E train

Advanced Passenger Train - Experimental

During the early years of APT-E I was working in the DM&EE testing section and had little to do with the train. By the time I joined the R&DD in April 1974 the major test programme was drawing to a close so I really missed out again. However I did get the chance to have a ride to Kettering and back in 1976 on a staff special which was exhilarating to say the least. Some photos of the train at Kettering are included below.

The APT-E consisted of two driving power cars (PC1 and 2) and two trailer cars (TC1 and 2). The power cars were equipped with four 300 HP Leyland 350 gas turbines (and a fifth for auxiliary power supplies) and two GEC 253AY nose-suspended traction motors on the leading bogies. Each vehicle was approx 70ft long with articulated bogies between them.

It was the world's first self-propelled active tilting train and the first to use computer designed wheelsets and active suspension to eliminate hunting.

A great deal of testing was carried out at the Old Dalby test track in connection with the APT development programme using various vehicles including the open frame units known as POP train. This name was derived from the fact that there were two power bogies surrounding an articulated trailer bogie (hence Power nil Power) and the whole formation was loco-hauled to test the tilt, bogies and suspension.

For more pictures and information about POP train look here!

Initial proposals

	The original concept drawing of the Advanced Passenger Train BR official		An early mock up BR official
	A later version model which was not unlike the final design BR official		The front cover of the August 1971 Sunday Telegraph Magazine featured the above model of the proposed APT-E Author

The disused main line from Melton Mowbray to Nottingham was converted into a test track, known as Old Dalby and was used intensively to test the APT-E.

In January 1976 the train ran at a speed of 143.6 mile/h at Old Dalby, some achievement on a limited length line. It was withdrawn after it had completed its test programmes and on 11th June 1976 made its final journey to the NRM at York where it now resides.

On 10th August 1975 APT-E achieved a speed of 152.3 mile/h whilst on test on the Western Region.

On 24th May 2013 the APT-E received an IMechE Engineering Heritage Award in recognition of the 13 years of hard graft which the volunteers of the APT-E Conservation & Support Group had put in to cosmetically restore the vehicles to something like new.

Here are some reminders of the APT-E at the Old Dalby test track and at the Railway Technical Centre and a few other places besides .

Click on the image for a bigger picture - photos are the author's where not credited

	The APT-E is pictured here undergoing end-loading tests in the R&DD Test Hall Colin Marsden		In this shot two of the vehicles are being fitted out as test cars Colin Marsden
	One of the driving car bodyshells pictured in the Vehicles Lab at the RTC when undergoing structural testing in 1971. This part of the RTC is now RVEL's maintenance workshop Author's collection		APT-E undergoing a side pull test in the Vehicle's Lab during its initial test programme Peter Keen collection
	APT-E at the Mickleover test track in the early 1970s Gerald Anthony		Heading north on the Midland main line near Loughborough J A Lower
	The cab layout was designed around a central seating position. Author's collection		PT-E pictured in the Vehicles Lab at the RTC in the company of one of the power cars of the prototype HST then identified as class 252 001 - October 1974 Author's Collection
	APT-E sits on the Goods Road at Derby Station prior to its first run to Duffield, 5 miles to the north, on July 25th 1972. Photographed from Hulland Street bridge. Author's collection		A head-on view of APT-E at the Old Dalby test track in the vicinity of MP111 at the north end of Grimston Tunnel Author's collection
	Another shot on the test track. I'm not sure exactly where this was taken but it may be the southern side of Stanton Tunnel Cecil J Allen collection		The articulation between the vehicles Author's collection
	APT-E flashes past MP 111, just north of Grimston Tunnel, on a northbound high speed test run. Author's collection		In June 1974 the APT-E takes the curve at London Road Junction on its way to Old Dalby.
	'E-Train' manoeuvres on the loop at the RTC sidings in June 1974 prior to departing for Old Dalby.		APT-E in the sidings at the Railway Technical Centre in 1975 prior to a trip to Old Dalby. The Triumph Spitfire was owned by the author at the time.
	In this overall view from the top of Brunel House, the APT-E can be seen leaving Derby en route to the test track in June 1974. There's a wealth of detail in the background of this picture - now mostly gone		On 27^th February 1976, just one month after attaining nearly 144 mile/h at Old Dalby, APT-E stands at Kettering Station after a high speed dash down the Midland main line from Derby. The occasion was a special run from Derby conveying staff from the RTC on a jolly.
	Later the train was stabled in the Down Goods road awaiting a return path home On the next road is one of the ubiquitous 16T mineral wagons, which in a lot of people's eyes represented the old railway.		Staff from the Railway Technical Centre admire the sleek lines of the APT-E whilst it waits in Kettering Down platform ready for the return run
	Back home in the Research Division yard outside the Test Hall 'E-Train', as it was more commonly known, rests in the sunshine Mick Wright		APT-E gets some attention in the sidings at the RTC in the summer of 1974 between trips to the test track
	During its trials at Old Dalby 'E-Train' often ran as a three car set and here it is approaching the EDU as a three car sometime in 1974 Mick Wright		Moments later it's past and away towards Trent Junction and on to Old Dalby Mick Wright
	APT-E pictured on the Goods Road at Derby in September 1974 Ian Walmsley		In this view of the first re-furbished MetCam class 101 arriving at the RTC yard in June 1974, the APT-E can be seen sticking out of the Vehicles Lab workshop. Also in the shot is part of the 'POP' train, the Baby Deltic 5901, the Battery railcar 'Gemini' and the Elliott 4-wheel Track Recording Car - Lab 20.
	APT-E near Goring on the West of England main line on 27th July 1975 whilst on a test run D E Canning		APT-E passes Steventon on the West of England main line on 27th July 1975 whilst on a test run D E Canning
	On 28th October 1975 APT-E is pictured arriving at St Pancras during a series of test runs on the Midland line BR Official		APT-E waiting to depart from St Pancras for the run back to the RTC BR Official

If you have found this page related to the APT-E of interest, then perhaps you would like to look at my Old Dalby site where there are more pictures of APT-E.

Or for a more comprehensive view look here

Personal recollections

The following photos are from the collection of the late Ben Taylor who was one of the first APT-E drivers

Ben in front of the train just north of the Control Centre at Old Dalby sometime in 1974

Looking north from the Control Centre sees the train heading south

Family at the RTC open day in 1974 (?)

Ben with the traction inspector and a fellow driver (white shirt) and the guard plus a technician just north of the Control Centre at Old Dalby sometime in 1974

Ben in front of the train in the Up side sidings at Kettering in 1974

Two examples of the security pin badges issued to staff and drivers who required to work on the train

No pin badge no entry

Neglect and restoration

By April 2003 three of the four cars were languishing in the yard at the National Railway Museum in York. PC1 is on the left

Another shot of the intermediate car at York in 2003 - they were cosmetically restored for the '200th Anniversary of Rail' in May 2004

On 24th May 2013 the APT-E received an IMechE Engineering Heritage Award in recognition of the 13 years of hard graft which the APT-E Conservation & Support Group had put in to cosmetically restore the vehicles to something like new. I wonder what state the train would be in without these guys' efforts

The APT-E has also been restored internally and one vehicle is now equipped with seating

The Group is small team of dedicated volunteers and was formed by Paul Leadley.

Here is the APT-E at the NRM's other site Locomotion at Shildon, Co Durham in 2013

A picture of the other driving car

Prof Isobel Pollock, past President of IMechE, presents APT-E Conservation Group founder Paul Leadley with an Engineering Heritage Award at the NRM Shildon on 24th May 2013

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