Western Locomotive Association celebrates its golden anniversary
THE WESTERN Locomotive Association celebrated the 50th anniversary of its formation with a special event for WLA members at the Steam Museum in Swindon on January 27. One of the longest-established heritage modern traction enthusiast groups, less than three years after being formed, the WLA successfully purchased D1062 Western Courier from British Rail in November 1976, with the locomotive becoming the first Western Region Class 52 diesel-hydraulic to be purchased for preservation.
The WLA is now responsible for three of the seven surviving Class 52s, with D1013 Western Ranger and D1048 Western Lady both now also in the ownership of the group, with all three based at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway. While D1062 is currently serviceable on the SVR, work on the long-running overhaul of D1013 is now reaching an advanced stage and it is hoped that it will return to operational condition during 2024. Their third locomotive, D1048, was gifted to the WLA by its previous owners towards the end of last year, and although some conservation tasks have been carried out, work on
its revival will not begin until D1013 has returned to service. Construction of the Westerns took place by British Railways at both Swindon and Crewe Works, with part of the Swindon Works site now home to the Steam Museum where the special celebratory event took place. It was attended by about 120 WLA members and featured talks and presentations by various members of the WLA committee, a talk about the early days of preservation from former Swindon apprentice Martyn Williams, a slide show by renowned photographer Bernard Mills, and a British Transport Commission film show presented by Diesel Traction Group volunteer Keith Bullock.
The 50th anniversary celebrations were completed with an evening dinner, attended by about 50 WLA members, at Harpers Steak House, which is now located in the former Weighbridge building at the Swindon Works complex, where D1062 was repainted into maroon livery following its preservation by the group in 1976. More information on the WLA, its locomotives, and running days can be found at https://westernlocomotives.com