Champion completed the Yuletide East Yorkshireman on Saturday 17th December, returning to Worcester approximately 30 mins late. Unfortunately the tour ran most of the day about 30 to 40 minutes late, due to not being able to make up time that was lost in the morning, the cause of which was an issue with the points, not allowing D1015 off the Severn Valley to take over the tour at Kidderminster.

On November 17th Masterpiece Models visited Kidderminster to allow them to laser scan D1015 for their upcoming super detailed O gauge model. For full details and images of the day, click here.

D1015 is one of seven preserved Westerns from the original 74 built by BR at Swindon and Crewe. The loco has a DTG nickname. 'The Mule'

Western Champion gained mainline certification in 2002 and has since travelled all over the UK network, hauling railtours as far as Penzance in the South and Kyle of Lochalsh in the North.

D1015 is at present a resident at Washwood Heath, with thanks to Bowden rail.

D1015 speeds along the North Wales coastline at Llanddulas, 16th February 2008 © Darren Armstrong
See the Railtour Archive for more details and photos of Western Champion around the country.