APT-P - BR's Advanced Passenger Train

This is about 6 minutes of Sound Super-8 cine film that I managed to shoot back in the 1980s when APT-P was, for a while, used in public service. I was very lucky to get 3 or 4 rides on the train and it was extremely impressive each time. Of course the media had to take part in the UK sport of BR-bashing and would only report if anything went wrong; but given the huge technical advance that was being attempted, on basically a shoestring budget, teething issues were to be expected. The issues were ironed out, including the much over-reported 'sea sickness', but it was too late and we ended up throwing APT away and buying tilting trains from Italy, which used much of the same technology.
The film transfer quality isn't brilliant but it's ok - it's quite hard to find a professional transfer company that will handle sound film and the cost can be prohibitive - especially as I've got about 18,000 feet to do. For now I'm doing it myself using a projector, DSLR and a Crystal Sync unit.
There will be more extracts of other long lost motive power to follow, after I've finished the digitising process.

[@TheVanuPhantom]

Nobody: Me: It's smooth. It's quiet - and an altogether delightful experience.

[@mikekirwan5326]

*cutlery rattle intensifies*

[@iangodfrey4518]

@@mikekirwan5326 The likes are from the people that have seen it...

[@mikekirwan5326]

@@iangodfrey4518 What's your point mate

[@iangodfrey4518]

@@mikekirwan5326 The famous video clip with the reporter on the ATP ... and just that happens.

[@mikekirwan5326]

@@iangodfrey4518 I still don't get your point mate, of course everyone's seen the sodding video

[@tombowden6090]

As a BR employee I took part in one of the test runs. It was an incredible train and it could have been made to work

[@andrewmartell6155]

Dear Stuart. An absolutely MASSIVE THANKS for posting this film. Seeing actual onboard footage of APT in service, Priceless. The arrival shot at Euston, had a look at the platform to see if I could see "me". Not this time, but I did get APT arriving and departing Euston a few times on stills as well as at Crewe. Photos I really treasure. This is a real gem. Thanks again.

[@prof.hectorholbrook4692]

As former National Communications Manager (Safety) for BR Board, I personally never experienced any "Tilt Sickness" on this train.

[@black5f]

It was well ahead of it's time, I remember seeing it. 40 years later, the line limit in the UK is 125, signalling and routes nearly 200 years old. This baby did 2.5 miles a minute and needed massive investment in track and signalling. In a way she was too advanced. Still holds the London to Glasgow record time.

[@Pinza007]

Hi all, thanks to everyone for all the kind comments. I'm doing well with the cine transfer project despite some electronic problems arising with the crystal sync function of the projector and a hum in the sound system which started at the same time. I'm about 80% through now, then I'll edit some more sequences to post on this channel. This particular film of APT seems to have caused a bit of a splash, so when I've finished my transfer process I'll scan this section again with the benefit of the experience I've gained from the process - I should be able to wring a bit more quality out of it. I'll also physically edit together a roll or two of the most interesting films and will have these digitally scanned professionally - so a couple of versions of this to come. The next release will deal with Class 309 Clacton Units.

[@RealCristiano]

4:13 love this part

[@davidhaxell4161]

That must of been one heck of a sight for the time!

[@mattcoyne3923]

Thanks Stuart. A huge thank you for uploading. I saw the APT in Euston a few times when I was 14 years old and watching this bought back happy memories. What a treat to see the filming whilst train is underway.

[@inrometours]

Thx. Went to Woodacre crossing to see the APT then biked it home to Garstang and my APT Hornby train set.

[@aljonflavin6760]

What could have been, you filmed a good representation of the tilt on board the train.

[@user-ie1lz4oi3o]

'This is the age of the train'.The advance passenger train which despite its checkered history is what we should all be proud of.Even now the sight of the APT running on these iconic films still stirs our imagination.

[@pemboart]

The design has that retro sci fi vibe to it.

