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British Railways (The Western Region initially introduced the Type 3 B-B [[BR) assigned Class 52 to the 35 D7029|Hymeks]], Type 4 diesel(Class 41) A1A-hydraulic locomotives built between 1961 A1A and 1964 B-B [[BR Class 42 D821 Greyhound|Class 42/43 Warships]] into service, but these had proved underpowered for top-link services. In early 1959 the Swindon drawing office under BR(W)CM&EE Sam Smeddle began work on a new mixed traffic C-C design which would become the Western, essentially an enlarged 'Warship' with two more axles and more powerful charge air-cooled diesel engines. All While design work was still in progress, the BTC ordered 74 of the Type of which 35 were given twoto be built at Swindon and 39 at Crewe. In the event only D1000-word names beginning "Western"29 were built at Swindon with the first of the class, D1000, entering service in December 1961.  From introduction the Westerns were used mainly on express passenger work, but also on heavy freight duties. They initially suffered from reliability issues, mainly with the transmission output shaft bearings and final drives. By the late 1960s these had been resolved and the locomotives performed well on the accelerated services introduced to compete with the M4 motorway. However the working life of the class would be relatively short. By 1968 the transfer of freight to roads and the removal of rural networks and branch lines meant BR had too many locomotives. The hydraulics were unpopular with BR engineering, mainly due to the additional maintenance costs, hence and the 1968 traction plan foresaw their end.  The arrival of class 50s and the type became known as air-conditioned Mark 2 stock which required ETH saw the Westerns increasingly used on freight duties. Swindon stopped overhauling Westernsin autumn 1972 and withdrawals began in 1973, with the last members of the Class including D1013 being withdrawn in early 1977. Seven examples are preserved of which three are resident on the SVR; D1013 ''Western Ranger'', [[BR Class 52 D1015 Western Champion | D1015 ''Western Champion'']] and [[BR Class 52 D1062 Western Courier | D1062 ''Western Courier'']].

D1013 Western Ranger was outshopped from BR Swindon Works in December 1962. Following service at Its allocations were:*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 While in service it carried the following liveries: *1962-1967: 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: Blue with full yellow ends, red backed number and nameplates. On 26 September 1965, D1013 was involved in an accident at Llanharran, South Wales, while hauling the 16.15 Swansea Landore to Paddington express service The locomotive hit the tail end of a crane while travelling at around 35mph, sustaining damage to the front end. As the Class numbers dwindled, their popularity rose giving rise to increasing numbers of enthusiast railtours from around 1975. D1013 became a 'railtour' engine, and its red backed number plates gave it notoriety as a 'fairground' engine. One such tour was the 'Severn Valley Flyer' on 1 May 1976 from Swansea to Kidderminster and return.<ref>[https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/760501gr.html 'Severn Valley Flyer' on Six Bells Junction] (Retrieved 18 October 2021)</ref>  On 26 February 1977, D1013 and D1023 Western Fusilier worked the last Western rail tour on BR, the "Western Tribute" Paddington – Swindon – Newport – Swansea – Newport – Bristol – Plymouth Laira, – Newbury - Paddington. Two days later the remaining members of the Class including Western Ranger was were withdrawn from service in 1977 after , with D1013 having achieved around 1.3 million miles in service.

On 14 May 1977 D1013 was purchased from BR by Holdsworth Conversions Ltd., a company owned by Mr Richard Holdsworth, a member of the [[Western Locomotive Association]]. He put the locomotive under the care of the WLA. Following purchase On 14 June 1977 D1013 was hauled to the locomotive was repainted in original maroon livery. In company with Paignton & Dartmouth Railway by Class 47 47013 where it joined [[BR Class 52 D1062 Western Courier|D1062 Western Courier]], . On 9 October 1977 D1013 moved to made its first official run in preservation during a "Western Day" on the Torbay Steam Railway with D1062. The final working on the Paignton & Dartmouth Torbay Steam Railway, was on 29 April 1978. Both locomotives left the railway on 6 August 1978 and following were hauled to Cardiff Canton depot for tyre turning at . On 29 September 1978 they were hauled from Cardiff Canton both arrived to Foley Park on the SVR , becoming the SVR's first main line diesels. SVR News noted that their arrival would "obviously be the cause of much debate"; the original draft locomotive agreement envisaged that they would be based at Bridgnorth and operated on special "Western" weekends and certain other occasions, but not normally used instead of steam on 29 September 1978scheduled SVR trains.<ref>SVR News 48</ref> On 31 March and 1 April 1979 D1013 and D1062 took part in the SVR's first "Western Weekend", the 1 April seeing the first double headed 'Western' hauled train in preservation.

On 11 May 1984===Overhaul from 2009===In 2008 the WLA received a Preservation of Industrial and Scientific Material (PRISM) Fund award of £2,500, D1013 was which covered the first SVR locomotive to work onto stage of restoration.<ref>[https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/PRISM_Annual_report_2008_2009.pdf] PRISM Fund Annual Report2008-2009</ref> The main picture above shows D1013 in September 2009. On 10 October 2009 the newly acquired locomtive was withdrawn for overhaul at [[KidderminsterBridgnorth]] site, hauling with rewiring a load particular priority. Work is progressing, with D1013 moving to the [[Diesel Depot]] on 25 November 2018 to facilitate the rest of sleepers for installation at the station which still under construction at the timeoverhaul.<ref>SVR News 77WLA Facebook 24 November 2018</ref>

In 1985 Holdsworth Conversions Ltd. became insolvent and the receiver advertised 2021 the locomotive for sale. The WLA informed the receiver announced that experience gained on D1062 Western Courier meant that major parts were owned by the Association, removal of which overhaul would render be extended to include a full bogie overhaul. This work will include lifting the locomotive out of gauge off its bogies for an initial assessment and inviting tenders for removalthe work. Sale was agreed This will precede a complete strip down, shot blasting and on 16 October 1995 ownership passed repairs to Roger Smiththe bogie frames, overhaul of the lateral dampers, new thrust pads, remaining under care springs and overhaul of the WLAfinal drives. A major part of this work will require the wheelsets to be re-tyred as they are on minimum thickness safety levels. On 22 March 2000 ownership passed Much of this will need to Western Ranger Limited, before being passed be outsourced to ensure that work complies with legacy British Rail specifications and other safety standards. The WLA launched an appeal for private donations and sponsorship asa prelude to the applying for funding from The [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery Heritage Fund]]<ref>[https://d1013bogieappeal.uk/ WLAbogie appeal website] (Retrieved 18 October 2021)</ref>.

On 10 October 2009 she was withdrawn ===Main line movements===Sister locomotive D1015 Western Champion is the only one of the seven preserved Class 52s to be registered for overhaul at [[Bridgnorth]], with rewiring a particular prioritymain line operations. Work is progressingThe Class 52's method of construction precludes locomotives being winched on and off road trailers, with D1013 moving and so moves to and from the SVR by the other Class 52s are always rail hauled. D1013's [[Diesel DepotTOPS codes#TOPS_locomotive_classification_and_numbering|TOPS code]] on 25 November 2018 to facilitate the rest of her overhaulis 89413.<ref>WLA Facebook 24 November 2018</ref>

*[[Diesel Locomotives]]<br>*[[SVR-based diesel locomotives visiting other events]]<br>*[[Rolling stock currently under restoration]]

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