The British Rail Class 40 is a type of British railway diesel electric locomotive. A total of 200 were built by English Electric between 1958 and 1962. They were numbered D200-D399.[1] They were, for a time, the pride of British Rail's early diesel fleet. However, despite their initial success, by the time the last examples were entering service they were already being replaced on some top-level duties by more powerful locomotives. As they were slowly relegated from express passenger uses, the type found work on secondary passenger and freight services where they worked for many years. The final locomotives ended regular service in 1985. The locomotives were commonly known as "Whistlers" because of the distinctive noise made by their turbochargers.[2]

English Electric Type 4
British Rail Class 40
A Class 40 at Ayr.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Builder
Build date1958–1962
Total produced200
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UIC(1′Co)(Co1′)
 • Commonwealth1Co-Co1
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameterDriving: 3 ft 9 in (1.143 m)
Idling: 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Minimum curve4.5 chains (91 m)
Wheelbase61 ft 3 in (18.67 m)
Length69 ft 6 in (21.18 m)
Width9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Height12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Loco weight133 long tons (135 t; 149 short tons)
Fuel capacity710 imp gal (3,200 L; 850 US gal)
Prime moverEnglish Electric 16SVT MkII
GeneratorDC generator
Traction motorsDC traction motors
TransmissionDiesel-electric transmission
MU working Blue Star
Train heatingSteam
Train brakesVacuum; later Dual (Air & Vacuum)
Performance figures
Maximum speed90 mph (140 km/h)
Power outputEngine: 2,000 bhp (1,490 kW)
At rail: 1,550 hp (1,160 kW)
Tractive effort:
 • StartingMaximum: 52,000 lbf (231 kN) at 21.1% adhesion
 • ContinuousContinuous 30,900 lbf (137 kN) at 18 mph (29 km/h)
Brakeforce51 long tons-force (508 kN)
Career
OperatorsBritish Rail
NumbersD200–D399, later 40 001–40 199
NicknamesWhistler
Axle load classRoute availability 6
Withdrawn1967 (1), 1976-1988
DispositionSeven preserved, remainder scrapped

Origins edit

The origins of the Class 40 fleet lay in the prototype diesel locomotives (LMS No. 10000 and 10001 ordered by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and British Railways and D16/2 ordered by British Railways between 1947 and 1954) and most notably with the Southern Region locomotive No. 10203, which was powered by English Electric's 16SVT MkII engine developing 2,000 bhp (1,460 kW).[3] The bogie design and power train of 10203 was used almost unchanged on the first ten production Class 40s.

Prototypes edit

 
One of the prototype locomotives, D205 on the GEML in 1963.

British Railways originally ordered ten Class 40s, then known as "English Electric Type 4s", as evaluation prototypes.[4] They were built at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire.[5] The first locomotive, D200, was delivered to Stratford on 14 March 1958. Following fitter and crew training, D200 made its passenger début on an express train from London Liverpool Street to Norwich on 18 April 1958.[3] Five of the prototypes, Nos. D200, D202-D205, were trialled on similar services on the former Great Eastern routes, whilst the remaining five, Nos. D201, D206-D209, worked on Great Northern services on the East Coast Main Line.

Sir Brian Robertson, then chairman of the British Transport Commission, was less than impressed, believing that the locomotives lacked the power to maintain heavy trains at high speed and were too expensive to run in multiple – opinions that were later proved to be correct. Airing his views at the regional boards prompted others to break cover and it was agreed that later orders would be uprated to 2,500 hp (a change that was never applied). Direct comparisons on the Great Eastern Main Line showed they offered little advantage over the "Britannia" class steam locomotives when driven well, and the Eastern Region declined to accept further machines as they deemed them unsuitable to replace the Pacific steam locomotives on the East Coast Main Line,[6] preferring to hold on until the "Deltic" Class 55 diesels were delivered.

The London Midland Region was only too pleased, as the Eastern Region's decision released additional locomotives to replace their ageing steam fleet. The West Coast Main Line had been starved of investment for many years and the poor track and generally lower speeds (when compared to the East Coast route) suited Class 40s, as the need to hold trains at speed for long periods simply did not exist and it better took advantage of their fairly rapid acceleration.

