Portrait of a 40
There's nothing quite like the magnificent sight of a disc-fronted class 40 from close-in where, even as late as 1977 and some 19 years following their initial introduction, they still carried the mass and appearance of a muscular mainline express engine.
They weren't universally well received at first though - the Eastern Region declined them initially believing they lacked the power on what was a relatively fast route to the north; and after trials on the Great Eastern, the operating folk there didn't think they offered much of an advantage over the Britannia class Pacifics currently handling trains out of Liverpool Street. The London Midland region however saw things differently - with an ageing steam fleet and a line that had seen comparatively little investment over many years, they saw an opportunity to utilise the class 40's relatively fast acceleration away from the many speed slacks on the route, and also the apparent ease with which the class were able to climb Camden Bank out of Euston station. (Source: Wikipedia)
When this shot was taken, post electrification of the West Coast Mainline, the class were becoming more confined to the secondary passenger routes and increasingly used on freight. Here unit 40079 is doing the honours for the camera as she poses on the oil-encrusted track where hundreds of locos have stood before, waiting to move on to the stabling point at Guide Bridge, just out of shot on the left.
40079 continued to work a mixture of passenger trains and freight, mainly in the North West, until she was finally withdrawn in January 1985, and cut-up for scrap soon afterwards, one of the last of the class to go.
Fast forward to 2019 and the building and two running lines in shot have completely disappeared to be replaced by a car park and a much smaller structure housing the ticket office. The two running lines in use today are positioned behind me.
Ilford FP4 rated at 160asa, developed in Acutol.
17th November 1977
Portrait of a 40
There's nothing quite like the magnificent sight of a disc-fronted class 40 from close-in where, even as late as 1977 and some 19 years following their initial introduction, they still carried the mass and appearance of a muscular mainline express engine.
They weren't universally well received at first though - the Eastern Region declined them initially believing they lacked the power on what was a relatively fast route to the north; and after trials on the Great Eastern, the operating folk there didn't think they offered much of an advantage over the Britannia class Pacifics currently handling trains out of Liverpool Street. The London Midland region however saw things differently - with an ageing steam fleet and a line that had seen comparatively little investment over many years, they saw an opportunity to utilise the class 40's relatively fast acceleration away from the many speed slacks on the route, and also the apparent ease with which the class were able to climb Camden Bank out of Euston station. (Source: Wikipedia)
When this shot was taken, post electrification of the West Coast Mainline, the class were becoming more confined to the secondary passenger routes and increasingly used on freight. Here unit 40079 is doing the honours for the camera as she poses on the oil-encrusted track where hundreds of locos have stood before, waiting to move on to the stabling point at Guide Bridge, just out of shot on the left.
40079 continued to work a mixture of passenger trains and freight, mainly in the North West, until she was finally withdrawn in January 1985, and cut-up for scrap soon afterwards, one of the last of the class to go.
Fast forward to 2019 and the building and two running lines in shot have completely disappeared to be replaced by a car park and a much smaller structure housing the ticket office. The two running lines in use today are positioned behind me.
Ilford FP4 rated at 160asa, developed in Acutol.
17th November 1977