[@PhilSmith71]

I remember going to Euston a number of times with my grandad in the hopes of seeing the APT but I was never in luck. A school friend lent me a book about the ATP which I was gutted to have to return. As quite a few people have already mentioned, compared to other APT videos, this a fantastic video with both exterior and interior footage, with sound, making it a joy to watch. Also, repeating other comments again, the APT would not look out of place on our railways today in 2021. What a futuristic design that has well and truly stood the test of time. I’m sure it will still look modern and up to date in years to come. Excellent video!

[@juular1565]

Amazing to see this, and so good you captured the audio

[@johnkeepin7527]

It’s good to see some footage of those services. The last time I saw one close up, and inside, was at a public open day at Old Oak Common, at which one was on display (no 25 kV power at Old Oak at that time, of course). In those days, it had a bad press over the need for the power cars to be as they were, with the need to split it into two - but these days it’s common practice to do that for other reasons, like using two sets together, e.g. with some 2 80x 5 car units, rather than the 9 car ones. Not only that, but the 800s, and others, like the 387s, can have two or more pantographs at full speed (which was not a popular idea in APT days), and it’s now acceptable to have high voltage cabling underneath, with modern traction control etc. If they were built now, they would be more like the 80x sets, with distributed power underfloor. Power electronics has moved on, along with traction systems as a whole.

[@JohnStokes-c1o]

As others have said fantastic unseen footage. Really interesting to see what it was like from the inside on tilt. I can see why the tilt might have made some people feel sea sick, looks quite extreme compared to a modern pendolino. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@Frserthegreenengine]

There's something about the APT that I like. I don't know if it's the looks or just it's rather unfortunate history. It's one of my few favourite non-steam engines/trains along with the HST, Pendolino, Class 47 and maybe the IC225 and the Class 37.

[@michaelstephenson8000]

As a school boy in the early 80's I saw this come through lancaster on one of my "days off school"

[@robertwatt9012]

Many thanks! Never did manage a run on one, but did get on a test run with the "skeleton vehicles": and a souped-up 86 (pretty sure it was) 100mph (20mph for ordinary trains) over a dipped joint at Dinwoodie, between Lockerbie and Beattock in about 1973/4; max. speed on the trip was 127mph. I was in Glasgow Traffic Control office on the record-breaking northbound run on 12/12/84: 3 hour 52 minutes and 40 seconds.

[@AbcdEfgh-sq2tf]

Although that's impressively quick, a passenger taking a plane move between both cities a lot faster. However with fuel price fluctuations, the trains will almost always be cheaper.

[@saintuk70]

Another prime example of us Brits having the tech but lacking the project and budget management, whilst also not seeing far enough into the future to realise demand. Bit like the TSR-2

[@blueskiesabove3950]

I've seen just about every bit of footage of APT online. This is the best yet, especially the tilted view out of the windows. Look forward to seeing more. Thanks.

[@dotherightthingbro]

I saw all bar 1 of these trains back when I was a small boy. So disappointed when I learned I would never get to see all of them. Lucky for me these quite often stopped at my local station, Nuneaton where I saw the cab of one of them. Thanks for posting.

[@leighsaunderson9203]

Great footage, thanks ! Used to see it come through Penrith during school lunchtime, usually Southbound, which was great, as Penrith station is on a fairly decent curve, so we'd see it leaning, then as it got back onto the straight towards the motorway bridge, it would level up.

[@ryanohara476]

Wow huge a thank you to you Stuart! This is so amazing to see with audio and a high resolution aswell!

[@andrewcawood1364]

I went on the Settle & Carlisle a few times before it got famous with intended closure. Each time at Carlisle i waited to see if i could see the APT but without success. If only you could go back in time. Great to watch many thanks.

[@cory4062]

It's crazy how this could go at 155 mph on the bendiest mainline in the UK in the 20th century, whilst much of HS1 only gets up to 140mph. Such a huge shame that it had such a short life.

[@Martindyna]

Somewhere I read that HS1 is usually 125 mph but 140 mph if runnung late.

[@EstuaryMists]

Wow - that take's me back to being a child and seeing it powering through a newly-built Milton Keynes. Thank you so much for taking the time to digitise your cine film. Given the rarity of footage, this is a true historical artefact!

