Three (or Four, or Fifty) years in the Life of the Western Locomotive Association
Five members of the WLA came on 16th November to present Three years in the life of the Western Locomotive Association. Deputy Chairman Paul Finch led the presentation with plenty of assistance from Peter, Paul, John, and Marty. The Association was formed in 1974 to preserve one of these stunningly good looking diesel hydraulic locomotives. In 1976 they selected D1062 Western Courier from a line up at Swindon. Moving Courier to the Dartmouth Railway at Kingswear, they found D1013 Western Ranger in residence. The WLA was asked to assist with managing Ranger, which duly led to D1013 being taken on by the Association. Moving both locomotives to the Severn Valley Railway in 1978 work progressed such that D1062 was brought into service in 1979. Images depicted members of the working party undertaking a whole range of procedures in the workshops at Kidderminster MPD, as they maintain these complex twin engine locomotives. In 2022 D1062 covered over 3000 miles on more than 50 running days for the SVR when rocketing costs for coal prompted the railway turned to their diesel fleet to maintain services. After a period out of traffic D1013 should return in 2024. Then there were three! At the end of 2023 the WLA received a ‘Christmas present’ when D1048 Western Lady joined the Association following a move from Butterley.