Jump to content

Class 55 "Deltic" windows fitted to narrowboats


Laurence Hogg

Featured Posts

Just a thought, post 1981 when Doncaster railway works cut up the class 55 "Deltic" locomotives I was buying up the engine room rectangular sliding windows. The quality was superb as they were guarenteed to be airtight even at 100 mph. Brass chrome plated jobs, Lea Valley narrowboats had most and I have often wondered if any are still about? On a collectors site today they would fetch mega money as I found out when I sold one I had a year or so back. The "Deltic" was an iconic loco which still commands a massive following.

 

Anyone out there in CWDF ever leave Kings Cross shouting "My lords" - :help:

Happy days - we used to open all the windows in the first carriage so the exhaust filled the coach through Gas Works tunnel, got rid of ordinary passengers and us enthusiasts had the coach to ourselves..... :cheers:

Edited by Laurence Hogg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slightly off topic but interesting to note that Royal Scots Grey has been back in mainline service, hauling aluminium ore trains in Northumberland for GB Railfreight.

 

That is a great piece of news film. I vividly remember going to London Kings Cross from Darlo as a kid a few times on trains hauled by one of those...the noise they make is immense.

 

 

 

ETA - sorry Lawrence to keep :smiley_offtopic:

Edited by MJG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is a great piece of news film. I vividly remember going to London Kings Cross from Darlo as a kid a few times on trains hauled by one of those...the noise they make is immense.

 

 

 

ETA - sorry Lawrence to keep :smiley_offtopic:

 

I like this sort of off topic content. Excellent video.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Uncle Jack, who was a Research/Design Engineer, helped to develop the Napier Engine that was fitted to the prototype Deltic Locomotive built by English Electric in 1955.

 

Just one small detail, I always understood that the Deltic Locomotives were not true Diesels but Diesel Electric Locomotives, where the diesel engine generated electrical power to drive electric traction units.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Uncle Jack, who was a Research/Design Engineer, helped to develop the Napier Engine that was fitted to the prototype Deltic Locomotive built by English Electric in 1955.

 

Just one small detail, I always understood that the Deltic Locomotives were not true Diesels but Diesel Electric Locomotives, where the diesel engine generated electrical power to drive electric traction units.

 

Yes that's correct as far as I know...and I always thought that's where the name comes from too... :unsure: but I'm open to correction.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Uncle Jack, who was a Research/Design Engineer, helped to develop the Napier Engine that was fitted to the prototype Deltic Locomotive built by English Electric in 1955.

 

Just one small detail, I always understood that the Deltic Locomotives were not true Diesels but Diesel Electric Locomotives, where the diesel engine generated electrical power to drive electric traction units.

 

They're as 'true' as any other diesel loco. There's a choice of transmission system between Diesel-mechanical, Diesel-Hydraulic and Diesel-Electric. I don't know of large mainline locos with mechanical transmission, one of the issues is in getting thousands of horsepower to wheels on sprung bogies. Common enough on small locos where the driving wheels are held on the frames as with most steam locos.

 

Tim

 

Edit - surely the 'Deltic' name comes from the Delta form of the engine cylinders? (or maybe 'delta-electric')

Edited by Timleech
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Edit - surely the 'Deltic' name comes from the Delta form of the engine cylinders? (or maybe 'delta-electric')

 

I think you are more likley to be right - the engine seemingly was called the

 

Napier Deltic -

 

Nice pic of one from Wiki -

 

800px-Napier_Deltic_Engine.jpg

 

 

Edit to re-size pic to something more sensible. :rolleyes:

Edited by MJG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

They're as 'true' as any other diesel loco. There's a choice of transmission system between Diesel-mechanical, Diesel-Hydraulic and Diesel-Electric. I don't know of large mainline locos with mechanical transmission, one of the issues is in getting thousands of horsepower to wheels on sprung bogies. Common enough on small locos where the driving wheels are held on the frames as with most steam locos.

