GWR Gas Turbines 18000 and 18100

Hello
Im well into the diesel prototypes and a couple of favs are the GWR Gas Turbines 18000 and 18100. I just want to ask whether there is anyone who has had an experience sesing these locos on the mainline and can tell me what they actually sounded like - as being a gas turbine, most probably like a jet aircraft. My father vaguely remembers hearing a loco going past when he was young which sounded like a jet but can't remember that well.
Dave.

 

I didn't see/hear either of the 2 loco's you list, however, I saw/heard GT3 twice, once at line speed through Wigan passing Springs Branch and the other leaving Preston. GT3 did sound to me like a jet but not the modern airliners, more similar to a miltary aircraft. Passing Springs Branch it could be heard for ages before it came into view, a drone then a roar, a bit like a Deltic at high speed but the similarity ends there. The arrival at Preston was a drone again, same whilst ticking over, then the pitch picked up as it accelerated away. The next time I saw the machine it was being towed to a scrap yard somewhere in Salford if the memory serves my correctly.

 

My dad signed the handover documents at TW Wards, and later removed the builders plates and gave them to someone visiting in the yard, and finally gave the order to start the scrapping.

 

A bit off topic, but whilst we are talking about it.
GT3 Gas Turbine Locomotive Vulcan Foundry & English Electric

I understand it used a BR Standard steam loco tender frame for it's own "tender".

 

There is a group of stunningly talented model engineers who make working models of jet or gas turbine powered vehicles, and one of their members has completed a working GT3 in 5" gauge, and another is coming along with a model of 18100. Perhaps you should seek them out (I recall there are a few videos of the GT3 on Youtube) to get a little idea of the noise involved?

 

I happened upon this forum whilst on an internet search, so thought to sign-up and post a reply. So here I am!

Thanks guard-jamie for the compliments, I am the builder of the miniature 18100 and after 14 years of work, still plodding on. Progress is never as fast as one would wish! When I started the project, York Railway Museum had just commenced their digitisation project so their plans library became inaccessable and so I had to rely on photographs and sketchy outline drawings in books. It got me started though and now have 80% of the loco drawn up. I use a 2D CAD package called 'FastCAD' and find it excellent! There have been many challenges during the research, design and construction of this loco, both mechanically and electrically and so far they've been overcome. I'm looking forward to finishing and running this beasty which will come in at around 120 - 150kgs, but don't hold your breath!!

The miniature GT3 was built by good buddy Tim Coles and it is a superb model. I have driven it on a few occaisions and it looks, smells and sounds as though I would imagine the prototype did. I have spoken with a number of people who saw and heard GT3 in action. Some describe it as 'noisy and loud', others as 'fairly quiet'.

The prototype loco, by the way, was not built on an old 4-6-0 underframe but a purpose-built underframe, though utilising many BR standard parts - bogie and driving/coupled wheels for example, and as buseng has pointed out, the tender underframe and wheels. The frames themselves were 2 1/2" thick to create enough mass to enable the 2,750hp turbine to power the loco without undue slipping. The design was intended to be visually similar to a steam loco so as not to frighten off potential customers, and it was thought that there would be the possibility of using withdrawn steam lococs as the basis of production machines.

And finally, a long-shot request; As a part of the project, I am constantly on the look-out for anything to do with this loco - photographs, literature, etc. etc. Can anyone help? As they say, if you don't ask, you don't get.

Best regards everyone, Jerry.

 

Firstly showing my ignorance, I had never seen or heard of GT3, you learn something new every day!

In terms of the original question, my father lived in Swindon at the time the turbines were running, about 2 miles north of the station and he always notes that you could clearly hear the bloody things passing through the station from inside their house that distance away! !

 

I remember reading an article about it in Rail Enthusiast back in the 80s, and developed a soft spot for it – I think it was a cover feature? Obviously ridiculously impractical for any number of reasons, but a very cool looking piece of kit. The carpeted cab always made me smile.

Simon

 

I fell in love with GT3 many years ago: I read about it in some little book or other, maybe a magazine - and it, and all the other gas-turbines, have always held a fascination for me.

If you've not seen the YouTube videos of the model of GT3, go find them - a brilliantly entertaining way to while away a few minutes and to Mr. Burchell - if you have any photos of your model of 18100, we'd love to see them!

 

One of the GW GT's was converted to a 25kv electric E2001.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/12009488996/

 

Yes, I've seen pictures of that: I understand one of the GTs is preserved albeit inoperable - which one is it?

ETA: 18000.



Bit of a misnomer calling it a 'Kerosene Castle' - I thought that particular nickname was reserved for GT3?

 

err, no....Castle is the clue there surely.