Class 40 - Whistle While You Work

The final clip showing a preserved 40 being backed up by an 8F sounded brilliant. The lovely whistle of the 40 combined with a bark of the 8F which sounded like it was doing some heavy work; not a sound common on preserved railways.

Went on a steam tour last weekend that was steam hauled from Taunton to Dartmouth & back. I was surprised that the Crewe to Taunton leg was hauled by an immaculate class 40, number D213. The tour had a supporting diesel on the back all day, with the 40 hanging out at Taunton whilst a B1 (Mayflower) took care of the scenic bit. The 40 actually managed to recover some late running on the home leg. She was sat at 84mph (GPS) for long stretches on the way home with 12 on. We disembarked at Worcester Parkway. The reserve loco on the back wasn't pushing when she set off again, the 40 was roaring to get the train underway again.

I don't know why the Class 40 is one of my favs, i just like it and there engine sound is distinct, i like diesels with distinct engine sounds

We have recently discovered a photograph of my Grandfather driving D213 Andania in the mid 60’s, he was a driver out of Bank Hall depot in Liverpool and ended his long career as a steam driver with a short stint on the 40’s, delighted to have seen this video which gives us some great background on the locos. We’ve recently learned that Andania is now part of the fleet run by Locomotive Services and does sterling work on heritage and rescue runs.

My fave locos, just like me, overweight and underpowered! 🤣 Great presentation, Ruairidh, thanks.

Being a kid growing up & bashing in the late 70's & early 80's with my old fella in West Yorks. I never really appreciated the whistlers as I was more into the Deltics. But as time has passed & even to this day the unique sound of the 40 has won me over, just like it did with my Dad back in the day.

Fotunate to volunteer on a heritage railway that hosts a class 40 - lovely sound and popular with visitors.

Electrical equipment motors, generators and control gear was manufactured at English Electric Strand road east works, diesel engines were produce in Strand road west works ( Preston ). When I started my apprenticeship in 1953 ( to 1959 )at EE Preston, Deltics switch gear was being assembled but went under the name Enterprise and was considered a fill in job when there was little work on. Possibly of interest, loco's were built at Strand road but for overseas as I remember, hope this is of interest.

As a trainspotter and enthusiast of 1970s vintage I was really enthralled by this film, thank you. A few times I was on a train hauled by a 40 and the guard came along apologising for the lack of train heating, the reasons well explained in this film. Having said that, I became an "expert" in explaining to fellow passengers steam heating/electric heating and air brakes/vacuum brakes in an era when Nerds was an un-known word. Now electric multiple units are failed because the driver can't input the right diagnostics into the train's computer! Nothing changes, only the technology and terminology.

I was on a Glasgow to London train in September 1963, hauled by one of these but a Royal Scot 4-6-0 replaced it at Carlisle.

It's a shame 40 126 (previously D326)wasn't preserved, the only reason no-one wanted to take it on was because people believed it was cursed. From the great train robbery, a 2nd man getting electrocuted and another accident in Birmingham New Street station when a guard got injured, hence the reason a lot of people believed it was cursed and no-one wanted to take private ownership. 😬☠️

40106 was our celeb loco on the Birkenhead to Chester line. It was also the loco that I had my first cab ride in. Glad to see that she is being well looked after!

I used to drift off to sleep as a kid listening to 40s 24s and 25s been thrashed up the grade from Crewe to Stoke .Happy days just the odd 66 now with its mankey 2 stroke whine.

“Look at me go!” Said the Diesel boastfully, then it happened (rattled coughing) the Diesel came to a stop. The driver and crew examined what’s going on just to find a top hat 🎩 inside one of its air holes. The passengers and crew laughed but the Diesel growled “GRRRRR!”

The class 40 was under power for its size and weight. You have to remember that about 300 hp. Is lost in the transmission from engine to wheels. But that 16 cylinder engine was developed into more powerful versions. The class 50 had the same design of engine, and was rated at 2700 hp. The class 56 also shared the same engine block design and was rated at 3250 hp.

Im from the United States. My fellow railfans think the class 40 is ugly, but I think its kinda cool. Double end cab and nose is a great feature. Over here we don't really have any double cabbed diesels. Thanks RM. Loved your video. Love from the USA.

I'd personally argue that the Deltics cab mimicked the look of GM F-Units and Alco PA's more than the Class 40s did...

Lots of footage of D208, the first loco I ever work on as a 15 year old apprentice fitter straight out of school. The valves had had an augment with the pistons. Still remember that 59 years later. Thanks for the content!

I think a video explaining head codes (?) and bogey configurations would be very interesting, as you mentioned these in this video and has always been a bit of a mystery to me. Great video as always, thanks. 😊

Whenever I look at a new upload by Ruairidh, I think to myself "yes I will watch this"