 

Tim

 

Edit - surely the 'Deltic' name comes from the Delta form of the engine cylinders? (or maybe 'delta-electric')

 

Yes it's the triangular engine layout, from the Greek alphabet also used as a mathematical symbol. Amazing and original two stroke engines, what a classic design, originally from a Royal Navy application I believe (MTBs?) A miniature version for the boat would be nice!

 

ETA: A bit of Deltic porn link

Edited by nb Innisfree
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's also a nice video here of the same loco (with a good shot of the windows in question from the OP at 1 min 23 secs in)

 

Edited by MJG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone out there in CWDF ever leave Kings Cross shouting "My lords" - :help:

 

:smiley_offtopic: Not The Cross, but York, Donny, Retford etc etc............

 

We lived for a few years in a house backing onto the ECML just south of Doncaster (by Bridge Jn. for those who know about these things) the Deltics had gone by then but 56's on coal trains made a nice noise.

 

I bought the flamecut bodyside number from Deltic 12 at Collectors Corner, York. I gave it to a 'friend' to 'look after' when we moved house and never saw it again. Wonder how much that would be worth now, or indeed where it is?

 

A Deltic engine in a narrow boat would make an interesting change from a Beta 43 wouldn't it :)

 

SAM

Ryde

IOW

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone out there in CWDF ever leave Kings Cross shouting "My lords" - :help:

 

:smiley_offtopic: Not The Cross, but York, Donny, Retford etc etc............

 

We lived for a few years in a house backing onto the ECML just south of Doncaster (by Bridge Jn. for those who know about these things) the Deltics had gone by then but 56's on coal trains made a nice noise.

 

I bought the flamecut bodyside number from Deltic 12 at Collectors Corner, York. I gave it to a 'friend' to 'look after' when we moved house and never saw it again. Wonder how much that would be worth now, or indeed where it is?

 

A Deltic engine in a narrow boat would make an interesting change from a Beta 43 wouldn't it :)

 

SAM

Ryde

IOW

 

They did make a half-size Deltic (less cylinders), but even this might be a bit too powerful for a narrow boat (also it runs on petrol)

 

Tim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone out there in CWDF ever leave Kings Cross shouting "My lords" - :help:

 

:smiley_offtopic: Not The Cross, but York, Donny, Retford etc etc............

 

We lived for a few years in a house backing onto the ECML just south of Doncaster (by Bridge Jn. for those who know about these things) the Deltics had gone by then but 56's on coal trains made a nice noise.

 

I bought the flamecut bodyside number from Deltic 12 at Collectors Corner, York. I gave it to a 'friend' to 'look after' when we moved house and never saw it again. Wonder how much that would be worth now, or indeed where it is?

 

A Deltic engine in a narrow boat would make an interesting change from a Beta 43 wouldn't it :)

 

SAM

Ryde

IOW

Windows? I want a set of Deltic horns for our boat! :D

 

I grew up beside the ECML at Biggleswade. On a summer night, with the windows open, a Deltic could be heard for a full 2 minutes after it had passed. My father being a railwayman, the house was "known" and we were often treated to a chorus of "Ilkley Moor", started while passing through the station (1/4 mile away) and ending a similar distance towards Sandy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's also a nice video here of the same loco (with a good shot of the windows in question from the OP at 1 min 23 secs in)

 

OOOOH THATS NICE, the best sounding diesel in the world!

 

Anyone out there in CWDF ever leave Kings Cross shouting "My lords" - :help:

 

:smiley_offtopic: Not The Cross, but York, Donny, Retford etc etc............

 

We lived for a few years in a house backing onto the ECML just south of Doncaster (by Bridge Jn. for those who know about these things) the Deltics had gone by then but 56's on coal trains made a nice noise.

 

I bought the flamecut bodyside number from Deltic 12 at Collectors Corner, York. I gave it to a 'friend' to 'look after' when we moved house and never saw it again. Wonder how much that would be worth now, or indeed where it is?

 

A Deltic engine in a narrow boat would make an interesting change from a Beta 43 wouldn't it :)

 

SAM

Ryde

IOW

 

I wonder what happened to the guy who kissed 22 on the last night? He was all over the TV channels, the last night at the Cross was unbelievable, a foriegn gent asked the wife and I "Is the queen coming?"

