Thank you for your patience while we retrieve your images.
Withdrawal of the Class 40s started in 1976, when six locomotives were taken out of service. At over 130 tons, the class were considered underpowered for their size. In addition, some were found to be suffering from fractures of their bogies and spares were needed to keep other class members in traffic. Many members of the class were not fitted with train air braking, leaving them unable to haul more modern freight and passenger vehicles.

The pace of non-air brake fitted locomotives being withdrawn began to increase and by 1981 the remaining locomotives were concentrated in the London Midland region of BR. Numbers dwindled slowly until by the end of 1984 there were only thirteen class members still running. Included in this number was pioneer locomotive 40122 (previously D200), which having been withdrawn in 1981, was re-instated in mid-1983 and painted in its original green livery to haul railtours.

In addition, four locomotives were temporarily returned to service as Class 97 departmental locomotives, numbered 97405-97408. They were used to work engineering trains for the remodelling project at Crewe station. These were withdrawn by early 1987. 40122 was eventually withdrawn in 1988 and presented to the National Railway Museum. Six other locomotives were also preserved.

Dates: 1983-1985

40009_19840407_01

40009, "Class 40"

40028_19840630_03

40028, "Class 40"

40033_19840407_01

40033, "Class 40"

40044_19840613_01

40044, 45075, 47353, "Class 40", "Class 45", "Class 47"

40047_19830000_01

40047, "Class 40"

40056_19840000_01

40056, "Class 40"

40060_19840310_01

40060, "Class 40"

40085_19840105_01

40085, "Class 40"

40121_19830000_01

40121, "Class 40"

40122_19850411_01

40122, "Class 40"

40135_19840000_01

40135, "Class 40"

40174_19830000_01

40174, "Class 40"