ABOUT BR 18100
The story of ‘18100’ is complicated but nonetheless very interesting. Originally ordered by the Great Western Railway in the 1940s, it was to be a prototype mainline gas turbine-electric locomotive offering an alternative to early diesel traction.
Metropolitan-Vickers were tasked with producing 18100 in 1946. This homegrown loco would be powered by paraffin or pool gas oil rather than the heavy fuel oil that had caused problems for the Swiss-built 18000. Development continued into the 1940s but after numerous disagreements and setbacks, the completed 18100 was finally delivered to Swindon Works in 1951, at this point under the ownership of British Railways.
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