The images on this page show D1015 Western Champion back in the South West after an absence of some 25 years. It is also a personal tribute to the people at the Diesel Traction Group for all their had work and dedication to enable myself and fellow Western enthusiasts to see Champion hard at work on the main line.

Saturday 20th April 2002 was an eagerly awaited day for me as a Class 52 'Western' was working to Devon for the first time since 1977 on a special to Paignton. D1015 Western Champion was to work the 1Z52 08.39 Paddington to Paignton with a load of twelve MK1's. To see a 'Western' working a train on the Devon main line was a sight that I thought I would never see again. After watching, chasing and photographing those last few 52 hauled trains back in 1977 here I was again at the lineside waiting for a '52' on a down Paignton train.

D1015 Western Champion passing Turf Crossing near Starcross with the 1Z52 to Paignton. [20th April 2002]
	On arrival at Paignton D1015 took the stock out to Goodrington sidings and stabled there at the head of the twelve Mk1's until departure time of the 1Z15 return working. Here D1015 runs round its stock. [20th April 2002]
Western Champion passing what was once the junction for the Paignton branch at Aller with the return 1Z15 18.00 Paignton to Paddington. [20th April 2002]
	D1015 passing Cullompton with the 1Z15 return working to Paddington. [20th April 2002]

Western Champion was booked to appear at the St Blazey depot open day for invited guests only on Saturday 31st August 2002.
Incredibly 'Champion' was not hauled to St Blazey as part of a convoy as most locomotives are. She actually worked down to Cornwall on the 6V70 freight which she hauled from Bristol. Old Western bashers like myself could hardly believe it. A Western WORKING an EWS freight train on the south-west mainline in 2002, twenty-five years after BR scrapped them!!

However that was not to be D1015's only mainline running. The following day 'Champion' was also booked to haul some clay trip workings between Goonbarrow on the Newquay branch and Fowey.

D1015 hauling the 6V70 at the top of Hemerdon Bank on the outskirts of Plymouth. 60085 kept her company for the journey. [29th August 2002]
	D1015 had worked up from St Blazey light engine as the 0G72 11.12 St Blazey to Fowey. At Lostwithiel she crossed to the down main to enable her to gain access to the Fowey branch. She is seen here passing over the road crossing at the east end of Lostwithiel station. [30th August 2002]
D1015 runs passed Lostwithiel signal box heading for the Fowey branch. This area is still worked by semaphore signals and the sound of block bells, crashing signal arms and Maybachs momentarily transferred me back to the mid 1970's. [30th August 2002]
	Once passed St Blazey depot and sidings the Newquay branch crosses two road level crossings. Western Champion has just crossed Middleway crossing with the 6G11 13.18 Fowey to Goonbarrow trip and heads for the Luxulyan valley. [30th August 2002]
On arrival at the Rocks clay works the empty CDA's were shunted into the works ready for loading. D1015 then coupled up to another rake of CDA's ready for the return trip to Fowey. Western Champion and crew wait with the return working. [30th August 2002]
	D1015 at Goonbarrow Jcn with the return 6G10 15.50 Goonbarrow to Fowey trip. [30th August 2002]
Champion slowly moves out of the sidings towards Goonbarrow Jcn Signal Box to begin it's return run to Fowey. [30th August 2002]
	D1015 approaches the signal box at Goonbarrow Jcn where she will gain access to the Newquay branch. [30th August 2002]
Western Champion pauses at Par station with the 6G10 Goonbarrow to Fowey trip. [30th August 2002]
	D1015 at Par station with the 6G10 Goonbarrow to Fowey trip. She stabled at Par for a while before continuing to Fowey. [30th August 2002]
In fading light Western Champion passes Golant on the Fowey branch with the 6G10 trip. [30th August 2002]

Western Champion worked a charter to Plymouth on Saturday 26th October 2002. She hauled the twelve coach 1Z52 06.18 Crewe to Plymouth via Friary sidings. An '09' hauled the train from Friary to Plymouth station.

After stabling in platform eight D1015 hauled the return train as far as Bristol where she was detached. Champion was booked to run light to Old Oak Common but she actually came to the rescue of a failed FGW HST. She hauled the HST to Swindon where the service train was terminated and Champion continued it's run to Old Oak Common.

