kerr & Co.)
13:35 Development Prototype (Vulcan Foundry) 1:15
As Originally Transmitted With Electric
I remember Deltic running trials when it would bring the entire train to be turned on the Shipley triangle.
Okay I have one question. I know some small diesel locos and rail bus type things used to be driven directly by the diesel engine ie no electric motors. Is there a reason why they went for diesel-electric instead of direct drive diesel for the larger locos, could ask the same about ships, some use diesel to generate electricity to turn electric motors to turn the props and some don't, just wondering the various reasons thanks.
There's always a need for some form of transmission system as piston engines work best at specific speeds. Mechanical transmissions, like in cars, don't work well on larger locomotives as they can't really handle the amount of torque involved with heavier trains so they're only really used on smaller locomotives like shunters; you'll find that electric or hydraulic transmission systems are far more common, with electric transmissions being far more suited to high-speed operation.
@@generaldragonfly Thanks.
I am pretty sure that allows better control of torque since the engine is at constant speed and by diverting field windings from the main generator which is direct current it's simpler systems for speed and torque control
@@philipmcdonagh1094what does this mean
Mechanical transmission to bogey mounted loco totally impractical?
30:10 MICHAEL TIMMS LOOKS LIKE ROBERT DAWS, DOCTOR ORMROD IN THE ROYAL HIS ON SCREEN AND OFF SCREEN WIFE AMY ROBBINS IS BANG TIDY THE DELTIC IS INDEED KING OF DIESELS 😊
Awesome to look at and listen to those diesel engines puffing at full speed! Thanks for sharing. In the US we take our diesels for granted now because that's all we use and they're not very pretty or good sounding at all.
Dieser Motor, ist der "JUNKERS Gegenkolben-Motor" Wurde im 2.WK in die U-Boote als Kompressor eingebaut.
In my Thomas universe
None of the deltics were snobby or rude like most other diesels
TB76 returns made a great choice using a deltic for KOYLI
Excellent.
I used to go Kings Cross to Dundee to see my Grandparent's with them.
the host talking sound like he's from Trainspotting - (like from) Episode 8 Of 9 (2004)
Great video. What is a "flashover" that was referred to as being a problem with the engine?
Thanks Andrew, Glad you enjoyed it. There is a good description of a flashover on an old post on Railukforums - 'A flashover occurs when the brushes in the commutators of DC traction motors touch each other because of a unusual movement or bump, such as when a locomotive goes over a grade crossing. If the brushes touch each other, an electrical short can occur almost like a lightning strike. Obviously, this can severely damage the traction motors. Locomotives with DC traction motors must have the throttle reduced slightly when going over a grade crossing to reduce the risk of a flashover. Newer locomotives with AC traction motors have no commutator brushes and therefore do not have to be throttled down at grade crossings.'
I was waiting for Alan Vessey to fall asleep.
I think he did.
very nice is 55003 still about Meld
This is very cool stuff! I heard about the Deltic engine and discovered the New York Fire Department had a pumping unit made with Deltic power! The Deltic sounds like a 2 stroke Detroit Diesel engine. On the other hand I live almost 2 US miles from the main BNSF line heading west northwest from Minneapolis. Can sometimes hear the thrum of their locos under full power! Especially at night...All 5 or 6 of them!! Would that be a 5 or 6 header?? I'm not enough of a railroad geek to tell you what kind of locos BNSF uses...
Burlington Northern Santa Fe uses GE/Wabtec and EMD locomotives currently.
Thanks!@@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis
Hi there my real Name is Mr Cannadine T. Boxill-Harris, I have another interesting idea for most of us Class 507, Class 508, Class 313, and Class 314 and that also includes those interesting Class 315 Fans out there, rather than scrapping most of those Class 507, Class 508, Class 313's Class 314 including the Class 315's maybe you guys can convert them. Including the refurbishment into the Volvo TD102KF Engine, Volvo B10M Engine, Scania N112 Engine, Leyland 510 Engine, Cummins M11 Engine, Gardner LG1200 Engine, Gardner 6LXB Engine, Gardner 8LXB Engine, Class 507, Class 508, Class 313's, Class 314's and the Class 315's and convert all of them into a 2 Carriages and Three Carriages of the Class 313's, Class 314's and that is including those Class 315's for most of us Class 314 and Class 315 Diesel Train Fans PLEASE? Are you still going to do this interesting type of Project for all of us out there Pretty Please.