Class 23 'Baby Deltic' Headcode Box D5909 BR Blue Diesel Locomotive

Following the success of the Class 17 ‘Clayton’ diesel locomotives that launched the EFE Rail brand in 2020, and having since added the D600 ‘Warships’ to the range, the Class 23 ‘Baby Deltics’ complete a trio of new diesel locomotives in N scale by EFE Rail.

Another type that has never been produced in N scale, the new EFE Rail models tell the story of this Class of ten locomotives that were ordered from English Electric as part of BR’s 1955 Modernisation Plan. Despite a service life spanning little more than ten years, the Baby Deltics have an interesting past; being rebuilt after just a few short years in service and emerging again with a distinct new look before their premature demise.

The EFE Rail models have been designed to portray the real locomotives throughout their working lives so two bodyshells have been produced, one with headcode discs for the as-built examples and a second with central headcode panels. Boasting injection moulded bodyshells with fine relief detail and precision engraving, all of the locomotive’s defining features are recreated in miniature. Separate metal handrails are added aside each cab door and on the nose ends, whilst below the solebar separate tanks are fitted and the bogies are crafted with full brake and suspension detail.

Powered by a coreless motor, DCC provision comes in the form of a Next18 decoder socket and space is provided for a speaker for those wishing to add sound. Directional lights are fitted and a switch is provided on the PCB to turn off the red tail lights, or this can be done via a function key when a DCC decoder is fitted.

 

• EFE Rail N Scale
• Era 6
• Pristine BR Blue livery
• Running No. D5909
• Centre Headcode Panels
• Equipped with a Next18 DCC Decoder Socket – Recommend Decoder item No. 36-567A
• Length 118mm (over couplings)

 

EFE RAIL CLASS 23 ‘BABY DELTIC’ SPECIFICATION

MECHANISM:

• Coreless, twin shaft motor providing drive to both bogies
• All axle drive
• Electrical pickup from all wheels
• Diecast metal chassis block
• Gearing arranged for prototypical running speeds and haulage capabilities
• 9mm (N gauge) wheels to NEM310 standards with authentic disc profile
• Removable coupling pockets to NEM355 standards fitted to each bogie
• Designed to operate on curves of second radius (263.5mm) or greater

DETAILING:

• High-fidelity, injection-moulded bodyshells covering locomotives fitted with either Disc Headcodes or Headcode Boxes
• Fully detailed Bogies incorporating suspension, brake components and cab steps, and with integral protection irons
• Separately applied underframe moulding featuring tanks and battery boxes adorned with individual metal pipework
• Separately fitted metal handrails aside each cab door and on the top of each nose
• Detailed cab interior
• Glazed bodyside and cab windows with separate, clear glazing
• Each model supplied with a full set of bufferbeam pipework and accessory parts, including a set of open and closed headcode discs where appropriate

LIGHTING:

• Directional lighting, with tail lights switchable on/off via a circuit board switch on Analogue control. On DCC, directional lights or tail lights only can be switched on/off independently via dedicated functions
• Authentic light colours and temperatures selected for each model based on era and application

DCC:

• Next18 DCC decoder interface

SOUND:

• Space provided in the battery box moulding for a speaker to be fitted

LIVERY APPLICATION:

• Authentic liveries applied to all models
• Multiple paint applications employed on each model using BR specification colours
• Logos, numerals and text added as appropriate using multi-stage tampo printing utilizing authentic typefaces, logos and colours

 

CLASS 23 ‘BABY DELTIC’ HISTORY

Ten ‘Baby Deltics’ were ordered from English Electric as part of the British Railways 1955 Modernisation Plan. Initially known as type ‘B’s, the new locomotives were broadly similar in appearance, but much shorter than, the type ‘C’ machines (later Class 40) that were ordered at the same time. The prime mover was a 9-cylinder Napier Deltic rated at 1,100hp, carried by two twin axle bogies giving the Bo-Bo wheel arrangement.

Delivered from Spring 1959, the locomotives entered traffic sporting disc headcodes at either end but following a problematic early career, all had been stored by 1963. A refurbishment programme was implemented and by April 1965 all of the ‘Baby Deltics’ had returned to service, having been rebuilt with new parts to improve their reliability. External changes were made too; their disc headcodes were replaced by new central headcode boxes and an updated paint scheme was applied. Whilst the new headcode boxes gave the locomotives some aesthetical similarities to the much larger Class 55 ‘Deltics’, it was the use of a Napier Deltic power unit, half the size of that found in a Class 55, that gave the Class 23s the nickname ‘Baby Deltics’.

Comprising just ten examples, the ‘Baby Deltics’ were early casualties when BR attempted to standardise its fleet and the first example was withdrawn in 1968. All had gone by 1971. No. D5901 worked a few years more, having transferred to the Railway Technical Centre in 1969 where it survived until November 1975 when it was replaced by a Class 24.

Following withdrawal all were scrapped, however one of the Napier Deltic engines of the type used in the ‘Baby Deltics’ survived. This power unit was subsequently acquired by a group of enthusiasts, more recently known as The Baby Deltic Project, who have restored the engine and are in the process of creating a new Class 23 using a cut down Class 37 which will run on Class 20 bogies.