BR 'Class 52' or 'Western' class C-C diesel hydraulic No. D1070 'Western Gauntlet'. Built at Crewe in October 1963 and withdrawn in December 1976.

Along with the 'Hymek' class, the 'Western' diesel hydraulics were arguably one of the more elegant designs of their type as D1070, seen brand new in October 1963 illustrates. BR's Western Region (typically) went against the trend by choosing diesel hydraulic power systems with the inevitable result of the early withdrawal of these 'non-standard' (i.e. not diesel-electric). As if endless Halls, Castles, Courts and Granges were not enough, we were then subjected to the same lack of imagination with the wholly unnecessary 'Western' prefix.

© Les Hanson-David Hanson Archive