Graham Farish Prototype Deltic Locomotive DP1
372-920
The 3,300hp diesel prototype Deltic was built
in 1955, and was affectionately known as the 'Cat’s Whiskers' and 'Ice Cream Cart',
due to its characteristic cream nose stripes, French blue livery and
prominent central headlamp. It was the most powerful diesel locomotive in the world when
it was built and its success rang the death knell for steam, which, up until that time,
dominated Britain’s railways. Subsequent to the initial run, English Electric
supplied 22 production 'Deltic' locomotives for the East Coast Main Line, heralding a new
era for rail travel.
An 00 scale model of the DP1 was produced as a one-off, exclusively for the National Railway Museum (NRM), in 2007. Bachmann found the project challenging as the works drawings no longer existed and so they had to use laser scanning equipment for the first time. A special gantry had to be erected at Shildon to enable the scanner, provided by a specialist contractor, to pass over the whole length of the locomotive - but the results proved well worth it.
Having undertaken all this development work for the 00 scale model, it seemed logical to put it to good use in developing an N gauge version - and here it is. It is an exceptionally detailed model, released in 2010, and this initial version is in its livery as preserved.