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'''D1015 Western Champion''' is a BR Class 52 diesel-hydraulic locomotive. A total of 74 were built for BR's Western Region between 1961 and 1964. All were given two-word names beginning "Western", hence the type became known as Westerns. Other nicknames included D1000s or 'thousands', and 'wizzers'. A description of the Class can be found on the [[BR Class 52 D1013 Western Ranger|D1013 ''Western Ranger'']] page.
D1015 is owned by the [[Diesel Traction Group]] (DTG). Since achieving main line certification in 2002, it has hauled over 60 rail tours as far as Penzance in the south and Kyle of Lochalsh in the north. These are listed on the DTG's [http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/loco-d1015-railtour-archive.php D1015 Western Champion Railtour Archive page] (external link). The locomotive visited the railway on various occasions for [[Diesel galas|diesel galas ]] and for attention by the DTG's engineering staff. From 2015 onwards the locomotive has remained at the SVR for extended periods of time, and since 2017 has been regarded as a resident locomotive<ref>[http://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/Special%20Events/SVR%20Spring%20Diesel%20Festival%20Brochure%202017.pdf SVR Spring Diesel Festival 2017 Brochure], which listed D1015 under "Home Fleet"</ref>. Its [[TOPS codes|TOPS number]] is 89416 and it is nicknamed 'The Mule'.
==D1015 in service==
Restoration continued over the next 10 years, interspersed by visits to open days including Laira in 1991. A move into the Old Oak Common factory enabled the DTC to replace the engine and bogies with improved condition components. The locomotive was also rewired and fitted with up to date safety systems such as Drivers Vigilance, Speed Sensing equipment and radio telephones. In early 2000 D1015 ran again on two engines.<ref name=D1015Preservation/>
Main line running required the completion of 1,000 miles of running in which was carried out on the Severn Valley Railway, usually performing two round trips a day. A main line loaded test run to and from Sheffield was carried out on 28 January 2002, although the B engine failed early in the trip with low oil pressure. D1015 returned light engine too to Old Oak Common where the engine was replaced. After another test run on 13 February, D1015 began a mainline programme on 23 February 2002, with six charter trains operated that year to places such as Bristol, Paignton, Swansea, Worcester, Plymouth and Shrewsbury.<ref name=D1015Preservation/> A notable occurrence was the rescue of an HST on 26 October 2002 at Daunsey. The HST had slipped to a stand and Champion took the train to Swindon.
After that time D1015 remained based at Old Oak Common from where it operated on the main line, interspersed with occasional visits the SVR for Galas and other purposes. These included the 2002 and 2005 Diesel Galas, although the latter saw the locomotive fail due to an electrical relay burning out compounded by an earth fault.<ref>SVR News 153</ref> In April 2014 D1015, now in BR Maroon livery, brought D1062 Western Courier back from tyre turning at Tyseley.<ref>SVR News 186</ref> In 2015 it attended the October Diesel Gala and in 2016 D1015 took part in the May Diesel Gala as [[Locomotive numbering|D1058 ''Western Nobleman''.]]<ref>SVR News 194</ref> and the August 'Western Weekend'. By December 2016 the DTG had entered into a running agreement with the SVR.
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