British Rail GT3
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GT3, meaning Gas Turbine number 3 (following 18000 and 18100 as gas turbines 1 and 2), was a prototype mainline Gas turbine locomotive built in 1961 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows to demonstrate its wares to British Railways. Externally it resembled a steam locomotive, especially with its tender, which carried its diesel fuel.
It was of 4-6-0 wheel arrangement based on a BR Standard Class 5 steam locomotive chassis and was fitted with a EM27L gas turbine of 2700hp. It had a maximum speed of 90mph, weighed 123.5tons, and was painted red.
BR tested it at its Rugby test centre and then on the former Great Central Main Line around Leicester and the West Coast Main Line around the Shap incline. However, BR decided to stay with diesel and electric traction, and GT3 was returned to English Electric at the end of 1962, where it was gradually dismantled and was scrapped at TW Ward Salford in February 1966.
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