Rapido Trains UK 13501 APT-E 4-Car Set OO Gauge DCC Sound Fitted NRM Exclusive Mint & Unrun

The Ultimate Collector’s Example of the Revolutionary "Tilt Train."

This is a rare opportunity to own the iconic Rapido Trains UK 13501 Advanced Passenger Train Experimental (APT-E) in absolute Mint Condition. Originally released as a strictly limited edition for the National Railway Museum (NRM), this 4-car set is the definitive OO gauge recreation of the gas-turbine pioneer that changed British rail history.

A Brief History of the APT-E

Developed in the late 1960s and early 70s at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby, the APT-E was Britain’s boldest leap into high-speed rail. Powered by ten Leyland 2S/350 gas turbines, it was designed to navigate Britain's curvy Victorian-era tracks at speeds of up to 155mph using a revolutionary active tilting system.

In August 1975, the APT-E set a then-British railway speed record of 152.3 mph. Though it never entered passenger service, it paved the way for the later APT-P and the eventual success of the tilting Class 390 Pendolinos.

Current Status: After its test programme concluded in 1976, the real APT-E was preserved. It currently resides as a star exhibit at Locomotion in Shildon (part of the NRM), where it remains the only gas-turbine tilting train in existence.

Condition Report:

Status: "As New" / Unrun.

Handling: The outer box was opened for the first time only to inspect the contents.

Protection: All four vehicles remain untouched inside their original internal protective packaging. They have never been placed on a track or displayed.

Authenticity: Includes all original paperwork, accessory packs, and the commemorative NRM packaging in pristine condition.

Technical Features:

Factory-Fitted DCC Sound: Equipped with an ESU LokSound decoder and dual speakers, featuring authentic gas-turbine start-up sequences and horn sounds.

Full Motion: Features the famous prototypical tilting mechanism.

Lighting: Full directional lighting and internal illumination (including the detailed test instrumentation in the trailer cars).

Power: Dual 5-pole motors with flywheels for exceptionally smooth low-speed crawling and prototypical top speeds.

Premium Shipping Included:

Given the value and rarity of this set, we are providing Royal Mail Special Delivery (Guaranteed by 1pm). This ensures the item is fully tracked, signed for, and—most importantly—fully insured to its total value, of which I absorb most of the cost.

Don't miss the chance to add a "time capsule" example of Rapido’s finest work to your fleet.