A Deltic question

[Harlesden]

Having seen freshly posted pictures of Deltics in another thread, I cannot help wondering if new technology would hypothetically permit the Deltic's majestic exterior appearance and power to be recreated, but in a shorter locomotive.
I would imagine the only people who didn't like Deltics so much were those living very close to a stretch of line where Deltics were started up from cold in the early hours of a freezing winter morning

 

[jopsuk]

The more "utilitarian" design of the 66s, 70s etc is because that design is cheaper to build and easier to maintain. Even the 67s, with their ribbed sides, look like they do for that purpose.

As I understand it, the high "bonnet"/small windows gave Deltic drivers pretty poor visilibility- perhaps better than the steam locomotives that preceded them, but far worse than the HSTs that replaced them.

Plus we don't currently need new passenger locomotives, unless there's an outbreak of sense and the bi-mode IEP is dropped. Given the current government, where pointing out that a fellow minister is talking utter rubbish seems to be considered to be more offensive than a minister talking utter rubbish, seem to be determined to press on I wouldn't hold your breath.

 

[Schnellzug]

You have more or less the same installed power in a 67, (if not perhaps quite the same majestic appearance), and with modern diesels you can get up to 4000 hp in locos designed for the mainland European loading gauge. The appearance of locos, particularly the front end, is largely determined by crashworthiness regulations and all that, although I suppose nose ends might be beneficial on that score, though visibility might be an issue, perhaps.

 

[scoope]

The high bonnets on earlier locos was also made so that crew had a restricted veiw of the track close in front. Optical sensitivity would have caused problems for the drivers if they could see the track and sleepers close up at speed