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Film appearance 2007 (not then SVR resident), freight workings, reordering stuff
==D1015 in preservation==
In 1980 D1015 became the third locomotive to be acquired by the DTG, which already owned SVR residents [[BR Class 42 D821 Greyhound | D821 Greyhound]] and [[BR Class 35 D7029 | Hymek D7029]].<ref>[http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/about.php westernchampion.co.uk About Us]</ref> In 2002 and 2015 D1015 attended the diesel galas and in 2016 D1015 attended both the May diesel gala and the August ‘Western Weekend’. By December 2016 the DTG had entered into a running agreement with the SVR. The locomotive experienced an engine issue in 2016. In January 2017 the DTG announced that the engine needed to be replaced before D1015 could commit to further mainline running and an appeal for £50,000 was launched, which was rapidly filled and the share offer closed the following month.<ref>[http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/ DTG website announcement] (retrieved 6 January 2017)</ref> The loco operated on one engine while two engines were rebuilt in parallel, one by DTG engineers at Kidderminster and one on their behalf in Germany. In August 2019 the locomotive moved to the [[Diesel Depot]] for a replacement engine to be fitted, and subsequent workings of the SVR 'The Pionerr' excursion trains were with two engines again operating. ==D1015 on the main line==D1015 achieved main line certification in 2002, since which it has hauled over 60 rail tours as far as Penzance in the south and Kyle of Lochalsh in the north.<ref>[http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/loco-d1015-railtour-archive.php D1015 Western Champion Railtour Archive]</ref> Its [[TOPS codes|TOPS number]] is 89416. The engine issue in 2016 was issue with the B engine, during The Canterbury Champion rail tour.<ref>[http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/loco-d1015-railtour-archive-2013.php#tour060|The Canterbury Champion railtour]</ref> Champion returned to the mainline in on test on 17 September 2021 but unfortunately suffered another engine issue. ===Freight workings===*On 14 and 15 October 2009, Western Champion worked Colas Rail freight China Clay Tanks trains from Quidhampton to Tavistock Junction.*Its loaded mainline test on 17 September 2021 included piloting the GBRf Avonmouth Hanson Siding to Penyffordd Cement train as far as Gloucester.
The picture below shows the locomotive still carrying the identity of D1031 Western Rifleman which was used during the 2016 rail tour.
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It is nicknamed 'The Mule'.
==TV and film==
The 'Bank Job' film was based on a true story about a bank robbery of Lloyds Bank on Baker Street in September 1971. It was directed by Roger Donaldson, produced by Steven Chasman and Charles Roven and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Champion was transformed into D1046 Western Marquis, which at the time was the sole remaining operational Western in Maroon livery. Filming took place at Paddington on 18 February 2007<ref>[http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/loco-d1015-mainline.php DTG]</ref>.
==See also==
[[Diesel Locomotives]]<br />
