Absolutely Westerns - Full

A long-awaited publication, this book stands as a fitting tribute to Peter Crawley and the enthusiasts who dedicated themselves to documenting these iconic locomotives.

ISBN 978-1-913893-63-7

Compiled by Roger Geach

Compiled and expanded with detailed captions and additional research, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the final years of the Westerns, from their workings on the Swansea to Leeds service to memorable moments at Plymouth, Reading, and Dawlish.

Featuring insights into the excursions and railtours of the era, this is an essential read for those who fondly remember the Westerns and the golden age of British Rail.

Absolutely Westerns Absolutely Westerns

The Western Region’s mighty Class 52 locomotives left an enduring legacy, captivating rail enthusiasts across the country. In ‘Absolutely Westerns’, the late Peter Crawley’s passion for these legendary machines is brought to life through his rare and evocative photographs.

£17.50

Compiled by Roger Geach

Absolutely Westerns

Compiled by Roger Geach

© Images and design: Transport Treasury 2025 Text: Roger Geach ISBN 978-1-913893-63-7 First published in 2025 by Transport Treasury Publishing Limited. 16 Highworth Close, High Wycombe, HP13 7PJ. Totem Publishing an imprint of Transport Treasury Publishing.

The copyright holders hereby give notice that all rights to this work are reserved.

Aside from brief passages for the purpose of review, no part of this work may be reproduced, copied by electronic or other means, or otherwise stored in any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the Publisher. This includes the illustrations herein which shall remain the copyright of the copyright holder. www.ttpublishing.co.uk Printed in Tarxien, Malta by Gutenberg Press Ltd. ‘Absolutely Westerns’ is one of many books on specialist transport subjects published in strictly limited numbers and produced under the Totem Publishing imprint using material only available at The Transport Treasury.

Front Cover: What I and many others rank as one of the rarest diesel workings of all time was the incredible sight of D1013 Western Ranger arriving at my home town of Chesterfield in North Derbyshire on the 07.30 1E24 Swansea – Leeds. Due to the booked loco at Landore having a defective boiler D1013 was the only loco on hand with a working boiler so was substituted. With no other locomotive available, D1013 miraculously worked throughout to Leeds on this normal service train with a Gloucester driver. Quite remarkable I had no advance knowledge of this working, apart from a tip off from one of the Chesterfield station staff, ten minutes before it appeared, as I arrived as normal to eat my lunchtime sandwich at the old Fish/Parcels dock wall. There was no high tech communications in those days, mobile phones had not yet appeared. Rather a pity that it was such a dull day, but D1013 certainly brightened things up. 20 January 1977.

Frontispiece: A fine sunny Bank Holiday Monday morning the 30 August 1971 at Dawlish Warren with plenty of Westerns about in those days sees D1060 Western Dominion passing at speed with 1A65 0635 Penzance to Paddington service 30 8 1971. Due to revised Bank Holiday timetable revisions this service started from Plymouth at 08:40hrs that day. Peter spent the morning around Dawlish walking the sea wall to photograph the trains that day. D1060 was one of the Westerns taken out of service on the 17 July 1973 and stabled on the old steam shed at Laira awaiting an F exam which it never received. It remained with its number plates and cabside plates on until withdrawn on 18 November 1973. Some may recall D1024 also dumped alongside D1060 from October 1973.

Rear Cover: The British Rail (Western Region) publicity leaflet issued for the ‘Western Tribute’ Farewell Special. The original advertising leaflet showed the route as Paddington - Plymouth – Swansea - Paddington, which was obviously amended. The fare for the 630 miles of double ‘Western’ haulage was £10 Second Class and £15 First Class. I wonder how many of these survive? This one is safely kept in my collection.

Peter Crawley

I

knew Peter Crawley from Chesterfield, having been introduced to him via Ian Harrison, also from Chesterfield.

They both had a love of the Westerns and the railways of the West Country.

This was long after the Westerns had been withdrawn and I was in the midst of compiling a book about them.

Ian told me that Peter had taken a picture of D1013 at Chesterfield on the Swansea to Leeds service on the day when the loco worked through to Leeds in January 1977. I was extremely keen to include this picture in my book and very grateful for the opportunity to do so.

Photographs of this rare working were not common at all, nor were there many people who had even seen it. I met with Peter and he allowed me to also use a few of his other pictures.

I did not know it at the time but we had crossed paths before.

I can now see Peter was also at Reading back in 1975 when we both photographed Westerns on a dull 16 September day, now nearly 50 years ago.

Peter was also at Plymouth and like me photographed D1013 on the Liverpool to Penzance service on Saturday 26 October 1974. This was typical of those times; one would speak to other enthusiasts when out and about but not know their names, apart from those who you saw and chatted to regularly. With their interest in the Westerns, enthusiasts travelled from all over the country to the Western Region of British Rail, heading for places such as Reading, Bristol, Swansea, Exeter, Plymouth and even Penzance.

Peter and others had travelled down to Plymouth on one of the Merrymaker excursions run by the Sheffield Division of

I have captured Peter on the down platform at Reading getting his camera out to photograph D1059 which I had caught from Westbury to Reading that morning and just got off. This was the 0955 Paignton to Paddington service and would have been roughly about 1300 hours on Tuesday 16 September 1975.

BR. These excursions gave cheap days out to other parts of the Country. Sheffield Division ran many of these trips, often bringing rare Eastern Region class 47s from that part of the world. At one time, early 1970s Tinsley’s pet loco was D1575 and that appeared quite often on these tours with the classic large headboards that they used at the time.

With the transfer away of D1575 to Crewe we saw more variety, and on 26 October it was D1715 that arrived at Plymouth on such a service. I bet Peter and others were glad to see the back of D1575 as it worked all over the country on those tours. Peter had written this ‘Absolutely Westerns’ book before his death but it was never published.

