Bluebell Railway: Deltic Diesels (inc. ALYCIDON using both engines) 

Back in the 70s on the ECML, we used to see these beasts on platform, or thundering through Doncaster Station on a non-stop express every day. You could often see a couple in reserve too, along with other loco's stabled outside the adjacent Doncaster Engineering Loco Works. They certainly made the station and platforms shake doing either task. We were headed by a Deltic many times on trips to York, Hull, or other ECML stations, even rode in the cab on a few occasions when it was a driver we knew. You could hear that unique Deltic engine drone long before it came into sight, a noise you never forget once heard. You really felt the vibration when stood alongside one as it revved up to pull away. Occasionally, you would see the Deltic's do their party trick of shooting flames out of the roof exhaust ports. Apparently, it's caused by unburnt fuel oil getting ignited after standing on tick-over, and then revved for take-off with a heavy train. They had 2 engines, each with 18 cylinders arranged in banks of 6 in a triangle layout where 6 pistons were arranged in pairs so the piston crowns opposed each other to form a combustion chamber. The engines were originally designed during the late 1940s for one engine to power the Royal Navy's fast gunboats. The fascinating story of how Napier, part of English Electric, developed the Deltic engine after WW2, and a smaller version that went into other BR loco's is on RU-vid if you search Napier Deltic Engines.

Indeed, many people enjoy the Deltic sound

Probably for rather similar reasons - multiple of three pistons (well, six in fact, but only one cylinder per two pistons because of the funky "headless" inverted-boxer/side ported design, with each pair running in phase) in a somewhat radial arrangement. And each D-bank, and each pair within a D, being slightly out of phase with the next in order to run smoother. Makes for a lot of sounds that are entirely unfamiliar to anyone used to typical inline, V, or even plain boxer engines.

that is one of my favourites because they way they give them full power whilst accelerating through tunnels like this one mate

more importantly great commentary from you mate I really enjoyed it

Yes the best is last but I promise the video is in chronological order. The twelve car train was the last one scheduled. You're right about the smoke, I think fumes might be a more appropriate word. Dirty Diesels!

Yeah, that white haze shows that they're running quite clean - 2 stroke diesels require forced induction to run in the first place, so when only under light load will be pushing through more than enough air to ensure absolutely complete combustion of the injected fuel and very little actual soot or smoke... quite a bit of it will just be steam in fact. It's probably producing less particulates than a typical car (or least, less than a bus), even without a hint of a DPF or Adblue.

@Michael Laing same thing happens when a detroit diesel olted to a generator starts up you think its gonna run away and burst into flames

God I'm getting old! I was on the footplate in BR days and remember them in service!

Thank you and please thank your mate for his cameo role in the video, those two were having a good old chinwag!

Thank you Nick, I really appreciate your comment. Dave

Thanks Mike, yes you can use the audio with pleasure.

@@ClassicReborn Many thanks, most kind :)

A great sound.

I agree a great sound.

Tractors?

Steve luckhurst Are diesel locomotives no longer tractor engines? Not trying to be a dick. Love the deltic

@@Flaaaaanders not sure what you mean!

The Deltic engines are 2-stroke, like on many motorcycles, part of the process includes burning oil hence the smoke.

Thank you. M.

Deltic SP sorry I've not replied in time. Its been a busy weekend for me. For future reference, the locations used in this video are, a disused bridge (public footpath) off Turners Hill Road near East Grinstead....Also Horsted Keynes station plus take the path that leads north from HK Station (it crosses the line by bridge) keep following northwards and eventually the path is lineside....Then the shots of the tunnel are from the former(demolished) West Hoathly Station foot crossing...And my favourite Freshfield bank which is private lane but has a Public footpath. I recommend studying the map because most of this is difficult to find. Hope you've had a good day, I'll be looking out for your video.

In the blue livery with alycidon name on the side of the engine that’s d9009

That the loco you are looking for at 03:19

😂😂