SVR’s Western Courier becomes Western Queen

THE Western Locomotive Association (WLA) is renaming and numbering its Class 52 No. D1062 Western Courier as long-scrapped sister No. D1040 Western Queen for the coming season. This is to celebrate HM Queen Elzabeth II’s platinum jubilee. It will head all the WLA’s services on the Seven Valley Railway this year. Operating dates have yet to be published, but the first public appearance of the new Western Queen will be at the spring diesel festival May 19 to 22. The original No. D1040 was built at Crewe in 1962 and turned out in maroon livery with yellow buffer beams. It was repainted in BR Rail blue with full yellow ends on April 17, 1970, this being the livery carried by the re-identified No. D1062. No. D1040’s last day in traffic was February 26, 1976 and it was moved to Swindon on May 3 where it was cut up by August 11, 1976.