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Tinsley’s then ‘Pet’ loco D1575 suitably clean at Chesterfield with the ‘Torbay Explorer’ on the 29 April 1973 which Peter took to the destination of Paignton. Those very large headboards were a feature of the excursions that ran from the Sheffield Division back in those days.

Plymouth was the destination for the ‘Western Venturer’ excursion on the 26 October 1974 and Peter was on this trip which gave him and others a short time in Plymouth to photograph the Westerns. Green liveried 1715 (later to be 47125) waits to depart Plymouth with the return excursion 1Z24 to Mexborough.

I have kept the book in the same format and sequence as his draft copy, but I have updated the captions and added information on the workings where more information has become available.

Peter had done a great job identifying some of the workings in his original draft with his own notes but I have been able to add some more of the workings and expand them. Peter spent time on holiday at Dawlish so, like many of the Western photographers, the Dawlish area features very prominently.

After all what could have been better then walking along the sea wall on a nice day photographing the Westerns as they came by and enjoying the sea air and sunshine.

We are lucky with the Western workings for the 1970s; they are very well documented compared to other classes. I must thank Stephen Marshall for being able to access his DIADEM FILE to verify the workings here. These are freely available online at: http://www.diademfiles.com/

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Peter also occasionally travelled using all-line railrovers and thus went further afield to Swansea, London and Penzance,

to mention but three locations, though he took less photographs at those places.

Living in Chesterfield he could not simply pop out and see Westerns. The locos featured here are from the pictures and locations that he chose and it is pleasing to see a few of the early 1973 withdrawals. It is particularly interesting to see D1042 in blue, quite a camera shy machine, along with D1024 and D1039. The vacuum brake only Class 52s such as D1017 were also less photographed.

Sadly Peter died in 2013.

I hope he would approve of my extended captions and be pleased to see his book finally in print. Furthermore, I hope all of you who loved the Westerns like we did, enjoy this book.

I last saw Peter when the preserved and only mainline active class 52 D1015 worked to Buxton on a Railtour.

‘Peter Crawley was an avid transport enthusiast who lived for most of his life in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

He had a lifelong interest in most forms of transport but particularly railways and his beloved Great Western and a passion for all things ‘Western’. He was a keen photographer who, during his life, took over 25,000 slides.

He was secretary and excursion organiser to a local railway club for over 40 years and a popular speaker in the area with his excellent transport-based slide shows. He was a quiet unassuming man with a wealth of knowledge who was well liked in the community and gave his time freely to the railway club for many years. Peter sadly passed away in 2013 having prepared this book but not having had it published.’

- Sandra, Peter’s wife

Left: The only Western certificated to run on the mainline since the class ended in BR days back in February 1977 is D1015. Seen here at Buxton arrived on a Railtour from Bristol the ‘Western Rocks’, 20 March 2010. Peter was on this tour and I spoke with him at Buxton.

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Introduction

A

s I live in North Derbyshire, many miles from the Western Region, it is a bit of a mystery why my favourite class of diesel locomotive were the superb Western Hydraulics, D1000 to D1073, known by many as Wezzies, Wizzos, Thousands and also Class 52s. I suppose my interest was inspired by taking holidays in the early 1970s in Devon staying in a chalet near the main line at Dawlish Warren. The locos’ good looks and superb sounds soon had me hooked.

After witnessing the final main line ‘Western Tribute’ the farewell special run by British Rail Western Region on 26 February 1977, I thought that I would never see a Western on the main line again. However, through the sheer hard work and determination of the Diesel Traction Group I along with hundreds of other enthusiasts was more than pleased to ride behind D1015 Western Champion on it’s first main line passenger train in preservation from Paddington to Bristol via Bath returning via Gloucester and Swindon on 23 February 2002.

What a momentous day that was.

Peter Crawley, Chesterfield 2012

Right: D1054 Western Governor roars westward out of Taunton station. The ex GWR lower quadrant signals ahead indicate a clear road for the next section of the journey to Exeter and beyond. 1054 Governor lasted almost to the end of the ‘Westerns’ being withdrawn in November 1976, due to the bad condition of wheel tyres on the ‘B’ end bogie after running 1,336,000 miles. 18 September 1968.

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Left: D1048 Western Lady is framed by the magnificent ex GWR signal gantry at the west end of Taunton station during its stop whilst working the 1V73 Liverpool to Plymouth service. D1048 is one of the lucky few that did not get scrapped at Swindon Works. Withdrawal was on 27 February 1977 after its standby duties with D1010 for the previous day’s BR ‘Western Tribute’ Farewell Special. It was initially preserved and went to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. It has had numerous other homes but as of 2024 now resides at the Severn Railway Valley under the care of the Western Locomotive Association, along with 1062 and 1013. It does not currently run.

18 September 1968

Right: D1033 Western Trooper stands in the afternoon sunshine at Taunton whilst in charge of the 1V80 Bradford – Paignton ‘The Devonian’.

Note the ‘red dot’ below the numberplate.

This indicates the route availability of the class, a practice started by the Great Western Railway on their steam locomotives. For example, ‘red dot’ locos could not work on ‘blue dot’ routes but ‘blue dot’ locos could work on ‘red dot’ routes.

18 September 1968

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Left: D1043 Western Duke at Taunton with a northbound freight 6F26; D1043 is seen in the attractive blue livery with half yellow panels.

Outshopped from Swindon Works during December 1966, D1043 was not painted into blue livery with full yellow ends until December 1968.

