CFPS receives crankshaft boost for 40135 – courtesy of GBRF…

THE CLASS 40 Preservation Society has received a huge boost towards its efforts to return 40135 to service following the donation of a Class 56 power unit containing a crankshaft compatible with that fitted to the Class 40’s English Electric 16SVT power unit.

The Class 56 power unit – which has been recovered from 56312 as part its preparation for conversion to a new Class 69 – has been donated to the CFPS by GB Railfreight. It was delivered to the CFPS’S base at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway on November 3.

The donated power unit will be stripped down during the spring to allow the crankshaft to be removed, which will then be prepared for fitting into 40135’s power unit in place of its damaged crankshaft.

It is now approaching five years since 40135 was last at the head of a train on the ELR. The locomotive – which had recently been repainted into BR blue – was subject to a power unit inspection as part of scheduled maintenance when it was discovered that the crankshaft had a crack on it, with the Class 40 immediately taken out of service. Although no damage was suffered to the power unit, had the crankshaft failed while the locomotive was in use, it could have potentially caused serious damage to both the engine and locomotive. The CFPS has since then been investigating various options and costings to get the crankshaft repaired or replaced.

CFPS chairman Clive Elverstone told Railways Illustrated: “We had a spare Class 40 crankshaft that came to us when we bought 40106 a few years ago, but it is in fairly poor condition and the costs of getting it back into a condition where it could be installed into 40135 would be considerably more than using the Class 56 crankshaft that has been donated to us and which is compatible. We are extremely grateful to GB Railfreight for its generous donation to us, and it will make a real difference in our efforts to get 40135 back into service as soon as possible.

“However, we still require further financial support from our members or any other enthusiasts who wish to see 40135 back in use, so if anyone feels they are able to make a donation towards repairing our locomotive, please visit our website to see how you can help.”

Mr Elverstone said that the CFPS is currently finalising details for a fiveyear plan for all three of its Class 40s, which include main line registered D345 and 40106 on the Severn Valley Railway.

He also confirmed that the CFPS is in discussions with various tour operators regarding main line tours involving D345 during 2023, with the society receiving a couple of invitations for one of its locomotives to visit diesel gala events.

More information on the CFPS and how you can support its fundraising efforts can be found at www.cfps. co.uk

Tom Mcatee The Class 40 Preservation Society has received a donated Class 56 engine, recovered from 56312, and the crankshaft from this engine will be used to replace the damaged one inside preserved 40135. On July 8, 2017, the immaculate BR blue Class 40 heads the 18.25 Heywood to Rawtenstall service, passing Springside Farm near Summerseat on the East Lancashire Railway.

Rob Reedman The engine removed from 56312 at Progress Rail’s Electro-motive Diesels at Longport as part of the GB Railfreight Class 69 conversion programme has been donated to the Class 40 Preservation Society. The donor locomotive stands at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester Depot on June 8, 2020.