A WESTERN returns to PADDINGTON with THE ONE WAY WHIZZO

An unusual sell out railtour organised jointly by UK Railtours and Pathfinder Railtours which was primarily a loaded test train from Paddington to Birmingham. As the locomotive lasted in service until the end of 1976 it reminded me of the sad days when the odd wizzo at Paddington was being drowned out by Hoovers (before their Hoover compartments were removed). D1015 WESTERN CHAMPION had travelled light engine all the way from Kidderminster, Severn Valley Railway to London Paddington and couple up to the stock stabled at Platform 1. Class 57, 57303 had brought the mainly Mk2 rake into the terminus the evening before and was to be used as a dead load at the rear of the train on the test run. It was also used to take the train forward from Birmingham New Street to Bescot. A couple of clips of the Western backing onto the train were taken by my wife.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Nice to see that western return to the mainline for the first time in 8 years

[@thefakewasp503]

Yes it is a most welcome return.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@thefakewasp503yeah once the test run on the mainline is done off it goes with a railtour duty

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

And this is also the first time since the 1970s that we see the blue western on a express train at Paddington

[@thefakewasp503]

You are right. D1015 is in a late 60s rail blue livery as it has a small yellow warning panel.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

⁠​⁠@@thefakewasp503yeah indeed compared with d1062 it’s got a big yellow warning panel

[@garthcox4307]

Replace that mk2 generator carriage with a mark 1 BG and that's a euston birmingham 80s wcml rake before the dvts came along! 2f's and Mark 1 buffet and BG.

[@thefakewasp503]

Well I remember those type of trains well in the 70s and also when the Mk2s were new. Some of the ac electrics still had white cab roofs at that time.