Right Top: An unidentified Western trundles along what was at that time a carriage release road with empty coaching stock bound for Old Oak Common and is passing the London Underground island platform at Royal Oak station. This was a great vantage point to watch hydraulics going in and out of Paddington, the terminus buffer stops being just half a mile away. Royal Oak was opened on 30 October 1871 jointly by the Great Western Railway and the Metropolitan Railway. It is now served by the Hammersmith & City line trains operated by London Underground Limited. 24 May 1969

Right Bottom: An impressive view of D1038 Western Sovereign departing from Cardiff General as it was called before being renamed to Cardiff Central with a Paddington to Swansea express on a lovely summer’s day. The freight train alongside is of interest as it is made up of ‘Banana Vans’, probably on its way to Barry Docks – a major banana importing point. 25 July 1969

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Ah, memories of Old Oak Common in the good old days. Three ‘Western’ hydraulics a plus a variety of other diesels including a maroon ‘Warship’ are grouped around the sole surviving turntable at that time. This was one of four turntables housed under one roof which made it Europe’s largest loco depot building. It was completed around 1906 and at the end of steam only one turntable was left. This turntable is now preserved for use on the Swanage Railway in Dorset. The two ‘Westerns’ in the foreground are D1060 Western Dominion and D1055 Western Advocate. 8 November 1969

Another view taken that day at Old Oak Common with the turntable prominent. Class 31 5528 had arrived during May 1968 to replace the class 22 North British locos on the many empty stock workings in and out of Paddington. Others were to follow but this replacement took a while awaiting other class 31s to be released from the Eastern Region. Along with 1055 Western Advocate and 1060 Western Dominion are an unidentified class 22 and Hymek. 8 November 1969

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Left: D1070 Western Gauntlet at the time a Swansea Landore based locomotive waits at a dull and damp Swansea with a London bound express.

The semaphore signals still reign supreme; the re-signalling was yet to take place. I had arrived earlier and was woken up by a porter after travelling through the early hours from Paddington.

I was on an All Line Railrover at the time and you took the chance to stretch out in a compartment if you could. It was obviously very comfortable as I do not recall anything from the journey.

13 September 1970

Right: A maroon liveried, full yellow front Western at Penzance at the head of ‘The Cornishman’ 1E21 the 0950 Penzance to Bradford Exchange.

D1054 Western Governor is the loco concerned.

D1054 worked the train as far as Plymouth where a Peak took over for the remainder of the journey to Yorkshire. 15 September 1970

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Left Top: Newton Abbot Power station stands tall as D1046 Western Marquis in a somewhat dirty original maroon livery enters Newton Abbot station with 6V53 0314 MX Etruria to St Blazey mixed freight which conveyed the clay empties from the Potteries back to Cornwall along with other traffic which had probably been added at Exeter Riverside yard. D1046 entered service on Christmas Eve 1962 and was the last Western to run in maroon livery, withdrawn in December 1975 after a collision with classmate D1064. The signal box visible is Newton Abbot East Signal Box which contained 206 levers opened on 25 April 1926 and closed on 4 May 1987.

The power station, which produced electricity for the Torbay area, opened in 1924 and was owned by Torquay Council until 1948 when the electric power industry was nationalised. It was decommissioned in 1974 and demolished shortly afterwards. 16 September 1970 Left Bottom: D1072 Western Glory arrives at Bristol Temple Meads with empty coaching stock from Malgo Vale carriage sidings. The locomotive has worn paintwork under the headcode panels.

D1072 was a Bristol Bath Road based engine dual braked at Swindon during June 1969 and thus a regular sight on the Bristol to Paddington services.

18 September 1970 Right: The second man on D1017 Western Warrior is exchanging waves with the little girl on the sea wall at Dawlish as he speeds by heading for Paddington with the 1A75 0955 from Penzance. D1017 was one of the four vacuum only Westerns which were all early withdrawals, taken out of traffic to provide spares for the rest of the fleet. Last day in traffic was the 19 July 1973. Withdrawn on the 1 August 1973, it managed to travel ‘only’ 984,000 miles. 29 August 1971

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With the River Exe in the far distance, D1058 Western Nobleman powers round the curve below Langstone Rock, Dawlish Warren on the 2Z11 Bank Holiday extra from Exeter St Davids to Keyham (Plymouth) running especially for the Navy Days open day at Devonport Dockyard. D1058 emerged from Crewe Works on 25 March 1963. The majority of the class were built in LMS territory; 44 of the 74 were built at Crewe. 30 August 1971

Class 42 Warship 867 Zenith meets Western D1023 Western Fusilier as they pass by Langstone Rock, Dawlish Warren. 867 was working a local service from Paignton to Exeter St. Davids and D1023 was in charge of the 1V34 Kensington Olympia – St Austell Motorail. 867 was withdrawn just six weeks later, while D1023 lasted right to the very end of the Westerns, working the BR ‘Western Tribute’ Farewell Special with D1013, and is now preserved at the National Railway Museum, York. It is currently on loan to the GW Society at Didcot. 30 August 1971

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Easily recognisable by its higher positioned cabside numberplates, a rather scruffy D1036 Western Emperor heads along the Dawlish Sea Wall on 1A85 0805 Penzance to Paddington service. D1036’s numberplates were set higher, the only one of the class like this.

It was withdrawn on 29 October 1976 after clocking up 1,360,000 miles. 30 August 1971

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A very calm sea allows children to play safely with their inflatable dinghy as D1006 Western Stalwart passes through Dawlish on an extra working 1Z45 1220 Paddington to Penzance. The first carriage is a Sleeping Car, no doubt being worked down to Penzance. This view is from the footbridge over the railway between Marine Parade and the Kings Walk section of the Sea Wall. The original 1879 lattice girder footbridge was replaced in 1965 by a pre-cast concrete affair. 31 August 1971

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A fine study of D1070 Western Gauntlet lit by glorious morning sunshine as it reverses towards Exeter St. Davids stabling point.

