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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>
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D1013 Western Ranger in Paddington.jpg |D1013 after completing a rail tour at Paddington in late 1976
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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 Two days later the remaining members of the Class including Western Ranger were withdrawn from service, with D1013 having achieved around 1.3 million miles in service.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 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.
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Western Ranger D1013 (8061975876).jpg |D1013 (nearest) with D1062 at Bridgnorth, August 1981
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In 1982, Western Ranger was used in the filming of the BBC TV sit-com [[L For Lester]].
