British Rail 18000

British Rail 18000 was a prototype mainline gas turbine-electric locomotive built for British Railways in 1949. It was built by Brown, Boveri & Cie. It was ordered by the Great Western Railway in 1940, but construction was delayed by World War II. It spent its working life on the Western Region of British Railways, operating express passenger services from London Paddington station.

British Rail 18000
British Rail 18000 at Didcot Railway Centre on 6 August 2011
Type and origin Power type Gas Turbine-electric Builder Brown, Boveri & Cie and Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Order number GWR Lot 372 Serial number BBC: 4559 SLM: 3977 Build date 1949
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC (A1A)(A1A) Wheel diameter Driving: 4 ft 0+1⁄4 in (1,226 mm) Idling: 3 ft 2 in (965 mm) Loco weight 115.18 long tons (117.03 t) Prime mover Gas Turbine Traction motors Four Transmission DC generator DC traction motors Train heating Steam generator
Performance figures Power output 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) Tractive effort 31,500 lbf (140,000 N)
Career Power class BR: 4 Nicknames Kerosene Castle

Preservation

The locomotive is preserved at Didcot Railway Centre.