D1070 almost made it to the last two months of ‘Westerns’ service, being withdrawn on 30 December 1976. It ran 1,312,000 miles.

Like all of the class that did not survive it was despatched to Swindon Works to be cut up. 1 September 1971

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A wonderful scene of three hydraulics grouped together in the afternoon sunshine at Laira depot, Plymouth. ‘Warship’ 806 Cambrian and ‘Westerns’ D1022 Western Sentinel and D1033 Western Trooper. 6 September 1971

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Left: A rather different viewpoint with my feet in the sea to capture D1033 Western Trooper speeding along the Sea Wall at Dawlish. At this point it is called ‘The King’s Walk’. Although authorised to be constructed in 1873 when the line through Dawlish was double tracked, the contract to build it was not agreed until 6 June 1901. J.C.Lang of Liskeard, Cornwall did the work and the new 330 yard section between the station and the footbridge before Kennaway Tunnel opened without ceremony in April 1902 and cost £7,135. Western Trooper soldiered on until withdrawal on 16 September 1976 due to thin tyres on the ‘B’ end bogie. 2 September 1971 Right Top: D1068 Western Reliance is dwarfed by a magnificent red sandstone cliff alongside the Dawlish Sea Wall whilst passing with the 1A35 0710 Plymouth Paddington. At the rear of the train is the Rockstone footbridge which dates from 1951 replacing the original 1879 structure.

3 September 1971 Right Bottom: D1041 Western Prince stands on the Colonnade Viaduct at Dawlish, a three span steel girder construction which dates back to 1928.

It replaced the original 1845 viaduct. It was built by E.C.& J. Keay from Darlaston, well known railway bridge builders and cost £7,150. The contract was awarded in March 1928 and the bridge was completed in September of the same year.

It remains unaltered today. On a personal note, D1041 is my favourite ‘Western’ as I and a couple of friends had a cab ride in D1041 from Exeter St. Davids to Dawlish one evening; a trip I will not forget. Western Prince is preserved on the East Lancashire Railway at Bury. 4 September 1971

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Left: D1047 Western Lord photographed from the 1873 Brunel Footbridge at Dawlish Warren with the 6V53 Stoke-on-Trent to St. Blazey china clay empties made up of mainly traditional old wooden 5 plank wagons. Western Lord was withdrawn a year before the end of the ‘Westerns’ in February 1976. It was a ‘planned withdrawal’ and the loco had covered 1,256,000 miles. 4 September 1971

Right Top: A visit to Swindon Works to see some of the withdrawn hydraulics before they were cut up found the more delightful view of an ex works Western about to re-enter traffic after overhaul.

D1043 Western Duke gleams with new paintwork.

The locomotive has been wired up for testing and one can see the cables on the left hand side still attached. This is one part of the defunct Swindon Works, which still survives but now as a restaurant.

8 September 1971.

Right Bottom: As a result of accident damage sustained at Woodborough on the 30 July 1971 while working the 1420 Theale to Westbury stone train D1046 Western Marquis is back in Swindon works for repair. D1046 had only been out shopped from Swindon during May 71. As a result of the accident damage D1046 lost its headboard clips from the B end. This picture clearly shows the considerable damage to the front of the locomotive. It left Swindon in late November 1971.

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Western Princess – D1042 – stands at the ‘country end’ of Platform 9 at Paddington awaiting departure with 1C63 1315 Paddington to Cardiff service. D1042 was another of the six ‘Westerns’ that did not accumulate more than 1 million miles, travelling ‘only’ 976,000, being withdrawn 21 July 1973.

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Another view at Paddington of D1042 Western Princess waiting to depart with the 1C63 1315 Paddington to Cardiff service.

D1042 had worked up to London that morning from Paignton with the 1A39 0755 departure. D1004 Western Crusader, another early withdrawal, is seen behind D1042 but the working is not known. D1004’s last day in traffic was the 11th July 1973. Those of you who were about in those days will recall D1004 with very worn and white tarnished paintwork.

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Left Top: D1038 Western Sovereign makes a truly regal sight passing through Dawlish Warren on the 1M01 St. Austell to Kensington Olympia Motorail train. ‘Modern’ Motorail services with trains combining passenger accommodation and car carriers were first established by the Eastern Region of British Railways between London and Perth in 1955. However the ‘Motorail’ name was not officially adopted until 1966. D1038 was in service for 11 years and 1 months. Taken out of traffic 15 August 1973, it was not condemned until 8 October 1973. 19 August 1972 Left Bottom: D1002 Western Explorer, one of only seven of the class to be originally painted green, speeds through Dawlish Warren with the 1B83 15.30 Paddington – Penzance bathed in glorious late afternoon sunshine. D1002 was withdrawn on 29 January 1974 with collision damage. 19 August 1972 Right: A rare signalman’s view from Dawlish Warren Signal Box of D1034 Western Dragoon racing by on the 1B03 07.30 Paddington - Penzance. The signal box was a standard GWR Type 7d and opened on 12th October 1911 at a cost of £2,200. It was closed at around 23.00 on 14 November 1986.

It was demolished in 1990 after an attempt was made to turn it into a holiday flat. A planning permission dispute was the cause of the plan’s failure. 21 August 1972

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Left: D1031 Western Rifleman eases slowly out of the Up Loop at Dawlish Warren to join the main line passing the attractive GWR bracket signal.

Around 1986 both platforms were shortened by quite a distance and on 17 November 1986 the new power signalling centre at Exeter St. Davids took over the control of the area and the remaining semaphore signals were removed as colour lights took over. 21 August 1972

Right Top: D1014 Western Leviathan trundles out of Parson’s Tunnel into the warm Devon sunshine on the approaches to Teignmouth with the 7B33 1400 Exeter Riverside to Truro mixed freight.

