Railway Herald
Class 40 No. 40069 passes the avoiding lines at Newcastle Central on 29th August 1978 at the head of a Breakdown Recovery train. New to BR during April 1960 as Type 4 No. D269 she would become unique among the 200 strong class by later having her lower body sides cut away as an experiment. This was to try to alleviate the engine compartment waste oil drainage problems that affected the class. An oil drain pipe was fitted in the cut out section which in this image can be seen running almost the length of the loco. No. other class members were so modified and No. 40069 remained in this condition until withdrawn from service while allocated to Longsight MPD Manchester during September 1983. She was later scrapped by BREL Doncaster Works in September 1984.
Bob Woolnough