Production edit

 
D263 with Merseyside Express at Crewe, in BR green with no warning panels, April 1960.
 
English Electric Class "40" 2,000 hp 1Co-Co1 No.40 125 (ex-D325) in a badly faded BR green with all yellow front ends, gangway doors and split headcode panels at Shrewsbury (General), 05/75. Scanned slide.

Following the mixed success of the prototypes, another 190 locomotives were ordered by British Railways, and were numbered from D210 to D399. All were built at Vulcan Foundry, except one batch of twenty (Nos. D305–D324) which were built at Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns factory in Darlington. All the locomotives were painted in the British Railways diesel green livery, and the final locomotive, D399, was delivered in September 1962.[7]

Batches of the class were built with significant design differences, due to changes in railway working practices. The first 125 locomotives, Nos. D200–D324, were built with steam-age 'disc' headcode markers,[8] which were used to identify services. Later, it was decided that locomotives should display the four character train reporting number (or headcode) of the service they were hauling, and Nos. D325–D344 were built with 'split' headcode boxes,[8] which displayed two characters either side of the locomotive's central gangway doors. Another policy decision led to the discontinuing of the gangway doors (which enabled train crew to move between two or three locomotives in multiple). The remaining locomotives, Nos. D345–D399, carried a central four-character headcode box.[8] In 1965, seven of the first batch of locomotives, Nos. D260–D266, which were based in Scotland, were converted to the central headcode design.[8][9][10]

From 1973, locomotives were renumbered to suit the TOPS computer operating system, and became known as 'Class 40'. Locomotives D201 to D399 were renumbered in sequence into the range 40 001 to 40 199. The first built locomotive, D200, was renumbered 40 122, which was vacant due to the scrapping of D322 as the result of accident damage.

The named 40s edit

 
D213's Andania nameplate, preservation-era image

Locomotives in the range D210–D235 were to be named after ships operated by the companies Cunard Line, Elder Dempster Lines, and Canadian Pacific Steamships, as they hauled express trains to Liverpool, the home port of these companies. The only locomotive not to carry a name was D226 which was to carry the name Media but never did so. From approximately 1970, with Class 40s no longer working these trains, the nameplates were gradually removed,[7] so that by 1973 contributors to Railway World were reporting 7 different locomotives running without nameplates, all observed in North Wales.[11] However the Ian Allan Motive Power Combined Volume (a list of all operational locomotives published annually for enthusiasts) was still listing the names of all officially named Class 40 locomotives in 1980[12] despite none having carried their nameplates for many years.

Names of Class 40 locomotives D210–D235
Loco Name Shipping line Date named
D210 Empress of Britain Canadian Pacific Steamships May 1960
D211 Mauretania Cunard Line September 1960
D212 Aureol Elder Dempster Lines September 1960[nb 1]
D213 Andania Cunard Line June 1962
D214 Antonia Cunard Line May 1961
D215 Aquitania Cunard Line May 1962
D216 Campania Cunard Line May 1962
D217 Carinthia Cunard Line May 1962
D218 Carmania Cunard Line July 1961
D219 Caronia Cunard Line June 1962
D220 Franconia Cunard Line February 1963
D221 Ivernia Cunard Line March 1961
D222 Laconia Cunard Line October 1962
D223 Lancastria Cunard Line May 1961
D224 Lucania Cunard Line August 1962
D225 Lusitania Cunard Line March 1962
D226 Media Cunard Line Never
D227 Parthia Cunard Line June 1962
D228 Samaria Cunard Line September 1962
D229 Saxonia Cunard Line March 1963
D230 Scythia Cunard Line April 1961
D231 Sylvania Cunard Line May 1962
D232 Empress of Canada Canadian Pacific Steamships March 1961
D233 Empress of England Canadian Pacific Steamships September 1961
D234 Accra Elder Dempster Lines May 1962
D235 Apapa Elder Dempster Lines May 1962

A series of unofficial names were applied to the Class 40s by enthusiasts and enthusiastic depot staff. Some locos ran in service with these names applied for many months, others were painted out within days.

