‘Westerns’ in the frame more than four decades following their demise

THE Class 52 diesel-hydraulic‘Westerns' didn't have a very long shelf life – construction started in 1961 and by 1977 all 74 had been withdrawn – but despite, or perhaps because of, that, they have gained a large following.

Their popularity was emphasised at a Justaclickago online auction of railway photographs, negatives and slides that ran from May 24-30, when 145 colour slides of the class, as well as Classes 31/45/46/47, taken in the mid1970s at such locations as Dawlish and Gloucester, sold for £1300.

An assortment of 77 colour slides of diesel-hydraulic locos, including ‘Westerns' and ‘Warships,' followed at £840, and 50 slides of ‘Westerns', also in the mid-1970s at various locations including Plymouth, went for £700. The latter realisation was matched by a collection of black-and-white negatives of 1960-62 BR steam, including at Swindon and Ashford Works, King's Cross, and Old Oak Common.

Just above, at £760, were 350 colour slides of BR signalboxes in the 1990s, many of which have now gone, and 400 b/w prints from the 1930s onwards of light and miniature railways through much of the UK (£720). Prices exclude buyer's premium of 15%.