British Rail Class 55

British Rail Class 55

55012 Crepello approaching London Kings Cross in 1976

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric at Vulcan Foundry Build date 1961–1962 Total produced 22

Specifications Configuration Co-Co AAR wheel arr. C-C UIC class Co'Co' Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m) Wheelbase 58 ft 6 in (17.83 m) Length 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) Width 8 ft 9 1⁄2 in (2.68 m) Height 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m) Loco weight 99 long tons (101 t; 111 short tons) Fuel capacity 900 imp gal (4,100 l; 1,100 US gal) Prime mover Napier Deltic D18-25, × 2 Generator English Electric DC generator Traction motors DC traction motors Transmission Diesel electric MU working Not fitted Train heating Steam; later Electric Train Heating Train brakes Vacuum; later Dual (Air and Vacuum)

Performance figures Maximum speed 100 mph (161 km/h) Power output Engines: 1,650 bhp (1,230 kW) × 2 Tractive effort Maximum: 50,000 lbf (222 kN) Continuous: 30,500 lbf (136 kN)@ 32.5 mph (52.3 km/h)

Career Operators British Railways Numbers D9000–D9021; later 55 022, 55 001–55 021 Nicknames ‘Deltics’ Axle load class Route availability 5 Disposition Six preserved, remainder scrapped

The British Rail Class 55 is a class of diesel locomotive built in 1961 and 1962 by English Electric. They were designed for the high-speed express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh. They gained the name "Deltic" from the prototype locomotive, British Railways DP1 DELTIC (the running number DP1 was never carried), which in turn was named after its Napier Deltic power units. Twenty-two locomotives were built, which dominated express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), particularly London – Leeds and London – Edinburgh services, until 1978 when InterCity 125 'High Speed Trains' were introduced. 1978–81 saw them gradually relegated to semi-fast or newspaper–parcel–sleeper services along the ECML (destinations including Cambridge, Cleethorpes, Harrogate, Hull, Scarborough and Aberdeen) plus occasional forays 'offline' such as York – Liverpool Lime Street semi-fast, and Edinburgh – Carlisle via Newcastle stoppers. The fleet was withdrawn from service between January 1980 and December 1981. Three locomotives were retained for a few days, until 2 January 1982, to work the farewell special, all being withdrawn immediately on arrival back at York. Six locomotives entered preservation during 1982 and 1983: one by the National Railway Museum, two by the Deltic Preservation Society, two by the Deltic 9000 Fund and one privately owned. Two cabs were also privately purchased.