The locos to carry these unofficial names were:

  • 40 060 'Ancient Mariner' (while in departmental duties as 97 405)
  • 40 104 'Warrior'
  • 40 129 'Dracula'
  • 40 131 'Spartan'
  • 40 132 'Hurricane'
  • 40 134 'Andromeda'
  • 40 137 'Trojan'
  • 40 145 'Panther'
  • 40 150 'Crewe'
  • 40 155 'Vulcan Empress'
  • 40 164 'Lismore'

BR service edit

Distribution of locomotives,
March 1974[13]
 
GD
HA
HM
KM
LO
SP
YK
Code Name Quantity
GD Gateshead 8
HA Haymarket 19
HM Healey Mills 32
KM Kingmoor 26
LO Longsight Diesel 53
SP Springs Branch 40
YK York 21
Withdrawn (1967) 1
Total built: 200

The Class 40s operated in all areas of British Railways although sightings in the Western and Southern Regions have always been exceptionally rare and usually the result of special trains and/or unusual operational circumstances, but examples have been recorded such as D317 hauling a parcels train between Micheldever and Basingstoke on 3 July 1967,[14] and D335 operating the 07:35 Oxford to Paddington and 10:16 Paddington - Birmingham on 29 June 1971.[15] A review of the areas of operation published towards the end of the class's operational life showed no regular operational service on the Southern Region, and the only parts of the Western Region regularly visited were the Cambrian Line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth, and freights on the Gloucester to Severn Tunnel Junction route.[16]

After the early trials the majority of Class 40s were based at depots in northern England, notably Longsight, Carlisle Kingmoor, and Wigan Springs Branch on the Midland Region, and Thornaby and Gateshead on the Eastern Region.

The heyday of the class was in the early 1960s, when they hauled top-link expresses on the West Coast Main Line[17] and in East Anglia.

Like many diesel locomotive types of the time, they suffered criticism for reliability. The train heating boilers were a particular early problem on the EE type 4's, requiring strict maintenance and were fairly complicated to operate. Late Autumn 1958 on the Great Northern Regions saw that, on six out of ten days, the Flying Scotsman service failed to produce an EE Type 4, and ran late with a steam loco deputising. Breakdowns were common. The biggest problem the class encountered was their poor power-to-weight ratio. They lacked the versatility of the Class 37s, being either too heavy or too underpowered, for the work allocated. [18] [19]

However, the arrival of more powerful diesels such as Class 47, Class 50, Class 55, and the later InterCity 125, together with the electrification of the West Coast Main Line, meant that the fleet was gradually relegated to more mundane duties.

 
40013 (without nameplates) at Manchester Piccadilly[when?]

In later life the locomotives were mainly to be found hauling heavy freight and passenger trains in the north of England and Scotland. As more new rolling stock was introduced, their passenger work decreased, partly due to their lack of electric train heating (D255 was fitted with electric train heating for a trial period in the mid-1960s) for newer passenger coaches. They lost their last front-line passenger duties – in Scotland – in 1980, and the last regular use on passenger trains was on the North Wales Coast Line between Holyhead, Crewe and Manchester, along with regular forays across the Pennines on Liverpool to York and Newcastle services.

Throughout the early 1980s Class 40s were common performers on relief, day excursion (adex) and holidaymaker services along with deputisation duties for electric traction, especially on Sundays between Manchester and Birmingham. This resulted in visits to many distant parts of the network. It would be fair to say that few routes in the London Midland and Eastern regions did not see a Class 40 worked passenger service from time to time. Regular destinations included the seaside resorts of Scarborough, Skegness and Cleethorpes on the Eastern region, with Blackpool and Stranraer being regularly visited on the West Coast.

Much rarer workings include visits to London's Paddington and Euston stations, Norwich, Cardiff and even Kyle of Lochalsh. The fact that 40s could turn up almost anywhere resulted in them being followed by a hard core of bashers, enthusiasts dedicated to journeying over lines with rare traction for the route.

