Class 23 'Baby Deltic' Profile and Models

Class 23 'Baby Deltic'

D5902 at London Kings Cross in July 1966. ©Hugh Llewelyn

The British Rail Class 23 were a class of ten Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives built by the English Electric Company (EE) in 1959. The T9-29 diesel engine used by the class was a single, half-sized version of those used in the more powerful British Rail Class 55 'Deltic' locomotives, and the overall design and external appearance of the Class 23 was also similar to the Class 55, but much shorter, leading to their nickname of Baby Deltics. After acceptance trials at Doncaster, they entered service between April and June 1959. The locomotives were put to work on King's Cross outer suburban duties such as the Cambridge Buffet Express as well as services from Kings Cross to Moorgate sub-surface platforms via the 'widened lines'. The locomotives were later banned from Moorgate because of excessive exhaust smoke in the tunnels. By the late 1960s BR had drawn up a "National Traction Plan", whose aim was to rationalise the number and types of diesel locomotives in traffic (and thus reduce operating costs). The 'Baby Deltics' were an obvious target, being only a ten-strong class, and beset with operational problems. The locos were withdrawn between 1968 and 1971.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Locomotive

Diesel-Electric

Builder

English Electric at Vulcan Foundry

Build Dates

1959

Total Built

10

Tractive Effort

47,000 lbf

Power Output

1,100 hp

Top Speed

75 mph

Wheel Configuration

Bo-Bo

Operated By

British Railways

Main Duties

Passenger Services

In Service Until

1971

Surviving Examples

0 (Replica under construction)

 

OO Gauge (1:76 Scale)
O Gauge (1:43 Scale)

Products awaiting categorisation

Scale Brand Image Construction Type DCC Capability Product Code Product Title Livery
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) A1 Models Cl23Kit BR Class 23 (Type 2) Diesel Loco - White Metal Kit RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set Cl23Kit
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BR Class 23 (Type 2) Diesel Loco - White Metal Kit Not Applicable
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Kitbuilt (unknown brand) KB107 Class 23 'Baby Deltic' kit - Alexander Models - not including motor RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set KB107
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Class 23 'Baby Deltic' kit - Alexander Models - not including motor Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Silver Fox 23SF Class 23 'Baby Deltic' Resin Body Kit Requires assembly Not set 23SF
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Class 23 'Baby Deltic' Resin Body Kit Awaiting Categorisation
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Silver Fox KB108 Class 23 'Baby Deltic' D5907 in BR green - Silver Fox kit RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set KB108
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Class 23 'Baby Deltic' D5907 in BR green - Silver Fox kit BR green with late crest