D1015 Western Champion: The Western Slater at Chester (19th September 2009)

At 10:30 this morning (Saturday 19th September 2009), mainline registered class 52 Western diesel D1015 Western Champion arrived at Chester for a 15 minute break. The roaming Western was working Pathfinder Tour's 'Western Slater' from Didcot to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The shots show D1015 arriving at Chester for it's 15 minute stop, before departing for Llandudno Junction (to run round for the jaunt down the Conwy Valley line to Blaenau Ffestiniog) with massive thrash and clag.

Also included is Arriva Trains Wales liveried 57315, working the Virgin Trains London to Holyhead Pendolino drag (which only takes place on Saturdays now). 390009 Treaty of Union is the pendolino being dragged.

Special thanks go to YouTubers MerseyrailMad and merseyrail508124 for their brief company this morning. I recommend a visit to their channels if you haven't seen them already:

http://www.youtube.com/MerseyrailMad
http://www.youtube.com/merseyrail508124

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Class
• 52
• 57
• diesel
• locomotive
• D1015
• Western
• Champion
• Chester
• Pathfinder
• Tours
• Slater
• Blaenau
• Ffestiniog
• thrash
• clag
• hellfire
• Arriva
• Trains
• Wales
• 57315
• Virgin
• Pendolino
• 390009
• Treaty
• of
• Union
• MerseyrailMad
• merseyrail508124
• yt:crop=16:9
• yt:quality=high

[GMCobh]

I've never actually seen a "Western" in action,, so I was a bit surprised at the thick black exhaust being emitted. I've always thought that these diesel-hydraulics have a pleasing appearance in photos I have seen of them. I like that livery too. It's good to see a film of one in action. Thanks :)

[theamateurbasher]

@GMCobh The Westerns do indeed look good by appearance, but the thrash and clag they produce is what makes them one of the most popular diesel types in the UK! D1015 Western Champion however, isn't the only one good at clag; the National Railway Museum's D1023 Western Fusilier is another grand clagger too!

Cheers for commenting.

[AllianceB95]

D1015 what a beast i love the departure with the awesome clag! 5*

[theamateurbasher]

Absolutely! Cheers.

[macred52]

Love those Old westerns so much great machines!

[theamateurbasher]

Indeed. Cheers!

[theamateurbasher]

Indeed. Cheers!

[The92002]

What a beauty!

[theamateurbasher]

Absolutely! Cheers.

[21C123]

Nice bit of thrash from the Western there! 5*