the ENGLISH ELECTRIC

DELTIC LOCOMOTIVE

from the first trial run of the PROTOTYPE

in autumn 1955 to the BR 55s

Speaker: Dr. John WAGER

Pre-WW2: British mainline plans for long-term electrification.

during WW2: continue with steam, “austerity” designs of locos

ENGLISH ELECTRIC, during WW2:

active at Stafford, Bradford, Rugby, Preston:

built a wide range of: - diesel-electric locos,

- large power stations: hydro, steam

- aircraft: (incl: 1,160 Halifax, built at Preston)

1942: D. Napier & Son becomes part of

ENGLISH ELECTRIC

1940-42: NAPIER develops the SABRE aircraft engine

-3000 hp

- a 24-cylinder, two-crankshaft, pressure-liquid-cooled sleeve valve engine,

- 2-speed supercharger, automatic carburettor and boost control

- fully automatic ignition timing.

1942-44: SABRE used in the “Tempest” and “Typhoon” fighters against Luftwaffe, and V1 rockets

1944: NAPIER develops the DELTIC (more later !) for high-speed MT boats.

Post-war: British mainlines return to electrification plans

- becomes clear this is a long-term project

- interim need for high-speed DE locos

ENGLISH ELECTRIC

1955 decides to build (at its own cost) a powerful DE prototype loco using two DELTIC engines.

DELTIC prototype approaching Preston. St Walbergs spire visible

DELTIC prototype restored

BACHMAN model

OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINES

OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINES

DELTIC

OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINES

DELTIC

COMMER

COMMER TS3

1907 Commercial Car Company (Commer)

4 Commer taken over by Humber

5 Humber becomes part of Rootes Group

6 Rootes engineer Eric Coy designs TS3

(underfloor 105 hp diesel, for forward control)

the TS3

OPPOSED-PISTON ENGINES

DELTIC

COMMER

DOXFORD marine

OPPOSED- PISTON ENGINES

DELTIC

COMMER

DOXFORD

Charles Benjamin REDRUP

Charles Benjamin REDRUP

b. Oct 28 1878 (Newport, Wales) d. Aug 1961

• outstanding mechanical engineer

• lifetime of design of IC engines

• competent precision machinist – home workshop

• unassuming perfectionist

• others have taken the accolades

• didn’t make the headlines, but made significant contributions

“reactionless” engine

1911

from the “AUTOCAR”

1913: Charles REDRUP establishes the HART ENGINE COMPANY

REDRUP: HART ENGINE (the ALPHA)

AVRO 504 K with Redrup ALPHA engine

1920: undercarriage - - - - - 19-year-old AVRO engineer, George DOWTY

REDRUP 6 cyl axial marine engine 1924

REDRUP 3 cyl axial m/cycle engine

The “wobble-plate” drive

REDRUP marine engine

REDRUP bus engine

1936

- now, back to the DELTIC

First post-war diesel-electrics

LMS 10,000 (1947) 1600 hp 130.6t 21.8 t/axle 85mph

DELTIC (1955) 3300 HP 108.2t 19.0 t/axle 100mph

Line Traffic Manager, Great Northern Line, Eastern Region,

Gerard Fiennes:

• “There was one exception to the (then) 2000 hp-limit mentality

- the English Electric Company”.

• “Ten years later, I never hear the full-throated hum of a Deltic,

- without giving thanks –

• -- thanks to EE, who thought of fitting an aircraft-designed motor-gunboat engine into a locomotive,

• -- thanks to the (EE) Board, who built, at their cost, a prototype,

• -- thanks to the London Midland, who, after extensive trials, did not want it,

• -- thanks to our own people, who over-rode the opinion of the experts that

high-revving engines were out.”

An order for 22 Deltics was placed with EE

to enable complete replacement of steam.

These 22 Deltics replaced 60 A4 steam Pacifics

The Deltics became BR Class 55, first deliveries 1961.

They covered 21 million miles in the first 5 1/2 years of operation.

The Deltics were withdrawn from service at the end of 1981.

References:

O.S.Nock “British Locomotives of the 20th Century” Vol 3, Guild Publishing 1985

J. Glover “English Electric Traction Album” Ian Allen 1981

Sir George Nelson “English Electric War Diary” 1938-45

W.Fairney “The Knife and Fork Man” (the life and work of Charles Benjamin Redrup)

Diesel Publishing 2006

Google (anytime !)

www.ecomotors.com