Preserved class 52 Westerns, status and updates (originally about D1048).

[Cowley]

As above really (and in cahoots with @Ashley Hill ).

Does anyone know what’s happening with this machine?
There must be many red pen merchants that require it. I know that I’m one of them…

 

[Ashley Hill]

As above really (and in cahoots with @Ashley Hill ).

Does anyone know what’s happening with this machine?
There must be many red pen merchants that require it. I know that I’m one of them…

Thank you Mr Cowley.
Indeed,information on the progress on this loco seems very hard to obtain. Occasionally there's a short snippet in the railway press but nothing really revealing. Please can we have a current update?

 

[Cowley]

Thank you Mr Cowley.
Indeed,information on the progress on this loco seems very hard to obtain. Occasionally there's a short snippet in the railway press but nothing really revealing. Please can we have a current update?

Yes, there seemed to be a bit of progress a few years ago and it was all looking good but everything seems to have gone quiet recently.

 

[reddragon]

I did read that the Westerns have hit a dead in in preservation due to lack of spares, very costly overhauls required in Germany of drive units & engines, plus newly refurbished items breaking!

 

[Richard Scott]

Remember seeing it with one engine running in about 1999 but, as you say, seems to have gone very quiet of late.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Its interesting that more interest was shown about 45015 than about D1048! Has Lady become a forgotten loco?

 

[reddragon]

Report from October 2021

We also want to share some news about similar work that is being performed on D1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’ at the Midland Railway in Butterley, Derbyshire. This information came to us via the excellent newsletters from the Western Locomotive Association (WLA) and the photograph below was taken by WLA member Adrian Worgan during a recent visit to the MR-B. Many thanks to Adrian and the WLA for updating us on the progress with D1048.

Crewe-built Class 52 D1048 ‘WESTERN LADY’ undergoing cab end repairs at the Midland Railway in Butterley Derbyshire. Photograph taken during a recent visit to Butterley by Adrian Worgan © CC BY-NC 3.0

 

[Ashley Hill]

Ah,some news! Thanks for sharing.
Is this just remedial work or ongoing restoration.
Does anyone know if there is an estimate on a completion date?

 

[Cowley]

With the ok from @Ashley Hill I’ve altered the title of the thread to include the entire class now. So if anyone has any news on the fleet that would be great.

This is how I understand things to be at the moment (as of 26/12/2021):

D1010 Western Campaigner

Owned by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group and currently out of service at Williton on the West Somerset Railway having suffered a B end transmission failure at the diesel gala in 2018. It is being worked on and is also having some much needed bodywork repairs.
More information and details of their appeal here .

D1013 Western Ranger

Owned by the Western Locomotive Association and currently out of service while having an extremely thorough full overhaul at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway.
More information and details of their bogie appeal here .

D1015 Western Champion

Owned by the Diesel Traction Group and also based at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway.
The only main line operational Western, unfortunately suffered an engine seizure with its new engine during a loaded test run this year, that engine has been removed and preparations for a replacement are being undertaken. D1015 was in operation at the SVR diesel gala this year albeit only running on one engine.
There’s some news here .

D1023 Western Fusilier

Owned by the National Railway Museum and currently based (I believe) at York.
Although it has run on preserved lines in the not too distant past it’s hard to imagine that happening again in the future unless there’s a policy change (probably not worth getting into that discussion on here though).

D1041 Western Prince

Based at the East Lancs Railway and owned by the ELR Diesel Group, the loco was withdrawn from service a while back for a thorough overhaul but with Covid hitting it looks like progress has been slow at times.
From what I can see they are doing some great work though so it’ll be back in action at some point.
There’s more information to be found here plus a link to a Facebook group that might be worth joining if you want some up to date news.
I might join it myself later actually.

D1048 Western Lady

Where we started with this thread…
Privately owned and based at Butterley on the Midland Railway Centre. The most news we seem to have is in this post earlier in the thread by @reddragon
:https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...sterns-status-and-updates.226037/post-5451440
It’s in the dry and being worked on which is great news.

D1062 Western Courier

The other WLA owned loco (along with D1013) and also based at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway.
Currently fully operational (hooray!) and in fantastic condition.
Details of the loco are here .


So that’s it unless anyone can add any more information?
Basically out of the six (I can’t count!) seven preserved examples, the only one fully operational and running on both engines is D1062 Western Courier, although things are looking up for at least four of the others…

A photo of D1062 I took in the rain at Kidderminster in autumn:


Thanks all.

 

[Crewe Exile]

This thread made me smile - I remember back in my bashing days 1048 in preservation seemed quite elusive even back then. Seemed quite a nomadic engine - does anyone know when it actually last hauled services on a heritage line?.

 

[Cowley]

This thread made me smile - I remember back in my bashing days 1048 in preservation seemed quite elusive even back then. Seemed quite a nomadic engine - does anyone know when it actually last hauled services on a heritage line?.

