The British Rail Research Division is best known for its work in developing the Advanced Passenger Train (APT) vehicle. The train pioneered several innovations, including tilting technology and gas turbine power. The APT was never successful in its own right, but its design and technology proved to be highly influential. The patents for tilting technology were sold to FIAT for cars. Fiat Ferroviaria further developed the design for its Pendolino trains which were acquired by Alstom in 2000. Pendolinos began to be used in the UK rail network in 2002.
Plastic model of the Advanced Passenger Train - Experimental (APT-E) designed and developed by British Rail Research at Derby. It was the prototype tilting train and was one of the few trains built to run on gas powered turbines. It had its first run from Derby to Duffield on 25th July 1972. The train is now at the National Railway Museum.
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