Western Locomotive Association

D1062 Western Courier

The SVR is home to four BR Class 52 locomotives out of the seven in preservation. The Western Locomotive Association Limited ('WLA') owns three; D1013 Western Ranger, D1048 Western Lady and D1062 Western Courier ( D1015 Western Champion is also an SVR resident).

History

A total of 74 BR Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic locomotives were originally built between 1961 and 1964. A description of the class can be found on the D1013 Western Ranger page.

The first members of the class were withdrawn in May 1973, leading to founding members of the WLA meeting to discuss the possibility of saving an example for preservation. The WLA was formally launched at a meeting in Bristol in January 1974. After around a year as a largely local group, an advertising fund was set up resulting in membership expanding across the country. In October 1976 the WLA acquired the first example of the class to be preserved, D1062 Western Courier, and had restored it to operational condition by May 1977, just three months after the final members of the class were withdrawn from BR service. At the same time D1013 Western Ranger had been acquired by WLA member Richard Holdsworth and place in the WLA's care (it was later bought by another WLA member, Roger Smith in 1995 before being officially purchased by the WLA in August 2004). After a brief spell at the Torbay Steam Railway, both locomotives arrived on the SVR in September 1978.

In November 1999 The Western Locomotive Association Limited was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital, company number 03873466. It became a registered charity, number 1115058, in July 2006 with its activities being "The preservation, maintenance and operation in working order of its locomotives D1013 Western Ranger and D1062 Western Courier, so far as reasonably practicable, in a condition authentic to their service on British Railways as museum exhibits and to advance the education of the public in the history of the said locomotives."

2018 marked 40 years on the SVR. D1048 Western Lady was kindly gifted to the WLA by then-owners Pete Simpson and Marc Koch during 2023.

The WLA operates membership by subscription, and publishes Western Courier magazine and The Western Linesider leaflet containing latest WLA news.

At Bridgnorth the WLA has workshops and stores adjacent to Hollybush Road sidings, to the north of the station. The WLA contributed funds to, and also uses the facilities of, the Diesel Depot. The WLA maintains good relations with Rolls Royce (formerly MTU and Maybach) and Voith in Germany, original manufacturers of the engine and transmission types respectively.

The WLA is believed to have become the first diesel-owning group in the country to go ‘carbon neutral’, working with a specialist rewilding charity to planting trees in the Scottish Highlands to offset the carbon produced by operating its locomotives.

The WLA is a minor shareholder in SVR(H).

In 2024 a history of the WLA, 'A Journey in Preservation: 50 Years of the Western Locomotive Association', was published by Platform 5 books. As of 2024:

• D1062 Western Courier is operational
• D1013 Western Ranger is undergoing an extensive overhaul (including a complete re-wire) at Kidderminster TMD.
• D1048 Western Lady will receive a full assessment, after which the WLA Members will be consulted on the potential return to operational status.

• 

  D1013 Western Ranger at Bewdley (2009)

• 

  D1048 Western Lady shortly after arrival (2023)

Grants and external funding

• On 29 April 2005 the Heritage Lottery Fund granted the WLA £45,500 towards Western Courier's overhaul, which was used for sending a defective Voith transmission to the manufacturer in Germany.
• In 2008 the WLA received a Preservation of Industrial and Scientific Material (PRISM) Fund award of £2,500, which covered the first stage of restoration of D1013.

Unsuccessful application

In 2023 the NLHF responded negatively to an Expression of Interest application to fund a complete bogie overhaul to main line standard (estimated at £756k), saying "the combination of heritage importance, evidence of need and value for money would make it a low priority for lottery funding." The WLA did not proceed further with the application.

Sales

The railway operates a sales stand on days when the locomotives operate on the SVR and at diesel and mixed traffic galas, offering Western branded and themed merchandise. The stall is usually at Bridgnorth but during the Bridgnorth Development Project this moved to Kidderminster station concourse and the Diesel Depot. It also operates an online shop.

Special workings

From the 1980s onwards the WLA has run a very popular series of 'OBBO Tours', giving the opportunity to travel in a train consisting solely of a Western locomotive and one of the Observation saloons. Refreshments are served, a cab ride is available between stations and photographic opportunities are available.

Models

From time-to-time the WLA collaborates in the production of limited edition models. An incomplete list is:

• O Gauge Model Class 52: 'Just Like The Real Thing' modified kit. DCC soundcard with Howes sound on ESU Loksound v 4.0 chip, built to individual specification.
• 2013: A limited edition of 150 Dapol OO gauge models of a Maroon D1062 Western Courier was delayed, with delivery originally promised to coincide with the 50th celebrations of the locomotive in May 2013. Dapol issued a statement in July 2013 apologising for production difficulties and no blame for the delay could be attributed to the WLA.
• 2018: Special Edition Dapol OO Gauge "Western" D1013 Western Ranger BR Blue - Black-backed plates

It also operates Bridge Norton model railway, an O gauge diesel hydraulic layout. This featured in the Diesel Depot at Members & Shareholders Weekends.

See also

• Diesel Locomotives
• List of preservation groups
• List of Charities associated with the SVR
• Sales Stand
• Bibliography

Links

• Western Locomotive Association website
• Companies House
• Charity Commission

Severn Valley Railway

British Rail or British Railways

Western Locomotive Association Ltd.

Traction Maintenance Depot, also referred to as Diesel Depot

The Preservation of Industrial and Scientific Material (PRISM) Fund, a source of funding from the Arts Council/The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.