40106 (D306)

In the modernisation plan of 1955, English Electric received an order for 10 type C, 2000 h.p
( later known as type 4s) locomotives. The first, “D200”,was delivered in 1958,entering traffic on the Great Eastern
Lines of the Eastern Region.All 10 of the “pilot batch” were allocated to either the East Coast or Great Eastern main
lines.
After the successful trials a further batch of 190 were ordered from English Electric Vulcan Foundry.
Due to the production of “Deltics” being built, D306 was one of only 20 built at Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn
works in Darlington during October 1960.
D306 spent most of her working life in the London Midland Region, initially being allocated to Crewe for the
running-in, then onto Liverpool Edge Hill, Crewe, Willesden, back to Crewe and then London Midland Western
Lines.
In the early 1970`s B.R. Introduced the “TOPS” computer system, thus changing the classifcation of all locomotives.
The English Electric type 4 became known as the class 40 and so D306 became 40106 and remained in her B.R.
green livery whilst the rest of the fleet were being painted in corporate blue.