55 Turns 50

2011 signifys an important milestone in the UK's railway history. Back in the 1950s, British Rail were beginning to look into ways of replacing their fleet of steam locomotives with more modern alternatives, producing many different prototypical diesel and electric locomotives to test out and compare.

One of the first engines to be delivered directly to BR as a prototype was DP1, or Diesel Prototype 1, more commonly known by it's name, "Deltic". It had two Napier Deltic marine engines, derated to together produce 3300hp, and the loco was a great success, being trialled throughout the national network. In fact it was so much of a success, BR ordered a fleet of similar production locos, which were originally number in the D9000 series, and later became the Class 55 under TOPS. These locos gained the nickname "Deltic" due to the fact they had the same engines as DP1, and looked almost dissimilar with DP1.

The first locomotive rolled off the production line in 1961, and later that same loco found it's way into preservation, and can indeed be seen here in this rather epic double header. Class 55 number D9016 "Gordon Highlander" leads pioneer Deltic number D9000 (55022) "Royal Scots Grey" through Burrs Country Park on a service from Rawtenstall to Heywood, on a special weekend on the East Lancashire Railway to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Deltic.