Hornby R30297TXS

Hornby Dublo: BR - English Electric - DP1 'Deltic' - c.1955 (DCC Sound Fitted)

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest

Manufacturer description

The word 'Deltic' will likely mean different things to different people, as the word does mean a great many things. The Deltic was initially a valveless diesel engine designed to be fitted into some of the Royal Navy's smaller ships, such as the 'Dark' class of 1954. 

These engines, or a version of them, were fitted to a test bed for a new class of British diesel engine in 1955, christened as DP1 but nicknamed 'DELTIC' after the engine. This nickname may have been enforced on the public by the designers of the locomotive, who had 'DELTIC' painted on the side of the model in the same cream as the lining nameplate style.

DP1 was built by Dick, Kerr and Co. in Preston, and was outshopped in 1955 in a unique colour scheme of baby blue and cream. The was not initially a stylistic decision, with the cream paint lines on the side being applied over aluminium strengthening beams to break up what would otherwise be a very tall, straight slab-sided locomotive.

DP1 was in service with BR in its original colour scheme and condition until November 1960, when an enormous oil leak was discovered on one of the engines, something that could lead to terminal engine failure if not addressed. The locomotive was sent back to English Electrics works, however work on the locomotive was not given the go ahead, with the DP1 being officially withdrawn from BR's locomotive roster in 1961.

The locomotive was stored for a few years before being donated to the science museum in 1963. It has never run in preservation, largely because it has been inside on static display in various museums. And also because engine components were removed after the failure, with the engines fitted to the resulting Class 55 'Deltics' being sufficiently different enough to prevent the pool of BR spares being used.

In 2023, the Hornby Dublo Deltic model fills a hole in Hornby history, with the DP1 Deltic featuring on the cover of the 2nd edition catalogue in 1960, but never actually being made in physical form, unlike the Class 55 Deltic, which did receive a Hornby Dublo incarnation. This model is fitted with a die-cast body, 21 pin DCC decoder powering onboard sound, a 5 pole motor with dual flywheels and dual bogie drive. This is a Hornby Dublo model not to be missed.

DCC Fitted Deltic Features

Catalogue listing

Brand
Hornby
Range
Hornby Dublo
Product Code
R30297TXS
GTIN
5063129020323
RRP
£404.99
Catalogue
2023 range
Release date
2023

Model details

Livery
British Railway
DCC status
Sound fitted
Colour
Blue and Cream
Minimum radius curve
2nd Radius (438mm)
Finish
Painted
Motor
5 Pole Skew wound
Gauge
OO
Based on preserved
No
Directional lighting
No
Interior lighting
No
Pickup in tender
No
Passenger figures
No
Buffers
Sprung Metal Buffers
Coupling
NEM Tension Lock
Tooling date
2025

Prototype information

Locomotive class*
DP1
Operator
BR
Motive power
Diesel
Wheel arrangement
Co-Co
Designer
English Electric

* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

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Related products

Hornby has released a new model of the British Railways English Electric DP1 'Deltic' diesel locomotive, which was built in 1955. The model is part of the Hornby Dublo range and is a high-detail OO gauge representation of the locomotive in its original as-built livery.

The DP1 'Deltic' was a unique locomotive, designed and built by English Electric, and was initially used for testing purposes. It was later withdrawn from service in 1961 and is now on display at the Science Museum. This new model is a welcome addition to the Hornby range, filling a gap in their history of producing locomotives from the 1960s.

The model features a die-cast body and chassis, with a 21-pin DCC decoder and onboard sound. It also includes a 5-pole motor with dual flywheels and dual bogie drive, ensuring smooth running and realistic performance. The model has a high level of detail, including a decorated cab interior, directional lighting, and working Mars lights.

Additional features of the model include sprung metal buffers, a magnetic roof cover, and a range of etched details such as window frames and engine bay plates. The model is supplied with a range of accessories, including hand-painted driver figures, etched decorations, and an accessory bag with additional lamps.

The locomotive's unique sound profile is pre-installed on the 21-pin DCC decoder, and the model also features a flange squeal sensor, which automatically plays flange squeal sounds when the model is running around a curve. The model is a must-have for any Hornby Dublo collector or enthusiast of early British Railways locomotives.

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