Withdrawal edit

 
40175 and 40010 at Swindon in 1982 - both had been withdrawn the previous year

Withdrawal of the Class 40s started in 1976, when three locomotives (40 005, 40 039 and 40 102) were taken out of service.[4] At over 130 tons the Class were by then considered underpowered. In addition, some were found to be suffering from fractures of the plate-frame bogies (due mainly to inappropriate use on wagon-load freight and the associated running into tightly curved yards[citation needed]), and spares were also needed to keep other locomotives running.

Also, many Class 40s were not fitted with air braking, leaving them unable to haul more modern freight and passenger vehicles. Despite this, only seventeen had been withdrawn by the start of the 1980s.[20] The locomotives became more popular with railway enthusiasts as their numbers started to dwindle.

Withdrawals then picked up apace, with the locomotives which lacked air brakes taking the brunt of the decline. In 1981, all 130 remaining locomotives were concentrated in the London Midland region of BR. Classified works overhauls on the Class 40s were also gradually phased out, only 29 members of the class had a full classified in 1980, and the final two emerged from Crewe Works in 1981. The last to receive a classified overhaul was 40 167 in February 1981.

After that, numbers dwindled slowly until, by the end of 1984, there were only sixteen still running. These included the pioneer locomotive, 40 122, which, having been withdrawn in 1981, was reinstated in July 1983 and painted in the original green livery to haul rail enthusiasts' specials. The last passenger run by a Class 40, apart from 40 122, occurred on 27 January 1985, when 40 012 hauled a train from Birmingham New Street to York.[4] All the remaining locomotives except 40 122 were withdrawn the next day.[4]

The majority of Class 40s were cut up at Crewe, Doncaster, and Swindon works. Crewe works dismantled the most 40s, the totals are listed below.

The other ten locos to be scrapped were cut at Derby, Glasgow, Inverkeithing, and Vic Berry at Leicester.

1981 and 1983 saw the highest number of Class 40 withdrawals, a total of 41 locomotives being withdrawn both years.

The very last Class 40s to be cut up were 40 091 and 40 195 by A. Hampton contractors at Crewe Works in December 1988.

Table of withdrawals by year
Year Quantity in
service at
start of year
Quantity
withdrawn
Locomotive number Notes
1967 200 1 D322 Accident damage
1976 199 11 40 005/21/39/41/43/45/53/89/102/189/190 40 039 never received B.R. blue livery.
1977 188 4 40 048/54/59/72
1978 184 1 40 051 Vacuum brake only
1979 183 0
1980 183 20 40 011/26/38/40/42/71/100/105/108-110/112/114/119/123/142/146/147/156/161
1981 163 41 40 010/14/16-19/23/31/32/37/62/65-67/70/75/78/83/95/98/107/111/113/116/117/120/122/125/134/137/144/149/151/165/171/173/175/176/178/179/193 40 122 would be reinstated 24 April 1983.

40 010 withdrawn only 14 months after receiving a full classified works overhaul.

1982 122 32 40 003/08/20/25/36/55/64/87/88/92/94/101/103/115/127/128/130/132/136/138-140/148/154/162-163/166/182/184/186/187/199 40 183 was due for an E exam, the loco was withdrawn but then reinstated and given E exam 8 September 1982. Final withdrawal came on 30 May 1983 with bogie fractures.[21]
1983 90 41 40 006/07/27/30/46/49/50/52/61[21]/68/69/73[21]/76/77/80/81/84[21]/90/93/96/97/106/121/131/141/145[21]/153/157-159/164/169/170/172/180[21]/183[21]/185/188/191/197/198 40 185 withdrawn 2yrs overdue a classified works repair.

40 076 provided bogies for the restoration of 40 122.

1984 49 33 40 001/02/04/09/15/22/24/28/29/33-35/47/56-58/63/74/82/85/91/99/124/126/129/133/160/167/168/174/177/195/196 40 009, the last vacuum braked Class 40,[21] was withdrawn on 7 November 1984 with bearings and traction motor problems. 40 126 was the locomotive stopped at Sears Crossing in the 1963 Great Train Robbery.
1985 16 16 40 012/13/44/60/79/86/104/118/135/143/150/152/155/181/192/194 All locos were switched off surplus to requirements or life expired by 22 January 1985.[citation needed]

Further use edit

 
40122 numbered D200 with a farewell railtour, 1985
 
Departmental Class 40 No.97 407 at Manchester Victoria station in 1986. Note that the locomotive carries both its former numbers of 40 012 and (D)212.

