Class 55 No.55002 'Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry' - Sound Fitted

Few locomotives have captured the imaginations of enthusiasts quite like British Rail’s English Electric Type 5/class 55 ‘Deltics’, and now we are able to bring you from Accurascale No.55002 ‘Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry’ as an Exclusive OO Gauge model. This is a high quality model featuring a Die-cast Alloy metal chassis and a Five-Pole motor with two flywheels and Helical Gear box for maximum performance and smooth slow speed running. A worthy inclusion to your model rail collection or layout.

Model Features:
- Minimum Radius 438mm (2nd Radius Set-track).
- Gearing arranged so locomotive can achieve a scale top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h).
- 21Pin Decoder.
- RP25-110 wheels OO wheels with provision for re-gauging to p4 and EM gauge.
- Fully sprung metal buffers.
- Extra fine factory-fitted pipework.
- All wheel drive and all wheel pickup.

No.55002 formed part of a fleet of Class 55 (also known as Deltic or English Electric Type 5) diesel locomotives that ran on the East Coast Main Line between 1961 and 1982.

The first Deltic prototype was produced in 1955 at Dick, Kerr & Co works in Preston, and showcased multiple notable features for diesel locomotives at the time, including its ability to run at high speeds, its power in relation to its size and weight, its large size, and unusual style, influenced by the bulldog-nosed American diesels of the time. The Deltic’s power and speed impressed the management of the British Railways Eastern Region, who, at this point, were looking for a replacement for their pre-war fleet of Class A4 steam locomotives.

22 Deltics entered service in 1961, successfully replacing 79 Class A4s and 35 Class A3s, with very few mechanical changes made from the prototype versions of the locomotive. As the most powerful diesels of their time, with the ability to reach speeds of over 100mph, they significantly reduced journey times on the East Coast Main Line.

All 22 Deltics were named either after racehorses or regiments of the British Army from both the North East of England and Scotland. No.55002 was named ‘Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry’ (KOYLI) in a naming ceremony at York station in 1963 and was the first of the fleet to be painted in BR blue. KOYLI is currently on display in the North Shed of the National Railway Museum in York.