Well I thought that it last worked on The North Yorkshire Moors Railway sometime around 1984 but I’m really not certain and I also don’t know if it was just running on one engine during those years.
After that it ended up at Horwich Works for a couple of years and was then moved to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway where I remember seeing it sitting outside next to Bodmin Parkway.

It’s the best part of 40 years since it last pulled a train!

 

[reddragon]

Well I thought that it last worked on The North Yorkshire Moors Railway sometime around 1984 but I’m really not certain and I also don’t know if it was just running on one engine during those years.
After that it ended up at Horwich Works for a couple of years and was then moved to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway where I remember seeing it sitting outside next to Bodmin Parkway.

It’s the best part of 40 years since it last pulled a train!

There's nowt on you tube so I guess it last ran before 2000! Last displayed 2016.

 

[Cowley]

There's nowt on you tube so I guess it last ran before 2000! Last displayed 2016.

Yeah it was years before YouTube was a thing. It definitely didn’t run at Bodmin and was looking quite sorry for itself by then. It moved there in 1988 I believe.

 

[75A]

Great piece, as a Southern man born & bred the 52 is the only non Southern class I've ever had a liking for. I think they are the best looking of any non Steam loco.
I've only ever driven the Southern 09's, 33 & 73's and had one trip as a Second Man in a 47 but I've enjoyed some DVD Cab Rides in a Western.

 

[Cowley]

Great piece, as a Southern man born & bred the 52 is the only non Southern class I've ever had a liking for. I think they are the best looking of any non Steam loco.
I've only ever driven the Southern 09's, 33 & 73's and had one trip as a Second Man in a 47 but I've enjoyed some DVD Cab Rides in a Western.

Thanks @75A. They’ve always been my favourite locos ever since I was a child. Unfortunately I don’t remember ever seeing one service although I probably did but was just too young.
Having a trip behind Western Champion on the main line was a wonderful experience though especially as we were in the front of the second coach behind the loco on the way back.

As an aside, I had a Paddington Bear book when I was little and one of the first pictures in it was an illustration of Paddington near the gates for the platforms looking a bit lost with his hat and his suitcase and in the background was a Western at the blocks.

Edit - Found it!
He was sitting next to a BRUTE…

 

[Crewe Exile]

Well I thought that it last worked on The North Yorkshire Moors Railway sometime around 1984 but I’m really not certain and I also don’t know if it was just running on one engine during those years.
After that it ended up at Horwich Works for a couple of years and was then moved to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway where I remember seeing it sitting outside next to Bodmin Parkway.

It’s the best part of 40 years since it last pulled a train!

I remember it being on the NYMR but I can’t remember how active it was - back then diesel preservation was in its infancy - and the national network had more than enough entertainment!. I hope those who are restoring it succeed - I can imagine it being a hellish project - especially over the past couple of years!. If they bring it back to life I might even come out of retirement and have a wee ride….I said that about 40013 though!

 

[Cowley]

I remember it being on the NYMR but I can’t remember how active it was - back then diesel preservation was in its infancy - and the national network had more than enough entertainment!. I hope those who are restoring it succeed - I can imagine it being a hellish project - especially over the past couple of years!. If they bring it back to life I might even come out of retirement and have a wee ride….I said that about 40013 though!

I do like a class 40 and actually might be an interesting class for us to do a similar write up on at some point.

There must so many people that need D1048.
I also need D1041 (a good chance) and D1023 (probably no chance) still…

 

[Crewe Exile]

I remember D1041 putting on an outrageous performance at the ELR Diesel Day - must 1989 or 1990 - the train crawled for a bit out of Bury - they then absolutely pulled the throttle back - clag everywhere and the train took off. It was the first time I’d ridden behind a Western as I’d never really bothered with preservation before then. I was in awe. Quite a magical moment. They also attached a special set of horns to the said loco which added to the occasion.

 

[Cowley]

I remember D1041 putting on an outrageous performance at the ELR Diesel Day - must 1989 or 1990 - the train crawled for a bit out of Bury - they then absolutely pulled the throttle back - clag everywhere and the train took off. It was the first time I’d ridden behind a Western as I’d never really bothered with preservation before then. I was in awe. Quite a magical moment. They also attached a special set of horns to the said loco which added to the occasion.

They certainly know how to please the crowd on that line.
Just found this YouTube clip of D1048 during its time in Cornwall, it’s only a few stills but interesting nonetheless:

 

[reddragon]

I can remember spotting Westerns at Paddington and a driver offered me a cab ride to Cardiff and back. I declined as he had a 47.

Then on my next visit, no Westerns, grrr too young!

 

[Deepgreen]

As above really (and in cahoots with @Ashley Hill ).

Does anyone know what’s happening with this machine?
There must be many red pen merchants that require it. I know that I’m one of them…

With which machine? Have I missed something, as the thread title doesn't specify.

