This Friday, 17th September, BR Class 52 ‘Western’ No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ takes to the mainline for the first time after repairs were completed.

In the morning, the Western locomotive will head from Kidderminster to Avonmouth Sidings near Bristol, passing through Worcester Shrub Hill (07:10), Ashchurch for Tewkesbury (07:31), Cheltenham Spa (08:04), Yate (08:32) and Bristol Parkway (08:40).

Once at Avonmouth, it will couple to its cement train and a GB Railfreight Class 66/7. The locomotive will haul the train as far as Gloucester NY, passing through Bristol Parkway (10:11), Yate (10:22), Cam and Dursley (10:36) and Gloucester NY at 10:52.

Once detached at Gloucester, D1015 will return to the Severn Valley Railway, passing through Cheltenham Spa (12:05), Worcester Shrub Hill (12:27), Droitwich Spa (12:41) and Kidderminster at 12:51.

The Severn Valley Railway’s Operations Manager told RailAdvent ‘SVR Operations have been advised by the owners, the Diesel Traction Group, that D1015 will depart from the SVR for a test run on Friday the 17th September during the morning, and return mid-afternoon. The movement is operated by GBRf.’

A spokesperson for GB Railfreight told RailAdvent “I can confirm it is our intention to operate a test service with Class 52 D1015 in association with our charter work tomorrow.”

It is hoped that these test runs are proved to be a success so that the Class 52 can haul passenger tours in the near future.

Here are the timing links for tomorrow’s move:

• 0Z43 0630 Kidderminster S.V.R. to Avonmouth Hanson Sdg Gbrf
• 6M42 0920 Avonmouth Hanson Sdg Gbrf to Penyffordd Cement Gbrf
• 0Z50 1158 Gloucester N.Y. to Kidderminster S.V.R.

Are you heading out to see the Class 52? Let us know in the comments below.

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