[@jackmiller-johnston8689]

Never seen onboard footage of the APT. No wonder that some passengers felt sick. Compared to today's Pentolinos, that tilting mtion is really sudden and abrupt. Thank you so much for sharing this, Stuart!

[@rogerclark5869]

What a video as said by someone else very rare. Never seen a video of APT of this length.

[@lawrencecody4085]

This is a brilliant 6 mins of a train that should have been BRs flagship..and been a success..I won`t go into the politics of it, but I had the chance to travel on this train, as staff, after it was withdrawn from its very short life in public service..to see the interior shots and tilt, brings back many happy memories of my 3/4 trips around 1984..there is an APT group on Facebook, I am sure they would love to see this footage, especially the person who is currently restoring the remains of the train at Crewe Heritage Centre..may I put it on the group?..I have (bought from the Heritage Ccentre)..and is a full roll of one of the destination blinds used...many thanks for posting, pure railway history..

[@Pinza007]

Hi Lawrence, yes no worries at all - but I think the guys at Crewe have already seen it as they've asked if they can show the footage on board :)

[@1190SW]

Thank you so much for sharing this interesting piece of history, sound and all. Love the cosy home made feel, equivalent of a time machine for a youngun like me.

[@foxontherun6082]

Still looks handsome today in 2021

[@rosumin38]

Thank you for capturing this footage. The APT is my favourite train but has always been something of a myth as I was not around to see it so this footage is gold.

[@ithewonder]

Brilliant piece of film Stuart. Very rare.

[@realjohnboxall]

Thanks for taking the effort to post this, it's the first time I've seen an APT outside of the BTF films.

[@JC-il6ps]

Wow this has got to be some of rarest UK Rail footage there is! Well done to you for having the presence of mind to record this back then, such an overlooked yet important part of our Rail heritage. The APT wouldn't look out of place on today's Railway in my opinion, very sleek and modern looking. It was definitely ahead of its time, which in a twisted way probably contributed to its downfall.

[@simplyinxs]

Great video Stuart & you're so right about the UK press. What should of been something for BR to be proud of it was ripped to shreds before it even had a chance to really take off

[@AndyStephney]

the best best footage of APT-P that i have seen - a huge thankyou for posting - wow

[@debbaz7476]

Thank you for sharing, fantastic video

[@soundseeker63]

What a historic gem! I would love to have gotten a chance to travel on the APT but it was withdrawn shortly after I was born :-( One thing the APT design got right that the Pendolino go wrong is the windows!....you get a good view out on the APT and the interior looks to be quite light and airy by comparison.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Great stuff. Thanks!

[@Adrian-ii1ro]

superb six minutes! phoo king ridiculous that the project got scrapped.

[@abode01]

Thanks for sharing this excellent footage of a fantastic train.

[@drewliszka4186]

Great film of a superb BR project nice one sir .

[@Martindyna]

Fantatastic footage Stuart of APT travelling at speed, it's so rare. It's the first time I've seen the sliding door arrangement with the automatic step. Why this train couldn't have been quietly kept in service and slowly further improved amazes me, extremely short sighted after all the money spent on developing her. I guess Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government just cut all money for the project instead of reducing it. No idea about the national pride people feel in designing our own trains, cars etc. we had back then. N.B. The unloved Bulleid Class 4DD Double Decker trains were kept in service from 1949 - 1971 but in fairness they were reliable as far as I know.

[@dixiedean1955]

Incredible. Saw them many times, but never got on one - looking back a missed opportunity. Amazing cant on some of those curves (interior shots especially). Would love to see the line speed limits for these trains. Thanks for posting

[@MrNellie65]

Thank you very much for posting this!