 

Mind boggling :blink:

Are you sure about the petrol Tim? Baby Deltics were diesels too (D5900 series).

 

Windows? I want a set of Deltic horns for our boat! :D

 

I grew up beside the ECML at Biggleswade. On a summer night, with the windows open, a Deltic could be heard for a full 2 minutes after it had passed. My father being a railwayman, the house was "known" and we were often treated to a chorus of "Ilkley Moor", started while passing through the station (1/4 mile away) and ending a similar distance towards Sandy.

 

I sold the horns of 55007 "Pinza" to a narrowboat owner so a set is out there. They are the same Horns as used on Class 40, 45 &46 except tuned different to sound like "a strangled cat" (a Finsbury Park depot term)

 

I remember camping near Northallerton by the ECML and never sleeping at all, just listnening to Deltics going by, in the quiet as previously saaid you could hear them for ages.

Edited by Laurence Hogg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder what happened to the guy who kissed 22 on the last night? He was all over the TV channels, the last night at the Cross was unbelievable, a foriegn gent asked the wife and I "Is the queen coming?"

 

I was thinking about him too when I read this thread this morning.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As Lea Valley Narrowboats said they didn't have any windows, but a boat launched there in about 1982 called Helga Ellen built by Black Country narrowboats, had Deltic windows fitted, I saw the boat a couple of months ago with a new owner heading for London.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder what happened to the guy who kissed 22 on the last night? He was all over the TV channels, the last night at the Cross was unbelievable, a foriegn gent asked the wife and I "Is the queen coming?"

 

I was thinking about him too when I read this thread this morning.

 

We went down on the last day, the number of people at the lineside was staggering, every bridge, platform, crossing had folks waiting, when the train arrived the loco and crew was beseiged,

heres the tv link:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OOOOH THATS NICE, the best sounding diesel in the world!

 

 

 

 

 

I sold the horns of 55007 "Pinza" to a narrowboat owner so a set is out there. They are the same Horns as used on Class 40, 45 &46 except tuned different to sound like "a strangled cat" (a Finsbury Park depot term)

 

 

1961 I think, at home in the garden , a very loud and unusual sound from the railway 100 yards away. I ran down to the line to see an absolutely magnificent D9007 "Pinza" waiting at the signal. She was brand new on a delivery run from Vulcan Foundry at Newton le Willows to , presumably , Doncaster for BR. The driving cab was full of very proud BR and English Electric staff. A fortnight later, at the same location I saw D9009 "Alycidon"

The boat horn we have is a Westinghouse unit from a vacuum braked only class 76 (EM1) scrapped at Reddish depot in the early 70's. It is both loud and pleasant sounding at 100psi, no "strangled cat" noise, more likely, "Deafened Gongoozler".

English Electric eh? Lightning jet, class40's, Deltics, Blackpool tramcars,the fridge( 40 odd years old ) in my office , onetime owners of Kelvin Diesels, beautiful things- and so very er, English.

Am I on a canal forum here, or what?........

Bill

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1961 I think, at home in the garden , a very loud and unusual sound from the railway 100 yards away. I ran down to the line to see an absolutely magnificent D9007 "Pinza" waiting at the signal. She was brand new on a delivery run from Vulcan Foundry at Newton le Willows to , presumably , Doncaster for BR. The driving cab was full of very proud BR and English Electric staff. A fortnight later, at the same location I saw D9009 "Alycidon"

The boat horn we have is a Westinghouse unit from a vacuum braked only class 76 (EM1) scrapped at Reddish depot in the early 70's. It is both loud and pleasant sounding at 100psi, no "strangled cat" noise, more likely, "Deafened Gongoozler".

English Electric eh? Lightning jet, class40's, Deltics, Blackpool tramcars,the fridge( 40 odd years old ) in my office , onetime owners of Kelvin Diesels, beautiful things- and so very er, English.

Am I on a canal forum here, or what?........

Bill

Deltic engines, first designed for RN motor torpedo boats.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.