Always loved the prototype Deltic - I was born on the 13th December 1955!

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.

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

@ehsnils

9 ай бұрын

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.

@guaporeturns9472

9 ай бұрын

That’s cool

@franzkoviakalak6981

9 ай бұрын

Write a book!

@corsair919

9 ай бұрын

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.

@DaveDeltic

9 ай бұрын

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.

Love the triangle engine.... English men of Genius.. Sterling Mate's here here!!!

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 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 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!

@AIRPORT-mc2ys

9 ай бұрын

GERMAN ENGINEERING it was designed for JUNKERS JUMO 302

@flybobbie1449

9 ай бұрын

@@AIRPORT-mc2ys Yes based on, but total redesign to the deltic form. No point reinventing the wheel. Just improve it.

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!

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.

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.

Had to laugh when i saw the title of this video, when i worked at KX mid 70s I was known as the "Deltic king" NOT because I knew a lot about them or because I drove them very well ....But because I could sleep on them lolololol.

I was a child in the early 1960s and listened to the Deltics in the distance when falling asleep.

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!

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.

@johnjephcote7636

9 ай бұрын

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.

Great compilation of historical and current footage of the almighty Deltic Locomotive. Thanks for posting this.

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!

@DaveDeltic

9 ай бұрын

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!

@DavidJones-wx4im

14 күн бұрын

It is rumoured to still exist in Russia somewhere.

Deltic...always been my favourite xx

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!

8:00 "The noise ... confronted one with a lot of sound." Must be the most British statement of the century.

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.

@television1066

9 ай бұрын

Many thanks.

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

@television1066

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Luke. This was made quite a few years ago but thought worth putting up for us Deltic fans

@tom-hk

9 ай бұрын

It's actually at Locomotion - the train museum in Shildon, County Durham.

@lukegreen5341

9 ай бұрын

Oh Really. Deltic Also Went To The Science Museum In London In England In The United Kingdom As Well. Thanks Tom Dude Mate. X

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.

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

@johnekins4408

9 ай бұрын

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.

used to see DP1 in service when i was a schoolboy trainspotter at Potters Bar tunnel.

The prototype Deltic was built in Preston not Liverpool. The production Deltics were built in Newton-le-Willows.

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?

@johnd8892

12 күн бұрын

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.

Iconic locomotive as a steam man ; these diesels are wonderful machines powerful beasts.

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!!

@PreservationEnthusiast

7 ай бұрын

Very polluting locomotives. The best thing that happened to the Deltics was cutting up for scrap as happened at Doncaster Works in the 1980s.

I loved 'em in the early 60s...still do😊

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

Wonderful film! What an amazing engine!

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.

@Jesusisking2785

9 ай бұрын

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

@ramps2402

9 ай бұрын

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 🤣.

@PreservationEnthusiast

7 ай бұрын

@@ramps2402 Very polluting engines. They all need cutting for scrap.

Wonderful. What a lovely racket they make.

I don't think I've ever travelled behind one of these, but I've seen dozens of them. Always my favourite machine. Thanks!

Watching this whilst fitting a compressor to a Cummins 😊

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.

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.

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

@TryptychUK

9 ай бұрын

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.

@noelwallace5257

9 ай бұрын

@@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!

@TryptychUK

9 ай бұрын

@@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.

@noelwallace5257

9 ай бұрын

@@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….

@TryptychUK

9 ай бұрын

@@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.

The beating heart of this engine can also be found in the long retired and legendary FDNY Super Pumper.

@billpugh58

8 ай бұрын

FDNY? Huh?

@billpugh58

8 ай бұрын

Actually don’t bother, can’t be important or relevant if the abbreviation is so obscure.

@DrivermanO

7 ай бұрын

@@billpugh58 Fire Department New York. Hardly obscure after 9/11!

Between that engine and the lightening jet fighter ..Britain reigned

What beautiful machines! Thank you for posting this

Watched these as a teenage in the 60’s at York and the A4’s etcetera.

