Western Wonder!
D1015's mainline test run
Dennis Clarke
Hope all well with you both.
I went to Bristol Parkway this morning (10.01.24) to see D1015 Western Champion undergo its loaded mainline test run.
It ran light engine from Kidderminster to Avonmouth early in the morning and then topped 66714 on 6M42, 09:20 Avonmouth to Penyffordd cement tanks.
The train was 90 minutes late coming through the station due to a points failure. It looked splendid in the early blue livery and the wait on the cold platform was well worth it to the large number of us at the station.
The Western was removed from the train at Haresfield Loop, in the Gloucester area, and the loco went light engine back to Kidderminster.
I followed it by train hoping to get amother picture of it at Worcester Shrub Hill by the semaphores but to no avail.
I did get off the train at Kidderminster and got a photo of it and D8568 and D7029 at the Severn Valley Diesel depot.
I have enclosed a couple of the pictures I took.
Rumours seem to be circulating that it may run to Paignton on 1st June on a Railtour. Let’s hope so,
Kind Regards,
Dennis
Breaking new ground
Paul Barlow
A couple from today not the best quality as I only had my mobile phone. My first photographs at the new Marsh Barton station.
kind regards
Paul
Michael Adams
A sad occasion showing the last TPO. My brother took some video of the occasion and will be amongst the folk on the platform.
Here is another interesting picture from Michael Adams and it shows 50001 arriving at Reading on 1 December 1980 having rescued a failed HST from the West.The working could not be identified.
The class 50 would be cut up in December 2002.
Thanks. All the best, Michael.