4-6-0 GT3 gas turbine prototype Profile and Models

English Electric GT3. Works photograph. ©Public Domain
GT3 (gas turbine number 3) was a prototype mainline gas turbine locomotive built in 1961 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows to investigate the use of its gas turbines in rail traction applications. It followed 18000 and 18100 as gas turbines 1 and 2. It was designed by English Electric engineer J. O. P. Hughes in a project that started in the early 1950s. Externally it resembled a steam tender locomotive, but the tender carried kerosene fuel. The designer said the traditional chassis and mechanical transmission avoided complications with (at the time of its conception) relatively untried technologies for bogies and electrical transmission. Despite returning favourable performances on longer runs requiring sustained power outputs, the prototype nature of the locomotive would have required further investigation and development into a configuration which would have matched the convenience of the new double ended diesel electric locomotives then being built. Neither English Electric or British Railways were prepared to fund this work. It was finally scrapped at Thos. W. Ward, Salford in February 1966 having been towed there, ironically, by a BR standard steam locomotive. |
|
Type of Locomotive |
Gas Turbine Mechanical Loco |
Builder |
English Electric at Vulcan Foundry |
Build Dates |
1958 to 1961 |
Total Built |
1 |
Tractive Effort |
38,000 lbf |
Power Output |
2,750 hp |
Top Speed |
90 mph |
Wheel Configuration |
4-6-0 |
Operated By |
British Rail |
Main Duties |
Experimental Loco |
In Service Until |
1966 |
Surviving Examples |
0 |