The Class 40 story was not quite over, however. Upon the joint initiative of enthusiasts Howard Johnston and Murray Brown who noticed 40 122 on the withdrawn sidings at Carlisle Kingmoor depot in summer 1981 ready to go to Swindon Works for breaking up. 40 122 was reinstated by BR and overhauled at Toton depot with parts from 40 076. Now in working condition and repainted in BR green, it was regularly used to haul normal passenger trains in the hope of attracting enthusiasts, as well as special trains. In addition, four locomotives were temporarily returned to service as Class 97 departmental locomotives, numbered 97 405–408. They were used to work engineering trains for a remodelling project at Crewe station.[4] These were withdrawn by March 1987.[4]

40 122 was eventually withdrawn in 1988 and presented to the National Railway Museum. Six other locomotives were preserved, and on 30 November 2002, over sixteen years after the last Class 40 had hauled a mainline passenger train, the Class 40 Preservation Society's 40 145 hauled an enthusiasts' railtour, "The Christmas Cracker IV", from Crewe to Holyhead via Birmingham.[4][22] Following a three-year hiatus, after suffering a traction motor flashover, 40 145 returned to mainline operation in 2014.[23]

Accidents and incidents edit

  • On 3 June 1962, D244, just 30 months old was at the head of the 22:15 Kings Cross - Edinburgh sleeper from the previous night. The train was diverted from Peterborough via Sleaford with a route conductor taking charge. Approaching Lincoln at 00:45 hours on the Sunday morning, too fast for a 15 mph permanent speed restriction, the locomotive lurched but stayed on the track, though its train of sleeping cars were all derailed. The rear portion of the train narrowly missed demolishing Pelham Street Signal Box. Three people were killed in the incident, including the Sleeping Car Attendant, whilst 30 others were injured.[24]
  • On 26 December 1962, D215 Aquitania was hauling the up Mid-Day Scot when it collided with the rear of a Liverpool-Birmingham train, at Coppenhall Junction, Crewe.[25] 18 were killed and 34 injured, including the guard. Contrary to popular belief, D326 was not hauling the train.[26]
  • On 13 May 1966, a freight train became divided between Norton Junction and Weaver Junction, Cheshire. Locomotive D322, hauling an express passenger train, was in collision with the rear part of the freight train, which had run away. Both the driver and secondman were killed.[27] The locomotive was withdrawn in September 1967.[28]
  • On 7 May 1965, a freight train was derailed at Preston-le-Skerne, County Durham. Locomotive No. D350 was hauling a newspaper train that ran into the derailed wagons and was itself derailed. Recovery of the locomotive was not until 16 May.[29]
  • On 14 August 1966, locomotive No. D311 was hauling a passenger train which was derailed when it ran into a landslip at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.[30]
  • On 31 July 1967, locomotive No. D283 was hauling a loaded Cliffe to Uddingston cement train at Thirsk in North Yorkshire. The train derailed with one wagon coming to rest around 2 feet foul of the adjacent down fast line. Moments later, experimental locomotive DP2, hauling a Scottish-bound express, collided with the wagon at around 50MPH. Seven people were killed and 45 injured. DP2 and the leading three coaches were destroyed.[31]
  • On 6 August 1975, locomotive No. 40 189 was hauling a freight train which was unable to stop due to a lack of brake power. It collided with another freight train at Weaver Junction, Cheshire.[30]
  • On 26 October 1975, an express passenger train failed at Lunan, Angus. Locomotive No. 40 111 was sent to its assistance but ran into the rear of the failed train at 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). One person was killed and eleven were injured.[32]
  • On 24 December 1977, 40 164 was in collision with coaches (due to form the 06:00 service to Mallaig) in platform 5 of Glasgow Queen Street Station. The driver had lost control of the locomotive on the 1 in 45 descending gradient in Queen Street Tunnel. The cause of the accident was identified at the subsequent inquiry to packing pieces not having been inserted into the brake system after the locomotive's wheels had been profiled on the wheel lathe, reducing their diameter.[33]
  • In September 1978, locomotive No. 40 044 was hauling a freight train that ran away and was derailed by trap points at Chinley, Derbyshire.[29]

