The British Rail Research Division came into being in 1964 directly under the control of the British Railways Board, moving into purpose-built premises at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby. The intention was to improve railway reliability and efficiency, while reducing costs and improving revenue. In so doing it became recognised as a centre of excellence and, in time, was providing consultancy to other railways around the world. While it became famous for the Advanced Passenger Train, its activities extended into every area of railway operation. 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The British Railways Board (BRB) was the governing body of British Railways (later British Rail) from 1962 until privatisation in the 1990s. ... Derby (pronounced dar-bee ) is a city in the East Midlands of England. ... The Advanced Passenger Train, (APT) was an unsuccessful tilting train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s. ...

The remit was not simply the improvement of existing equipment, or the solution of existing problems, but fundamental research into railway operation. It, perhaps inevitably, encountered a hostile reception from the more reactionary elements in the railway hierarchy, particularly as many of its recruits were university graduates from the aircraft industry. Nevertheless its empirical research into vehicle dynamics has produced today's high speed trains, both freight and passenger, including the High Speed Train, Class 91 and the Pendolino. This Virgin Trains High Speed Train is shown here running along the Dawlish sea-front. ... Class 91/1, no. ... Pendolino is a tilting train used in Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. ...