The Western Chieftain at Warrington Bank Quay (19th June 2009)

Class 52 Western diesel loco D1015 Western Champion made a brief appearance at Warrington Bank Quay this morning, while working the first leg of Pathfinder Tour's Western Chieftain tour to Inverness. Having made a quick driver exchange, D1015 makes a hellfire exit (clagging for good measure!), and heads towards it's next port of call at Preston.

The tour had originated from Bristol Temple Meads behind a DB Schenker 67, with D1015 taking over at Bescot near Birmingham. The Western's second jaunt to Scotland was to take in Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh over the weekend of Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of June 2009.

Also included is a shot of D1015's arrival, which can be found at my fotopic collection: http://www.davidhennesseystrainworld.fotopic.net/c1714443.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Class
• 52
• diesel
• locomotive
• D1015
• Western
• Champion
• Chieftain
• Pathfinder
• Tours
• Warrington
• Bank
• Quay
• hellfire
• thrash
• clag
• yt:crop=16:9

[gw4pjq]

These were a disaster in service. If you know how they work you will understand why. They were so complicated. Engine - fluid flywheel - 4 speed gearbox - shaft to final drive - more shafts connecting the wheel sets together. And all that repeated at the other end! I never understood why anyone would think of such a silly design. They were such lovely looking locos as well. They should have changed the transmission to electric and that would have made them equal to the deltics.

[theamateurbasher]

@gw4pjq Fair points. Many thanks for commenting.

[acme181169]

Mad dogs and Englishmen eh!

[theamateurbasher]

@acme181169 What exactly do you mean?

[acme181169]

@theamateurbasher Well, we complain like hell about our trains, always have done, yet look how happy everybody onboard is, to be hauled by a 50(ish) year old relic! Nostalgia is a remarkable thing!

Don't get me wrong, I watched thinking how cool it was.

[theamateurbasher]

@acme181169 Aah, now I see what you mean. Yes, it can be a right riot (literally) sometimes, but these bashers appear to have been well behaved when this tour passed through. And I agree, nostalgia is indeed a remarkable thing...

[theamateurbasher]

@theamateurbasher Furthermore, thanks for commenting!

[theamateurbasher]

Cheers!

[AvonRailFan]

great video mate and wot a beast she is to mate 5 stars and fav

[scouselfcmjp]

Hence the `bullet like` accelarartion!