Although history isn't the main purpose of this site, it seems a reasonable place to have a few details about the original locos.

Ten type 'B' locos were ordered from English Electric under the pilot scheme for main line diesel locos as part of the BR modernisation plan of 1955. They were broadly similar in appearance to the type 'C' locos (later Class 40) ordered at the same time, although much shorter.

The locos were powered by a 9-cylinder Napier Deltic engine of type T9-29 rated at 1,100 hp at 1,600 rpm and were mounted on two-axle bogies giving a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement. With the exception of the engine the mechanical parts were entirely standard save for the addition of trip-cock apparatus for use when on the Metropolitan 'Widened Lines' to Moorgate.

Deliveries commenced in Spring 1959 to Hornsey Depot, via Doncaster Works for commissioning, the locos transferring to Finsbury Park on its completion in 1960. In reality they spent a considerable time at Hitchin Depot.

In their original guise the locos could never have been referred to as a success, all of them being stored by 15 June 1963 prior to a refurbishment programme which was completed by 15 April 1965. The refurbished locos were a considerable improvement on the original design and were also tidied up aesthetically - with centre headcode boxes and two-tone green livery they bore a resemblance to the type 5 locos (Class 55) and now really were 'Baby' Deltics.

By mid-1968 their non-standard status got the better of them and they fell victim to the BR Standardisation Plan, the first loco being withdrawn in October. The remainder followed fairly quickly with the last one, D5909 being withdrawn in March 1971. D5901 found some further use with BR's Research Department where it provided motive power for the Tribometer train until late-1975. It was replaced by a Class 24 in 1975 and moved to Doncaster Work in early-1976 where it was cut up in March 1977.

23 January 1957 - order placed by British Railways (BR) with Vulcan Foundry Ltd (VF) for ten locomotives.

12 July 1958 - contract delivery date for the first locomotive (D5900).

31 January 1959 - contract delivery date for the last locomotive (D5909).

1 April 1959 - first test of a Baby Deltic on BR, D5902 worked with one carriage VF - Chester & return.

3 April 1959 - first loaded test of a Baby Deltic on BR, D5902 worked light VF - Edge Hill (Liverpool), then Edge Hill - Penrith & return.

7 April 1959 - D5909 sent to BR Doncaster Works for weighing, returning to VF on 9 April 1959.

17 April 1959 - D5903 was the first Baby Deltic to be delivered to BR.

24 April 1959 - D5904 delivered.

1 May 1959 - D5902 delivered.

5 May 1959 - D5903 worked the first revenue earning train for BR, Kings + to          Royston and return.

8 May 1959 - D5905 & D5906 delivered.

12 May 1959 - D5904 became the first Baby Deltic to appear at Broad St (16:38 Broad St - Baldock).

15 May 1959 - D5907 delivered.

22 May 1959 - D5900 & D5901 delivered.

29 May 1959 - D5908 delivered.

19 June 1959 - D5909 was the last Baby Deltic to be delivered.

February 1962 - D5903 was the first Baby Deltic to be withdrawn pending major overhaul & modification.

4 September 1962 - EECo. quotation made to BR for 'thorough refurbishment' of all ten locos.

6 March 1963 - D5901 entered VF for conversion to take an all-new EECo. 12CSUT engine.

15 June 1963 - D5905 was the last Baby Deltic to be withdrawn for major overhaul & modification.

25 June 1964 - D5904 was the first Baby Deltic to be delivered from VF to BR Doncaster Works post refurbishment.

14 April 1965 - D5901 was the final Baby Deltic to be delivered from VF to BR Doncaster Works post refurbishment.  The all-new engine (see above) was not fitted after the decision was made to continue with the Deltic engine.

February 1968 - D5909 was the only Baby Deltic to be painted BR blue livery.

May 1968 - D5906 was the first refurbished Baby Deltic to be taken out of service.

30 September 1968 - D5906 was the first Baby Deltic to be condemned.

20 October 1968 - D5907 condemned.

30 December 1968 - D5900 & D5903 condemned.

20 January 1969 - D5904 condemned.

9 March 1969 - D5908 condemned.

June 1969 - D5900, D5903 & D5904 cut up at Cohen's, Cransley.

July 1969 - D5906 & D5907 cut up at Cohen's, Cransley.

6 September 1969 - D5901 taken to BR Research at Derby for use as motive power for the Tribometer train.

23 November 1969 - D5902 condemned.

December 1969 - D5908 cut up at Cashmore's, Great Bridge.

August 1970 - D5902 cut up at Cohen's, Cransley.

14 February 1971 - D5905 condemned.

7 March 1971 - D5909 condemned.

12 March 1971 - D5905 hauled to Stratford DRS, power unit 388 removed and kept as a spare for D5901.

August 1973 - D5905 & D5909 cut up at Cohen's, Cransley.

'late-1975' - D5901 withdrawn.

18 February 1976 - D5901 hauled to BR Doncaster Works.

March 1977 - D5901 was the final Baby Deltic to be cut up.

29 March 1977 - power unit 388 claimed by the National Railway Museum (NRM) and moved to York on 16 August 1977.

January 2001 - power unit 388 discovered under a tarpaulin at the NRM and subsequently bought by the nascent BDP.

20 September 2003 - power unit 388 makes its first public appearance, at Barrow Hill.

February 2007 - work begins on 388 with a view to investigating a return to operating condition.

22 October 2008 - 388 runs again for the first time in over 30 years.

April 2009 - 388 installed in what was to become the donor loco for the re-creation.

25 September 2010 - launch of the project to re-create a Baby Deltic loco.