Peter Kerslake says "About to pass beneath Bishops Road bridge with an arrival at Paddington D1029 "Western Legionnaire" had been the last of the class of seventy four to enter service and had been a late delivery from Swindon Works in January of 1964.
Swindon were slower in the construction of the thirty "Westerns" which were built there, with Crewe having a faster output and completing forty four including five which should have been built at Swindon, and D1029 seen here did not enter service until the July of 1964 as it had been tested at Derby when new against a Brush class four.
"Western Legionnaire" lasted in service until November of 1974, that year seeing thirteen "Westerns" being condemned, the last four remaining in use until February of 1977 but happily with a total of seven being secured for preservation."