D1015 Western Champion
In 1966, D1010 Western Campaigner headed an Ian Allan Special non-stop from Paddington to Penzance in 5 hours and 15 minutes. On 7th May 2016 this feat was recreated as far as Plymouth, as D1015 Western Champion masquarading as D1010 Western Campaigner / D1058 Western Nobleman headed the 'Western Challenger' tour non-stop from Paddington to Plymouth, before heading to Okehampton & Meldon Quarry, returning over the Southern route, once the preserve of 'Warships' from 1965 to 1971, to Waterloo via Honiton & Salisbury. Enjoy the sound of twin 65 litre Maybach V12s courtesy of D1015!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePPvbui6HSI
To celebrate the Classic Traction Youtube channel reaching 100,000 views on Youtube, we see Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion as she heads a GB Railfreight Staff Charter to Minehead on 6th September 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYUk1-81JPU
There can be no finer sight and sound for diesel fans than a Class 52 'Western' in full cry over the South Devon banks! With her twin 65 litre Maybach MD655 V12s in full cry, D1015 Western Champion, masquarading as long scrapped sister diesel-hydraulic D1017 Western Warrior, passes Kerswell near Stoneycombe Quarry as she climbs Dainton Bank with the 1Z52 0700 Solihull - Plymouth 'Zulu 48' railtour on 10th May 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYkLySa2aQg
With her twin 65 litre Maybach V12s in full cry, D1015 Western Champion climbs the 1 in 52 gradient of Upwey Bank as she leaves Bincombe Tunnel No. 2 as she heads the 1Z53 1536 Weymouth - Leicester 'Western Wessexman' charter on 7th September 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bebl4PzCa7A
Running as long scrapped sister D1012 Western Firebrand, D1015 Western Champion top n' tails with Class 40 40145 East Lancashire Railway at Carn Brea working the 1Z52 1237 Newquay - Crewe 'East Lancs Champion' charter on 16th May 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xy3PX6Pons
On 20th March 2010, Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion headed the 'Western Rocks' charter from Bristol to Buxton, running outward via Stockport and returning via Great Rocks & Peak Forest. Masquerading as long scrapped sister Class 52 D1054 Western Governor, we see D1015 at Clay Cross Junction, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Buxton, before returning at Great Rocks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvTPrWhUTgs
On one of the rarest preserved Class 52 'Western' workings ever, as D1015 Western Champion passes Saltash with the 6Z52 0935 Tavistock Junction Yard - Burngullow ECC 'silver bullet' china clay slurry tanks on 15th October 2009. Who would have though a 'Wizzo' could be seen on China Clay workings in Cornwall over 30 years since they last performed this duty for BR. Amazing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX7EU-Hmgy0
Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion makes a glorious sound as her twin Maybach V12s revurberate through the valley as she passes Roman Bridge working the 0630 Didcot Parkway - Blaenau Ffestiniog 'Western Slater' railtour on 19th September 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2XYCkrFFzs
Were you there? Diesel-hydraulics fans throng D1015 Western Champion 'on the blocks' at Inverness having arrived with the 0703 Bristol TM - Inverness 'Western Chieftain' railtour on 19th June 2009. Later, we see the 'wizzo' reverse the stock out of Inverness Station, the Caledonian & Highland Railway trainshed reverburating to the sound of twin Maybach V12s! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMpEi2imGO4
With her twin 65 litre Maybach V12s working hard, Class 52 'Western' D1015 Western Champion passes Laira Junction working the 1Z21 0745 Bristol Temple Meads - Penzance 'Great Britain II' charter on 7th April 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTSZAcHotO8
A Class 52 'Western' where she should be - on the Cornish Main Line! D1015 Western Champion passes Lostwithiel working the return 1Z53 1700 Par - Paddington 'Royal Duchy' on 5th April 2009. Hard to believe this was over 8 years ago! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgc7Q-ZasN4
Classic diesel-hydraulic action in the far west! Class 52 'Western' D1015 Western Champion passes Par working the 0712 Paddington - Penzance 'Royal Duchy' on 5th April 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOQdh5YVRP8
Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion passes Respryn Bridge near Lanhydrock, between Lostwithiel and Bodmin Parkway, with the return Penzance - Paddington 'Royal Duchy' charter on 5th April 2008. Listen to those wonderful 65 litre Maybach V12 MD655s as she climbs up the grade towards Bodmin Parkway! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmENlYYWHAw
We hear the wonderful noise from her twin Maybach V12s as Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion passes Penmaenbach at speed heading the Ealing Broadway - Holyhead 'Irish Mail' charter on 16th February 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETDhDaPDJ2w
Was this the first Class 52 'Western' to reach Holyhead? Climbing the 1 in 75 gradient out of Holyhead Station, Class 52 'Western' D1015 Western Champion makes a magnificent ascent of the bank as she heads the 1515 Holyhead - Ealing Broadway 'Irish Mail' charter on 16th February 2008. Hard to believe that this was almost 10 years ago! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLMDLq68x6Q
Was this really 11 years ago? With her twin 65 litre Maybach V12s absolutely purring away, memories of the early 1960s are evoked as Class 52 'Western' D1015 Western Champion crosses Moorswater Viaduct near Liskeard whilst working the 1Z24 0623 Gloucester - Penzance 'Cornubian' on 28th October 2006. The railtour later returned from Penzance behind GWR 'King' 6024 King Edward II, with the 'Wizzo' later returning 'light engine.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG0lffW3a1k
Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion, wearing her original BR Golden Ochre livery, emerges from Blea Moor Tunnel on the Settle & Carlisle route, as she heads the Bristol TM Carlisle (via the S & C) 'Western Heights' charter on 3rd September 2005, the first 'wizzo' ever to traverse the 'Long Drag.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96xRxYycwi0
Another from the Classic Traction archives! Was this really 12 years ago? Breaking new ground for the class, Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion becomes the first 'Western' to ever traverse the West Coast Main Line as it climbs towards Shap Summit near Hardendale Quarry with the 1Z30 1530 Carlisle - Bristol Temple Meads 'Western Heights' railtour on 3rd September 2005. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAher9cW26k