British Rail Class 52

British Rail Class 52
D1062 Western Courier in maroon, with small yellow warning panel
Power type	Diesel-hydraulic
Builder	British Railways’ Swindon and Crewe Works
Build date	1961–1964
Total produced	74
Configuration	C-C
UIC classification	C'C'
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Standard gauge
Wheel diameter	3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Minimum curve	4.5 chains (91 m)
Wheelbase	54 ft 8 in (16.66 m)
Length	68 ft 0 in (20.73 m)
Width	8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
Height	12 ft 11 3⁄4 in (3.96 m)
Locomotive weight	108 long tons (110 t)
Fuel capacity	850 imp gal (3,900 l; 1,020 US gal)
Prime mover	Maybach MD655 (64.5 litres), 2 off
Transmission	Hydraulic
Multiple working	Not fitted
Top speed	90 mph (140 km/h)
Power output	Engines: 1,350 bhp (1,007 kW)at 1500rpm × 2 At rail: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
Tractive effort	Maximum: 66,700 lbf (297 kN) Continuous: 45,200 lbf (201 kN)@ 14.5 mph (23.3 km/h)[1]
Train heating	Steam
Locomotive brakeforce	50 LTf (498 kN)
Train brakes	Vacuum
Career	British Railways
Number	D1000–D1073
Nicknames	‘Westerns’,‘Wizzos’& "Thousands"
Axle load class	Route availability 7
Retired	1973–1977

British Rail assigned Class 52 to the class of 74 large Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964. All were given two-word names, the first word being Western; thus the type became known as Westerns.

Historical context

When switching to diesel traction as part of the Modernisation Plan of the 1950s BR designed and commissioned designs for, a large number of locomotive types. At this time (and arguably right up until Sectorisation in the 1980s), BR's regions had a high degree of autonomy, which extended as far as classes of locomotives ordered and even the design criteria for those locomotives. Whilst almost all other diesel locomotives were diesel-electric, the Western Region employed a policy of utilising diesel-hydraulic traction, originally commissioning three classes of main line locomotives— a type 2 and two type 4s (later designations class 22, class 41 and class 42). With pressure to increase the speed of the transition from steam to diesel, volume orders for the class 22 and class 42 followed in 1957, a mere two years after the original orders and well before any idea of performance or reliability could be gained. At the same time it was realised that all the existing orders (diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic) were for types 1, 2 and 4; thus orders were placed for 101 Type 3 diesel-hydraulics (later Class 35). However the increasing demands for more powerful locomotives prompted a further order, in 1961, for 74 diesel-hydraulics of 2,700 hp (2,000 kW); so when the first locomotive was outshopped from Swindon Works in December 1961, less than a year after the order was placed, the Westerns were born.

The theoretical advantage of diesel-hydraulic was simple—it resulted in a lighter locomotive than equivalent diesel-electric transmission. This resulted in better power/weight ratio and decreased track wear. Unfortunately, it had two key disadvantages:

• The technology was proven in continental Europe, particularly Germany but was new to the UK. It was considered politically unacceptable at the time for the UK government to order trains from foreign companies, let alone German companies so soon after the second world war.
• The most robust hydraulic transmissions were only capable of handling engines with power output of around 1500 hp (1120 kW); to build a more powerful locomotive would involve two diesel engines and two transmissions.

Experience showed that the Bristol-Siddeley-Maybach engines were superior to those made by NBL-MAN and although the use of twin engines in the same locomotive was new, the process did not produce any insurmountable problems. In the end the diesel-hydraulic experiment foundered on low fleet numbers, poor maintenance conditions and design issues; not on its German heritage or development of a novel configuration.

The Western

With the Hymeks and Warships already in service but proving underpowered for top-link services, BR Western Region needed a high-powered locomotive for top-link services — the Western therefore needed two diesel engines to achieve the required power output. In keeping with their policy, a new locomotive with a hydraulic transmission was envisaged. Experience had shown that the Maybach engines in the Hymeks were superior to the MAN engines used in the Warships, particularly in power output. Also Maybach were able to offer their 12 MD engines rated at 1,350 bhp (1,010 kW) allied to a Voith transmission; a Mekydro transmission designed to handle such power could not be fitted into the British loading gauge.