Parson’s Tunnel is the last of five tunnels between Dawlish and Teignmouth: Kennaway (205 yds), Coryton (227 yds), Phillot (49 yds), Clerks (58 yds) and Parsons (521 yds). D1014 was withdrawn almost two years after this photo was taken on 6 August 1974 having completed 1,128,000 miles.

21 August 1972

Right Bottom: A glimpse inside the famous ‘A’ shop – the Main Erecting Shop – at Swindon Works.

Three Westerns are undergoing what will be their last overhauls at ‘The Factory’. 1022 Western Sentinel appears to be the nearest. Most of the former Swindon Works has been demolished and is now a housing estate. 23 August 1972

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D1045 Western Viscount arriving at Dawlish on the 1B81 0800 Bristol to Penzance service. The wooden platform was very badly damaged by raging seas during a severe storm on the morning of 11th February 1974. This resulted in the north end of the platform being narrowed. D1045 was easy recognisable by its unique lower mounted wiper on the secondman’s side. 24 August 1972

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D1017 Western Warrior on arrival at Newquay with an additional 1Z72 Plymouth to Newquay shoppers service which ran on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the peak holiday season. This service was only advertised locally and not in the timetable. A morning departure from Newquay to Plymouth gave holiday makers the chance to go shopping in Plymouth or visit the attractions there on a direct service. 24 August 1972

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Left: This is Newquay station as it was in August 1972, still with the station buildings and canopies intact. Today only the line upon which D1017 Western Warrior stands survives and there is a ‘bus shelter’ on the platform. The dmu formed a stopping service along the branch to Par, the Junction station for the Paddington – Penzance main line. D1017 had arrived on an additional working from Plymouth. Note the once sizeable car park here. At the time of writing December 2024, the second platform is being re-instated at Newquay along with a proposed passing loop nr the former St Dennis Junction. 24 August 1972 Right Top: D1054 Western Governor arriving at Par at 1920 hours with the 1B94 1800 Penzance – Bristol which took me back to Dawlish. This was followed by a two mile walk along the Sea Wall in the dark back to the chalet at Dawlish Warren.

24 August 1972 Right Bottom: D1024 Western Huntsman thunders along the Dawlish Sea wall in the morning sunshine with the 1A59 0955 Paignton to Paddington service. D1024 was one of the seven of the class that did not attain the magic million miles. It was one of the early 1973 withdrawals, but still clocked up an impressive 984, 000 miles. 25 August 1972

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Left Top: D1000’s cab side plate.

Left Bottom: The iconic nameplate Western Enterprise carried by the class leader D1000.

The cast aluminium letters are 4’ high and fixed to a steel background surrounded by aluminium beading. The nameplates survive, one being in the National Railway Museum at York, the other at Swindon Steam Museum. D1000 was withdrawn due to collision damage in 1974. 26 August 1972

Right: A fine sight of D1068 Western Reliance rolling into Dawlish station in lovely sunshine with the Fridays only 1A09 1000 Penzance to London Paddington service. A seized transmission problem brought D1068’s career to an abrupt end, being withdrawn on 13th October 1976. 25 August 1972

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D1055 Western Advocate en route light loco to Newton Abbot waits at Dawlish Warren for a service to pass. This loco met its end suffering severe collision damage at Worcester, Tunnel Junction on 3 January 1976 after colliding with a stationary parcels train.

Sadly there were fatalities involving the train crew. 25 August 1972

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Unusual station companions at Exeter St. Davids. The driver of D1002 Western Explorer on the 1B15 0830 Paddington to Paignton waits for the ‘right away’ at Platform 1. Meanwhile at Platform 4 an unidentified English Electric powered Southern Region d.e.m.u. waits with a train bound for Brighton. 26 August 1972

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D1042 Western Princess is about to depart after a driver change on the centre through road between Platforms 1 and 3 at Exeter St. Davids whilst working the Saturday 1B95 0950 Paddington to Newquay service. The centre through line was removed in 1985 when the area was re-signalled. 26 August 1972

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D1063 Western Monitor, looking very presentable, is about to pass under the Coastguard Footbridge on the approach to Dawlish station with an extra service 1Z48 probably bound for Torquay and Paignton. D1063 was in service a few weeks short of 13 years during which time it was recorded as having worked 1,184,000 miles. 27 August 1972

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Taken from the small stone jetty at a foot crossing 130 yards north of Starcross station, D1050 Western Ruler sweeps by on the 1B19 1045 Paddington to Plymouth service. Despite being next to water, this is not part of the ‘Sea Wall’ as the line is running along the west bank of the River Exe, which it does all the way from Dawlish Warren to the Starcross Yacht Club headquarters just north of Powderham Castle. From here the line swings inland towards Exminster and Exeter. The river is tidal at this point. The ‘Sea Wall’ starts at Langstone Rock around 2½ miles further south. D1050 was withdrawn in April 1975 awaiting engines which it, unfortunately, never received. 27 August 1972

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D1031 Western Rifleman on the through road (Up Main) at Dawlish Warren with a rather short 6A21 1502 St. Erth – Acton milk train made up of just four six wheel milk tank wagons. The GWR used to transport milk from the West Country to London in 17 gallon churns until these 6 wheeled glass lined wagons were introduced in the 1930s. 632 of these special wagons were built nationally between 1932 and 1944. Rail borne milk traffic had ceased by 1980 with road transport sadly taking over.

