Heyday of the Westerns

As a result of the BR modernisation Plan of 1955, the decision was taken to phase out all of BR's steam locomotives and replace them with diesel and electric fraction. While most of the replacement main-line diesel locomotives were constructed with electric transmission, for the Western Region it was decided to adopt hydraulic transmission, based upon postwar German technology. Three classes of main-line locomotive - the 'Warships', 'Hymeks' and 'Westerns' - were the result. Introduced in 1961 and built between then and 1964, the 74 members of the 'Western' class proved to be highly successful and during their career, attracted a great following amongst the enthusiast fraternity. The Westerns replaced steam on many of the WR's most prestigious express trains, but were also to be found more mundane duties, including china clay trains in the West Country. However, as with a number of other diesel classes, there was a reduction in the number of locomotives required as a result of the decline in the railway industry. As a consequence the last in the class was withdrawn in 1977, amidst scenes highly reminiscent of the final demise of the steam almost a decade earlier. It was undoubtedly the 'Western' class that helped to generate the interest witnessed today in the first-generation diesel locomotives operated on British Rail. Drawing upon the collections of many of the best-known photographers of modern fraction, the author has compiled a colourful tribute to the class. From the earliest days, when the locomotives appeared in a number of non-standard liveries, through to the triumphs of the specials operated to mark the type's demise (and which took the surviving locomotives well away from their traditional haunts), the 'Westerns' were photogenic locomotives - an aspect that this portfolio emphasises. As with other all-colour albums in this format, the book includes more than 80 colour images, making it an excellent reference for the modeller and historian alike. The Westerns were built at Swindon and Crewe for service primarily on the Western Region. They operated widely over WR metals but were generally based at Laira Depot (Plymouth) for most of their careers. On withdrawal, no fewer than seven of the class were preserved. Examples can be seen at the National Railway Museum, the Severn Valley Railway and West Somerset Railway. One example has recently been restored for main line service.

About the Author :
Derek Huntriss, after many years of residence in Cornwall, has now returned to Coventry. He is the author of a number of Ian Allan Publishing titles, the most recent of which was Diesels in the Pennines.