Surviving Class 40s to star at 60th anniversary event
REUNITING as many of the preserved Class 40s as possible is the aim of the Class 40 Preservation Society (CFPS), at a special event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the introduction into service of the first member of the formerly 200-strong fleet.
The English Electric Type 4 locomotives, which became Class 40 under the TOPS renumbering scheme, was one of the most successful and popular designs to come from the 1955 British Railways Modernisation Plan.
The first locomotive (D200) was accepted into BR stock in March 1958, before making its first demonstration run between London Liverpool Street and Norwich on April 18 1958.
The three-day 60th anniversary event, at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) on April 13-15 next year, will feature the Class 40 Appeal’s (CFA’s) 40012 Aureol and Shaun Wright’s D213 Andania joining the CFPS’ 40106 Atlantic
Conveyor, 40135 and 40145 to haul trains on the ELR between Heywood and Rawtenstall.
Agreement has also been reached in principle with the National Railway Museum (NRM) for preserved pioneer D200 to attend the event, although this will be as a static exhibit because the locomotive is currently unserviceable awaiting generator repairs. The pioneer locomotive was repainted into BR green livery by Heritage Painting at the NRM last year, returning it to an immaculate as-built appearance.
The event is likely to be the final working appearance of 40145, which will be withdrawn following the celebrations to allow the CFPS to begin preparations for fitting new tyres to the bogies of its main line-registered locomotive. It is expected that the ‘40’ will be out of service for around 18 months while the bogie work is carried out.
The surviving cab from 40088, which now forms part of the CFPS mobile sales stand and is mounted on a road trailer, is also expected to attend from its usual base at Crewe Heritage Centre.
This will be the largest gathering of Class 40 locomotives in preservation history, and CFPS Chairman John Stephens stated his appreciation to the CFA and Shaun Wright for agreeing to their locomotives taking part, as well as the NRM for the loan of D200.
The only preserved Class 40 expected to miss the celebrations will be 40118, which is undergoing a comprehensive rebuild and restoration at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham. The restoration of 40118, which has not worked a train since being withdrawn by BR, is progressing well but is not yet completed.
More information on the CFPS can be found at