THE Carnforth-York diesel leg of West Coast Railway’s ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ will feature some special traction on August 17 and 24 when the Class 40 Preservation Society’s main line ‘Whistler’ No. 40145 is due to be at the head of the train.
This service is routed via Copy Pit and Wakefield on the 17th, and Skipton and Leeds on the 24th, so passengers are in for a treat on the return journey as a Class 40 returns to familiar haunts and the 1-in-65 climb from Todmorden.
■ The CFPS has also pencilled in a tour for March 17, 2018. All that is known so far is that the originating station will be Lancaster or Preston. Readers familiar with railway history will know that next March marks the 60th anniversary of when class doyen No. D200 (40122) made its debut. Sadly, Rail Express understands that there are no immediate plans by the National Railway Museum to put this Type 4 back into working order, as it needs new main generator bearings, necessitating lifting of the power unit. It also requires some ‘heritage insulation’ removing, which might prove costly.
Enjoy more Rail Express Magazine reading every month.
Click here to subscribe & save.
Read more News and Features in the August issue of RE – on sale now!
