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Actually, the APT had been in development since the early 1960s. By the time the technology was almost finalised, we got the wonder of the Conservative Government under Thatcher (1979). We all know how much SHE likes public transport don't we? So is it any wander that BR had the rug swept from under them just as they were on the verge of finishing the APT properly?

Mind you, the APT wouldn't have made much difference here in the South West - the lines aren't electrified for one thing, and an IC125 really slugs between Newton Abbot and Plymouth due to the line having more curves than straights

Rubbish! The French and Germans didn't have to run trains on 1840s track - try running a TGV on our tracks and see how far you get. Also, the Italians had most of their tilting train development done by us.

All I have to say about the drunken hack thing on the big APT launch date is this - big mistake. Oh, and it was really clever to stop mid-route to drop Isla Sinclair off. Who? Yeah, exactly.

As for the pictures - BOTH versions of the APT are looking pretty sad now - especially the testbed prototype (APT-E). IIRC that one used gas turbines for its power source, so would have been a contender down here in the South West. The APT-P is in far better nick, but still sorry looking. Oh - and I still can't figure out where the passenger doors on it are!

AFAIC the IC125 is still the best train for comfort - Voyagers have too-stiff a ride and are too noisy in-carriage. Only used a Pendalino once (Lime Street -> Stafford) but it seemed OK. Still noisy and cramped with no luggage space though. Considering the IC125 is a 1973 design, I think it holds up remarkably well - although the engines are woefully underpowered. Put an EWS engine on both ends instead, and the pullaway from a station might be a tad faster...

<blockquote data-quote="domfjbrown" data-source="post: 632654" data-attributes="member: 1073">Actually, the APT had been in development since the early 1960s.&nbsp; By the time the technology was almost finalised, we got the wonder of the Conservative Government under Thatcher (1979).&nbsp; We all know how much SHE likes public transport don't we?&nbsp; So is it any wander that BR had the rug swept from under them just as they were on the verge of finishing the APT properly?Mind you, the APT wouldn't have made much difference here in the South West - the lines aren't electrified for one thing, and an IC125 really slugs between Newton Abbot and Plymouth due to the line having more curves than straights <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Rubbish!&nbsp; The French and Germans didn't have to run trains on 1840s track - try running a TGV on our tracks and see how far you get.&nbsp; Also, the Italians had most of their tilting train development done by us.All I have to say about the drunken hack thing on the big APT launch date is this - big mistake.&nbsp; Oh, and it was really clever to stop mid-route to drop Isla Sinclair off.&nbsp; Who?&nbsp; Yeah, exactly.As for the pictures - BOTH versions of the APT are looking pretty sad now - especially the testbed prototype (APT-E).&nbsp; IIRC that one used gas turbines for its power source, so would have been a contender down here in the South West.&nbsp; The APT-P is in far better nick, but still sorry looking.&nbsp; Oh - and I still can't figure out where the passenger doors on it are!AFAIC the IC125 is still the best train for comfort - Voyagers have too-stiff a ride and are too noisy in-carriage.&nbsp; Only used a Pendalino once (Lime Street -&gt; Stafford) but it seemed OK.&nbsp; Still noisy and cramped with no luggage space though.&nbsp; Considering the IC125 is a 1973 design, I think it holds up remarkably well - although the engines are woefully underpowered.&nbsp; Put an EWS engine on both ends instead, and the pullaway from a station might be a tad faster...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="domfjbrown, post: 632654, member: 1073"] Actually, the APT had been in development since the early 1960s. By the time the technology was almost finalised, we got the wonder of the Conservative Government under Thatcher (1979). We all know how much SHE likes public transport don't we? So is it any wander that BR had the rug swept from under them just as they were on the verge of finishing the APT properly? Mind you, the APT wouldn't have made much difference here in the South West - the lines aren't electrified for one thing, and an IC125 really slugs between Newton Abbot and Plymouth due to the line having more curves than straights :) Rubbish! The French and Germans didn't have to run trains on 1840s track - try running a TGV on our tracks and see how far you get. Also, the Italians had most of their tilting train development done by us. All I have to say about the drunken hack thing on the big APT launch date is this - big mistake. Oh, and it was really clever to stop mid-route to drop Isla Sinclair off. Who? Yeah, exactly. As for the pictures - BOTH versions of the APT are looking pretty sad now - especially the testbed prototype (APT-E). IIRC that one used gas turbines for its power source, so would have been a contender down here in the South West. The APT-P is in far better nick, but still sorry looking. Oh - and I still can't figure out where the passenger doors on it are! AFAIC the IC125 is still the best train for comfort - Voyagers have too-stiff a ride and are too noisy in-carriage. Only used a Pendalino once (Lime Street -> Stafford) but it seemed OK. Still noisy and cramped with no luggage space though. Considering the IC125 is a 1973 design, I think it holds up remarkably well - although the engines are woefully underpowered. Put an EWS engine on both ends instead, and the pullaway from a station might be a tad faster... [/QUOTE]

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