[@MePeterNicholls]

So much what could have been

[@bart10180]

awesome footage of the APT

[@thedepot7416]

amazing👍👍👍

[@darrenbutcher6684]

Great footage fantastic train the best of British

[@eagle50043]

great footage

[@bennickss]

I hope they eventually fix up the APT that’s sitting in crewe, maybe they could paint a pendolino up like one for the 50th anniversary of them

[@motormouser]

Very cool video

[@ithewonder]

Hi Stuart. I look after the APT at Crewe, is it possible please i can play this video inside the APT during the season when we are open ? All copyright will be credited to you. Please let me know. Thankyou...this has got to be the best APT video i have seen where it's taken from a passengers view and not a film crew. Brilliant !

[@Pinza007]

Hi, yes of course - no problem at all. This film's generated quite a bit of interest so I'm going to have a go at transferring it again and doing some extra work to try and make some of the scenes a little brighter and sharper.

[@ithewonder]

@@Pinza007 Many thanks Stuart. Yes you have a gem here there's not many films like this of the APT especially so detailed and seen from inside aswell.

[@N00N01]

To the left: *NEW JAZZY BRIGHTLY FLASHING SPACE TRAIN* To the right: Old 1950s Deadrusted shitbucket

[@transportenthusiast11]

I feel sorry for those first class passengers that only got 2 coaches available to them, and no buffet.

[@ryanohara476]

Congratulations this archive footage of yours Stuart was featured on UKTV origin programmes documentary for their Yesterday channel Hornby A Model World Episode 4 APT.

[@Pinza007]

Thanks Ryan - yes I was in discussion about this with the production company a few weeks back. I think they're using a little bit more of my old film in a couple of weeks time when there's an episode about InterCity125.

[@ryanohara476]

@@Pinza007 Thanks Stuart it certainly is the best I have seen of non commercial archive footage of the APT-P im sure your films of these if any more television documentaries programmes etc are produced I'm sure yours will be used again! Yes I assumed you would be as you are the copyright holder. Thnk you so much for the information! That's fantastic that there will be an episode on the InterCity 125 I'll look forward to that! I do love anything BREL British Rail products locos rolling stock etc so Hopefully I'll assume there will also be an episode on the InterCity 225 giving the newly tooled BR Class 91s and MK4 coaches and MK4 DVTs!

[@shahedmc9656]

This must be the first APT-P video with actual train sound. The power car seems to sound like a cross between the class 89 and 91 locos, what do you think?

[@iangodfrey4518]

I have to say, the APT got a lot of bad rap - a lot of it undeserved, and it is a pity that they didn't stick with it. All those sunk costs and they tossed it away. Makes you think of the black arrow rocket.

[@mrnobodymr8002]

İ love how apt becames popular after mustards video

[@tripwire3992]

I hate how british trains have to have a big yellow patch on the front it ruins liveries that would otherwise look so clean

[@APTPcom]

Hello Stuart - excellent footage - can I put a link to it on my website (www.APT-P.com) ? Please let me know either way !

[@Pinza007]

Hi - yes of course, no worries :)

[@michael_houghton]

Power cars in the middle of the train doesn’t seem very practical.

[@wakeywakefield4785]

Does this power car still run? Or is it just sat these days?

[@Martindyna]

I don't think the power cars were kept unfortunately.

[@mister_M.]

Why did they abandon them in the end?

[@nkt1]

They were very expensive to build and operate, particularly since the power cars' central location meant that everything had to be duplicated in both halves of the train. The WCML couldn't, at that time, support the speeds that the APT's design was optimised for. They didn't completely abandon it; the InterCity 225 is basically a simplified APT without the articulation or hydro-kinetic brake. The Mk4 carriages were profiled to allow tilt, if fitted with tilting bogies, but this never took place.

[@robtyman4281]

The modern Pendolinos owe their existence to the APT. The Avanti pendolinos that run on West Coast use similar technology - buy obviously it's more refined and smoother. kzbin.infouokpTl_5jS8?feature=share

[@waleedarif6740]

Why do all the roofs at 3:34 look arrogantly horrific? Is it because they are old fashioned for an APT?

[@Martindyna]

Surprising that they're not corrugated like a BR Mark 3. Probably not as crash worthy as a Pendolino.

[@Martindyna]

Sounds like it's trying to dematerialise 0:52