History of D1013 Western Ranger by Doug Tompkins
Built
Swindon works 13th December 1962 (SW LOT 450)
Liveries
On entering service: Maroon with half-yellow warning panels, black backed number
and nameplates and black roof panels.
1967-1976: Blue with full yellow warning panels, black
backed number and nameplates.
1976-1977: (and occasionally during preservation), blue with full yellow ends,
red backed number and nameplates.
1980: Desert Sand with red backed number and nameplates and black roof panels.
Current livery: Blue with full yellow warning panels, black backed number and
nameplates
Total Mileage
1,320,000 miles
Depot Allocations
Dec 1962- 88A Cardiff Canton
Mar 1963- 81A Old Oak Common
Apr 1963- 88A Cardiff Canton
Feb 1965- 87E Landore
Apr 1966- 84A Laira
Apr 1968- 87E Landore
Oct 1971- 84A Laira
Notable railtours involving D1013 Western Ranger
14th September 1975: "Bristolian-Tynesider"-
6000 Locomotive Association- Bristol- Birmingham- Sheffeld-
Newcastle and return.
25th October 1975: "Pembroke Coast Express"-
Wirral Railway Circle- Cardiff-Fishguard Harbour- Milford
Haven- Pembroke Dock- Llanelli.
I st May 1976: "Severn Valley Flyer"- Gwili Railway
Company-Swansea- Cardiff- Gloucester- Worcester- Kidderminster
and return.
22nd May 1976: "The Merchant Venturer"- 6000
Locomotive Association- Bristol- Cheltenham- Birmingham and
return.
11th July 1976: "Torbay Explorer"- Severnside
Locomotive Association- Severn Tunnel Junction- Bristol-
Exeter- Paignton- Exeter- Westbury- Bristol- Gloucester.
26th September 1976: Paddington- Hereford- British Rail-
Paddington- Bath- Newport- Hereford-Worcester- Birmingham-
Oxford- Paddington.
13th November 1976: "The Cornishman"- Severnside
Locomotive Association-Birmingham-Bristol-Exeter- Plymouth-
Penzance and return.
19th February 1977: "Southern Belle"- Severnside
Locomotive Association- Waterloo- Bournemouth- Weymouth-
Southampton- Havant- Guildford- Redhill- Guildford- Reading-
Ascot- Waterloo.
26th February 1977: "Western Tribute"- British
Rail- Paddington-Swindon- Newport- Swansea- Newport- Bristol-
Plymouth- Newbury- Paddington.
Notable Events
Involved in an accident at Llanharran, South Wales, whilst hauling the 16.15
Swansea to Paddington express service on 26th September 1965. The locomotive
hit the tail end of a crane when travelling at approximately 35mph. Front
end damage sustained.
14th January 1972:Fitted with Automatic Warning System
(AWS) and Dual Brakes (DB)
20th January 1977: hauled the 07.30 Swansea to Leeds throughout,
as the booked locomotive had failed at Swansea prior to departure.
Western Region men worked the service with an Eastern Region
conductor. The locomotive returned on the 14.43 Leeds to
Plymouth, which she again worked throughout.
26th February 1977: Western Ranger works the last Western
railtour on BR with D1023 Western Fusilier on the "Western
Tribute"- British Rail- Paddington- Swindon- Newport-
Swansea- Newport- Bristol- Plymouth- Newbury- Paddington.
28th February 1977: Withdrawn from British Rail (Planned
withdrawal).
14th May 1977: Purchased for Preservation by Mr Richard
Holdsworth - Holdsworth Conversions Ltd., under care of 'Western'
Locomotive Association.
14th June 1977: joined fellow preserved class 52 D1062 Western
Courier on the Torbay Steam Railway at Kingswear. It
was hauled there by class 47 No. 47 013 (coincidence?).
9th October 1977: First official run in preservation during
a "Western Day" on the Torbay Steam Railway with
D1062 Western Courier.
29th April 1978: Last working on Torbay Steam Railway.
