EE TYPE 5 CLASS 55 DELTICS

The Class 55 Diesel Locomotive was also known as “Deltics” and entered service between 1961 and 1962. They were designed for high-speed express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh. They had inherited the name "Deltic" from the prototype locomotive, DP1 Deltic, named after its Napier Deltic power units. Although only 22 locomotives were built they dominated express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line until 1978 when InterCity 125 'High Speed Trains' were introduced. They were designed and built in a Co-Co configuration for high speed running on the East Coast Main Line. HSTs were introduced to the East Coast Main Line in the early 1980s and the 'Deltics' were withdrawn from daily service. Thankfully 6 of the 22 'Deltics' are preserved.