British Rail assigned Class 55 to the English Electric Type 5 express diesel locomotives built in 1961/2 for high-speed service on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh. They gained the name "Deltic" from the prototype locomotive, DP1 Deltic, and their Napier Deltic engines. Vulcan Foundry was a British locomotive builder sited at Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. ... Napier Deltic powered British Rail Class 55 Alycidon, at the National Railway Museum, York, UK The term Deltic (meaning in the form of the Greek letter Delta) is used to refer to both the opposed piston high speed diesel engine designed and produced by Napier & Son, and the locomotives produced... Logo of British Rail British Railways (BR), later rebranded as British Rail, ran the British railway system from the nationalisation of the Big Four British railway companies in 1948 until its privatisation in stages between 1994 and 1997. ... English Electric logo English Electric was a 20th-century British industrial manufacturer, initially of electric motors, and expanding to include railway locomotives and aviation, before becoming part of GEC. // 1917: Dick, Kerr & Co. ... Diesel locomotives became the dominant type of locomotive in rail transport in the mid 20th century in much of the world. ... The East Coast Main Line viaduct at Durham. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Kings Cross station (often spelt Kings Cross on platform signs) is a railway station in the district of the same name in northeast central London. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... DP1, or DELTIC as it is more popularly known, was a demonstrator locomotive built by the English Electric company in 1955. ... Napier Deltic powered British Rail Class 55 Alycidon, at the National Railway Museum, York, UK The term Deltic (meaning in the form of the Greek letter Delta) is used to refer to both the opposed piston high speed diesel engine designed and produced by Napier & Son, and the locomotives produced...

Production

Alycidon at the National Railway Museum, York, UK

Following trials with the prototype locomotive, an order was placed with English Electric for a production fleet of 23 units (subsequently reduced to 22), replacing more than twice that number (55) Gresley Pacifics. A first was that the locomotives were purchased under a service contract, English Electric agreeing to maintain them, including their engines and generators, for a fixed price. Additional Deltic engines were produced to enable engines to be swapped out regularly for overhaul while keeping the locomotives in service. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2839x1833, 3147 KB) Napier Deltic, Alycidon, at the National Railway Museum, York. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2839x1833, 3147 KB) Napier Deltic, Alycidon, at the National Railway Museum, York. ... Locomotives arranged around the turntable in the Great Hall. ... York is a city in North Yorkshire, England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... Sir Nigel Gresley Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley (19 June 1876 – 5 April 1941) was one of Britains most famous Steam locomotive engineers who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). ...

The locomotives were assigned to three locomotive depots: Finsbury Park in London, Gateshead over the Tyne from Newcastle, and Haymarket in Edinburgh. They arrived from the manufacturer painted in two-tone green, the dark BR green on top, with a narrower strip of a lighter, lime green along the bottom. This helped to disguise the bulk of the locomotive body. The cab window surrounds were picked out in cream-white. Although delivered without it, they all soon sported the bright yellow warning panel at each end common to all British diesel and electric locomotives, to make them more conspicuous. Very soon, all were named; the Gateshead and Haymarket locomotives after regiments of the British Army, while Finsbury Park followed the grand LNER tradition of naming locomotives after winning racehorses. Finsbury Park is a place in London, at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney. ... This article is about Gateshead, England. ... The Tyne looking west and upstream from the Newcastle bank towards the Gateshead Millennium Bridge The Tyne Bridge across the River Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... Haymarket is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ... Since the invention of the very first railway steam locomotive in 1804, railway companies have applied names to their locomotives, carriages and multiple units. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The London and North Eastern Railway or LNER was the second-largest of the Big Four railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain. ... Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ...