The down side station building (visible behind D1031) is the 1924 replacement of the 1912 original which was destroyed by fire on the afternoon of Wednesday 9. January 1924, attributed to a fault with the heating stove. 27 August 1972

A good view of GWR 6 wheel milk tank wagons being hauled by D1031 Western Rifleman halted by the Dawlish Warren Up Main signal. Despite the very dirty appearance of the exterior of the wagons, the ‘glass’ lined interiors (which were actually vitreous enamel) were thoroughly washed out with very hot water at the end of each run, thus were deemed clean enough to carry fresh milk. This was the only occasion I photographed a milk train – the only time I saw one during my visits to the West Country. 27 August 1972

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The famous ‘Cornish Riviera Express’ 1B45 1130 Paddington – Penzance passing through Dawlish behind a rather clean looking D1027 Western Lancer. The train is running alongside the ‘King’s Walk’ part of the Sea Wall opened in April 1902. The ‘CRE’ was introduced in 1904 and was first diesel hauled on 16 June 1958 by North British Loco Co. ‘Original’ Warship class D601 Ark Royal and ran non-stop from Paddington to Plymouth, being the first diesel locomotive to do so. 28 August 1972

D1018 Western Buccaneer races under the station footbridge at Dawlish Warren whilst working the 1M01 1600 Motorail service from St. Austell to Kensington Olympia. The footbridge dates back to 1912. However the original span was replaced in 1964 and the bridge was removed completely in 1977. Part of the span was then used for the renewal of the Necks Road footbridge at milepost 217¼ between Kingskerswell and Torre on the Paignton branch. 28 August 1972

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D1071 Western Renown leaving Truro on the 1A09 1610 Penzance – Paddington. In January 1967 D1071 had a serious collision near Bristol when it ran into the back of a stationary passenger train whilst working a Paddington – Swansea train. The loco received a new cab and also was fitted with a square cab ventilation panel which can be seen above the headcode. 29 August 1972

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D1052 Western Viceroy on the 1V76 09.15 Liverpool - Penzance passing the GWR Type 7a Truro signal box which dates back to 1899.

The 54 lever frame was originally in Bristol East Depot Main Line signal box, being fitted to Truro signal box in 1960. Truro has recently been re-signalled and is now controlled from the signalling centre at Exeter. 29 August 1972

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Left Top: D1054 Western Governor rounds the curve between Langstone Rock and Dawlish Warren with the 7B59 0845 Plymouth Friary to Exeter Riverside mixed freight. The first wagon is a wooden bodied 5 plank china clay wagon dating back to the 1950’s.

At this time these were the only wooden bodied wagons in use on British Railways.

1 September 1972

Left Bottom: D1024 Western Huntsman powers through Dawlish Warren on the 1b03 0730 Paddington – Penzance service. It is about to pass the site of the original Dawlish Warren station.

Huntsman was withdrawn in November 1973 after only 121 months service and ‘only’ completed 984,000 miles. 1 September 1972

Right: With Dawlish station behind, D1063 Western Monitor on the 1B55 12.30 Paddington – Paignton stands on the three span Colonnade Viaduct which was built in 1928. It replaced the 1845 bridge at a cost of £7,150. This allows easy public access from the town centre to the beach. 1 September 1972

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Left: The sun is out as D1039 Western King departs Dawlish station with 1B35 1030 Paddington to Paignton service just after 1339 hours, the next station stop will be Teignmouth. Western King was the second Western to be taken out of traffic on 27 February 1973 never to work again. This loco was unlucky; it required an ‘F’ exam which was never authorised. It was officially withdrawn from service on the 21 July 1973. As an early withdrawal D1039 was more camera shy than others, so it is good to see Peter captured the loco while at Dawlish that day.

Right Top: Royal Oak, the London Underground station (the first station out of Paddington on the Hammersmith & City line) is the vantage point for seeing D1054 Western Governor as it nears journey’s end with the 1A33 0752 Swansea Paddington.

Royal Oak station is named after a pub opened on 30 October 1871. The ‘Royal Oak’ was a rural tavern next to the Westbourne River and it gave the name to the area. It was replaced by the ‘Railway Tap’ which has since been renamed ‘The Porchester’.

7 March 1973 Right Bottom: Seen parked up as what we knew as the Dump at Plymouth Laira depot is D1042 Western Princess which was taken out of traffic on the 18 April 1973. The loco was not officially withdrawn until 21 July 1973. This loco was stopped awaiting an F Exam which was never carried out and hence the locomotive was withdrawn and stripped of spares to keep others going. At the time this picture was taken, the locomotive was complete and had repairs been authorised would have been put back into traffic. D1042 seemed a rather rare locomotive when it comes to colour pictures of it in blue, so it is very nice to see Peter captured the locomotive so close to its stopped date at Laira. 24 April 1973

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Left: A very sad sight at Laira Depot, Plymouth.

Nearest the camera is D1032 Western Marksman the first ‘Western’ to be withdrawn on 6 May 1973 (axle flaw), although it last worked on 16 January 1973. It did not reach the magic million miles being around 6,000 miles short. The other withdrawn locos behind are D1042 Western Princess and D1039 Western King. 27 October 1973

Right Top: D1009 Western Invader backs slowly into Platform 1 at Paddington station, London prior to working the 1B25 09.30 to Penzance. 1009 was withdrawn in November 1976 after travelling around 1,376,000 miles. Its engines were sold to a Dutch Trawler owner and the remains were cut up at Swindon Works in December 1979. One of D1009’s last passenger duties was on 30 October 1976 when it double-headed with D1023 Western Fusilier on the ‘Westerns South Western’ railtour, which went to Meldon Quarry returning via the L&SWR line via Exeter, Salisbury, Basingstoke and Reading. 19 February 1974

Right Bottom: This must rank as one of the dirtiest Westerns I ever saw. D1005 Western Venturer stands at Reading on an unidentified working.

