In superb crisp late afternoon autumnal light, 1010 Western Campaigner & D1041 Western Prince accelerate away from Stogumber on the West Somerset Railway with the 15:05 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard service on 1 October 1995, during the line's Diesel Gala. I was hoping the train wouldn't be late, as the sun was only just glancing across the front of the loco, and even a few minutes delay would have meant losing the light on the front, to say nothing of the lengthening shadows from the lineside bushes! Note the vintage gradient post on the right.

1010 Western Campaigner approaches Williton on the West Somerset Railway with the 18:10 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service on 18 May 1997, during the line's Diesel Gala. With the loco number displayed in the headcode panel, mid 1970s style, and the specially weathered Rail Blue livery showing up well in the evening light, the loco makes a fine sight framed between Williton's down home signal and Castle Hill in the background. This loco now carries maroon livery. It was one of the final 'Westerns' withdrawn by BR in February 1977, and has been a long term resident of the West Somerset Railway. 

D1013 Western Ranger rolls into Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway on 4 July 1987. Although the loco is based on the line and obviously sees frequent use, this is not quite the normal passenger working it would appear to be. The clue is in the headcode, as this in in fact part of a railtour from London, which was brought to the SVR behind 37044 & 37091. The Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z37 07:30 Finsbury Park to Bridgnorth (SVR) & Rothley (GCR) 'Independent' railtour. Obviously given the date of the tour we all know what railtour name means!

D1013 Western Ranger looks very out of place hauling Danish coaches as it passes Castor on the Nene Valley Railway with a Wansford to Peterborough service on 6 October 1990, during the line's Diesel Gala. Note the white tree guards protecting the newly planted saplings on either side of the cutting. They obviously had the desired result in preventing the local rabbits eating the trees, as the view now is somewhat different!

1013 Western Ranger descends Eardington Bank on the Severn Valley Railway with the 15:35 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service on 16 October 1999, during the line's Diesel Gala. I suppose the Great Western coaches are partly correct, for despite being built after nationalisation, you could argue that the 'Westerns' were just a continuation of the GWR's policy of doing things their own way, and usually distinctly different from everyone else!

D1015 Western Champion accelerates away from Kidderminster on 28 January 2002 with its main line test run - the 1Z15 10:10 Kidderminster to Sheffield, with 37197 tucked inside for insurance purposes. In retrospect I should have chosen a different location, as the sun is only just reaching the track, but as it was completely cloudy when I arrived, I was unable to judge this. The sun only came out shortly before the train was due, and it was too late to relocate.

D1015 Western Champion made a triumphant return to the mainline in 2002, and is pictured here working the first Class 52 hauled passenger train on the national network for 25 years. After performing a loaded test run, it worked the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 (of course!) 12:09 Paddington to Gloucester (via Bristol) 'Western Pathfinder' railtour on 23 February 2002, which is seen here at Circourt Bridge, Denchworth. The tour had earlier worked down from Crewe behind another preserved loco - 'Peak' 46035. The gold ochre livery and unusual yellow warning panel are authentic for the loco, and in my opinion suits the class very well. Note the clouds scudding in from the north, which luckily hadn't quite reached the sun at this point!

D1015 Western Champion opens up in spectacular fashion as it approaches Honeybourne station with the Past Time Rail 1Z52 10:54 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill 'Western Noon' railtour on 17 August 2002. Westerns were never common on the Cotswold Line in the hydraulic era, most services being worked by the smaller Hymeks. This is certainly the first time one to run over the line since the 1970s. This railtour returned to London via the longer route through Birmingham and Banbury. The loco is just passing over the point that leads to the Long Marston branch, the disused headshunt to which can be seen disappearing into the vegetation on the left.

D1015 Western Champion emerges from the mist at Dawlish, as it traverses the sea wall en-route to Cornwall on 19 March 2005 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 07:04 Ealing Broadway to Fowey  'Western Lizard' railtour. As I half suspected the sunshine disappeared as I drove down into Dawlish, but I optimistically thought the murk might have dispersed by the time the tour came, unfortunately it didn't!

