Class 40

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**Class 40**, also known as **The Diesel**, **D4711** (in the Railway Series), **D261** (in the television series) or simply **Diesel** is a big diesel engine who once visited the North Western Railway on loan from British Railways.

## History

### The Railway Series/Thomas & Friends

Class 40 was built at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, England. Class 40 was sent to Sodor in 1962 to assist the engines with goods and express work towards the end of Stepney's visit, but he only insulted the other engines by saying they were out-of-date, should be scrapped and bragged about his modernity. He got his comeuppance when an inspector's bowler hat jammed his air intake, causing him to break down and to become as sick as boiler sludge. He sulked in the shed while Duck and Stepney took the Express for him to Cronk (Crovan's Gate in the television series).

While everyone was fare-welling Stepney, a disgraced Class 40 crept away, leaving behind "a rather nasty smell of bad manners and a battered bowler hat".

### Lukeillie's Series

Class 40 came to Sodor once again but this time he was no longer mean and wanted to be useful but none of the engines believed him. He would want to help some of the other engines but they ignored him. In the end, they all realized that he did change and were proud to call him a friend.

## Personality

Class 40 is snobbish and rude, believing that diesel engines are superior and should take over from steam engines. Despite this, in the magazine stories, there are some occasions in which the Diesel is polite and helps out the steam engines.

## Livery

Class 40 is painted in the BR two-tone green livery. He has enclosed yellow warning panels on his front and back end. His rooftop is painted grey. In the television series, Class 40 is painted in the BR Brunswick green livery. He has a thin, lighter green stripe running along his top, full yellow warning panels on his front and back end with his rooftop being painted black and along with having a shining silver buffers. His number is painted on his cab sides in yellow similar to *The Railway Series* illustration.

In *The Railway Series*, his face was yellow, while in the television series, it was grey like the other engines.

## Trivia

* Class 40's Railway Series livery is slightly inaccurate as none of the Class 40 diesels received British Railways two-tone green livery.
* According to some VHS descriptions for the fourth series episode *Bowled Out*, Class 40 was brought to Sodor to take over Daisy's work while she was ill.
* His Railway Series number is completely fictional, as no diesel engine ever is known to have worn this number.
* In the magazine story *Platform Picture*, he is incorrectly referred to as "Derek the Diesel".
* Class 40 and Derek share the same livery.
* In the Days Out with Thomas events, Class 40 wore Toad's face.
* Class 40's Take 'n' Play model incorrectly depicts him with a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement. This was likely due to the fact that the manufacturers could not depict him with his correct 1Co-Co1 arrangement. It also appears his side detailing was incorrectly based on that of a Class 37 diesel much like the Hornby Model.
* Series 10 production notes incorrectly call him "**Diesel 140**". Series 12 production notes call him "**Diesel 40**".