Despite this apparent neglect it survived for a further 2 years and 9 months before withdrawal due to burnt out wiring. It had the highest recorded mileage of any of the class, this being 1,392,000 miles. 19 February 1974

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A rather murky grey Reading afternoon finds D1066 Western Prefect arriving with 1B73 1430 Paddington to Paignton service. D1066 was the first Western dual braked back in July 1968. It was then a Landore based Western and was rarely seen in the West Country until air braked coaching stock was introduced on some services in 1971. Swansea and Bristol services went over to air brake steam heat before the West Country services. From October 1971 all the Westerns were based at Plymouth Laira depot. 19 February 1974

Reading was a good place to observe Westerns. As well as passenger services there were a good variety of freight and parcels trains in those days. D1016 Western Gladiator arrives at Reading with 6B09 1340 Acton to St Erth milk empties. Behind the locomotive is Reading Panel box; very much part of the scene for many a year. 19 February 1974

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D1040 Western Queen is passing through Platform 2 at Paignton station on its way to Goodrington Carriage Sidings to collect the coaching stock for a Paignton – Paddington service. As the Carriage Sidings are on the Up side, this line through Platform 2 is signalled for bi-directional working. March 1974

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D1025 Western Guardsman stands in the warm Cornish sunshine at Penzance prior to working the 1A35 1005 departure to Paddington; the first Sunday morning departure in those days. The locomotive will work as far as Plymouth. 8 September 1974

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D1029 Western Legionnaire emerges from the Penzance station train shed into the bright Cornish sunshine as it propels the empty coaching stock from the overnight service towards Long Rock Depot for servicing. D1029 originally carried incorrectly spelt nameplates Western Legionaire for three years until new Western Legionnaire plates were fitted in 1967. D1029 was the last ‘Western’ to be completed, emerging from Crewe Works on 20 April 1964. 8 September 1974

Platform 2 at Paddington Station and D1021 Western Cavalier has arrived with 1A55, the 0955 Paignton to Paddington service. Later that day D1021 returned to the West Country with the 1B19 1730 Paddington to Penzance, the ‘Golden Hind’. Note the red undercoat showing through under the headcode panel. One could easily tell D1021 by this mark which it carried around for a period of time.

Some of the paintwork is showing white streaks as well. 13 September 1974

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A gloomy morning at Plymouth and D1030 Western Musketeer waits to leave with the 1A45 0635 Penzance to Paddington. On the notorious climb to Hemerdon Summit, one of D1030’s mighty Maybach engines failed. The loco struggled to the top on one engine and continued to Totnes where it was replaced by Class 47 47254 (originally D1931 and later becoming 47651, and finally 47806) which had been sent from Newton Abbot. D1030 returned light engine to Laira depot, Plymouth for fitters attention. D1030 soldiered on for another 19 months before withdrawal with collision damage. It eventually travelled 1,216,000 miles. 13 September 1974

This I thought, was an unusual sight: A Western languishing in the Down Bay Platform at Taunton station. This was probably a common occurrence, but living in Derbyshire it was the only time I saw this happen. The loco is D1053 Western Patriarch and appears to be on an inter-regional parcels train which was the 16.05 Friday departure, York to Plymouth. Two Class 08s lurk in the background.

This scene was captured on film from a passing Sheffield – Chesterfield - Plymouth ‘Merrymaker’ special. Do you remember ‘Merrymakers’? 26 October 1974

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D1013 Western Ranger stabled in the bay at the west end of Plymouth station awaiting to work the 1V76 0915 Liverpool to Penzance service forward from Plymouth at 16.00. D1013 had worked up from Penzance earlier that afternoon with the 1A45 12.40 Penzance to Paddington service. 45036 worked into Plymouth with 1V76 having taken over from an electric at New Street, Birmingham. Saturday 26 October 1974.

D1025 Western Guardsman stands at the buffer stops having arrived on the overnight sleeper service (1A49 22.10 from Penzance) under the magnificent roof of the impressive Paddington terminus in London W2. Although the station was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a great deal of the structure, especially with the lavish ironwork was designed by Matthew Digby-Wyatt. I only had 4463 miles of haulage behind these wonderful locomotives in BR days; D1025 was my top mileage machine with 339 miles being recorded. 16 April 1975

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D1025 Western Guardsman is at Platform 1 at Birmingham New Street waiting to run round its train after arrival with the 1M11 09.05 from London Paddington. Class 87, 87007 – yet to be named City of Manchester – is seen arriving with a Wolverhampton to London Euston service, and provides the sight of a ‘Western’ and a Class 87 together. 16 April 1975

An impressive low angle view of D1025 Western Guardsman easing slowly into Platform 1 at Birmingham New Street before working back to London Paddington with the return working of the 1M11 09.05 ex Paddington - the 1V38 12.25 from New Street. 16 April 1975

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Station mates at Birmingham New Street. Class 86, 86214 (previously Class AL6, E3106) which was later named Sans Pareil in 1980, on the 1A40 to London Euston with D1025 also London bound, but Paddington on the 1V38 12.25 departure. Several BRUTE (British Rail Universal Trolley Equipment) trolleys are on hand on Platform 4 and 5. 16 April 1975

D1063 Western Monitor stands at Platform 5 of Reading station on the 1A45 06.35 Penzance – Paddington on a dull dreary day. It never seemed to be sunny whenever I visited Reading to photograph trains; I guess I was just unlucky with the weather whenever I came here. 16 September 1975

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Looking decidedly tatty is D1059 Western Empire during its last station stop at Reading before journey’s end at Paddington whilst working the 1A55 0955 Paignton to Paddington. The loco was withdrawn on the 6 October not long after this photo was taken.

