Wheelset work on ‘40’ ready for main line tour

THE Class 40 Preservation Society (CFPS) flagship locomotive 40145 is to undergo wheelset replacement work at Barrow Hill.

The work will allow it to return to main line action for two passengercarrying stock moves, in conjunction with a steam-hauled railtour due to operate from the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) in mid-September.

40145, currently the only preserved member of the class to be registered for main line running, was withdrawn from main line running late last year due to thin tyres on two of the locomotive’s wheelsets, which need replacing.

It was originally thought that the work would be carried out at the ELR, alongside an engine overhaul and other maintenance work. However, CFPS Chairman John Stephens has now announced that agreement has been reached for Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) to carry out the necessary wheelset replacement work at Barrow Hill.

40145 is expected to move to the Derbyshire facility at the end of June, with a timescale of four to six weeks for the work to be completed. Stephens expressed his gratitude to both Harry Needle and Shaun Wright from HNRC for their assistance.

A main line railtour is being organised by the ELR on September 15, using Gresley ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 60103 Flying Scotsman to help the railway in its ongoing fundraising appeal to purchase Southern Region ‘West Country’ steam locomotive 34092 City of Wells.

The tour will be operated by West Coast Railways, and much of the organisation is being carried out by Stephens, who is also spearheading the ELR fundraising appeal to buy City of Wells. So far, more than £200,000 has been raised for the appeal, with a target of £340,920 to be reached by the end of the year.

As with previous successful main line CFPS tours, Stephens is also arranging passenger carrying stock moves the previous day from Carnforth to Bury (via a circuitous route), with 40145 employed to haul the stock. It is also planned that the Class 40 will then return the stock to Carnforth on Sunday September 16, again using creative routeing, with the exact routes to be confirmed shortly.

For any passengers travelling on the Class 40 tours, but who may not wish to travel on the Saturday steam tour, it is hoped that the ELR will be able to operate either 40106 Atlantic Conveyor or 40145 on the diesel diagram on September 15, providing a possibility of three consecutive days of Class 40 action.

Stephens told RAIL that the CFPS will still be carrying out maintenance on 40145 in between its operating commitments, but stated his delight at the prospect of the flagship locomotive returning to the main line much sooner than had originally been thought possible.

More details of the tours will appear on the CFPS website over the coming weeks. See www.cfps.co.uk.