Rather randomly I decided to draw some British high-speed trains which have rather caught my fancy for some time; the Advanced Passenger Train programme.
APT-E
APT-E (Advanced Passenger Train–Experimental) was built in 1970 by the British Rail Research Division and ran a series of trials during 1972-76, being upgraded a rebuilt a few times.
APT-E achieved a new British railway speed record on 10 August 1975 when it reached 152.3 mph between Swindon and Reading.
Each power car had four 300shp Rover-built Leyland 2S/350 gas turbines (and a fifth for auxiliary power supplies) which were progressively uprated to 330shp. Two GEC 253AY nose suspended traction motors provided the traction on the leading bogies. The design featured tilting carriages and hydrokinetic braking.
APT-P Class 370
APT-P (Advanced Passenger Train-Prototype) was a successor programme powered by 25kV AC overhead electrification for the West Coast Main Line (WCML) between London Euston and Glasgow Central.
This required tilting coaches to handle the curves on the route.
The APT-P is the most powerful domestic train to have operated in Britain, the eight traction motors fitted to the two central Motor Cars giving a total output of 8,000hp, allowing a new UK rail speed record of 162.2mph in December 1979.
The train is made up of:
Driver Trailer Second (DTS)
Trailer Second (TS)
Trailer Restaurant/Buffet Second (TRBS)
Trailer Unclassed (TU)
Trailer First (TF)
Trailer Brake First (TBF)
Non-Driving Motor (NDM)
NDM
TBF
TF
TU
TRBS
TS
DTS
Trials began in 1979 and continued until 1986 and three trainsets were built.
The trials were hampered by technical issues with the braking and tilting systems and poor publicity from the press.
Plus it was recognised that central power car layout dictated by supposed wave issues with the overhead wires at high speed meant the train was effectively two separate halves which dictated a different layout for the proposed production version, APT-S.
APT-S Class 370
APT-S (Advanced Passenger Train–Squadron) was the proposed production version for Intercity routes from 1985 (later pushed back to 1988).
It removed the NDMs and had a 25Kv Electric Driving Power Car, nine articulated coaches and a Bo-Bo Driving Van Trailer.
Ultimately due to the delays with the APT-P development programme, APT-S was shelved in favour of the Class 91 Intercity 225 programme.
APT-R Class 370
APT-R was an interim option studied in 1982 until APT-S was ready; a 1+11 formation using a single NDM for the WCML.
APT-T
APT-T was another interim option studied in 1982 until APT-S was ready; a 1+11 formation using a single NDM and a Bo-Co Auxiliary Driving Power Car similar to the APT-S' Electric Driving Power Car.