Classic British Rail diesel prints
The diesels that replaced steam and became legends in their own right, beautifully illustrated by Emily: the Class 37, the Class 45 "Peak", the Class 50 and the Class 55 Deltic.
Choose your class
Four of the best-loved diesels from British Rail's first generation. Looking for the High Speed Train? See our InterCity 125 prints.
Class 37 prints
British Rail's great all-rounder. 309 were built between 1960 and 1965, and they have hauled everything from coal and steel to holiday trains in the Scottish Highlands. More than sixty years on, some are still at work on the main line today.
Class 45 "Peak" prints
Built at Derby and Crewe from 1960, the 127 Class 45s took their nickname from the first Sulzer Type 4s, which were named after mountains. They were the main power on the Midland Main Line out of St Pancras and worked across the Pennines too. The last was withdrawn in 1989, and eleven are preserved.
Class 50 prints
Fifty were built in 1967 and 1968 for the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe, then moved to the Western Region in the 1970s. Every one was named after a Royal Navy warship, and their distinctive sound earned them the nickname "Hoovers". The last left service in the early 1990s, and 18 survive in preservation.
Class 55 Deltic prints
Just 22 Deltics were built, each with two Napier Deltic engines and 3,300 horsepower. From 1961 they ran the East Coast Main Line between King's Cross, Newcastle and Edinburgh at 100 mph, until the InterCity 125 replaced them. The last ran in service on the final day of 1981, and six survive in preservation.
All classic diesel prints, sets and cards
Build a diesel collection
Our diesel sets put several locomotives together for less than buying them separately, at every size. A great present for anyone who grew up on the platform end with a notebook.
Why the first-generation diesels still draw a crowd
When British Rail replaced steam in the late 1950s and 1960s, it ordered a new fleet of diesels from builders such as English Electric and from its own works at Derby and Crewe. Within a few years they were everywhere, in plain green and then in the new BR blue.
For a generation of enthusiasts these were the engines of childhood: the growl of a Class 37, the roar of a Deltic leaving King's Cross, a Peak on a summer Saturday or a Class 50 heading west to Penzance.
Many are now preserved on heritage railways, and a few Class 37s are still earning their keep on the main line. Our prints celebrate the liveries and the names that made them famous.
Every print is drawn by Emily. Read our story
Classic diesel print questions
What sizes do the prints come in?
Every design comes in standard A sizes, from A5 (£12) to A1, so an off-the-shelf frame will fit. Most designs are also available on rigid artboard in A4 and A3. See all sizes and prices.
Can you draw a different class, number or livery?
Yes. We can draw a Class 47, a Western, a particular number or name, or a livery we don't stock yet. Personalised prints start at £100.
Where are the InterCity 125 prints?
The InterCity 125 has its own page, with every livery from the original blue and yellow to LNER. See the InterCity 125 prints.
Do the prints come framed?
Posters are sent unframed, packed to arrive in perfect condition. UK delivery on posters is free.