Western Fusilier at the National Railway Museum

Prototypes sited the engines behind the driving cabs but drivers found this too noisy; moving the engines centrally meant making the locomotive heavier, removing some of the design's advantage. In production use, the dual-engine arrangement turned out to have some advantages: in particular, the Westerns were able to continue operating with a single engine running in situations where more conventional single-engine designs would require rescue by another locomotive. This valuable property was intentionally duplicated in the later High Speed Trains and was one reason for them having two power cars.^{[citation needed]}

The most serious continual problem with the class was the design fault mismatch between the Maybach MD655 engines and the Voith L630rV three speed hydraulic transmissions. The top gear ratio in the transmission was too high for the torque characteristics of the engine: the result was that a single locomotive could struggle to reach its claimed 90 mph (140 km/h) top speed in the absence of down grades, more so when work-weary and due for overhaul. These factors, combined with the 'Devon banks' (a major part of their running grounds) deleterious effect on tired engines, all conspired against the Westerns continuing in top-line service; their replacement by class 50s and High Speed Trains provided the speed and comfort increases the Western Region sought. Towards the end, the Westerns were all allocated to Laira (Plymouth).

Competition and comfort

Whilst the design was largely successful the working life of the class was relatively short. It was a non-standard design adding greatly to its maintenance costs while the national British Rail policy was also moving away from diesel-hydraulics. When the Westerns were introduced in 1962 the Western Region had 226 diesel-hydraulics and 10 diesel-electrics (excluding shunters); by 1966 the numbers were 345 and 269 respectively. As a result the early 1970s saw the decision taken to retire all the diesel-hydraulic types. Class 46 and Class 47 took over passenger and heavy freight while Class 25 covered the lighter duties. Following completion of the electrification of the West Coast Mainline throughout from London to Glasgow Class 50 was allocated to the Western Region, the introduction of High Speed Trains 3 years later was the final nail in the coffin for the Westerns.

In 1968–69 the Westerns received train air brake equipment in addition to their vacuum exhausters, thus significantly extending their working lives, unlike the similar but lower-powered, Warship class. The vacuum brake equipment was retained and to fit the additional equipment, it was necessary to remove one of the fuel tanks.^[1] However, as with the Warships, it proved impossible to equip them with electric train heating (ETH, or head-end power in US terminology). The Western Region faced particularly stiff competition for its prime inter-city services in the mid to late 1970s from the M4 motorway and it was generally felt within BR that a significant speed and comfort increase on the prime Paddington-Bristol route were necessary. The lack of ETH meant the Westerns could not power the newly-introduced air-conditioned BR Mark 2d/e/f coaches — a shortcoming that Class 50, equipped with ETH from new, did not share.

Names and numbers

Main article: List of British Rail Class 52 locomotives

While the first Western was under construction, proposals for livery and names were prepared by the BR design panel. The D1000 series locomotives were to be named after famous West of England place names; the illustration from the portfolio shows D1000 bearing the name Cheddar Gorge. This trend was not followed in production, however and the Westerns were named with general heraldic and regimental terms prefixed with the word "Western" as per the following table:

