"DELTIC"

English Electric No. 2007.

Built: Dick Kerr Works, Preston.

Date To Service: October 1955.

Original Allocation: London Midland Region (LMR).

Named: Name applied from new (took the name "DELTIC" as a derivative of the power unit's triangular cylinder arrangement, it being in the form of the Greek letter "DELTA").

Date Withdrawn: March 1961 - Preserved as part of the National Collection.

DP1 began trials on the LMR in 1955 and continued until 1957, mainly utilized on London Euston - Liverpool Lime Street services. Original plans were to name the locomotive "ENTERPRISE" though it was out shopped from the Dick Kerr works at Preston with its "DELTIC" name already applied. Following its use on the LMR DP1 went to the Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows for overhaul and re-emerged in May 1958. On release the locomotive was sent for further trials on the Eastern Region and took up residence on the ECML on services between King's Cross and Newcastle.
A serious engine failure resulted in "DELTIC" being withdrawn during March 1961 (though it is believed the engine failure occurred in November 1960) and it was returned to the Vulcan Foundry once more having completed 450,000 miles in service. An idea to repair the locomotive and ship it to Canada for yet more trials, and hopes of an export order, came to nought and instead following storage it was sent to the Science Museum in London as part of the transport exhibition. A review of the museums collection in the 1980's led to a new home being sought and it was the National Railway Museum at York that provided further accommodation for the loco, arriving there on the 21st October 1993.

Photographs of "DELTIC" on this site...