GWR/Metropolitan Vickers Prototype Gas Turbine Locomotive Profile

Metropolitan Vickers Prototype Gas Turbine Locomotive

Introduced in 1952, the locomotive was a gas turbine powered locomotive with an electric transmission ordered by the GWR to find a alternative to steam and diesel traction, and as a comparison with the Swiss built gas turbine loco 18000 bought by the GWR in 1950. After running as a gas turbine under British Railways ownership, it was withdrawn in January 1958 and taken to the GEC Stockton Works where it was rebuilt as BRs first 25kV electric locomotive, entering traffic in October 1958. It was initially renumbered to E1000, but in October 1959 it was renumbered once again, this time to E2001. The loco was finally withdrawn in April 1968, being cut up for scrap by J Cashmore, Great Bridge in November 1972

BUILT: 1952 by Metropolitan Vickers.

ENGINE: Gas Turbine 3,000hp.

NUMBER SERIES: 18100 (Later E1000, then E2001).

PREVIOUS NUMBERS: Nil.

TRANSMISSION: .

MAX SPEED: 90mph.

TRACTIVE EFFORT: 60,000lb.

WEIGHT: 129.5 tons.

WHEEL ARRANGEMENT: Co-Co.

QTY BUILT : 1
FLEET STRENGTH: NIL (Loco Withdrawn 1968)

Data taken from the PC TOPS Locomotive Database System by Milburn Associates
Unless stated otherwise Photographs in this section are © copyright of Milburn Associates. Permission to use these images in railway society newsletters, etc., can be obtained by e-mailing the Thin Controller.

[18100] [JPEG Image of 18100 size 27K]

M/Vickers Gas Turbine Locomotive Number 18100, in British Railways Black Livery at Swindon Works.

[E1000] [JPEG Image of E1000 size 28K]

M/Vickers-GEC Locomotive Number E1000, in British Railways Black Livery after being rebuilt as a 25kV Electric Locomotive.

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Last revised: 10 November 1998