When these pulled out of station the engine noise was apocalyptic. Absolutely fantastic locomotive :)

This is a great documentry about my fav British locomotives

Great story. Different than other deltec docs ive seen. Usually it focuses on the prime mover and not the story of the whole train

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 :)

Thank you very much for the upload it is really very informative.

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.

Thanks

Great .music towards the end!

Every morning on my way to work at Doncaster station I'd love seeing the heatwave from these beasts.🤠👍🇬🇧💯

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

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. 😎🇦🇺

excellent

I used to work in a foundry in the west Midlands that cast the engine blocks for these trains

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...

@jerrylarson723

9 ай бұрын

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.

@lawrenceholden5716

7 ай бұрын

​@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.

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.

Very nice locomotive.

100% you done the right thing with the roof blind. Imagine spending a grand on it and the new buyer leaves it open forever

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.

At 13:25 that cat is like, no thanks!

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?

As any body just woke up an had one of those days where you just want to drive the hell out of some thang...we id drive The shit out of deltic yes i would ....we do have trains like that in the us ...i mean there a hit or miss here or there ever once in while but most like a bunch of old robots that woke up an shit the bed😮😮 Great video 👍👍👍👍

I used to watch the Deltics as they raced up the bank towards Borehamwood from London I believe it was in the fields behind the Broadfields Estate Edgware never ever forget that sound

@12crepello

9 ай бұрын

The Deltics worked the East Coast Mainline. They would not have passed through Edgware/Borehamwood.

@MalcolmCrabbe

9 ай бұрын

@@12crepello which is confirmed by the clip at 11:06 where its crossing the Digswel Viaduct, through Welwyn North station and into the first of two "welwyn" tunnels. I used to sit on the bridge seen on the left at 11:25 trainspotting when a lad back in the late 60's early 70's

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

Came back from York a cab ride back to Selby on the old east coast main line 1978 we hit 120 mph

hi, have been round DP 1 loads of times when it was in south ken museum in 1992

@HighFell

9 ай бұрын

It’s now on display at Locomotion in Shildon, as part of The National Collection. I think KOYLI is still on show in York.

A factory in Liverpool?!.. What the?...

Protoype actually built at the Dick Kerr Works, Preston. 1955

I think Hugo Junkers would be happy :)

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

9 ай бұрын

I was more interested in the scrapping and disposal of the deltics. Very polluting engines.

@ChangesOneTim

6 күн бұрын

@@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.

I was waiting for Alan Vessey to fall asleep.

the host talking sound like he's from Trainspotting - (like from) Episode 8 Of 9 (2004)

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...

@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis

9 ай бұрын

Burlington Northern Santa Fe uses GE/Wabtec and EMD locomotives currently.

@tootired76

9 ай бұрын

Thanks!@@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis

Oh lovely 😍😍😍😍, New Sub!

wow!!!

Gud vid, subbed 😊

@Chasworth

8 ай бұрын

Hoit👋🏻

@mcjdubpower

8 ай бұрын

@@Chasworth HOIT™️, oh shit, I have been rumbled, love a deltic though ❤️🍺👍👊😀

@Chasworth

8 ай бұрын

@@mcjdubpower haha👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

very nice is 55003 still about Meld

can we have someone to talk about this that has not come out of text books please

I remember Deltic running trials when it would bring the entire train to be turned on the Shipley triangle.

DELTIC = uncompromising raw power.

*Super cool video* I can't keep up with my first video.🙃🙂😉

This could have been 10 minutes shorter if Mr.Vessey had not such a slow delivery.

Dieser Motor, ist der "JUNKERS Gegenkolben-Motor" Wurde im 2.WK in die U-Boote als Kompressor eingebaut.

Top wife!

Narated by Mark Collins who presented train spotting on Discovery Channel.

@simonwass6315

9 ай бұрын

Thought I recognised the music from a commercial dvd. Deltic aren't my thing but this is an excellent programme.

Magnificent engineering but too complex for British Rail to maintain...

Are these diesel locomotives still in use for passenger service throughout England, are they still used for all passenger trains in all of the in England ?

