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.
It was completed and handed over to the Research Division on 8th July 1970 but a number of improvements to the curves, especially at Upper Broughton and Folly Hall, were frequently carried out during the subsequent APT-E 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 bogies surrounding an articulated trailer bogie (hence Power nil Power) and the whole formation was loco-hauled to test the tilt, 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. Look here for more pictures and information about POP train. |
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. On 10th August 1975 APT-E achieved a speed of 152.3 mile/h whilst on test on the Western Region. In January 1976 it ran at 143.6 miles per hour 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 It was withdrawn after it had completed its test programmes and on 11th June 1976 made its final journey to the NRM York where it now resides. 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 author's where not credited |
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 The APT-E had lain in the yard since its arrival in 1976 |
Another shot of the intermediate car at York in 2003 - they were cosmetically restored for the 200th anniversary of rail in May 2004 |
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On 24th May 2013 the APT-E received an IMechE Engineering Heritage Award in recognition of the 13 years of hard graft the APT-E Conservation & Support Group had put in to cosmetically restore the vehicles to something like new. |
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 |
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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 Shildon on 24th May 2013 Unknown |
Personal recollections
The following photos are from the collection of the late Ben Taylor who was one of the first APT-E drivers
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. |
For more information and pictures of the incident look here 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 |