By 1966 they began to be painted in corporate Rail Blue with yellow ends, the change generally coinciding with a works repair and the fitting of air brake equipment, the locomotives originally having only vacuum braking (the first so treated was D9002; the last to be painted blue was D9014). In the early 1970s they were fitted with Electric Train Heating (ETH) equipment to power the new generation of air-conditioned coaches, while a couple of years later, with the introduction of BR's TOPS computer system, they were renumbered 55 001 to 55 022. In 1979 Finsbury Park restored the white cab window surrounds to their remaining Deltics, making them distinctive. 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 56 036 at the launch of Large Logo livery at Toton works on 9th June 1979 Rail Blue was one of British Rails corporate colours. ... Piping diagram from 1920 of a Westinghouse E-T Air Brake system. ... The vacuum brake is a braking system used on trains. ... The Total Operations Processing System, better known by its initials TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock (railroad cars) owned by a rail system. ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ...

Replacement

Poster featuring a Class 55 celebrating the centenary of the Flying Scotsman

In the late 1970s the Deltics began to be supplanted by the next generation of express trains, the Class 43 High Speed Train (HST), branded as InterCity 125, and the Deltics began to take on secondary roles. It was soon realised that the class had a limited future; it was not considered economic to maintain such a small and non-standard class of locomotive for secondary services, and the end of the decade saw the first withdrawals from service. Deltics were generally run with only limited maintainance until they became unable to continue running and required rescue by other locomotives after breaking down. Typically the cause would be engine failure although some Deltics were withdrawn for other reasons. They were then taken to Doncaster Works for scrapping. For a time the Deltic scrap line was a draw for railway enthusiasts. The final service run took place on December 31, 1981, hauled by 55 022 Royal Scots Grey, followed by the last enthusiast special, the "Deltic Farewell" on January 2, 1982. Following the farewell surviving Deltics were put on display at Doncaster Works before their final journey to the scrap line. Image File history File links Fs_cent. ... Image File history File links Fs_cent. ... British Railways Poster celebrating the centenary of the Flying Scotsman. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... HST power car 43 127 is shown here crossing the Kennet and Avon Canal. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... British Rail and its privatised successors have been good at creating brand names for their new products, designed to catch the eye and imagination of current and potential travellers. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Preservation

Six locomotives were saved after their withdrawal:

• D9000 (55 022) Royal Scots Grey was purchased by the Deltic 9000 Fund and was handed over in fully running condition after work and a repaint by BR. Its first base was the Nene Valley Railway. It now resides in Bury at the East Lancs Railway and is owned by Beaver Sports (Yorks) Ltd, who are committed to its preservation in running order with main-line certification. It completed an 18-month overhaul and was re-certified for running on the main line in August 2006. [1]
• D9002 (55 002) The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was donated to the National Railway Museum, York.
• D9009 (55 009) Alycidon was purchased by the Deltic Preservation Society Ltd and has been mostly based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
• D9015 (55 015) Tulyar was purchased by a private buyer, Peter Sansom, and in 1986 it was sold to the Deltic Preservation Society. It has led an itinerant existence on many preserved railways.
• D9016 (55 016) Gordon Highlander was purchased by the Deltic 9000 Fund, initially intended as a source of spare parts for Royal Scots Grey. Enthusiasm quickly prevailed over such practical intentions and Gordon Highlander was restored to running condition.
• D9019 (55 019) Royal Highland Fusilier was purchased by the Deltic Preservation Society and was the first to turn a wheel under its own power in preservation. In April 2005 it became the first Deltic to be fitted with TPWS equipment.