Number	Name	Builder	Disposition
D1000	Western Enterprise	BR Swindon 20.12.61	Scrapped 31.07.74 BREL Swindon
D1001	Western Pathfinder	BR Swindon 12.02.62	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1002	Western Explorer	BR Swindon 19.03.62	Scrapped 12.06.74 BREL Swindon
D1003	Western Pioneer	BR Swindon 14.04.62	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1004	Western Crusader	BR Swindon 12.05.62	Scrapped 19.09.74 BREL Swindon
D1005	Western Venturer	BR Swindon 18.06.62	Scrapped 17.06.77 BREL Swindon
D1006	Western Stalwart	BR Swindon 06.07.62	Scrapped 24.03.77 BREL Swindon
D1007	Western Talisman	BR Swindon 01.08.62	Scrapped 24.02.75 BREL Swindon
D1008	Western Harrier	BR Swindon 04.09.62	Scrapped 10.10.75 BREL Swindon
D1009	Western Invader	BR Swindon 24.09.62	Scrapped 11.78 BREL Swindon
D1010	Western Campaigner	BR Swindon 15.10.62	Withdrawn 28.02.77 Preserved by the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group [2]
D1011	Western Thunderer	BR Swindon 27.10.62	Scrapped 12.78 BREL Swindon
D1012	Western Firebrand	BR Swindon 17.11.62	Scrapped 04.79 BREL Swindon
D1013	Western Ranger	BR Swindon 13.12.62	Withdrawn 28.02.77 Preserved by the Western Locomotive Association [3]
D1014	Western Leviathan	BR Swindon 24.12.62	Scrapped 13.02.75 BREL Swindon
D1015	Western Champion	BR Swindon 21.01.63	Withdrawn 13.12.76 Preserved by the Diesel Traction Group [4]
D1016	Western Gladiator	BR Swindon 16.02.63	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1017	Western Warrior	BR Swindon 15.03.63	Scrapped 12.03.75 BREL Swindon
D1018	Western Buccaneer	BR Swindon 02.04.63	Scrapped 20.03.74 BREL Swindon
D1019	Western Challenger	BR Swindon 02.05.63	Scrapped 03.10.74 BREL Swindon
D1020	Western Hero	BR Swindon 21.05.63	Scrapped 17.04.74 BREL Swindon
D1021	Western Cavalier	BR Swindon 17.06.63	Scrapped 02.79 BREL Swindon
D1022	Western Sentinel	BR Swindon 16.07.63	Scrapped 12.78 BREL Swindon
D1023	Western Fusilier	BR Swindon 23.09.63	Withdrawn 28.02.77 Preserved as part of the national collection by the NRM
D1024	Western Huntsman	BR Swindon 01.10.63	Scrapped 14.08.74 BREL Swindon
D1025	Western Guardsman	BR Swindon 01.11.63	Scrapped 01.79 BREL Swindon
D1026	Western Centurion	BR Swindon 24.12.63	Scrapped 06.08.76 BREL Swindon
D1027	Western Lancer	BR Swindon 28.01.64	Scrapped 10.06.76 BREL Swindon
D1028	Western Hussar	BR Swindon 25.02.64	Scrapped
D1029	Western Legionnaire	BR Swindon 20.04.64	Scrapped 29.05.75 BREL Swindon
D1030	Western Musketeer	BR Crewe 05.12.63	Scrapped 22.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1031	Western Rifleman	BR Crewe 20.12.63	Scrapped 06.10.76 BREL Swindon
D1032	Western Marksman	BR Crewe 31.12.63	Scrapped 05.12.74 BREL Swindon
D1033	Western Trooper	BR Crewe 17.01.64	Scrapped 04.79 BREL Swindon
D1034	Western Dragoon	BR Crewe 15.04.64	Scrapped 20.05.77 BREL Swindon
D1035	Western Yeoman	BR Crewe 17.07.62	Scrapped 30.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1036	Western Emperor	BR Crewe 29.08.62	Scrapped 24.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1037	Western Empress	BR Crewe 31.08.62	Scrapped 16.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1038	Western Sovereign	BR Crewe 07.09.62	Scrapped 20.11.74 BREL Swindon
D1039	Western King	BR Crewe 07.09.62	Scrapped 05.09.74 BREL Swindon
D1040	Western Queen	BR Crewe 20.09.62	Scrapped 11.08.76 BREL Swindon (see also #Incidents)
D1041	Western Prince	BR Crewe 10.10.62	Withdrawn 23.02.77 Preserved by the Bury Diesel Group [5]
D1042	Western Princess	BR Crewe 19.10.62	Scrapped 18.05.74 BREL Swindon
D1043	Western Duke	BR Crewe 26.10.62	Scrapped 10.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1044	Western Duchess	BR Crewe 12.11.62	Scrapped 10.09.75 BREL Swindon
D1045	Western Viscount	BR Crewe 16.11.62	Scrapped 21.08.75 BREL Swindon
D1046	Western Marquis	BR Crewe 24.12.62	Scrapped 10.11.76 BREL Swindon
D1047	Western Lord	BR Crewe 04.02.63	Scrapped 09.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1048	Western Lady	BR Crewe 15.12.62	Withdrawn 28.02.77 Preserved by the Midland Diesel Group [6]
D1049	Western Monarch	BR Crewe 14.12.62	Scrapped 03.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1050	Western Ruler	BR Crewe 01.01.63	Scrapped 08.04.76 BREL Swindon
D1051	Western Ambassador	BR Crewe 21.01.63	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1052	Western Viceroy	BR Crewe 04.02.63	Scrapped 22.04.76 BREL Swindon
D1053	Western Patriarch	BR Crewe 11.02.63	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1054	Western Governor	BR Crewe 02.03.63	Scrapped 05.77 BREL Swindon
D1055	Western Advocate	BR Crewe 02.03.63	Scrapped 16.06.76 BREL Swindon
D1056	Western Sultan	BR Crewe 08.03.63	Scrapped
D1057	Western Chieftain	BR Crewe 06.04.63	Scrapped 06.77 BREL Swindon
D1058	Western Nobleman	BR Crewe 25.03.63	Scrapped
D1059	Western Empire	BR Crewe 06.04.63	Scrapped 21.07.76 BREL Swindon
D1060	Western Dominion	BR Crewe 11.04.63	Scrapped 03.07.74 BREL Swindon
D1061	Western Envoy	BR Crewe 19.04.63	Scrapped 07.08.75 BREL Swindon
D1062	Western Courier	BR Crewe 06.05.63	Withdrawn 22.08.74 Preserved by the Western Locomotive Association [7]
D1063	Western Monitor	BR Crewe 17.05.63	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1064	Western Regent	BR Crewe 24.05.63	Scrapped 06.77 BREL Swindon
D1065	Western Consort	BR Crewe 18.06.63	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1066	Western Prefect	BR Crewe 14.06.63	Scrapped 21.05.75 BREL Swindon
D1067	Western Druid	BR Crewe 18.07.63	Scrapped 16.09.76 BREL Swindon
D1068	Western Reliance	BR Crewe 12.07.63	Scrapped 08.77 BREL Swindon
D1069	Western Vanguard	BR Crewe 21.10.63	Scrapped 03.02.77 BREL Swindon
D1070	Western Gauntlet	BR Crewe 28.10.63	Scrapped 05.79 BREL Swindon
D1071	Western Renown	BR Crewe 07.11.63	Scrapped 11.78 BREL Swindon
D1072	Western Glory	BR Crewe 07.11.63	Scrapped 04.04.77 BREL Swindon
D1073	Western Bulwark	BR Crewe 03.12.63	Scrapped 01.08.75 BREL Swindon

