Class 52

British Rail (BR) assigned **Class 52** to the class of 74 large Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964. All were given two-word names, the first word being "Western" and thus the type became known as Westerns.

## Incidents

* 15 August 1963. Knowle and Dorridge rail crash. No. **1040** *Western Queen* collided with a freight train, crushing the cab killing the three train crew. The locomotive was repaired and returned to service.
* 11 January 1967 St Annes Bristol rail crash. No. **1071** *Western Renown* in charge of the diverted 12:00 Paddington to Swansea collided with the rear of the 11:45 Paddington to Bristol hauled by No. 1067 *Western Druid*. The collision resulted in very severe damage being caused to the leading cab of locomotive No.1071, but the three men in the cab escaped injury by moving into the centre of the locomotive. Nineteen passengers required first aid or medical treatment but there were no fatalities or serious injuries. The locomotive was repaired and returned to service.
* 19 December 1973. Ealing rail crash. No. **1007** *Western Talisman* derailed while hauling an express passenger train, after an unlocked battery box door fell open, broke off and changed points under the locomotive. Ten people died.
* 3 January 1976 (Worcester Tunnel). No. **1055** *Western Advocate* crashed into a stationary parcels train killing the Driver and Guard of the Western.
* 4 October 1976 (Stoke Canon, Exeter). No. **1001** *Western Pathfinder* was working an overnight parcels train from London Paddington to Penzance when the train was in collision with a workers van at a level crossing. One workman in the van died in the accident. The locomotive was removed to Exeter St Davids depot. Despite sustaining relatively minor damage, the imminent demise of the entire fleet of Class 52's resulted in condemnation of the locomotive. Up to this point, *Western Pathfinder* had been a serious contender for preservation.

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 Traction Recognition, Page 48 - 49, Colin J. Marsden, ISBN 978-0-7110-3277-4
2. ↑ http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT\_Knowle1963.pdf
3. ↑ Pages 1 to 7. Railway company: Western Region. Report on the Collision that occurred...
4. ↑ *Report on the Collision that occurred on 11th January 1967 at St. Anne's Park, Bristol in the Western Region British Railways*
5. ↑ Image details - Rail collision St Anne's Park, near Bristol
6. ↑ http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoE\_Ealing1973.pdf
7. ↑ http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT\_WorcesterTunnel1976.pdf
8. ↑ Till, J O (1977). *Western Stock List*. Camberley: Steam & Diesel Publications. p. 9.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Judge, Colin (1977). *The Power of the Westerns*. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-902888-98-6.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Vaughan, John (1977). *Western Diesels in Camera*. Shepperton: Ian Allen. p. 9. ISBN 0-7110-0831-0.
11. ↑ http://www.depg.org/1010.html
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Watts, Peter (1977). *Western Memories*. Gloucester: Peter Watts. ISBN 0-906025-00-1.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 http://www.westernlocomotives.co.uk/
14. ↑ http://www.westernchampion.co.uk/loco-d1015.php
15. ↑ Walker, M (September 2002). "Loco profile of the Westerns". *The Marlow Donkey* (101): 8–10.
16. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110514174121/http://www.westernprince.co.uk/