British Rail Class 40
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Image:D202 - liverpool street - 1963.jpg Image:40142 - edinburgh - sep 1977.jpg Image:40135 at Crewe Works.jpg Image:40145 at Carlisle.JPG
Introduction
The British Rail Class 40 diesel locomotive (originally known as 'English Electric Type 4'), was built by English Electric from 1958-62. Two hundred members of the class were built, and they were for a time the pride of the British Rail early diesel fleet. Locomotives were originally numbered in the range D200-D399, and were painted in the standard BR Green livery. Despite their initial success, however, by the time the last examples were entering service they were already being replaced on some top-link duties by more powerful locomotives.
The class was built in three batches. Numbers D200-D324 were built with steam-age 'disc' headcode markers, which BR used to identify services. Numbers D324-D344 were built with split headcode boxes, which replaced the markers, and consisted of two two-character roller blinds. Finally D345-D399 were built with centre headcode boxes, as the nose doors (which concealed a seldom-used retractable gangway connection) were discontinued.
Several locomotives in the range D210-D235 (later 40010-035) were named after cruise ships operated by the company Cunard. Examples included Aquitania, Lancastria, and Lusitania.
BR Service and Withdrawal
The 'heyday' of the class was in the early 1960's, when they hauled top-link expresses on the West Coast Main Line and in East Anglia.
From 1973, locomotives were renumbered to suit the TOPS computer operating system, and became known as 'Class 40'. Generally locomotives were renumbered in sequence into the range 40001-199. However, the first built, number D200, was renumbered 40122, which was vacant as number D322 had been written-off in an accident.
The class provided sterling service for over twenty years, and in later life were mainly to be found hauling heavy freight trains in the north of England and Scotland. Their last regular use on passenger trains was on the North Wales Coast Line between Holyhead, Crewe and Manchester.
Locomotives started to be taken out of use in the early 1980s, as they were by then considered under-powered. The last locomotives were taken out of regular service by 1985. However, four locomotives were subsequently returned to service as Class 97 departmental locomotives, numbered 97405-408. They were used to work engineering trains for a remodelling project at Crewe. These were withdrawn in 1986/87, but three were subsequently preserved.
The first-built locomotive, D200, was returned to use by British Rail in 1983, painted in its original green livery. It was used to haul excursion and charter trains across the network. It was eventually withdrawn in 1988, and presented to the National Railway Museum.
Other locomotives of note were number D326, which was the engine used to haul the train involved in the Great Train Robbery in 1966, and number 40106, which retained its original green livery throughout its career, and was later named Atlantic Conveyor, after the ship of the same name sunk in the Falklands War.
Preservation
Seven locomotives have been preserved on heritage railways, including the first built, number D200.
| Numbers (current in bold) | Name | Livery | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D200 | 40122 | - | - | BR Green | National Railway Museum, York | First-built locomotive |
| D212 | 40012 | 97407 | Aureol | BR Green | Midland Railway Centre | Currently in mint green undercoat |
| D213 | 40013 | - | Andania | BR Blue | Barrow Hill Engine Shed | - |
| D306 | 40106 | - | Atlantic Conveyor | BR Green | Nene Valley Railway | - |
| D318 | 40118 | 97408 | - | BR Blue | Birmingham Railway Museum | - |
| D335 | 40135 | 97406 | - | BR Green | East Lancashire Railway | - |
| D345 | 40145 | - | - | BR Blue | East Lancashire Railway | Mainline registered |
| BR Class 40 | ||
|---|---|---|
| TOPS numbers | 40001–40199 | |
| Early numbers | D200–D399 | |
| Builder | English Electric | |
| Introduced | 1958–1962 | |
| Wheel Arrangement | 1Co-Co1 | |
| Weight | 132 long tons | 134 tonnes |
| Height | ft in | m |
| Width | 9 ft 1 in | 2.78 m |
| Length | 69 ft 6 in | 21.18 m |
| Wheel Dia. | 36 in/45 in | 914/1143 mm |
| Wheel Base | ft | m |
| Minimum radius | chains | m |
| Maximum speed | 90 mph | 145 km/h |
| Engine | English Electric 16SVT Mk2 | |
| Engine output | 2,000 hp | 1490 kW |
| Max. Tractive Effort | 52,000 lbf | 230 kN |
| Power at Rail | 1,550 hp | 1,160 kW |
| Brake type | Air & vacuum | |
| Brake force | 51 tons force | 510 kN |
| Route availability | 6 | |
| Fuel Tank | 715 imperial gallons | 3,250 litres |
| Heating type | Steam | |
| Multiple working | Blue Star | |