British Rail Class 370

British Rail's Class 370 tilting trains, also referred to as APT-P (meaning Advanced Passenger Train Prototype), were the pre-production Advanced Passenger Train units. Unlike the earlier experimental gas-turbine APT-E unit, these units were powered by 25 kV AC overhead electrification and were used on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Glasgow Central. 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 8,000 horsepower (6,000 kW). This enabled the train to set the UK rail speed record of 162.2 miles per hour (261.0 km/h) in December 1979, a record that stood for 23 years until broken by a Eurostar Class 373 on the newly-completed High Speed 1.[7]

Further information: Advanced Passenger Train

British Rail Class 370
Advanced Passenger Train–Prototype
370003 at Carlisle
In service1980-1986
ManufacturerBREL
Built atDerby Works[1][2]
Family nameAPT
Entered service1979[3]
Number built
  • 3 trainsets
  • 1 DTS and 1 TBF car spare[3]
Number preserved7 cars
Formation
  • 14 cars per trainset
  • DTS+TS+TRSB+TU+TF+TBF+M + M+TBF+TF+TU+TRSB+TS+DTS[2]
Diagram
  • BR883 or LC501 (M)
  • BR902 or LE201 (DTS)
  • BR931 or LH101 (TF)
  • BR950 or LH201 (TS)
  • BR960 or LH401 (TU)
  • BR911 or LJ101 (TBF)
  • BR942 or LK201 (TRSB)[4]
Fleet numbers
  • 370001-370006[2] (half-sets)
  • 48101-48107 (DTS)
  • 48201-48206 (TS)
  • 48401-48406 (TRSB)
  • 48301-48306 (TU)
  • 48501-48506 (TF)
  • 48601-48607 (TBF)
  • 49001-49006 (M)[3]
Operator(s)InterCity
Depot(s)Glasgow Shields Road[5]
Line(s) servedWest Coast Main Line
Specifications
Train length964 ft 1 in (293.85 m)[2]
Width8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)[2]
Height3.5 m (11 ft 5 3⁄4 in)
Maximum speed
  • 155 mph (249 km/h) (Design)
  • 125 mph (201 km/h) (service)
Weight434 tonnes (427 long tons; 478 short tons)
Traction motors4 × Asea LJMA410F[2]
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead
Current collection methodPantograph
UIC classification2'2'2'2'2'2'2'+Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'+2'2'2'2'2'2'2'
BogiesBP17a, BT11 and BT12[2][4]
Braking system(s)Air/hydrokinetic[6]
Electronic control[4]
Coupling systemAutomatic tightlock (M)
Automatic drophead buckeye (DTS)
Bar (other)[4]
Multiple workingWithin class only
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

History

The APT-P was unveiled to the public on 7 June 1978 and continued to be used for testing into 1986.[5] Due to ongoing technical problems with these pre-production units, and a lack of cash or political will to take the project forward, the planned APT-S (Advanced Passenger Train Squadron Service) production-series units were never built, but did influence the design of the later InterCity 225 sets designed for the East Coast Main Line electrification. The influence is strongest with the Class 91 locos which took many features from the APT powercars. The technology was later sold to Fiat Ferroviaria and used for improving their second generation Pendolino trains which have been used worldwide, including the West Coast Main Line as the Class 390.

Numbering

Units were numbered 370001-370006 (plus two spare cars labelled 370007)[3] and were formed as follows:

  • 48101-48107 - Driving Trailer Second
  • 48201-48206 - Trailer Second
  • 48401-48406 - Trailer Restaurant Second Buffet
  • 48301-48306 - Trailer Unclassified
  • 48501-48506 - Trailer First
  • 48601-48607 - Trailer Brake First
  • 49001-49006 - Non-Driving Motor[3]
Side Profile

A full train was made up of two units running back-to-back, with the two motor cars adjoining. The motor cars had no seating accommodation or through-gangway, so the two halves of the train were unconnected for passengers.

