Success! D1015 returns to main line passenger action
THE DIESEL Traction Group’s main line-registered Class 52 Western diesel-hydraulic locomotive, D1015 Western Champion, successfully operated a passenger-carrying loaded test run on April 14.
It worked the ‘One Way Wizzo’ charter between London Paddington and Birmingham New Street, marking its first passenger-carrying main line charter for more than seven years. Although the locomotive has continued to operate services on its Severn Valley Railway base throughout the period it has been off the main line, the loaded test run was the first main line passenger train to be worked by the Class 52 since it suffered an engine failure while working ‘The Yuletide East Yorkshireman’ charter for Pathfinder Railtours on December 17, 2016.
The locomotive has received extensive attention in recent years by its owning group to prepare it for a return to main line use. Both of the Maybach MD655 engines have now been replaced with the newer MD538 variants, after a previously overhauled MD655 engine fitted to the locomotive suffered a seizure while D1015 was operating a loaded test run on the main line while hauling a cement empties working along with 66719 from GB Railfreight on September 17, 2021, setting back its return to main line use.
Now that D1015 has successfully completed its testing, it is due to work ‘The English Riviera Airshow’ for Pathfinder Railtours on June 1, from Tame Bridge Parkway to Paignton, with pick-ups at Birmingham New Street, Dorridge, Leamington Spa, Banbury, Oxford and Swindon. As this issue was being prepared for press, some seats were still available for the tour; further details are available at www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-english-riviera-airshow/
D1015 is the only member of the seven preserved Class 52s to be re-registered for main line running, with the DTG originally returning the locomotive to the main line in February 2002.
Of the remaining locomotives, only D1015 and the Western Locomotive Association’s D1062 Western Courier
are currently serviceable, with both based on the SVR. The WLA is also working on the return to service of D1013 Western Ranger over the coming months, while its third locomotive, D1048 Western Lady, is stored awaiting work on D1013 to be completed.
D1010 Western Campaigner is being overhauled by the Diesel & Electric Preservation Society at Williton on the West Somerset Railway and the Bury Hydraulic Group is working on the overhaul of D1041 Western Prince. The seventh preserved Western is D1023 Western Fusilier,
which is no longer operational. Part of the National Collection, D1023 is currently on static display at Didcot Railway Centre.