D1048 Western Lady

[Cowley]

Does anyone know the current status of this long absent machine? I saw some photos of it a few years ago at I think Butterley but can't see any reports more recent than 2013.
It was looking good in BR blue in the photos, it had obviously had a lot of work done to it.
Thanks all.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

This is what the Midland Diesel Group (the owners) web site says about it:

D1048 Western Lady

D1048 Western Lady
"Having arrived at the Midland Railway Centre in March 1997, this locomotive is privately preserved and forms part of the Midland Diesel Group fleet, currently non-operational. Work is in hand to return the locomotive to full working order. (my italics)

D1048 Western Lady was designed at Swindon and built at Crewe in 1962 and is one of seven preserved, ex BR class 52 diesel hydraulic locomotives withdrawn from BR service on the Western Region over 20 years ago."

 

[Cowley]

This is what the Midland Diesel Group (the owners) web site says about it:

D1048 Western Lady

D1048 Western Lady
"Having arrived at the Midland Railway Centre in March 1997, this locomotive is privately preserved and forms part of the Midland Diesel Group fleet, currently non-operational. Work is in hand to return the locomotive to full working order. (my italics)

D1048 Western Lady was designed at Swindon and built at Crewe in 1962 and is one of seven preserved, ex BR class 52 diesel hydraulic locomotives withdrawn from BR service on the Western Region over 20 years ago."

That's about as far as I got too. I don't know much about the loco, it was working at the NYMR in the early 80s I think, after that it was at Bodmin for a while and I remember seeing it but I don't think it ever worked down there, it looked rough too.
I'm just curious to know what's been done and what needs doing really. There must be so many people that need it, I don't think it's been operational for over thirty years.

 

[Ash Bridge]

That's about as far as I got too. I don't know much about the loco, it was working at the NYMR in the early 80s I think, after that it was at Bodmin for a while and I remember seeing it but I don't think it ever worked down there, it looked rough too.
I'm just curious to know what's been done and what needs doing really. There must be so many people that need it, I don't think it's been operational for over thirty years.

I was lucky enough to get shown around it inside and out at Bodmin whilst on holiday down there sometime in the early 90s, it was languishing in the sidings at Bodmin Parkway at the time and like you say Mr C it was looking rather rough and in need of some serious TLC, I seem to recall it was partially covered by tarpaulins, I think some work had taken place internally but externally it was in a poor state.

 

[Cowley]

I was lucky enough to get shown around it inside and out at Bodmin whilst on holiday down there sometime in the early 90s, it was languishing in the sidings at Bodmin Parkway at the time and like you say Mr C it was looking rather rough and in need of some serious TLC, I seem to recall it was partially covered by tarpaulins, I think some work had taken place internally but externally it was in a poor state.

Wow that must have been very interesting. It was one of the last ones in BR service I think and a bit of a celebrity at the end.
This photo of it in the shed at Swanwick from the Preserved Diesels website was taken in 2009 and it looks absolutely superb. With that kind of job being done on the exterior I'd love to see what's been done on the mechanical/electrical side.
The photo was taken 8 years ago now so I'd imagine things have progressed since.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Well that certainly looks very different to when I last saw it down in Cornwall I must say, btw have you noticed anything unusual about the 52s buffers in that shot?

 

[Cowley]

Well that certainly looks very different to when I last saw it down in Cornwall I must say, btw have you noticed anything unusual about the 52s buffers in that shot?

Well it looks like they're little round ones but I don't know if that's a trick of the light as they look normal in other photos from around then.

 

[sprinterguy]

btw have you noticed anything unusual about the 52s buffers in that shot?

Can't see any issues with them myself: Are you mistaking the grease spots in the middle of the buffers for the whole front face of the buffers themselves?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Well it looks like they're little round ones but I don't know if that's a trick of the light as they look normal in other photos from around then.

Can't see any issues with them myself: Are you mistaking the grease spots in the middle of the buffers for the whole front face of the buffers themselves?

Well its two opinions against mine so that's good enough for me chaps, oh btw, I'm picking up my new specs a week on Wednesday (seriously)

 

[RichmondCommu]

Having seen this loco within the last month the body work is not looking too good. However at least it's not looking as bad as the class 47 parked close by.

 

[Cowley]

Having seen this loco within the last month the body work is not looking too good. However at least it's not looking as bad as the class 47 parked close by.

That's a shame. It was all looking good a few years ago. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[cm39275]

Here's a image I took using my iPhone last Saturday June 17th while I was at the Midland Railway Centres diesel gala.