Cabs from D9008 (55 008) The Green Howards and D9021 (55 021) Argyll and Sutherland Highlander are also owned by the DPS. The Deltic 9000 Fund was a locomotive preservation society set up to ensure that at least one example of the Class 55 diesel locomotives was preserved following their withdrawal from service in 1981. ... The station viewed from the road A view of the station on the platform The Nene Valley Railway (NVR) is a preserved railway in Cambridgeshire, England, running between Peterborough Nene Valley and Yarwell Junction. ... Statistics Population: 60,718 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SD805105 Administration Metropolitan borough: Bury Metropolitan county: Greater Manchester Region: North West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Greater Manchester Historic county: Lancashire Services Police force: Greater Manchester Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: North West... August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Locomotives arranged around the turntable in the Great Hall. ... The Deltic Preservation Society is a railway preservation group based in the United Kingdom dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the remaining Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotives operated by British Rail from the 1960s to the 1980s. ... A diesel train on the NYMR Goathland station. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Deltic Preservation Society is a railway preservation group based in the United Kingdom dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the remaining Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotives operated by British Rail from the 1960s to the 1980s. ... The Deltic 9000 Fund was a locomotive preservation society set up to ensure that at least one example of the Class 55 diesel locomotives was preserved following their withdrawal from service in 1981. ... The Deltic Preservation Society is a railway preservation group based in the United Kingdom dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the remaining Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotives operated by British Rail from the 1960s to the 1980s. ...

Return to service

With the changes taking place on Britain's railways in the 1990s, the outlook changed for preserved diesel locomotives. In British Rail days, no privately-owned diesel locomotives were allowed to operate on its tracks. With privatisation came open-access railways—the track and physical plant were owned and operated by Railtrack, who for a fee would allow anyone's approved locomotives and trains to operate. Suddenly, from being pariahs, the owners of preserved locomotives were on an equal footing with everyone else: just another locomotive owner. In fact the characteristics of the Deltic locomotives, powerful and capable of cruising at 100 mph, enabled them to fit more easily onto the modern rail network than other, slower, preserved diesels. This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... Railtrack was a group of companies which owned the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and some stations of the British railway system from its formation in April 1994 until 2002. ...

In 1996, the Deltic 9000 Fund reformed itself as Deltic 9000 Locomotives Ltd (DNLL) in order to return its locomotives to main-line service, and on 30 November 1996 D9000 Royal Scots Grey hauled the 'Deltic Deliverance' charter from Edinburgh to Berwick. Although this tour ended prematurely, D9000 went on to haul many charter and Virgin service trains until 2003. Subsequently DNLL's other Deltic, D9016 Gordon Highlander returned to main-line working (it was temporarily painted in the garish purple livery of Porterbrook Leasing, who helped finance the restoration), as did the Deltic Preservation Society's D9009 Alycidon and D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier. Between 1997 and 2003 all four main-line certified locomotives saw frequent charter and locomotive hire use, including on the Venice Simplon Orient Express. The Deltic 9000 Fund was a locomotive preservation society set up to ensure that at least one example of the Class 55 diesel locomotives was preserved following their withdrawal from service in 1981. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Porterbrook Leasing Company is one of the three major lessors of railway locomotives, multiple units and coaching stock in the UK. It was formed in 1994 by Abbey National on the privatisation of British Rail. ... The Deltic Preservation Society is a railway preservation group based in the United Kingdom dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the remaining Class 55 Deltic diesel locomotives operated by British Rail from the 1960s to the 1980s. ... Poster advertising the Orient Express Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. ...

In 2003 DNLL went into liquidation with the result that D9000 and D9016 were sold to private individuals. From July 2003 to March 2005 no Deltics hauled a train on the main line. After a brief return to the main line in 2005 the DPS withdrew their last Deltic (55 019) at the end of 2005, having run three tours during the year. The other two preserved Deltics, D9002 The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and D9015 Tulyar, are currently (October 2006) non-runners. Tulyar is undergoing a full bodyside restoration at Barrow Hill and D9002 is an exhibit at the NRM, as 55 002 in BR blue. 55 019 remains in full working order while 55 009 and 55 016 are each currently able to operate on one engine only.

