RAILCARS Type 40 OF THE SNCB         

Small set of 7 units, railcars of type 40 of the SNCB, along their short career, were not loved so much by the different directions. It is why they should fade away after only 27 years of service, to one time where the railcar has no more future in Belgium.

Brief history.

It is in 1957, on the basis of plans written by the SNCB herself, that came out of the workshops of Malines a triple railcar prototype. This curious realization is composed of a engine car, a mixed lst/2n class coach and a pilot car. The the engine car if endowed of a vast luggage compartment and a spacious cabin. As for the two cars, they are in fact prototypes of the future M2 and M3 passenger coaches of the SNCB, that will include more than 650 units. The prototype railcar, numbered 630.01 to the origin, is called to replace the old models of railcars built around 1930. it enters in service at the end of September and is affected to the Brussels-south engine facilities for the length of tests. Satisfied of results, the SNCB decides to carry the set up to 7 units while only bringing very few modifications in relation to the prototype railcar : absence of strips in relief on partitions of cars, window frame in steel and full wheels. The 12 cars are appropriated of the park of the M3, the engine elements are similar to the prototype. The set is complete in 1961 and, to this time, railcars type 630 raises a green colour with double yellow mustache. The whole of the railcars is parked in May 1961 to the engines facilities ofCourtrai. One can see them in France, where they assure Gent-Mouscron-Tourcoing passenger trains.

A brief but intense career.

From 1969, the SNCB decides - for reasons of security - to repaint his park of railcar in a seeing livery : the bottom of frame is red, the height of windows is painted in yellow and the roofing receives a silvery painting. It is on the occasion of their first general revision in the beginning of the 70's that the 630 receive their new dress that they will keep until their reform in 1984. In 1971, the SNCB puts in room a complete recast of the nummers of his engines, for reasons of simplification and clarity. Railcars of 630 type becomes therefore the 4001 to 4007 serie. They are going to continue to assure an impeccable service to the thread of years, modifying their field of action when the SNCB will switch to electric traction. One sees them everywhere in Belgium, sometimes assuring some various services of short length. In 1981, railcars of 40's serie left their rotations to and from Lille. The last two years of their elbow life drive them to assure trains on lines as Ypres-Poperinge or again Courtrai-Zottegem. on the week, they reappear on the Courtrai-Tourcoing relation, but the epilogue is near. June 2, 1984, either 23 years after their stake in service, the beautiful '40' railcars are parked. The direction of the SNCB substitutes to them by a diesel engine, luggage van and two to three M2 or M3 coaches.