16 September 1975

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D1065 Western Consort rattles its train of china clay empties forming the 6V53 Stoke-on-Trent – St. Blazey along a totally deserted Dawlish Sea Wall. Langstone Rock looms above the rear of the train. This proved to be the last Western I photographed on the Sea Wall. 20 March 1976

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Easily identifiable by its high set numberplates, D1036 Western Emperor is between duties stabled at the turntable at Old Oak Common depot, West London at around 16.00. This shot was taken whilst on a shed-bashing trip from Sheffield & Chesterfield.

Permission was granted for our party to look round under guidance and this was the only Western present. 27 June 1976

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The only blue liveried Western to carry red backed name and number plates was D1013 Western Ranger. Seen here on shed at Landore, Swansea having arrived on the 1C87 00.50 Paddington - Milford Haven overnight service which it worked to Swansea.

25 July 1976

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A work-stained D1071 Western Renown is a companion for the more normal Class 47s and 31s at Severn Tunnel Junction depot.

1071 had worked into Severn Tunnel on Friday 23 with the 8C35 09.25 Margam freight. It spent the weekend at the depot. The next working it was observed on was on Monday 26 working 4E70 Swansea (Danygraig) – Stratford freightliner. 25 July 1976

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D1010 Western Campaigner was one of the two dozen of the class that survived into the last six months of the ‘Westerns’ service and was one of the seven that ran in 1977. Seen here at Plymouth having taken over from 47186 (formerly D1781) on a Paddington – Penzance working. The ‘Peak’ on the right was 45024 (formerly D17) which had just brought the ECS in from Laira for the returning ‘Merrymaker’ train to Chesterfield, Sheffield and Barnsley. D1010 was owned by Foster Yeoman Ltd. and for quite some time masqueraded as D1035 Western Yeoman. It is now in the care of the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group at Williton on the West Somerset Railway. It is out of traffic in 2024 and receiving a heavy overhaul at Williton depot. 23 October 1976

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D1023 Western Fusilier races north through a very dull Retford station, deep in former LNER territory, on the ‘Western Talisman’ special from Kings Cross to York. This was the first passenger working of a ‘Western’ on the East Coast Main Line. Some 49 miles further north, D1023 arrived at York in sunshine. 20 November 1976

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A somewhat depressing sight for all Western fans but part of the locomotive’s history. Wthdrawn Western locomotives sit silently in the Con Yard at Swindon Works awaiting the dreaded cutter’s torch. The line of locos on the left is headed by D1012 with D1025, D1064, D1057, D1016 and D1028 behind while the two on the right are D1065 and D1036. Of these eight locos D1065 was the last to be cut up in July 1979. 28 November 1976

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D1023 Western Fusilier arriving at Crewe with the ‘Western Memorial’ Farewell Railtour from Paddington which visited both places where ‘Westerns’ were built. During the stop at Crewe D1023 was re-fuelled at Crewe Diesel Depot before returning to London via Chester & Shrewsbury. 29 January 1977

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D1023 Western Fusilier rolls slowly through Chesterfield with the famous landmark of St. Mary’s and All Saints Parish Church high above in the background, the crooked spire. The ‘Western Finale’ Farewell Railtour from Exeter to York, had in my opinion the best of the Farewell Railtours headboards. Whoever made it deserves many congratulations and thanks for such an excellent job. The train was running 78 minutes late after hitting cattle that had strayed onto the line at Charfield in Gloucestershire. This was to be D1023’s second visit to York and the train is just starting to cross over to ‘The Old Road’, thus avoiding Sheffield. 12 February 1977

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D1013 Western Ranger hurries through Hersham on the Southern Region between Esher and Walton-on-Thames on the Waterloo – Basingstoke – Bournemouth main line with the ‘Southern Belle’ railtour from Waterloo to Bournemouth and Weymouth returning via Southampton – Guildford – Redhill – Reading – and Ascot back to Waterloo. This was the last appearance of a ‘Western’ on the Southern in BR days. 19 February 1977

Just 25 days after withdrawal D1022 Western Sentinel stripped of its name and numberplates sits outside ‘The Factory’ at Old Oak Common depot, West London. It was awaiting the long slow haul to Swindon Works where it arrived on 11 May 1977. It was cut up on 14 December 1978. 20 February 1977

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D1013 Western Ranger and D1023 Western Fusilier are seen working the second leg of BR’s Farewell Special ‘The Western Tribute’ approaching Bridgend station, photographed from the station car park.

The special was heading towards the Severn Tunnel and then onto Plymouth via Bristol. The train was passing at an appropriately funereal pace due to adverse signals. 26 February 1977

The only blue liveried ‘Western’ to carry red backed name and number plates was D1013 Western Ranger. This nameplate is 7’ 1¾’ long and 10’ high, with 4’ aluminium letters secured to a mild steel base plate from the rear with 5/16’ No 4 Phillips self-tapping screws. The plate is finished off round the edge by ½’ aluminium beading. 25 July 1976

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A long-awaited publication, this book stands as a fitting tribute to Peter Crawley and the enthusiasts who dedicated themselves to documenting these iconic locomotives.

ISBN 978-1-913893-63-7

Compiled by Roger Geach

Compiled and expanded with detailed captions and additional research, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the final years of the Westerns, from their workings on the Swansea to Leeds service to memorable moments at Plymouth, Reading, and Dawlish.

Featuring insights into the excursions and railtours of the era, this is an essential read for those who fondly remember the Westerns and the golden age of British Rail.

Absolutely Westerns Absolutely Westerns

The Western Region’s mighty Class 52 locomotives left an enduring legacy, captivating rail enthusiasts across the country. In ‘Absolutely Westerns’, the late Peter Crawley’s passion for these legendary machines is brought to life through his rare and evocative photographs.

£17.50

Compiled by Roger Geach