E train

Advanced Passenger Train - Experimental

The line was surveyed prior to closure with a view to it being used as a test bed for the new Advanced Passenger Train (Experimental) or APT-E.

	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

It was completed and handed over to the Research Division in 1970 but a number of improvements to the curves, especially at Upper Broughton and Folly Hall, were frequently carried out during the subsequent APT testing programme, in order to raise the speed limit. A great deal of testing was carried out at Old Dalby 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 car shells surrounding a trailer car shell (hence Power nil Power) and the whole formation was loco-hauled to test the bogies and suspension. This commenced running at Old Dalby in the Autumn of 1971, although APT-E itself did not start running at the test track until September 1973 as it was 'blacked' by the driver's union ASLEF for 12 months after its first run on the main line to Duffield.

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.

In January 1976 it attained a speed of 143.6 miles per hour at Old Dalby. It was withdrawn after it completed its test programmes and now resides at the NRM York.

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

Click on the image for a bigger picture - photos are the authors where not credited

	A general view of the Control Centre and workshop, nearing completion in March 1970. The site had yet to have its security fence erected. Note the MR goods shed in the right background. Author's collection		A closer view of the Control centre and the workshop Author's collection
	Another view of the workshop showing the access pit. It was equipped with an overhead crane and a wheel drop facility too but was very short and could barely hold a coach without the doors being left open. The author well remembers the cold windy Winter's days spent working on rolling stock here. Author's collection		The Research Division, Clayton Class 17 loco No: 8512 sets off for Asfordby from the north end of the test track on 14th October 1971. Just visible through the open frames of the POP train's skeletal wagons are the houses of Tollerton on the A606 Nottingham to Melton road. Jack Hooke
	This is another view of the POP train shown in the previous picture Jack Hooke		Clayton bo-bo locomotive No: 8512 pictured with the POP train standing in the former Down platform at Widmerpool Station, facing south. Perhaps the train crew had nipped in to the Schooner Inn, which occupied the former Up platform buildings at the time, for a cuppa. Alan Rimmer
	POP train passes the end of the access line to the test track at Melton Jcn. having come from the RTC en route for Old Dalby in early 1973 Author's collection		Meanwhile the APT-E was taking shape and is pictured here undergoing end-loading tests in the R&DD workshop Colin Marsden
	In this shot two of the vehicles are being fitted out as test cars Colin Marsden		One of the driving cars pictured in the Vehicles Lab at the RTC when under construction. This part of the RTC is now Fragonset's maintenance workshop Author's collection
	APT-E pictured in the Vehicles Lab workshop 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. Author's collection
	A head-on view 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 cab layout was designed around a central seating position. Author's 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		APT-E rounds the curve at Upper Broughton on a southbound run A still from the BT Films 'E for Experimental'
	APT-E running north into Upper Broughton curve at speed with TC2 in tilt failure mode in August 1974. This meant that the car was tilted 6º from the centre line in the opposite direction from the rest of the train. Author's Collection		Another shot from August 1974 shows the train running south at Upper Broughton. During these tests speeds of up to 125 mile/h were attained with simulated tilt failure. Author's Collection
	Here it is at the south end of Saxelby Tunnel where several experimental switches and crossings were installed. Author's collection		Another shot at the north end of Grimston Tunnel shows the immense overhang of the cab on APT-E Author's collection
	In order to traverse the curve at Upper Broughton at high speed, the cant was raised to a value of 7 inches (178 mm) during the ATP-E test programme. The normal speed of the curve was then limited to around 75 mile/h. Author's collection		In June 1974 the APT-E takes the curve at London Road Junction on the way to Old Dalby.
	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		The train crew are aboard and all ready for the off and a quick belt down the Midland back to Derby
	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		'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
	APT-E gets some attention in the sidings at the RTC in the summer of 1972 between trips to the test track		Here is the Mercedes Benz 'Unimog' road/rail vehicle which was used at RTC and Old Dalby pictured in the sidings with E Train behind it Colin Marsden
	APT-E pictured in the loop at the top of the RTC site BR Official		An unusual official picture of E-train in the RTC yard outside the EDU BR Official
	Another similar shot with the Vehicles Lab in the background BR Official		And one of the power car - note the lamp bracket BR Official
	In this first of two general views of 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, one of the prototype HST power cars, the Battery railcar and the Elliot 4-wheel Track Recording Car.		In this second general view of the RTC yard in June 1974 the APT-E can be seen on the right next to the Research Division's 'Baby Deltic' loco. In the centre is the first of the recently re-furbished and re-liveried Class 101/2 DMU's for West Midlands PTE, a short-lived idea.
	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		APT-E passes Steventon on 27th July 1975 whilst on a test run D E Canning
	APT-E near Goring on 27th July 1975 whilst on a test run D E Canning		On 28th October 1975 APT-E is pictured at St Pancras during a series of test runs on the Midland line BR Official
	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
	A cut-away model of the Hydrokinetic brake as fitted to APT-E in the Stores at the NRM York

Oops!

On 10th January 1973 a test train heading north 'ran out of road' whilst carrying out a high speed test with the 'POP' train and finished up 'on the floor'. Rumour had it that the brakes on the 'Peak' were incorrectly adjusted and the decision to apply the brakes was left until the last second.

	BR Sulzer Type 4 No: 185 (later class 46) looks rather out of place as it stands on the formation at the north end of the test track. Fortunately there were no injuries, only dented pride and the loco and three vehicles were recovered over the next few days Alan Rimmer
	The traction inspector surveys the scene. Alan Rimmer

If you have found this page related to the APT-E of interest, then perhaps you would like to look at another site devoted to APT-E and one devoted to the electric version called APT-P, which was not tested at Old Dalby.

Click on the pictures to get connected.

E-Train

P-Train

Or Try my P-Train page - now moved to www.traintesting.com

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