English Electric built 200 Class 40 locomotives for British Railways between 1958 and 1962. Built at the Vulcan Foundry in Lancashire, each engine held a number between D200 and D399. They were diesel-electric locomotives, with a 2,000 hp engine and a top speed of 90 mph. Due to their distinctive noise made by their turbochargers, they gained the nickname of “Whistlers”.
Class 40s operated in all areas of British Railways although Western and Southern Region workings were rare. The majority of Class 40s had their base 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.
Their heyday was in the early 1960s, when they hauled top-link expresses on the West Coast Main Line and in East Anglia. However, the fleet was gradually relegated to more mundane duties. This was due to the arrival of more powerful diesels such as Class 47 and Class 55, together with the electrification of the West Coast Main Line.
In later life the locomotives mainly hauled heavy freight and passenger trains in the north of England and Scotland. Their passenger work decreased due to their lack of electric train heating. They lost their last front-line passenger duties (in Scotland) in 1980.
Throughout the early 1980s Class 40s were common performers on relief, day excursion and holidaymaker services. This resulted in visits to many distant parts of the network. 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.
The final locomotives ended regular service in 1985.
