Hi,
D1015 Western Champion has now completed the first year of main line running.
The tour on Saturday 7th saw D1015 run light from O O C at 04.30 to Bounds Green
via Paddington platform 1, Acton Main Line and the North London Line. It then
hauled the ECS over to West Ealing and was towed to Paddington by a class 66.
The Western Sunset ran with the original headboard of Western Memorial, courtesy
of John Vaughan of RPPR. We used this board as the tour travelled much of the
route of the Western Memorial on Jan 29th 1977 with D1023.
D1015 performed faultlessly (again).
Despite the setback of the broken turbo blower on tour 4 we have without
exception completed all 6 tours and ran to time or early. We hope to continue
this record next year.
Could I through your website say a big thank you to all who have supported D1015
throughout the year. It has been our pleasure to bring you pleasure and its been
worth every minute and every penny!
Today work started on removing the 'T' panel at the A end and attention was
given to body work damage. It is our intention to offer D1015 to the public on
the 1st Feb tour with 'Nunney Castle' (The king is dead - long live the castle!)
in as released from Swindon condition on 21st January 1963. The loco is also
undergoing a 'heavy' exam, oil changes and Ultrasonic Axle Test.
Thank you once again to everyone for your support towards the group and to
Western Champion.
Regards,
Mark Alden.
[Dated 8th December 2002]