“Westerns” on the Bedford – Bletchley, 1972-1977
From 1972 – Jan 1977 Westerns were regular visitors to the Bedford – Bletchley line on the Leagrave and the less well known Hendon stone trains. I only saw 1 Western on the branch whilst on a Bletchley bound DMU we crossed 1028 Western Hussar on the Leagrave stone back on Tuesday May 27th 1975. .
The last BR stone train to get a Western on the branch was 1048 Western Lady on January 20th 1977, the most frequent visitors were 1010 Western Campaigner with 10 different workings and 1054 Western Governor with 8 different workings.
A big thanks to Mike Lewis for supplying much of the gen, his late father “Hydraulic Mick” even as a Bedford driver would have worked a fair few of these workings!
Photos of Westerns on stone trains on the branch are as yet extremely rare, but thanks to “TC” we do have a Kempston view of preserved 1015 working back light engine from the NYMR to her then Old Oak base in May 2008.
The Trains
8M68 0420 Westbury – Leagrave (via Oxford, BY,BD) (ran 1972-82)
7V67 1205 Luton – Westbury (via CW, GW main line)
6M58 0900 Tytherington – Hendon (via Oxford, BY,BD) (ran 1973-74)
6V87 Hendon – Tytherington (via CW, GW main line)
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Sample workings by 66 different Westerns down the branch
1000 Western Enterprise
Hendon stone 190273
1001 Western Pathfinder
Leagrave stone 260576
1002 Western Explorer
Leagrave stone 121272
1003 Western Pioneer
Leagrave stone 230573
1004 Western Crusader
Leagrave stone 070573 (Crusader was withdrawn 010873)
1005 Western Venturer
Leagrave stone 271075
1006 Western Stalwart
Leagrave stone 160174
1007 Western Talisman
none recorded as yet
1008 Western Harrier
Leagrave stone 080774 (Harrier stored 0874, withdrawn 211074)
1009 Western Invader
Leagrave stone 250973
1010 Western Campaigner (1 of 10!)
Leagrave stone 121176
1011 Western Thunderer
Leagrave stone 051072
1012 Western Firebrand
Leagrave stone 231075 (Firebrand withdrawn 011175)
1013 Western Ranger
Leagrave stone 160775
1014 Western Leviathan
Leagrave stone 310573
1015 Western Champion
Leagrave stone 191173
Thanks to “TC” for this rare image of a Western on the Bedford – Bletchley branch. 1015 Western Champion is returning as 0Z52 to her then Old Oak base at Kempston after starring at the NYMR Diesel Gala a few days earlier, photo taken on May 13th 2008
1015 “Westbury Wizzo” Railtour via Bed-Bley 060724
1016 Western Gladiator
Leagrave stone 161073
1017 Western Warrior
Leagrave stone 200373
1018 Western Buccaneer
Leagrave stone 281072
1019 Western Challanger
Leagrave stone 240872
1020 Western Hero
none recorded as yet
1021 Western Cavalier
Leagrave stone 210576 -(Cavalier withdrawn 100876)
1022 Western Sentinel
Hendon stone 040973
1023 Western Fusilier
Leagrave stone 300775
1024 Western Huntsman
Leagrave stone 100773
1025 Western Guardsman
Leagrave stone 020873
1026 Western Centurion
Leagrave stone 130574
1027 Western Lancer
Leagrave stone 070374
1028 Western Hussar
Leagrave stone 270575
1029 Western Legionnaire
Leagrave stone 200674
1030 Western Musketeer
Leagrave stone 210775
1031 Western Rifleman
Leagrave stone 030674
1032 Western Marksman
none recorded as yet
1033 Western Trooper
Leagrave stone 150875
1034 Western Dragoon
Leagrave stone 081173
1035 Western Yeoman
Leagrave stone 270673
1036 Western Emperor
Leagrave stone 160276
1037 Western Empress
Leagrave stone 020575
1038 Western Sovereign
Leagrave stone 220673 (Sovereign stored 0873, withdrawn 081073)
1039 Western King
Leagrave stone 071072
1040 Western Queen
Leagrave stone 071175 (Queen withdrawn 280276)
1041 Western Prince
Leagrave stone 090773
1042 Western Princess
none recorded as yet
1043 Western Duke
Leagrave stone 110276 (Duke withdrawn 040476)
1044 Western Duchess
Leagrave stone 200873
1045 Western Viscount
Hendon stone 010673
1046 Western Marquis
Hendon stone 120473
1047 Western Lord
none recorded as yet
1048 Western Lady
Leagrave stone 200177 (last Western hauled Leagrave stone) “Lady withdrawn 270277)
1049 Western Monarch
Leagrave stone 310174
1050 Western Ruler
Leagrave Stone 140574
1051 Western Ambassador
Leagrave stone 130176
1052 Western Viceroy
Hendon stone 120674
1053 Western Patriarch
Leagrave stone 051076 (Patriarch withdrawn 151176)
1054 Western Governor (worked at least 8 Leagrave stones)
Leagrave stone 311075
1055 Western Advocate
Leagrave stone 080272
1056 Western Sultan
Leagrave stone 161176 (Sultan withdrawn 151276)
1057 Western Chieftain
Leagrave stone 111274
1058 Western Nobleman
Leagrave stone 110676
1059 Western Empire
Leagrave stone 240774
1060 Western Dominion
none recorded as yet
1061 Western Envoy
Leagrave stone 150273
1062 Western Courier
Leagrave stone 110573
1063 Western Monitor
Leagrave stone 301075
1064 Western Regent
none recorded as yet
1065 Western Consort
Hendon stone 060973
1066 Western Prefect
Leagrave stone 230872
1067 Western Druid
none recorded as yet
1068 Western Reliance
Leagrave stone 020676
1069 Western Vanguard
Hendon stone 130873
1070 Western Gauntlet
Leagrave stone 120375 (loco derailed at Luton!)
1071 Western Renown
Leagrave stone 151174
1072 Western Glory
Leagrave stone 020476
1073 Western Bulwark
Leagrave stone 130373
Thanks to Mike Lewis for supplying much of this superb local gen
Link to our popular “Peaks” on the Bedford – Bletchley feature here. .
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