Tour No. 50 : The Western Fellsman

(Pathfinder)

Saturday 31^st July 2010

1Z52 05.35 Westbury-Appleby / 1Z53 14.45 Appleby-Westbury

D1015’s 50^th mainline tour should have been a triumph for the Diesel Traction Group but the path of heritage diesel preservation rarely runs smoothly for long and the best laid plans are often derailed by the hand of fate.

It seems inappropriate to witter on about the details of the day when it ended with D1015 suffering a major failure to it’s B engine on the ECS back from Westbury to Eastleigh. The loco will now be out of traffic for sometime while our highly skilled and professional engineers work their magic. We all hope to see D1015 back on the main line as soon as possible.

Not many words but at least we have a few photographs of the day.

Below : D1015 Stands at Westbury awaiting departure having arrived with the ecs from Eastleigh : Photo : Paul Winter.                                                     

Below : Captured during a 30 minute break at Preston Photo : Paul Winter.  

Below :  Another shot taken of D1015 at Preston.  Photo : Paul Winter.

Below :  D1015 standing at Penrith prior to a crew change. Photo : Paul Winter.

Below :  Once again the DTG Nameplate Offer was sponsored this time by DTG Shareholder Stuart Hyde. Photo : Trev Shattock.  

Below : D1015 rejoins the "Western Fellsrunner" on Upperby Curve, Carlisle after a well earned drink. Photo : Paul Winter.