@HighFell

9 ай бұрын

Sadly not, only 22 production Deltics were built for express running on the East Coast Main Line, at the end of their BR life they worked other important passenger services but all were withdrawn in 80’s. In preservation they do run specials but not regular scheduled services.

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.

@generaldragonfly

9 ай бұрын

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.

@philipmcdonagh1094

9 ай бұрын

@@generaldragonfly Thanks.

@user-cr6lw1rp5l

9 ай бұрын

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

@KKTR3

9 ай бұрын

@@philipmcdonagh1094what does this mean

@markbeale7390

7 ай бұрын

Mechanical transmission to bogey mounted loco totally impractical?

Brilliant Video Folks Brainstormer Of An Engine For The Time Probably Still Is

Was only briefly referred to - "Jumo Type" engines - the original Napier single bank engines were based on a license bought from Junkers before WW2 . Junkers themselves tried a 4 bank version, but this didn't and the Napier 3 bank version became the pinnacle of this engine type.

@alanbrown9178

9 ай бұрын

Indeed, it is a pity that credit is not clearly given to the Junkers Jumo 204 which was the design of the licence-built Napier Culverin, from which the Deltic was developed. The Jumo 204 entered service in 1932.

Nice little film. 👍👍 Certainly unique, however, personally, im not 100% sure I'd use the "King" moniker, I think I'd choose the 43 HSTs for that title, (yes i know they were different time periods) they were also unique, certainly the Paxman Vallenta era ones were just as unique sounding but their longevity I think pips the Detlic.

@Hotoadle

9 ай бұрын

Valenta engine was incredibly dirty with burnt excess until up to speed, and deltic had that unburnt blue exhaust tinge but only at one end, and had one on tic over until required.

@peddersmeister

9 ай бұрын

@@Hotoadle I didn't know that, but I can believe it, but like everything these days, anything that tastes nice, sounds nice, is bad for us 🤣

@Hotoadle

9 ай бұрын

​​​@@peddersmeisterDeltic had a unique wandering thrum which spoke of untapped power, and when the second power unit opened in tandem there was a real surge of power - as described almost like a sports car for the day - and hence their reputation is deserved. But the 43 gave that power right from the get go, and so effortlessly powered on to 125 or more that you sorta didn't mind the lack of drama involved and just got used to it being a different experience. Never felt the same however with any newer classes! Mostly, my feelings are newer classes for freight have made strides but passengers have gone backwards prioritizing maintenance over traction. However, the best maintenance for the Deltic class (et al) was to leave them running overnight, on the dot servicing and non-stop running on long haul services; something that probably escaped the attention of the DPS when initially formed.

@peddersmeister

9 ай бұрын

@@Hotoadle True, there doesn't seem to be any "soul" any anything after the 43's

@CountScarlioni

9 ай бұрын

@@peddersmeister There was definitely "soul" in the Pacers. But one that was undoubtedly corrupt and evil!

English Electric were excellent with the Lightning Aircraft at Preston and the Deltic at Newton le Willows

@DrivermanO

7 ай бұрын

And the Canberra.

Interesting video. As a steam fan, I can't really get at all misty eyed about any diesel. BTW, they made a lot smoke of the worst type. They seem to be rather dangerous too!

@johnjephcote7636

9 ай бұрын

I did like the LMS 10000 and the BR 10001 when in black and silver, often in a pair in and out of Euston. I walked through one of them at the IRC exhibition at Willesden in 1954.

@Draxindustries1

9 ай бұрын

You're right. Many of these so called 'restorations' are nothing of the sort. The engines are never stripped down to check for wear ect but just cleaned and repainted. I should imagine the knackered Deltics you refer to when the HST was introduced judging by the oil being burnt are the same old knackered Deltics used in these preservations with absolutely nothing done to them..

Love the background music. Anyone knows who's the artist

Great Brittanistan

Good old basher salute at 28:00

Could One Engine Be Removed To Accommodate An Exhaust After Treatment System