D326: The Great Train Robbery, 1963 edit

D326 (later 40 126) was the most famous Class 40, but for unfortunate reasons. The engine had an early chequered history. It was classed as a jinxed loco by some railwaymen, with some drivers being reluctant to drive it. In 1963 it was involved in the infamous "Great Train Robbery", and a year later in August 1964 a secondman was electrocuted[34] when washing the windows. Finally, in August 1965, it suffered total brake failure with a maintenance train at Birmingham New Street and hit the rear of a freight train, injuring the guard.[34] It then settled down and had a normal life until it was scrapped in 1984.

40126 was withdrawn from service on 15 February 1984. Upon withdrawal the locomotive was offered to the National Railway Museum at York as an exhibit loco regarding its past history. However, the NRM declined and it was scrapped at Doncaster Works with indecent haste, no doubt to stop any pillaging souvenir hunters. Other famous "40s" include 40 106, which was the last one to remain in BR green livery, and 40 009, the last 40 to still have vacuum brakes only.[35]

In popular culture edit

40118 appeared in the opening scenes of the film Robbery, a fictionalised version of the Great Train Robbery.[36]

Preservation edit

Seven locomotives and one cab end (40 088) have been preserved on heritage railways, including the first built, D200, and the departmental locomotives: 97406, 97407 and 97408. Not all locomotives may be carrying their names currently and these are noted in the chart below.[clarification needed]

Of the seven class 40s to be preserved, all except for 40118 have run in preservation and three have run on the main line in preservation; these are D200 (40122), D213 (40013) and D345 (40145). As of 2018, D213 and D345 are operational on the main line.[citation needed]

One locomotive, 40013 Andania, was rescued from Vic Berry's scrapyard in 1987.[37] D212 Aureol was briefly sent to Vic Berry's scrapyard for asbestos removal, before being moved to its new home at the Midland Railway Centre.[38]

Note: Marked names indicate that the loco is not presently wearing them.

Number

(Current no. in bold)

Name Builder Built Withdrawn Service Life Current Livery Current Status Current location Image Notes
D200 40 122 Vulcan Foundry March 1958 April 1988 30 Years, 1 Month BR Green Static Exhibit National Railway Museum   Headcode discs. Part of the National Collection.
D212 40 012 97 407 Aureol[nb 1] May 1959 April 1986 26 Years, 11 Months BR Blue Operational Midland Railway - Butterley   Headcode discs.
D213 40 013 Andania June 1959 October 1984 25 Years, 4 Months BR Green Operational & Mainline Registered Crewe Diesel TMD   Headcode discs. Part of Locomotive Services Limited's diesel fleet.[39]
D288 40 088 August 1960 February 1982 21 Years, 6 Months BR Blue Cab Used As Static Exhibit Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway   Headcode discs. One cab preserved, mounted on a road trailer. Owned by the Cab Yard, formally owned by the Class 40 Preservation Society.
D306 40 106 Atlantic Conveyor Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns October 1960 April 1983 22 Years, 6 Months BR Green Operational East Lancashire Railway   Headcode discs. Owned by the Class 40 Preservation Society. Named in preservation.
D318 40 118 97 408 February 1961 February 1986 25 Years BR Blue Under overhaul Battlefield Line Railway   Headcode discs.
D335 40 135 97 406 Vulcan Foundry March 1961 December 1986 25 Years, 9 Months BR Blue Under overhaul East Lancashire Railway   Split headcode boxes. Owned by the Class 40 Preservation Society.
D345 40 145 *East Lancashire Railway May 1961 June 1983 22 Years, 1 Month BR Green Operational & Mainline Registered East Lancashire Railway[40]   Headcode blinds. Owned by the Class 40 Preservation Society. On hire to West Coast Railways.