	D1015 near Tiverton Parkway working the 1Z52 06.18 Crewe to Plymouth. [26th October 2002]
D1015 passing Exminster, west of Exeter, and heading for the sea wall. [26th October 2002]
	D1015 takes the depot road at Laira Jcn to run through the depot en-route to Friary. [26th October 2002]
Western Champion arrives at Friary in Plymouth. [26th October 2002]
	D1015 stands in the sidings at Friary. [26th October 2002]
Western Champion at Friary. 09017 will be attached to the rear and drag the train to Plymouth station. The Western was shut down which meant it was quite a load for '17' to haul, especially up the gradient from Mountgould Jcn to Lipson Jcn. [26th October 2002]
	D1015 being dragged by 09017 at Lipson Jcn. [26th October 2002]
Western Champion standing at platform eight at Plymouth station. [26th October 2002]
	D1015 passing Laira Jcn on the return working. [26th October 2002]

Saturday 15th March 2003 was the date for Champion to visit both Meldon and Merehead quarries. 'Peak' 46035 brought the eleven mk1's from Crewe into Bristol from where Champion took over and ran to Exeter, then along the ex Southern to Okehampton were, unfortunatly, she had to run ECS to Meldon. Then it was back to Exeter and onto Westbury via Yeovil for the visit to Merehead before heading back to Bristol where 46035 again took over for the return to Crewe.

Western Champion nearing Okehampton with the 1Z46 from Crewe. [15th March 2003]
	D1015 approaching the station at Okehampton. The Dartmoor Railway use the station and they operate trains along the section of line between Meldon and Coleford. [15th March 2003]
D1015 Western Champion working the return 1Z52 13.36 Okehampton to Crewe passed Common Moor No1 crossing near Comore. (Taken with the kind permissiin of the land owner) [15th March 2003]
	D1015 Passing Seaton Jcn Station with the return working. [15th March 2003]

On Saturday 9th August 2003 Western Champion made the long awaited return to the 'End of the line' at Penzance. The train ran from Paddington via the Berks & Hants as the 1Z52 07.25 Paddington to Penzance and returned via the same route as the 1Z53 16.15 Penzance to Paddington. The loco had new name plates attached as a tribute to the designer of the Western class Sir Misha Black.

Western Champion crossing Forder viaduct on the Cornish main line near Saltash on the down run from Paddington. [9th August 2003]
	D1015 on Long Rock MPD at Penzance after being serviced. [9th August 2003]
D1015 alongside 47813 on Long Rock Depot. Champion had been serviced and was running back to be attached to the stock. [9th August 2003]
	The new name plate fitted to D1015 as a tribute to the loco's designer. [9th August 2003]
D1015 approaching Moorswater viaduct near Liskeard on the return working. [9th August 2003]

2005 saw the return of Champion to the main line after it had suffered bearing problems with the 'A' end transmission. On Thursday 27th January the loco worked the 1Z52 09.30 Gloucester to Par and 1Z53 19.02 Par to Gloucester return. Champion suffered some TPWS problems which caused the brakes to be applied at various locations but fortunately was able to complete its run.

Western Champion crossing the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall at Saltash with the 1Z52 09.30 Gloucester to Par. [27th January 2005]
	After being serviced D1015 is seen, smoking well, shunting around the depot at St Blazey. She is running back to be attached to the stock waiting in the sidings. [27th January 2005]
Western Champion pausing at Plymouth platform 7 on the return to Gloucester. [27th January 2005]

On Saturday 19th March 2005 D1015 made a return to Cornwall with a visit to the Fowey and Newquay branches. The special was officially made up of three separate trains. 1Z52 07.04 Ealing to Plymouth, 1Z53 13.32 Plymouth to Plymouth and 1Z54 19.42 Plymouth to Ealing. 66248 was attached to the rear at Plymouth due to the lack of run-round facilities on the branches. Unfortunatly only ten days before D1015 was due to run down the branch to Newquay a clay train hauled by 66194 spread the track at Ponts Mill. Fortunatly the track was repaired in time for the special.

Western Champion arriving at Totnes station. This is the 1Z52 07.04 Ealing to Plymouth. The stop was for pathing purposes to allow network trains to pass. [19th March 2005]
	After it's stop Champion leaves Totnes in glorious Devon sunshine and tackles the climb up Rattery Bank making a terrific sight for the assembled gallery of photographers. [19th March 2005]
Seen from high on the hillside Western Champion passes Golant on the Fowey branch. 66248 is on the rear of the train. [19th March 2005]
	After a brief stop 66248 hauled the train back to Lostwithiel. D1015 is seen passing Golant again but this time from the riverside. [19th March 2005]
D1015 Western Champion and crew takes things easy as they pass though St Coloumb Road station on the Newquay branch on the return run to Plymouth, being hauled by 66248. [19th March 2005]
	Back at Plymouth Champion waits off the end of platform eight to run round ready to work what is now the 1Z54 19.42 Plymouth to Ealing. [19th March 2005]

A big thank you must go to all those involved in making the above a reality. Without their dedication and will to achieve none of this would have been possible.

All images © Copyright Steve Boon

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