 

[Cowley]

With which machine? Have I missed something, as the thread title doesn't specify.

It was originally about D1048. Title edited to the reflect that now.

 

[DarloRich]

what are these strange beasties. Odd. Western nonsense. Not a Deltic.

Got to say the one at the SVR that runs is pretty impressive. They are huge and sound very different to anything else. Got some pics of them here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/albums/72157670847234546

 

[xotGD]

Thanks @75A. They’ve always been my favourite locos ever since I was a child. Unfortunately I don’t remember ever seeing one service although I probably did but was just too young.
Having a trip behind Western Champion on the main line was a wonderful experience though especially as we were in the front of the second coach behind the loco on the way back.

As an aside, I had a Paddington Bear book when I was little and one of the first pictures in it was an illustration of Paddington near the gates for the platforms looking a bit lost with his hat and his suitcase and in the background was a Western at the blocks.

Edit - Found it!
He was sitting next to a BRUTE…

View attachment 107665

Looks like Mr & Mrs Brown had just enjoyed the Wizzo for haulage. Lucky pair!

 

[D6130]

I was lucky enough to travel on the final "Western Tribute" railtour on 26th February 1977, as well as a couple of others in the preceding weeks. On this final day, there were five locos still in service - D1010/13/23/41 and 48 - all of which were subsequently preserved and I was dearly hoping that "Lady" would be one of the tour locos as she was my favourite....despite her damaged skirt on one side, which resulted in her looking not as good as she had been in her younger days! Come the day, "Ranger" and "Fusilier" were chosen as the train locos and "Campaigner" and "Lady" were chosen as the stand-bys. They followed the tour from Old Oak to Bristol and had a rest on Bath Road depot, while the tour went to Swansea and back, before following us to Plymouth. In the event, they were not needed, as 1013 and 1023 performed more or less faultlessly throughout the long day and I shall never forget the scenes on arrival back at Paddington late in the evening, with the constant sounding of horns, mass choruses of "My Lords!" and huge numbers of cranks lining-up to photograph and be photographed in front of the locos....with a lot of grown men in tears. The 'normals' going about their travels must have thought that they had sleep-walked into a nightmare!

 

[Cowley]

I was lucky enough to travel on the final "Western Tribute" railtour on 26th February 1977, as well as a couple of others in the preceding weeks. On this final day, there were five locos still in service - D1010/13/23/41 and 48 - all of which were subsequently preserved and I was dearly hoping that "Lady" would be one of the tour locos as she was my favourite....despite her damaged skirt on one side, which resulted in her looking not as good as she had been in her younger days! Come the day, "Ranger" and "Fusilier" were chosen as the train locos and "Campaigner" and "Lady" were chosen as the stand-bys. They followed the tour from Old Oak to Bristol and had a rest on Bath Road depot, while the tour went to Swansea and back, before following us to Plymouth. In the event, they were not needed, as 1013 and 1023 performed more or less faultlessly throughout the long day and I shall never forget the scenes on arrival back at Paddington late in the evening, with the constant sounding of horns, mass choruses of "My Lords!" and huge numbers of cranks lining-up to photograph and be photographed in front of the locos....with a lot of grown men in tears. The 'normals' going about their travels must have thought that they had sleep-walked into a nightmare!

Wonderful stuff @D6130!

 

[D6130]

Wonderful stuff @D6130!

Thanks....shame I sometimes can't remember what I did five minutes ago though!

 

[Cowley]

what are these strange beasties. Odd. Western nonsense. Not a Deltic.

Got to say the one at the SVR that runs is pretty impressive. They are huge and sound very different to anything else. Got some pics of them here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/albums/72157670847234546

They certainly are a bit different and I’m not going to go down the road of comparing them too much because they were very different machines. Deltics are racehorses of course and no matter what people think of them they are properly impressive.
Let’s be honest, a journey behind either of them on a service train for a couple of hundred miles would be an assault on the senses compared to anything modern.

Looks like Mr & Mrs Brown had just enjoyed the Wizzo for haulage. Lucky pair!

The problem with Mr Brown though was that after every belting run through Sonning Cutting behind a 52, he always ended up taking a marmalade obsessed small furry animal from South America home and that’s why Mrs Brown banned him from bashing in the end…

 

[D6968]

what are these strange beasties. Odd. Western nonsense. Not a Deltic.

Got to say the one at the SVR that runs is pretty impressive. They are huge and sound very different to anything else. Got some pics of them here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/albums/72157670847234546

You’ve the choice of 3 at the SVR so take your pick from 13, 15 and 62. (although 1013 hasn’t run for over 10 years now)

 

[Cowley]

You’ve the choice of 3 at the SVR so take your pick from 13, 15 and 62. (although 1013 hasn’t run for over 10 years now)

I’m really looking forward to Ranger coming back. I was on one of its last runs before it was taken out of service and reading through the work they’ve been doing on it, when it comes back it’s going to be one of hell of a machine.