the english electric deltic locomotive by dr john wager
TRANSCRIPT
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