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*It had less potential for wheel slip due to the axles being coupled by the cardan shafts (with individually powered DE axles a single axle can slip, causing a temporary reduction in power as the locomotive 'finds its feet').
The Western Region initially introduced the Type 3 B-B [[BR Class 35 D7029|Hymeks]] and , Type 4 (Class 41) A1A-A1A and 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. While design work was still in progress, the BTC ordered 74 of the Type of which 35 were to be built at Swindon and 39 at Crewe. In the event only D1000-29 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, and the 1968 traction plan foresaw their end.
The arrival of class 50s and the air-conditioned Mark 2 stock which required ETH saw the Westerns increasingly used on freight duties. Swindon stopped overhauling Westerns in autumn 1972 and withdrawals began in 1973, with the last members of the Class including D1013 being withdrawn in early 1977.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 in service==
On 26 September 1965, D1013 was involved in an accident at Llanharran, South Wales, while hauling the 16.15 Swansea 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 – Newbury - Paddington. Two days later the remaining members of the Class including Western Ranger were withdrawn from service, with D1013 having achieved around 1.3 million miles in service.
On 9 March 1985 4930 Hagley Hall failed, with D1013 working the 16:20 from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster.<ref>SVR News 76</ref> The same year 1985 Holdsworth Conversions Ltd. became insolvent and the receiver advertised the locomotive for sale. The WLA informed the receiver that major parts were owned by the Association, removal of which would render the locomotive out of gauge for removal. Sale was agreed and on 16 October 1995 ownership passed to Roger Smith, remaining under care of the WLA. On 22 March 2000 ownership passed to Western Ranger Limited, before being passed to the WLA.
On 15 September 1991, five of seven surviving Class 52s including the three now resident on the SVR were reunited at the Plymouth Laira Depot opening day.
In April 2001 D1013 was repainted at Kidderminster, the new livery being blue with full yellow warning panels, black backed number and nameplates. On 23 March 2002 it received an overhauled "A" end engine.
===Overhaul from 2009===
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.<ref>[https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/PRISM_Annual_report_2008_2009.pdf] PRISM Fund Annual Report
2008-2009</ref> The main picture above shows D1013 in September 2009. On 10 October 2009 the locomtive was withdrawn for overhaul at [[Bridgnorth]], with rewiring a particular priority. Work is progressing, with D1013 moving to the [[Diesel Depot]] on 25 November 2018 to facilitate the rest of the overhaul.<ref>WLA Facebook 24 November 2018</ref>
In 2021 the WLA announced that experience gained on D1062 Western Courier meant that the overhaul would be extended to include a full bogie overhaul. This work will include lifting the locomotive off its bogies for an initial assessment and inviting tenders for the work. This will precede a complete strip down, shot blasting and repairs to the bogie frames, overhaul of the lateral dampers, new thrust pads, springs and overhaul of the final drives. A major part of this work will require the wheelsets to be re-tyred as they are on minimum thickness safety levels. Much of this will need to 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 applying for funding from The [[:Category:Lottery funding#National_Lottery_Heritage_Fund|National Lottery Heritage Fund]]<ref>[https://d1013bogieappeal.uk/ WLA bogie appeal website] (Retrieved 18 October 2021)</ref>. ===Main line movements===Sister locomotive D1015 Western Champion is the only one of the seven preserved Class 52s to be registered for main line operations. The Class52's method of construction precludes locomotives being winched on and off road trailers, and so moves off to and from the SVR by the other Class 52s are exclusively being always rail hauled by rail. The locomotiveD1013's [[TOPS codes#TOPS_locomotive_classification_and_numbering|TOPS code]] is 89413.
==See also==