The highlight of the Pathfinder Tours 'Western Lizard' railtour on 19 March 2005 was the chance to travel along the Lostwithiel to Carne Point (Fowey) branch. From a lofty vantage point high above the harbour, D1015 Western Champion is pictured crossing the causeway at Golant en-route to Carne Point. 66248 was on the rear of the train for working over the single track branch.

D1015 Western Champion is pictured passing Lavrean on the Newquay branch with the 'Western Lizard' railtour on 19 March 2005. Although the loco had just shut off for one of the line's many sharp curves, the sound of the twin Maybachs growling up the bank from Luxulyan had certainly been impressive. Locations on the Newquay branch were a bit restricted, especially as the sun was now low and the shadows lengthening. The view from the bridge at this location was very head on, so I left the other photographers there and ventured down into the field for this dramatic view.

D1015 Western Champion has just reached the summit of the I in 37 Lickey Incline and is passing the site of Blackwell station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z29 06:20 Bristol Temple Meads to Carlisle 'Western Heights' railtour on 3 September 2005. For once a railtour without a headboard, so apart from the heads out of the window you could imagine it was an ordinary service train from way back when!

Possibly the railtour of the year, if not the decade! The first ever Class 52 over the Settle & Carlisle line. D1015 Western Champion crosses Smardale Viaduct with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z29 06:20 Bristol Temple Meads to Carlisle 'Western Heights' railtour on 3 September 2005. The smoke visible over the farm in the background is from the steam loco 71000 Duke of Gloucester which passed on a southbound railtour less than a minute before the Western, indeed one lucky video cameraman got the unbelievable shot of a 'Duke' & a 'Western' almost passing on the S&C!

D1015 Western Champion races down the grade at Scouts Green on the WCML with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z30 15:30 Carlisle to Bristol Temple Meads 'Western Heights' railtour on 3 September 2005. This is of course the scene of countless railway photos from the last days of steam, as heavy freights were banked up Shap from Tebay.

An unexpected bonus shot! Approaching Stafford on the M6 on 3 September 2005, after seeing D1015 Western Champion on the Pathfinder Tours 1Z30 15:30 Carlisle to Bristol Temple Meads 'Western Heights' railtour at Scout Green, I saw the tour slowing down on the four track section and being overtaken by a Voyager. The booked stop in Stafford would give me enough time to get a picture south of Stafford. I tried to get to the footbridge visible from the M6 near Junction 13, but couldn't locate the access point in time, so headed for Dunston, a little further south, not knowing if there was a shot from the bridge. Luckily a head on shot just gets the train clear of the wires. I wouldn't normally take a picture at a location such as this, but this was too good to resist.

In very poor light, and running 35 minutes late, D1015 Western Champion passes Narborough on 26 November 2005 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 06:25 West Ruislip to York 'Western Yorkian' railtour. Note the former LNWR goods shed, now in use as a builder's merchants. This picture is taken from a footbridge next to the level crossing at the end of the station platform.

D1015 Western Champion is pictured taking the Church Fenton line at Micklefield with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 06:25 West Ruislip to York 'Western Yorkian' railtour on 26 November 2005. This vantage point is no longer possible, as the bridge from which it was taken has subsequently been demolished. At the time the A1 had been rerouted and the bridge from which the photo was taken no longer had any traffic. A lower viewpoint from the new road embankment is no substitute, as the track in the distance is no longer visible.

D1015 Western Champion worked its first train since being painted maroon on 21 October 2006, when it hauled the diesel leg of the Past Time Rail 1Z24 06:13 Paddington to Penzance 'Limited' railtour, handing over to GWR 4-6-0 6024 King Edward 1 at Taunton. It is seen here at Clink (near Frome) just after dawn. I was going to say just after sunrise, but as it had only just stopped raining, and heavy black clouds covered the entire sky, it was still virtually dark! As nice as it to see a 'Western' in maroon, I still think the natural (and authentic) livery for D1015 is gold ochre.

