APT Books


TRAINS IN THE EIGHTIES 1 Inter-City 125s & APT

Trains in the Eighties 1 TRAINS IN THE EIGHTIES - Five photographic albums featuring our railway system today -
  1. Inter-City 125s and APT (ISBN 0 7110 1091 9)
  2. Electric Locomotives
  3. Diesel Locomotives
  4. Electric Units
  5. Diesel Units

Ian Allan Ltd. © 1980

 

TWO MILES A MINUTE The story behind the conception and operation of Britain's High Speed and Advanced Passenger Trains

TWO MILES A MINUTE (First Edition)
TWO MILES A MINUTE (Second Edition)
The superb engineering which Britain's High Speed Train represents, and the technology behind the even more radical Advanced Passenger Train, are achievements of which British industry can be justly proud. With their HSTs, British Rail are now running the fastest diesel-electric service in the world, while the introduction of the APT will permit spectacular time cuts on routes which already have some of the fastest and most frequent trains anywhere.

In this highly documented and well illustrated book the author provides a definitive study of the magnificent engineering technology built into these new trains, and from personal acquaintance from the railwaymen responsible, reviews the basic philosophy behind their introduction, from the viewpoints of financial investment, service, marketing and timetabling.

These extremely fast new trains are being introduced in high service density on to existing lines already carrying a mixed traffic of freight and ordinary express passenger trains, and the author clearly shows how the new HSTs and APTs have been made compatible with existing track and signals.

Detailed reference is made to the ingenious mechanical features which have made possible an exceptionally smooth ride at speeds of up to the full 125 mph, together with a braking ability superior to that of slower locomotives. The author also discusses the proposals for introducing these trains on other routes from an intimate knowledge of current thinking within British Rail, while an important section of the book summarises details of many actual runs, as well as test performances.

Patrick Stephens Limited ISBN 0 85059 412 X Oswald Stevens Nock © 1980
Patrick Stephens Limited ISBN 0 85059 613 0 Second Edition Oswald Stevens Nock © 1983

 

ADVANCED PASSENGER TRAIN The official illustrated account of British Rail's revolutionary new 155mph train

ADVANCED PASSENGER TRAIN With a collection of unique official photographs, a full descriptive text and detailed technical illustrations, this volume describes the evolution of a dramatic new train design which combines very fast speeds with high standards of passenger comfort and efficient energy utilisation.

An Avon-Anglia Publication ISBN 0 905466 37 3 Geoffrey Body © 1981

 

BRITISH RAIL FLEET SURVEY 5 High Speed Trains

BRITISH RAIL FLEET SURVEY 5 Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 1297 0 Brian Haresnape © 1983

 

APT A PROMISE UNFULFILLED

APT A PROMISE UNFULFILLED Hugh Williams' position as APT-E Train Supervisor has given him first-hand engineering experience of the project and he describes the development of APT from the initial concept, through the building and testing of APT-E to the problems encountered by the prototype trains. The reader is drawn into the story, to experience the exhilaration of the 150mph runs and the frustrations of the delays to the programme at the hands of the Government, management and unions. Comparisons are drawn between BR's approach to the problems of high speed rail travel and the solutions adopted by the Japanese and the French with their successful Hikari and TGV trains. Finally the prospects for the next generation of trains are considered as BR continues in its attempt to turn a brilliant concept into engineering reality.

Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0 7110 1474 4 Leonard Hugh Williams © 1985

 

BRITISH LOCOMOTIVES OF THE 20th CENTURY Volume 3

BRITISH LOCOMOTIVES OF THE 20th CENTURY Coming right up to date, the author finally discusses the motive power of the future in view of the latest developments of the prototype Advanced Passenger Train and its production successor, IC225, now in active preparation.

Patrick Stephens Limited ISBN 0 85059 681 5 Oswald Stevens Nock © 1985

 

ON THE RIGHT LINES? The Limits of Technological Innovation

ON THE RIGHT LINES? On the Right Lines? examines a range of key factors that explain the limits to technological innovation. The book concentrates on British Rail's experience with the High Speed Train, Advanced Passenger Train and InterCity 225 projects. Reference is also made to the international experience with studies of similar projects in France, Japan, Germany, the USA, Australia and Sweden.

Frances Pinter (Publishers) London ISBN 0 86187 580 X Stephen Potter © 1987

 

25 YEARS OF RAILWAY RESEARCH

25 years of railway research Twenty-five years ago in May 1964, British Rail Research Division came into being at Derby with the opening of new purpose-built facilities at the Railway Technical Centre. As well as providing BR with a research capability, with the key objectives of helping to secure future traffic, reduce operating costs, improve revenue and enhance safety, the Division also undertakes consultancy work for outside organisations. This book is published to mark this 25th anniversary, and the author has received valuable assistance and encouragement from the Director and Staff of British Rail Research. All the vehicles used by Research are described and a number of the projects, both past and present, and including the much-publicised Advanced Passenger Train (APT), are featured. The test facilities and laboratories at Derby are illustrated and described as are the two special test tracks operated by the Research Division.

Haynes Publishing Group ISBN 0 86093 441 1 Colin J Marsden © 1989

 

HIGH SPEED TRAINS: Fast tracks to the future

HIGH SPEED TRAINS

A roundup of high speed rail systems worldwide. John Whitelegg is Head of Geography at Lancaster University, and a worlds authority on public transport. Staffan Hultén is Assistant Professor at Stockholm School of Economics, where Torbjörn Flink is a researcher.

Leading Edge press and publishing ISBN 0 948135 45 X © 1993

 

APT-E

APT-E

This book tells the story of the development of the iconic APT-E from its inception and construction to preservation and restoration.

Rapido Trains Inc. ISBN 978 0 9783611 1 2 Gareth Bayer, Kit Spackman and Paul Leadley © 2016

 

APT: THE UNTOLD STORY A study of a controversial project and its descendants

APT - THE UNTOLD STORY

The story of the APT is one of ultimate failure. The pioneering project for a tilting train was headline news in the 1970s and 1980s but it failed as much for political reasons as it did for technical reasons.

The story is still controversial, and many still see it as a missed opportunity. Yet the legacy of the original APT project is that tilting trains built by foreign competitors run almost unnoticed on Britain’s railway network today and much of the power car technology heavily influenced the design of the later InterCity 225s and the Class 91 locomotives.

Now David Clough has delved into recently released archive material and has unearthed a story never before told. He reveals some of the top-level thinking behind the APT project, internal politics and some of the real reasons for APT’s eventual, and expensive, demise.

Analytical and balanced, this is a fascinating read for those who would like to know more about what happened behind the scenes of the doomed APT project.

Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 978 0 7110 3824 0 David N Clough © 2016


Bookmarks

InterCityAPT Glasgow – LondonInterCityAPT London – Glasgow


Return to APT-P home page

 

© R G Latham 2025.