2nd August 1978: Left Torbay Steam Railway with D1062 Western
Courier en route to new home on Severn Valley Railway,
initially moving just to Newton Abbot.
6th August 1978: with D1062 Western Courier, hauled
from Newton Abbot to Bristol by class 46 No. 46 002
7th August 1978: Left Bristol with D1062 Western Courier bound
for Cardiff Canton depot for tyre turning.
29th September 1978: Left Cardiff Canton along with D1062 Western
Courier for the Severn Valley Railway. The locomotive
used to haul them as far as Foley Park was class 37 No.
37 292.
31 st March/1 st April 1979: Used with D 1062 Western
Courier at the Severn Valley Railway's first "Western
Weekend".
1st April 1979: Paired up with D1062 Western Courier to
work first double headed 'Western' hauled train in preservation.
24th September 1983: Worked special train run on Severn
Valley Railway to celebrate the locomotive's 21St birthday.
11th May 1984: First 'Western' to operate through to Kidderminster
following extension of the Severn Valley Railway's line south
from Foley Park.
17th September 1989: Exhibited at Gloucester Horton Road
Depot's "Rail Day". Southern Belle headboard refitted
for the day.
6th May 1990: Bescot Open Day
12th May 1990: Birmingham Snow Hill Station Special Mid
Line Promotion Day
1st July 1990: Gloucester Horton Road "Rail Day"
19th August 1990: Exhibited at open day, Barry Railfreight
Depot, South Wales.
29th September 1990: Cambridge Station open day
6th/7th October 1990: Visits Nene Valley Railway to work
services between Peterborough and Wansford.
26th May 1991: Coalville open day
22nd June1991: Cardiff Cathays Open Day
29th June 1991: Bristol Bath Road open day
15th September 1991: Exhibited along with fellow class
52s D1010 Western Campaigner,D1015 Western Champion,
D1023 Western Fusilier and D1062 Western Courier at
Laira diesel Depot Open Day, Plymouth.
16th October 1995: Ownership of locomotive passes from
Richard Holdsworth to Roger Smith. Locomotive remains under
care of Western Locomotive Association Limited.
16th July 1996: Special "Obbo" tour on SVR
June 1998: Western Ranger repainted at Kidderminster: Blue
with full yellow warning panels, black backed number and
nameplates. Cab interiors also repainted in "warm cream".
19th June 1998: Special "Obbo" tour on SVR
22nd March 2000: Western Ranger Limited formed - Company
Registration No: 613373
30th September 2000: Western Ranger double-heads with Western
Fusilier on the SVR for the first time since 26th February
1977, recreating the "Western Tribute" railtour.
Livery with red backed name and number plates and silver
buffers.
15th October 2000: Western Ranger exhibited at Worcester
Shrub Hill station open day.
April 2001: Western Ranger repainted at Kidderminster:
Blue with full yellow warning panels, black backed number
and nameplates.
23rd March 2002: D1013 receives overhauled "A" end
engine.
10th August 2002: Western Ranger hauls Capitals United
Express evening Diner train from Kidderminster to Bridnorth
return, after running "C" service.
13th September 2002: D1013 arrives at Kiderminster C & W
works for bodywork remedial repairs.
March/April 2003: D1013 receives brake overhaul including
brake valves, brake cylinders on "B" end bogie
and recalibrated brake guages.
23rd April 2003: New set of name and number plates from Dekton
Components delivered.
12th December 2003: AWS equipment reinstalled and commissioned for the first time for over 25 years
August 2004: “B” engine replaced
14th August 2004: Western Ranger hauls Capitals United Express evening Diner train from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth return, after running "C" service.
February 2005: brake cylinders on "A" end bogie overhauled and all air reservoirs hydraulically tested.
13 May 2005 Western Ranger leaves SVR for the Mid Hants Diesel Gala held from 14 May to 15 May 2005. Loco returns to SVR on 17 May 2005.
13th August 2005: Western Ranger hauls The Golden Hind evening Diner train from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth return, after running "C" service.
15th January 2006 “A” end turbo replaced with overhauled unit.
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