D1015 Western Champion passes West Hatch, on the Waterloo to Exeter line with the Past Time Rail 1Z52 07:12 Waterloo to Okehampton 'Western South-Western' railtour on 24 February 2007. This tour was run to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the final Western hauled train on BR - the 'Western Tribute' railtour of 26 February 1977. Not having visited this section of the Waterloo to Exeter line since the demise of the Class 50s in 1992, I was surprised at how much the lineside vegetation had increased, so despite visiting various other previously used locations, I ended up back at my first choice, as it was the least overgrown.

D1015 Western Champion passes Baulking with the Past Time Rail 1Z52 08:37 Paddington to Minehead 'Westward Ho!' railtour on 16 June 2007. The tour was planned to coincide with the West Somerset Railway's 'Mixed Traffic' weekend, in which sister loco D1010 Western Campaigner was due to take part. Of course this location on the GWML must have witnessed the passage of this loco thousands of times in the 1960s & 1970s. Indeed, I remember seeing it on milk tanks in 1973! Every time so far that I have photographed this loco on the mainline since its repaint into maroon the weather has been appalling (note the menacing clouds in the background). I had much better luck with the sun when it was in gold ochre livery! 

Yet another picture of the maroon liveried D1015 Western Champion in terrible light! At 07:10 on 23 June 2007, with the promised sunny start to the day nowhere to be seen, the preserved 'Western' speeds past the site of Bredon station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 06:05 Birmingham International to Penzance 'Cornishman' railtour. It was running a few minutes late, but only because it was right behind 170103 on the late running 05:30 Birmingham New Street to Cardiff Central Trains service.

D1015 Western Champion emerges from Kemble Tunnel with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 05:35 Ealing Broadway to Aberystwyth 'Alliance Cambrian Coast Express' railtour on 1 September 2007. I'm keeping up the tradition with this picture, as it's the fifth one in a row now for this loco that has been taken in terrible lighting conditions, admittedly not helped by it being taken at 07:00.

My first picture of D1015 Western Champion in the sun since it was painted maroon, albeit backlit. Just after sunrise on 16 February 2008, D1015 is pictured tackling Tackley Bank (between Oxford and Banbury) with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z15 06:00 Ealing Broadway to Holyhead 'Irish Mail' railtour. While waiting for the train I was watching the antics of several Muntjac deer, one of whom had decided to cross the line just before the train arrived. The area of rough grassland above the rear of the train is a local nature reserve.

D1015 Western Champion goes where no 'Western' has gone before! The first ever visit of a Class 52 to Scotland occurred on 3 May 2008, when D1015 worked the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 05:10 Tame Bridge to Edinburgh 'Western Scot' railtour. It is pictured rounding the curve at Houndwood with the A1 trunk road in the background. Unfortunately the earlier sunshine had given way to dull conditions with leaden skies. Despite the weather I naturally assumed that this location would be heaving with photographers, it being one of the few classic locations on the East Coast Mainline in Scotland. Therefore I could hardly believe it when I was the only photographer in the vicinity when the train passed! This just goes to prove that the majority of railway photographers will not walk more than a few yards from their cars to take a picture.

D1015 Western Champion passes Bo'Ness Junction with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z53 16:26 Edinburgh to Tame Bridge 'Western Scot' railtour on 3 May 2008. This was reputedly the first ever visit of a 'Western' to Scotland. Unlike the outward run where I was the only photographer to witness this train pass Houndwood, this location had upwards of twenty photographers on the bridge, obviously helped by the fact that you park right next to the bridge! The track leading through the bushes to the left of D1015 is the connecting line to the Bo'Ness and Kinneil Railway.