D1029 was originally named Western Legionaire, but renamed Western Legionnaire in 1967, the nameplate being cut to allow the additional letter to be inserted.^[2]

Although designated Class 52 under the TOPS scheme, no Western ever carried its "52 0xx" TOPS number. As withdrawal was already planned when the TOPS numbering scheme was introduced and because of the cast number plates, it was not considered cost effective to renumber the locomotives. Some class members did run with the "D" of their number painted over - TOPS classification removed the need for locomotives to indicate their energy type in the running number (D = Diesel, E = Electric), rather grouping locomotives into relevant class number ranges based on power output and energy type combined, 01-69 being diesel, 70 to 99 reserved for electric (this convention has become somewhat blurred in recent years).

When the display of destination headcodes/reporting numbers on the front of trains was dropped in 1975, the instruction was given for them all to be set to "0000". On many Westerns, the headcode was set to display the loco's number in contravention of this directive and most surviving members of the class ran like this until they were scrapped. If used for routeing, such reporting numbers would be interpreted as a passenger express terminating on the Southern Region.^[3]

Liveries

When the initial batch of Westerns was being built in 1961-2, British Rail was considering a new unified corporate colour scheme but had not yet made a final decision on what it would be. As a result, D1000 was rolled out of Swindon Works in November 1961 painted in Desert Sand. Initially the numbers, borne on the left hand cab when viewed from the side, were painted in white but soon individual numbers and letters, looking like they were cast but apparently made of wood, were fitted. This was in turn replaced by the final design of cast nameplate and numberplate; metal with a black background. This livery was later altered by the addition of a small yellow warning panel and black roof. After this, D1001 was delivered in all over maroon livery with yellow buffer beams and D1002-D1004 in all over green and small yellow warning panel. The remaining deliveries were all in maroon, with small yellow warning panels after D1009 and D1043 of the Crewe built locomotives. Exceptions to this were the initial Crewe-built batch D1035-D1038 which were in green with red backgrounds to the nameplates and D1015, outshopped in the experimental "golden ochre" livery with small yellow warning panels. On one end of D1015, the yellow panel was embellished by the addition of a yellow band which extended sideways from each of the top corners and round and onto the cabside for a short distance, resembling a T shape.