Named during the East Lancashire Railway 20th Anniversary however currently not carrying nameplate.

Model railways edit

There have been quite a few models of Class 40s over the years. In OO gauge, French manufacturer Jouef entered the UK OO gauge market with a Class 40 model in about 1977.[41] This was available in blue or green, but only the disc headcode version was available; it was not a very accurate model, being overly wide. Next, Lima produced a much better Class 40 from 1988 and was available with all four types of nose styles.[41][nb 2] Bachmann produced a super-detailed Class 40 in the early 2000s, but this was criticised somewhat for poor shape in the cab area. This was addressed by Bachmann later in production, when lighting was included and the drive was a true 1CO-CO1 arrangement. In 2023 Bachmann released a new tooled Class 40 including D213 ‘Andaina’ which is presented in her current Main Line operating condition in BR Green livery with small yellow panels.[42]

In 2010 Hornby Railways launched its first version of the BR Class 40 which was a remotored Lima model that Hornby had acquired, which is basic representation of the prototype as part of their Railroad range in BR Blue in OO gauge.[43]

N gauge models of the Class 40 have been produced by Graham Farish, representing the main three headcode versions. A BR Green version of D211 Mauretania received a positive review from The Railway Magazine Guide to Modelling in 2017.[44]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Originally named at Liverpool Riverside on 20 September 1960.[4]
  2. ^ These were the disc headcode, the split box headcode, as well as the round-cornered and square-cornered central box headcode versions.