On 21 July 2008, D1015 Western Champion passes the site of the Midland Railway's station at Stonehouse with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 05:47 Salisbury to Liverpool Lime Street 'Festival of the Sea' railtour run in connection with the Tall Ships event on the River Mersey. I had originally intended to go to Badgeworth for this picture, but as I approached Cheltenham I could see it was just on the edge of a large bank of cloud. Rather than risk it, I headed down the M5 to Standish Junction (which as I suspected was still plagued by shadows) and then ended up here. It was lucky that I did, because the cloud followed me south, arriving ten minutes after the special! This is my first full sun on the nose picture of D1015 since it has been painted maroon.

D1015 Western Champion pulls out of Banbury station with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z52 06:30 Didcot Parkway to Blaenau Ffestiniog 'Western Slater' railtour on 19 September 2009. I presume the cheery wave from a member of the station staff on the platform is especially for the tour and not standard practice for every train!

What has got to be the most unusual freight working of the year occurred on 14 October 2009, when preserved D1015 Western Champion worked the 6Z52 15:55 Quidhampton to Tavistock Junction freight, conveying fifteen calcium carbonate tanks for storage at Burngullow. Running slightly late due to an unplanned run round at Salisbury, this historic train is pictured passing Bapton, in the Wylye Valley. The quarry at Quidhampton has closed, rendering the wagons redundant.

In the very last rays of the setting sun, D1015 Western Champion passes Fairwood with the 6Z52 15:55 Quidhampton to Tavistock Junction freight on 14 October 2009, conveying fifteen calcium carbonate tanks for storage at Burngullow. The train has just run round at Westbury, and although now having made up some time after the delay in running round at Salisbury, has had to wait for 43021 to head west, before following on just two minutes behind. Therefore it was traveling very slowly at this point.

I wouldn't normally bother to take pictures of light engine moves such as this, but the unusual pairing of very similarly livered locos makes it a bit out of the ordinary. D1015 Western Champion and 47760 pass Gossington with the 0Z86 10:03 Bristol Barton Hill to Preston positioning move, shadowing 44781 & 70013 with the 'Great Britain III' railtour on 8 April 2010. The Western would later be dropped off at Tyseley. One of the problems with light engine convoys is that they inevitably look a little odd in an open landscape, so I had deliberately moved nearer the roadbridge for this picture, where the photographic composition was better.

The bizarre combination of a 'Western' and a Class 40 worked the Class 40 Preservation Society's 1Z40 05:20 Crewe to Penzance 'East Lancs Champion' railtour on 15 May 2010. The colourful combination of D1015 Western Champion (masquerading as D1012 Western Firebrand on this side of the locomotive, and D1009 Western Invader on the other) & 40145 East Lancashire Railway are pictured rounding the curve near Tackley in perfect lighting conditions. Both a 'Western' and Class 40 have very distinctive engine sounds, but in combination the resultant noise is something else entirely. Long before the train came into view there was certainly no doubt what was approaching!

In dismal light, but thankfully just after the rain had finally stopped for the day, D1015 Western Champion & 40145 East Lancashire Railway pass Compton Beauchamp on 16 May 2010 with the Class 40 Preservation Society's 1Z52 08:50 Penzance to Crewe 'East Lancs Champion' railtour. The Western is masquerading as D1009 Western Invader on this side, and D1012 Western Firebrand on the other. I was surprised that no other photographers were at this location, as if the sun had decided to appear, it would be one of the better spots on the Great Western Mainline.

D1023 Western Fusilier & D1013 Western Ranger make a fine 1976 era picture (if you ignore the stock!) as they accelerate away from Bewdley with the 10:45 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster service, during the Severn Valley Railway's Diesel Gala on 2 October 2004. This is how I remember Westerns on the main line (although hardly ever this clean) and if I had only bought a decent camera a couple of years earlier, I would probably have some pictures on this website to prove it!

D1048 Western Lady gets some much needed cosmetic attention at Bodmin Parkway on 23 November 1991. For a loco that has had such a protracted restoration saga, it has certainly carried its fair share of liveries. In the very early days it was green, and then during its sojourn in Cornwall it was painted maroon (as we see here). It has subsequently moved to the Midland Railway Centre and acquired the best livery for the class - BR blue!