After the adoption of Rail Blue with full yellow ends in 1966 (D1048 was the first of the class painted in this livery in 1966), for some unexplained reason a small batch of locos (D1017, D1030, D1036, D1037, D1043, D1047 and D1057) received this variant married to small yellow warning panels, D1030 even carried red buffer beams for a short while. All other repaints were with full yellow ends which extended from the body line above the buffer beam up to the base of the window frames, along the sill of the cab-side windows onto the vertical end reveal. The valance above the cab windows on the front was also painted yellow, leaving the window frames in their base aluminium. The drive to repaint the locomotives in "Corporate Blue" was outstripped by the safety directive dictating full yellow ends for all powered vehicles and some locomotives ran for a time with their original maroon bodies and full yellow ends.

The last loco to be repainted into Rail Blue was D1046, outshopped from Swindon in May 1971. Some early photographs of the blue livery give it a more metallic shade which is even more evident on the locos with small yellow panels. This has been referred to in the past as "chromatic blue". This however is likely just to be a photographic anomaly with early colour film. It is commonly accepted amongst Western enthusiasts in recent years that none of the class or any other British Rail locomotive of the period were ever painted with a metallic paint.

D1000 'Western Enterprise' in desert sand livery   D1048 'Western Lady' in BR Green   D1053 'Western Patriarch' in BR Blue   D1015 'Western Champion' in Golden ochre   D1062 'Western Courier' in maroon livery

Incidents

• 15 August 1963. Knowle and Dorridge rail crash. No. 1040 Western Queen collided with a freight train, crushing the cab killing the three train crew. The locomotive was repaired and returned to service.
• 19 December 1973. Ealing rail crash. No. 1007 Western Talisman derailed while hauling an express passenger train, after an unlocked battery box door fell open, broke off and changed points under the locomotive. Ten people died.^[4]
• 3 January 1976 (Worcester Tunnel). No. 1055 Western Advocate crashed into a stationary parcels train killing the Driver and Guard of the Western.^[5]
• 4 October 1976 (Stoke Canon, Exeter). No. 1001 Western Pathfinder was working an overnight parcels train from London Paddington to Penzance when the train was in collision with a workers van at a level crossing. One workman in the van died in the accident. The locomotive was removed to Exeter St Davids depot. Despite sustaining relatively minor damage, the imminent demise of the entire fleet of Class 52's resulted in condemnation of the locomotive. Up to this point, Western Pathfinder had been a serious contender for preservation.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Krauss-Maffei ML 2200 C'C', RENFE Class 340, contemporary twin engined, twin transmission C'C' diesel hydraulic locomotives
• Voith Maxima, modern (2000s) single engined, single transmission high power diesel hydraulic locomotive

References

1. ^ Reed 1978, pp. 70–71
2. ^ Walker, M (September 2002). "Loco profile of the Westerns.". The Marlow Donkey (101): 8–10. 
3. ^ Bailey, M.R. (February 1968). British Rail Headcodes (5th ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 5–7. ISBN 0 7110 0000 X. 458 GEX 268. 
4. ^ "Official accident report". HMSO, reproduced at The Railways Archive. http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoE_Ealing1973.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-16. 
5. ^ King, A.G.B. (28 September 1977). "Report on the Collision that occurred on 3rd January 1976 at Worcester Tunnel Junction". http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_WorcesterTunnel1976.pdf. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 

Sources

• Ford, H L (1973). Diesels on Cornwall's main line. Truro: D Bradford Barton. 
• Hall, Stanley (2006). Railway Milestones and Millstones. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 125–130. ISBN 0 7110 3110 X. 
• Judge, Colin (1977). The Power of the Westerns. Oxford: OPC. ISBN 0 902888 98 6. 
• Kichenside, Geoffrey (1975). Farewell to the Westerns. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0 715370 69 3. 
• Preedy, Norman E; Gillham, G F (1974). WR Diesel Hydraulics. Truro: D Bradford Barton. 
• Reed, Brian (1978) [1975]. Diesel-Hydraulic Locomotives of the Western Region. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0 7153 6769 2. 
• Taylor, Ken. A Decade After. Walsall: Midland Railfans. 
• Till, J O (1977). Western Stock List. Camberley: Steam & Diesel Publications. 
• Vaughan, John (1977). Western Diesels in Camera. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0 711008 31 0. 
• Watts, Peter (1977). Western Memories. Gloucester: Peter Watts. ISBN 0 906025 00 1. 

Further reading

• McManus, Michael. Ultimate Allocations, British Railways Locomotives 1948 - 1968. Wirral. Michael McManus. 

External links

• D1023 at Bury
• www.westernprince.co.uk
• www.westernchampion.co.uk
• www.westernloco.com