On September 23, 2006 55 022 (D9000) Royal Scots Grey returned to the main line after a lengthy and extensive restoration at Barrow Hill by the DPS. It successfully hauled the SRPS 'Moray Mint' railtour from Edinburgh to Inverness, via Perth on the outward trip and back via Aberdeen. Unfortunately on its second working two weeks later a severe failure to one of the power units occurred. This has left Royal Scots Grey able to make runs on one engine only. As of Jan 2007 the faulty power unit has been removed from 55 022. A major fundraising campaign has started, it is likely that the necessary repairs will be completed by mid 2007 and the locomotive will be running on the main line once again. September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Inverness (Inbhir Nis in Scottish Gaelic) is the only city in the Highland council area and the Highlands of Scotland. ... The Royal Burgh of Perth (Peairt in Scottish Gaelic) is a large burgh in central Scotland. ... For other uses, see Aberdeen (disambiguation). ...

In mid January 2007, an agreement was reached between heritage railway Peak Rail and the owner of 55 019 (D9016) Gordon Highlander which entailed the move of the locomotive from Barrow Hill to the preserved line for a period of three years. It is projected that D9016 will receive certain maintenance and restoration while on the railway and also be given the chance to run during the two planned diesel galas of 2007. 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... In 1968 the former Midland Railway main line from London to Manchester (originally built as the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway), was closed between Matlock and Buxton in Derbyshire. ... The Barrow Hill Engine Shed is a former Midland Railway roundhouse in Derbyshire. ...

Class roster

The Scots Greys was the unofficial and later official name of a dragoon regiment of the British Army from 1678 until 1971, when they amalgamated to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys). ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... St. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MELD can refer to: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, a prognostic model. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Queens Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), officially abbreviated QOH, was an infantry regiment in the Scottish Division of the British Army. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Prince of Waless Own Regiment of Yorkshire is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Kings Division. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Waless Own Yorkshire Regiment) is an infantry regiment of the British Army. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kings Own Scottish Borderers cap badge and tartan The Kings Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... THE ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS Nomenclature One of Englands premier county regiments, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers can trace its ancestory back to the year 1674. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Crepello (1954-1974) was a United Kingdom Thoroughbred racehorse who won Englands most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Official name The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment (West Riding) Colonel-in-Chief Brigadier His Grace Arthur Valerian Wellesley KG LVO OBE MC BA DL, 8th Duke of Wellington Colonel-of-the-Regiment Major-General Sir Evelyn John Webb-Carter KCB Nicknames The Dukes, The Havercake Lads, The Pattern, The... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tulyar is A racehorse, winner of the 1952 Epsom Derby An English Electric Deltic diesel locomotive, no. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Gordon Highlanders was a British Army infantry regiment from 1881 until 1994. ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was formed in 1881 from the 68th Regiment of Foot which had originally been raised in County Durham by General John Lambton in 1758. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ballymoss (1954-1979) was an Irish Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margarets Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) was a regular Scottish infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division, and known (for short) as The RHF. The regiment was formed on 20th January 1959 by the (then) controversial amalgamation of the Royal... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nimbus may mean: Halo, light or mist around an object Nimbus program, spacecraft used for weather research Nimbus cloud Nimbus (motorcycle) Nimbus Records is a classical music record company Nimbus, fictional broomsticks from the Harry Potter series Nimbus Land, a fictional location in the Super Mario RPG video game The... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In film

• The opening titles of Get Carter (1971) feature shots of the journey to the north on the East Coast Main Line, filmed from the front of a Deltic, and the interior of the rolling stock. Another Class 55 in rail blue livery passes in the opposite direction.
• In the same film during the scene in which Carter is checking his late brother's car in a scrapyard, one end of a Deltic can be seen leaving shot over the viaduct in the background.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

British Rail Class 55

Get Carter is a 1971 British crime film, directed by Mike Hodges and starring Michael Caine as Jack Carter, a gangster who sets out to avenge the death of his brother. ... The East Coast Main Line viaduct at Durham. ... 56 036 at the launch of Large Logo livery at Toton works on 9th June 1979 Rail Blue was one of British Rails corporate colours. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...