The Advanced Passenger Train was heralded as the next generation of passenger trains in the United Kingdom, a train which was developed at the same time Japan was developing the Shinkansen and France were developing the TGV. The intention of the train was to operate at speeds similar to these high speed trains while still making use of Britains antiquated railway network, this would be achieved with an innovative tilting system which would allow the train to tilt into corners not dissimilar to a motorcycle.

After 20 years in development the final produced trainsets, the APT-P or Advanced Passenger Train Prototype proved to be unpopular and unreliable. This was not helped by their first introduction into service during Christmas 1981, where on an initial press run there was issues with the tilting system, which was reported to make passengers feel ill. Later in the month while operating an APT branded WCML express service the brakes froze in the cold weather, forcing it to terminate at Crewe. All of this forced the APT back to the drawing board until a reintroduction without fanfare in 1984, where they saw use on regular Intercity services alongside the usual WCML electric locomotives.

Ending as a failed project, a few of the vehicles from the Prototype trainsets were preserved after their final withdrawal in 1987 with the majority scrapped. Three passenger vehicles from 370003, a passenger vehicle and power car from 370002, and a passenger vehicle and power car from 370006 now all reside at Crewe Heritage Centre, having been preserved in various locations since the 1980s. All bar one of the vehicles are now formed into a single consist numbered 370003/370006 which sits alongside the running lines of the West Coast Main Line, power car 49006 is stored elsewhere on site.

(1) Advanced Passenger Train 370006 at Crewe Heritage Centre. (2) APT Power Car 49006 (Ex 370006) at Crewe Heritage Centre. (3) Original Advanced Passenger Train standard class interior. (4) Experimental Advanced Passenger Train (APT-E) preserved at the National Railway Museum's Locomotion Shildon site.

Additional Information about the Advanced Passenger Train

The APT tilting train story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDN7PPW4AE8&t

Motion History: Tilting Tragedy - The Advanced Passenger Train (APT)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzCV0C0-LcA&t