Construction
The English Electric company, which had absorbed the engine-maker Napier & Son into its group at the instruction of the Ministry of Aircraft Production in 1942, was a major builder of Diesel locomotives and electric locomotives. The two George Nelsons (Sir George, and his son, known in the works as "Half") saw the potential of Napier's Deltic engine for rail traction and in 1954-1955 built a demonstrator at its Dick, Kerr works in Preston. Officially numbered DP1 (Diesel Prototype number 1, although this was never borne on the locomotive), it carried the word DELTIC in large cream letters on its powder-blue sides. Plans to name the locomotive "Enterprise" never came to fruition and it was to be known to all just as "Deltic".
Long aluminium beadings on the sides were painted cream, a visual device to make the locomotive's high sides appear more slender and speedier; three curved chevrons in the same cream on the noses gave it the impression of speed. The locomotive's styling was reminiscent of American locomotives (partly because English Electric initially planned to offer the type for export) with high noses and small, somewhat swept-back cab windows set back behind them; to add to the American look of the locomotive to British eyes, a large headlight was to be fitted to each nose (these lights were never installed but would have been of the rotating 'Mars Light' type as fitted to North American locomotives of the era). Two 18-cylinder Deltic engines were fitted, derated from the 1,750 horsepower (1.3 MW) of the marine engines in minesweepers to 1,650 horsepower (1.2 MW) each, 3,300 horsepower (2.5 MW) total. This derating reduced the stress on the engines, thereby increasing the service life and length of time between overhauls.
Read more about this topic: British Railways DP1
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