Hornby Dublo DP1 Deltic NRM Diesel Locomotive

Hornby Dublo DP1 Deltic NRM Diesel Locomotive

1:76 scale model produced by Hornby. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection.

Features:

• Analogue DC Model
• This model mainly operates in Britain
• Decorated in Museum company markings
• Best suited to 438mm radius curves

Details

The British Rail Class 55, affectionately known as the Deltic, is one of the most iconic diesel locomotives in British railway history. Built by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry between 1961 and 1962, a total of 22 Class 55 locomotives were produced for British Railways to haul high-speed express passenger trains on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh. They gained their “Deltic” name from the Napier Deltic D18-25 twin engines that powered them and from the prototype locomotive DP1 which first demonstrated the potential of this revolutionary power unit.

At the time of their introduction, the Class 55s were the most powerful single-unit diesel locomotives in the world, with two Napier engines delivering a combined 3,300 bhp and a top service speed of 100 mph, regularly achieving even higher speeds in service. This performance enabled significant reductions in journey times, making diesel traction genuinely competitive with steam and setting new standards for express services in Britain.

Dominating ECML expresses throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Deltics were eventually superseded by the introduction of the InterCity 125 HST fleet from 1978 onwards, after which they were increasingly used on secondary passenger and freight workings. The entire class was withdrawn from British Rail service by the end of 1981 due to high operating costs and the arrival of newer traction.

Despite their relatively short service life, the Class 55 Deltics remain cherished by railway enthusiasts for their distinctive engine sound, engineering significance, and role in transforming high-speed diesel travel on Britain’s railways. Six complete locomotives survive in preservation today, regularly appearing at heritage railways and special rail events, making them highly prized by collectors and model railway enthusiasts alike.