References edit

  1. ^ "English Electric / RSH Ltd 40 1Co-Co1". Brdatabase.info. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Class 40 History". Class 40 Preservation Society. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b Class 40 History Part 1 Archived 13 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine Class 40 Preservation Society - Retrieved on 2007-07-17
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Flowers, Andy (October 2008). "Whistler Golden Jubilee". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 154, no. 1, 290. pp. 14–21. ISSN 0033-8923.
  5. ^ Class 40 Page[usurped] The Railway Centre - Retrieved on 2007-07-18
  6. ^ BRITISH RAIL STANDARD DIESELS OF THE 1960s - p94 - Ian Allan Publishing
  7. ^ a b Class 40 History Part 2 Archived 4 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine Class 40 Preservation Society - Retrieved on 2007-07-23
  8. ^ a b c d "Whistle while you work". Rail. No. 84. EMAP National Publications. September 1988. pp. 70–71. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
  9. ^ Haresnape, Brian (June 1984) [1982]. British Rail Fleet Survey 3: Production Diesel-Electrics Types 4 and 5 (2nd ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 22–26, 27. ISBN 0-7110-1450-7. CX/0684.
  10. ^ Strickland, D.C. (March 1983). D+EG Locomotive Directory. Camberley: Diesel & Electric Group. p. 96. ISBN 0-906375-10-X.
  11. ^ "Motive power miscellany". Railway World. Vol. 34, no. 402. Shepperton: Ian Allan. November 1973. pp. 490–491.
  12. ^ British Rail Motive Power Combined Volume. Ian Allan. 1980. p. 32. ISBN 0-7110-1020-X.
  13. ^ British Railways Locoshed Book 1974 edition. Shepperton: Ian Allan. 1974. pp. 28–30. ISBN 0-7110-0558-3.
  14. ^ Vaughan, John (1980). Diesels on the Southern. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 67. ISBN 0-7110-0989-9.
  15. ^ "Motive power miscellany". Railway World. Vol. 32, no. 376. Shepperton: Ian Allan. September 1971. p. 416.
  16. ^ Dyer, Malcolm (1982). Oakley, Michael (ed.). BR Class 40 Diesels. Truro: Bradford Barton. p. 24. ISBN 0-85153-430-9.
  17. ^ "West Coast 'Whistlers'". Rail Express. No. 224. January 2015. pp. 20–23. ISSN 1362-234X.
  18. ^ https://www.cfps.co.uk/history
  19. ^ http://aureol.weebly.com/the-class-40-story-part-one.html
  20. ^ Withdrawal list Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Class 40 page - Retrieved on 2007-07-24
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "Readers' round-up". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. August 1983. p. 45. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  22. ^ 40145 maiden journey 2002 Six Bells Junction - Retrieved on 2007-07-24
  23. ^ "Compass takes 'Whistler' to Saltburn". Rail Express. No. 224. January 2015. pp. 32–33. ISSN 1362-234X.
  24. ^ "Report on the Derailment that occurred on 3rd June 1962 at Lincoln in the Eastern Region of British Railways" (PDF). London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Retrieved 1 July 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. ^ "Debris still lines the track and one of the shattered coaches is being drawn away from the scene of the Boxing Day rail crash near Crewe, Cheshire. Eighteen people are reported to have been killed and more than 30 injured when a Midday Scot from Glasgow to Euston crashed into the rear of a Liverpool-Birmingham train. Rescue workers were hampered by ice and snow while on the way to the crash scene Stock Photo - Alamy".
  26. ^ "Our role in piecing together Britain's railway history - the Railway Magazine Magazine". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
  27. ^ Report on the Collision that occurred on 13 May 1966 at Acton Grange Junction in the London Midland Region British Railways Accident report at The Railways Archive
  28. ^ Incidents in 1967 Archived 16 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine Railblue.com - Retrieved on 2007-07-23
  29. ^ a b Earnshaw, Alan (1990). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 6. Penryn: Atlantic Books. pp. 44–45. ISBN 0-906899-37-0.
  30. ^ a b Hoole, Ken (1983). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 4. Truro: Atlantic Books. pp. 9–10, 26–27. ISBN 0-906899-07-9.
  31. ^ *Ministry of Transport; McMullen, Col. D. (1968). Railway accident: Report on the Derailment and subsequent Collision that occurred on 31st July, 1967, at Thirsk in the Eastern Region British Railways (PDF). London: H.M.S.O. p. 15. ISBN 0-11-550036-7.
  32. ^ Trevena, Arthur (1981). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 2. Redruth: Atlantic Books. p. 43. ISBN 0-906899-03-6.
  33. ^ Department of Transport (December 1980). Report on the Collision that occurred on 24th December 1977 at Queen Street Station in the Scottish Region British Railways (PDF). HM Stationery Office. ISBN 0115505164.
  34. ^ a b Wrate, C.H. (November 1983). "40126 - Loco with a dark history". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. pp. 28–29. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  35. ^ "Welcome to the Class 40 Preservation". Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  36. ^ Johnston, Howard (September 1988). "Preservation for Class 40 Nos. 40118 and 40013". RAIL. No. 84. EMAP National Publications. p. 16. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
  37. ^ Devereux, Nigel (12 May 2017). "A FIERY END". Rail Express. Rail Express. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  38. ^ "D212 "Aureol"". Class Forty Appeal. Weebly. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  39. ^ "Class 40 Andania joins the LSL TOC diesel fleet - Icons Of Steam". 14 January 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  40. ^ "40145". 9 March 2018.
  41. ^ a b "Whistle While You Work". Rail. No. 84. EMAP National Publications. September 1988. pp. 66, 70–71. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
  42. ^ "Bachmann BR Class 40". Bachmann Railways Product Listing. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  43. ^ "Hornby BR Class 40". Hornby Railways Collector Guide. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  44. ^ Burkin, Nigel (December 2017). "Graham Farish 'Whistler'". The Railway Magazine Guide to Modelling. No. 12. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

Further reading edit


External links edit

Locomotive details edit

  • Detailed photoguides (annotated):
  1. "Class 40 Drivers Desk – an explanation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2004., including driver's desk, secondman's position, AWS equipment
  2. "Class 40 Nose Area – an explanation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2011., including sanding gear, hand brake, vacuum brake controls
  3. "Components of a Class 40 Bogie – an explanation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2011., including bogie structure; brake, heating and electrical connections
  4. "Class 40 cam shaft equipment" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2011., camshaft and associated components
  5. "Class 40 Control Cubicle – Principle Components" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2011.

Preservation groups edit