Bulletin: BR Class 55 Deltic

Manufacturer: ESU, Item number: S0399, Version: V1-R1

Few locomotives have captured the imagination quite like British Rail’s English Electric Type 5/class 55 ‘Deltics’. First introduced in 1961, their twin Napier Deltic engines generated 3,300 horsepower, making them the most powerful single unit diesel locomotives yet produced at that time. Capable of speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, the Deltics were worthy successors to the famous express steam locomotives of Gresley, Peppercorn and Thompson on BR’s East Coast Main Line, working top link services such as the Flying Scotsman, the Talisman and the Aberdonian. The arrival of the HST in the 1970s displaced the Deltics from their old stamping ground, but the locomotives found further use on cross-country routes. A special return working from King’s Cross to Edinburgh on January 2nd, 1982 heralded the end for the Deltics in service, but with six locomotives preserved and operating on mainline railtours and heritage railways, the legend lives on.

Different starting processes can be selected with F1: 1x press button = warm start / press button 2x = false start / press button 3x = cold start

F2 slows down the locomotive slowly.

F5 enables the heavy load mode: The diesel notch is always one up compared with normal operation. If you want to jump two notches, simply set CV 104 to 150 (instead of 130).

F8 turns on the manual ntoching. Once F8 is on, you can use F7 to notch up and F6 to notch down. F8, F6, and F7 must be turned off to return to normal mode. If F8 is off and you press F7, the prime mover will run to full speed.

F14, F18 and CV 170 value 0 or 1, can switch between a "normal announcement" or an announcement "with gong".

F9 can increase the speed of the spirax valve by double-clicking it. The speed levels are slow, medium and fast.

17 will bring the locomotive to full stop.

F21 and CV 168 = value 0 or 1, can switch between a "normal" or a "squeaking" wiper.

F28 and CV 164 = Value 0, 1, 2 or 3, can switch between different rail joints (three coupler can be activated with CV 165 = value 1).

F29 and CV 169 = value 0 or 1, can switch between the "Automatic Warning System (AWS)" or the "Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS)".

KeyFunctionsSound slotsVolume CVsVolume values
F0front light2948390
F1sound on/off1, 2, 22259, 267, 427180, 160, 50
F2brake function 1 (with brake valve sound)25451170
F3air horn (high)3275255
F4air horn (low)4283255
F5heavy load32507190
F6manual notching down
F7manual notching up
F8manual notching logic on/off274670
F9spirax valve26459255
F10conductor's signal10331130
F11coupling/buffering8315255
F12radiator fan5291180
F13apply locomotive brake/locomotive brake release (automatically)13355160
F14station announcement #17307255
F15esu smoke generator
F16open/close cab door12347165
F17brake function 2 (emergency brake)24443160
F18station announcement #214363255
F19apply/release hand brake30491180
F20steam heating system *28475190
F21windscreen wiper19403165
F22shunting radio #120411250
F23shunting radio #223435250
F24compressor6299160
F25sanding valve11339100
F26sound fader
F27curve squeal15371195
F28rail clank17387175
F29automatic warning system (aws) / train protection and warning system (tpws)31499160
F30disable brake squeal sound
F31air let off9323180

Make sure that index CV31 is set to 16 and index CV32 is set to 1 before changing a volume CV.