30 years in preservation - the APT

Back in December 1984 British Rail's Advanced Passenger Train set a new speed record of 3 hours 52 minutes London to Glasgow. It still stands, though in September 2006 a Virgin Trains Pendolino made an attempt on the record in the opposite direction; Glasgow to London. It came close, at 3 hours 55 minutes.

The APT was the train of the future in the 1980s, but Thatcher didn't like rail, the rail unions and rail managers obstructed it, but most of all it suffered the 'British Disease' of never receiving sufficient funding to properly develop it. The project was scrapped and BR went for the conventional Inter City 125 train instead. The West Coast Main Line that the tilting APT was designed for carried on with Mk3 coaches and class 87 electric locos until Virgin introduced the tilting Pendolinos after rail privatisation.

The tilt technology of the APT was sold to Italy, who developed it into the highly successful Pendolino series of trains now in use all over the world, including of course the UK.

The electric APT trains were scrapped, except one set that is preserved at Crewe Heritage Centre. This week, Thursday to Sunday, they are holding a celebration of 30 years of APT preservation and I went along.

Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.

 While waiting for the shuttle bus outside Crewe station I met Andrew, chairman of Manchester Locomotive Society (of which I am secretary), his friend Peter, and (above) Midlands DJ Les Ross, owner of electric locomotive 86 259 which Virgin named after him on his retirement from his radio show. Les bought the loco when Virgin retired it, and has replaced the 'Les Ross' name plate on one side with 'Peter Pan', the name the loco carried prior to being re-named.

The shuttle bus that took us to the Heritage Centre and back. The distance is about a mile, but the Journey there took about 10 miles, via Nantwich, as there is a low bridge on the direct route and nowhere at Crewe station for the bus to turn. Last time I was in a Routemaster was at the Abersoch wedding in June.

Here is the preserved APT set at Crewe but with only one power car. The museum have kept it in fine cosmetic condition. The seats are far more comfortable than those in a Pendolino, even in standard class.

 An APT power car which was the second one of the set preserved at Crewe but which was sent initially to the National Railway Museum, then had several temporary homes ending up at the electric rail museum in Coventry. When that closed recently the power car was returned to Crewe where it has been cosmetically restored.

 I had a ride on the 7.25" gauge miniature railway. It would have been rude not to!

 This what the West Coast Main Line got instead of the APT - the Class 87 electric loco. This one, 87 035, is named 'Robert Burns'.

Driver's controls of the 87

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