NRM ‘Western’ joins Didcot’s GWR line-up
REDEVELOPMENTS at the National Railway Museum (NRM), York required Western Fusilier to be loaned out for five years. Didcot Railway Centre was the first choice to provide a home for this period, and they were most pleased to accept it.
Without prior announcement, the hydraulic arrived at Didcot by road on January 28. The last leg of the journey from the sidings into the railway centre were by rail due to the lack of road access. This was in the hands of DB Class 66 No. 66087.
No. D1023 is one of seven survivors of the C-C diesel-hydraulic class of which 74 were built at BR Swindon and Crewe Works in 1961-64. It was completed at Swindon in September 1963, and was withdrawn in February 1977. It worked several notable services during its latter days on BR including the last ‘Western’hauled railtour, the ‘Western Tribute’. In 1973, she was the final BR hydraulic loco to have a general repair at Swindon. It passed to the National Collection and was placed on display at York in 1977 and has been in the museum’s care ever since.
The loco is not operational and the
NRM has no plans to get it working.
While visiting Didcot it will largely be stored under cover and on view to visitors in the locomotive works.
The loan provides an opportunity for Didcot to further illustrate the history of the Great Western Railway and its development into British Railways Western Region. The chances of a longterm loan of any of the other preserved ‘Western’ diesels was small so Didcot relishes this opportunity.