The early 1960s was an interesting time in railway history. Diesel was taking the place of steam and there was a variety of different types of diesel engine. Some were more successful than others. My absolute favourite though is the Deltic. Often referred to as the King of the Diesels, these class ‘55’ locos replaced the aging A4s as the crack express locos on the east coast main line. They were the first diesels that were designed to haul an express passenger train at a steady 100mph. They were the most powerful diesel units of their day anywhere in the world. They were powered by two huge diesel engines with a triangularly opposed cylinder arrangement (making a D shape, hence the name ‘Deltic’). These powered electrical generators which drove the wheels’ motors. Trust me, they were just amazing beasts. Happily several members of the class are in preservation and still run at 100mph pulling special trains on the main line.
The
legendary North Eastern guitarist and prolific song writer Chris Rea even wrote
a song in their honour. I attach the
link below. By the way, my uncle used to manufacture ice cream and supply it to
Chris Rea’s father’s café!
But
before I get too carried away, I have to remember something. I have to remember who the real creator is. I have to remember who the wonderful Deltic
points me towards. A prayer I learnt as
a small boy helps me to do that:
‘Then let us praise
the Father, who shows us, of his grace,
The secret paths of
science, the mastery of space,
The magic of the
radio, the thunder of the trains,
For men made these,
but God made man,
And God gave man his
brains.’
What
a responsibility we have.
Chris
Rea ‘Deltics’
John
Martin-Jones
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