British Rail DHP1

Clayton DHP1
Type and origin Power type Diesel-hydraulic Builder Clayton Equipment Company Build date 1963
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC B'B' Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Length 46 ft 3+1⁄2 in (14.11 m) Width 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) Height 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) Axle load 14 long tons (14 t; 16 short tons) Loco weight 56 long tons (57 t; 63 short tons) Fuel capacity 600 imp gal (2,700 L; 720 US gal) Prime mover 4 × Rolls-Royce C8TFL Mk1V Transmission Hydraulic
Performance figures Maximum speed 90 mph (140 km/h) Power output 375 hp (280 kW) (per engine) 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) (total)
Career Operators British Railways Disposition Scrapped
Sources:

DHP1 was a prototype diesel locomotive. Its name means Diesel Hydraulic Prototype number 1. Clayton built the locomotive in 1965 to show to British Railways. DHP1 was designed for mixed traffic work. It had a steam boiler to give heating to passenger carriages. The body was painted red, with the top half of the cab painted cream.

The locomotive looks similar to the Class 17, also built by Clayton. DHP1 saw little use. It was tested locally in Derbyshire. The locomotive ended up achieving only 459 miles (739 km) in service. British Railways passed over diesel-hydraulic technology in favour of diesel-electric transmission. Because of this, Clayton did not recieve orders for its model. DHP1 was eventually scrapped in April 1967.

Sources

• Vaughan, John (2011). The Rise and Fall of British Railways Main Line Diesel Locomotives. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 9781844256907 – via Internet Archive.

Other websites

• Photo in International Combustion works in 1964 Archived 9 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine