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Add 1976 railtour to Kidderminster
*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.
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.
