Vintage Trains 2025

So how many of us are on Saturday's tour then? Been several years since I've been any further west than Cardiff on the South Wales Main Line, so I'm looking forward to it.

 

It is presumably still operational, as the tour booklet for Saturday's tour to Swansea is listing it as one of the two possible diesels that will be on the back (the other is 37240)

 

37240 was the rear gunner for todays 'Western Mountaineer' with D1015 "Western Champion" leading the way. Seen climbing Shap at High Scales & crossing Arten Gill on the return.





Phil

 

Nice to see D1015 back up north again today after nearly 12 years...footage of the Western roaring up Shap this morning with a little assistance from 37240 then accelerating hard past Euxton on the return.

 

For week after week it was Tangmere, Tangmere, Tangmere and then suddenly here in the NW we have had Blue Peter, Tornado, Sir Nigel Gresley, Nunney Castle, Mayflower, Bahamas, Scots Guardsman. And now for something completely different, a Western. D1015 Western Champion, a diesel hydraulic and a rare (unique?) visitor to the line through Blackburn. I'm a mainline steam fan but will turn out for some of the more interesting diesels and I judged that the Western was well worth a look. As I had never seen one in mainline action where could be better to watch it than the tried, trusted (and handy) Wilpshire bank.

Mrs W returned from her Wednesday lunchtime/afternoon gathering with her former colleagues and responsibility for a slumbering Maisie was duly transferred. The train was due at Ramsgreave at 18.00 so allowing plenty of time for the heavy teatime traffic I arrived just after 17.30. No point faffing about killing time, I headed down to the station platform. Young Philip and his mum were already there. We chatted as I prepared. The Blackburn bound train came and went at 17.40 (RT), D1015 had already passed thro' Clitheroe at 17.36 (6E). The Clitheroe bound train was due at 17.44 but running late; how late mattered as it was a potential "blocker". (Later we found out that it was so late that it was terminated short at Blackburn.)

It was just a matter of trying to guess when the Western would appear. Attendance on the station was sparse; Philip, me and two guys, one with us and one on the opposite platform, Philip's mum had gone up on to the bridge. D1015 appeared from around the curve by the old Wilpshire station, a spot where the sun shone brightly, unlike the station where the trackside trees cast heavy shadows - oh for a chain saw! The train approached at a reasonable speed, plenty of exhaust clouded the air above the Western which was making a very agreeable sound. The sound grew louder, never raucous or thunderous but purposeful and powerful. Philip gestured for a toot from the driver and got one. The coaches shone as they hurried past, the 37 hung on to the rear contributing nothing to the forward momentum. 19C with a cool northerly wind, 7E & 27mph. Now that was different.

 

Clear evening skies tempted me out for this main line rarity; shadows lengthen south of Crewe as D1015 cruises downhill towards Stafford at Mill Meece. A chainsaw would be useful here too, sadly no toot !
I notice D1015 has gained a lamp since Ramsgreave !.

 

A couple of quick phone snaps of D1015 as it pauses at Stafford on the return working from Carlisle.

 

D1015 seen from Scout Green through to Shap Wells then on the return from the Aisgill hillside, plus my archive footage from the last run over Shap on the 31st July 2010.