Final Salute 1977, 2012

Finally, the Western Class 52 era on Britain’s railways came to an end. The sultry summer was long forgotten as the chill wind of January and February replaced the warmth of the sun. By the time the last farewells to the class were run, the stragglers numbered five and by the time of the Western Tribute tour, BR’s official farewell', there was only four left: D1010/13/23/48. D1013/23 would haul that final special with D1010 and D1048 shadowing it down to Plymouth for withdrawal on February 26, 1977. Once the train arrived at Paddington it was all over. Grown men cried and many wondered what they would do without their beloved Westerns to ride behind and photograph. It was, as one enthusiast put it, ‘a change for all time’. The Westerns though had made their mark. They may have been deemed non standard in the end as BR concentrated on locomotives with diesel electric power, but in the eyes of many, their appearances, sound, and character could not be bettered anywhere on the network. They were, without doubt, the finest diesels ever produced on the railways and the thousands of enthusiasts who flocked to the WR to record their every move was proof of that. The author signs off this stunning series with a poster picture of each Western and the five books are still available today, printed to order. Why not send an email to us for details on how to get them?