18000 was ordered by GWR in 1946, but by the time it was delivered GWR had become Western Region of British Rail. It was the prototype gas turbine-electric locomotive. GWR had opted for these rather than a diesel locomotive as at the time diesel traction was unable to match the power provided by the mainline ‘King’ class steam locomotives. 18000 and 18100 were introduced onto the mainline services from Paddington, but proved difficult to maintain in service, unable to operate at full power for long periods of time and had a higher fuel consumption than had been anticipated. 18100 was withdrawn in 1958 and 18000 in 1960. Despite the failure of the project, 18000 was marked for preservation being first housed at Crewe and then at Barrow before moving to the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway in 2010 and then to the GWS at Didcot in 2011.
Photo by Hugh Llewelyn (http://www.flickr.com/photos/camperdown/)
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