Withdrawal and preservation

All six units were withdrawn during 1985-1986, and most cars were quickly scrapped. The remaining cars are exhibited at Crewe Heritage Centre, a museum located next to Crewe station.[1]

  • Of these, six cars are formed into a single train:
    • 48103 - Driving Trailer Second
    • 48404 - Trailer Restaurant Second Buffet
    • 48603 - Trailer Brake First
    • 49002 - Non-Driving Motor
    • 48602 - Trailer Brake First
    • 48106 - Driving Trailer Second
  • A single Non-Driving Motor car does not form part of the train and is exhibited separately:

Models

In 1980 Hornby Railways produced a OO gauge 5-car set model available as a train set with plain yellow fronts.[9] Which was released as a 5-car train pack with black fronts and window surrounds in 1981. From 1981 the train set was produced with black fronts and window surrounds. Until appearing in the 1983 catalogue when the train set was last produced until 1984 when it was discontinued from the range. The train pack was produced until 1984. However it was featured in the 1985 catalogue although no new models were produced that year.[10]

In 2020 Hornby Railways announced that as part of their centenary year range a newly tooled OO Gauge model of the BR Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train would be launched. The APT-P will be available as part of a five-car train pack consisting of sets 370 003 and 370 004 with plain yellow fronts included are DTS, TFB, NDM (motorised), TFB and DTS[11] and a seven-car train pack included is the APT U Development coach, consisting of sets 370 001 and 370 002 with DTS, TBF, NDM (motorised), NDM (dummy), TBF and DTS in APT livery with black front and window surrounds[12] with the additional SKU' coaches available separately in eight sets of two including TS, TU, TRBS, and TF[11][12] with the additional NDM (motorised)[13] and the APT U Development coach,(for the 5 car pack)[14] for each set to form a realistic complete full rake train for both train packs.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. "Advanced Passenger Train – Prototype". The Crewe Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  2. "Class 370 (Advanced Passenger Train)". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. Marsden 1983, pp. 119–120
  4. "Vehicle Diagram Book No.210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  5. "Testing the APT-P". traintesting.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. "British Rail's Advanced Passenger Train" (PDF). The Railways Archive. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. "Train smashes speed record". BBC News. 30 July 2003. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  8. "BR 49006 25 kV AC Advanced Passenger Train Motor Car built 1978". Vintage Carriages Trust. 6 August 2018. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. "Hornby Railways Advanced Passenger Train Train Set". Hornby Railways Collector Guide. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  10. "Hornby Railways Advanced Passenger Train Train Pack". Hornby Railways Collector Guide. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  11. "Hornby BR, Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train, 370 003 and 370 004, 5-car pack - Era 7". Hornby.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  12. "Hornby BR, Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train, Set 370 001 and 370 002, 7-car pack - Era 7". Hornby.com. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  13. "BR, Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train Non-Driving Motor (NDM), 49004, Era 7". Hornby.com. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  14. "BR, InterCity APT-U Ex-TS Development Vehicle, Sc48204/977527 - Era 7". Hornby.com. Retrieved 28 June 2020.

Sources
  • Marsden, Colin J. (1983). Motive Power Combined Volume. Ian Allan. ISBN 0711012849.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Literature

Further reading
  • Body, Geoffrey (1981). Advanced Passenger Train. Weston-super-Mare: Avon-Anglia Publications. ISBN 9780905466378. OCLC 16538327.
  • Nock, O.S. (1980). Two Miles a Minute. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 9780850594126. OCLC 7173075.
  • Williams, L.H. (1985). Advanced Passenger Train: A Promise Unfulfilled. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711014749. OCLC 16684893.
  • Trains in the Eighties, 1: Inter-City 125s & APT. London: Ian Allan. 1980. ISBN 9780711010918. OCLC 43747550.
  • Clough, David N. (2016). APT: The Untold Story. London: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 9780711038240.
  • Haresnape, Brian (1983). British Rail Fleet Survey 5: High Speed Trains. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711012974. OCLC 153032242.
  • Derrick, Kevin (2010). Eighties Spotting Days, Out of the Ashes. Strathwood. ISBN 9781905276301.
  • Kelly, Peter (February–March 1982). "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a total failure". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 38–40. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  • Allen, Geoffrey Freeman (February–March 1982). "Why APT is running nine years late". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 41–43. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  • "End of the line for prototype APT". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. May 1983. p. 16. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  • "APT: BR puts the record straight". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. November 1983. p. 19. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
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