{"id":10939,"date":"2024-05-02T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T09:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/therailwaydog.co.uk\/?p=10939"},"modified":"2024-05-02T10:00:42","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T09:00:42","slug":"yoshi-and-the-one-way-wizzo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/therailwaydog.co.uk\/?p=10939","title":{"rendered":"Yoshi and the One Way Wizzo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Having worked up to London Paddington earlier in the day, the Diesel Traction Group owned Class 52 “Western” diesel-hydraulic No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ passes through Pangbourne at the head of 1Z56 1352 London Paddington to Birmingham New Street charter train. Originally an empty coaching stock movement to Burton, it was instead tuned into a main line test run for No. D1015 and opened up for public use as a joint operation by UK Railtours and Pathfinder Tours named “The One Way Wizzo”. The “Western” worked the tour as far as Bescot Yard, from where Class 57 No. 57303 took over the last into New Street before taking the ECS forward to Burton-on-Trent – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

April 14th 2024 to April 24th 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday 14th April 2024, preserved Class 52 “Western” diesel-hydraulic locomotive No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ worked a loaded test run from London Paddington to Birmingham New Street, supported by GBRf Class 57 No. 57303 which was utilised as a passenger carrying one way rail tour. No. D1015 ran light into Paddington and then headed up the “One Way Wizzo” as far as Bescot Yard, with No. 57303 taking charge for the final leg into New Street. After the tour, ‘Western Champion’ returned to her base on the Severn Valley Railway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was quite intrigued with the idea of trying to photograph both the Western’s light engine move as well as the loaded test run itself, so devised a plan for a visit to a National Trust property as a day-out for Yoshi and Caroline. Checking out the route of the Great Western main line on Google maps, I settled on Basildon Park as our heritage destination as the railway runs very close to the estate. On the day, I checked out potential photographic spots, but discounting these, back-tracked slightly to Pangbourne railway station as the car park is ideally situated for photography as long as you can position yourself above the line-side fencing; remembering to stay safe at all times!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pangbourne station is located close to the village centre, with the main station buildings on the opposite side of the railway to the village. It has two platforms, one on each of the relief (slow) lines, whilst the fast lines pass behind the station. The platforms are linked to each other and the station entrance, on the up relief platform, by a pedestrian underpass. The station once had four platforms with those situated on the main fast lines now no longer in situ.
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Exterior of Pangbourne railway station. The station is on the original line of the Great Western Railway, which was opened in stages: the portion between Reading and Steventon opened on 1st June 1840, with Pangbourne being the first station west out of Reading – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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All services at Pangbourne are operated by Great Western Railway (GWR) using Class 387 EMU’s.
The typical off-peak is two trains per hour in each direction between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway. On Sundays, the service is reduced to hourly in each direction. Screenshot of Class 387 Electrostar electric multiple unit (EMU) No.’s 387169 & 387170 depart Pangbourne working 2N42 1426 Reading to Didcot Parkway – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Great Western Railway Intercity Express Train (IET) pass Pangbourne on the fast lines situated behind the platforms at Pangbourne. Class 800 No. 800311 passes Pangbourne working 1A18 1300 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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CrossCountry trains also pass Pangbourne. Screenshot of CrossCountry Class 221 Super Voyager No. 221133 works 1O16 1124 Manchester Piccadilly to Southampton through Pangbourne – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While waiting for No. D1015 to pass us on her way to London Paddington, the local security operated by Land Sheriffs Ltd pulled into the car park and parked up casting a weather eye over my activity. As the Western was still a good few minutes off, I strolled over for a chat. The two security guards were really friendly and knew just what I was waiting for. They were, however, surprised to learn that the heritage diesel-hydraulic locomotive was making a solo pass prior to its railtour work as they had been charged with keeping an eye on proceedings further up the line at Didcot when the “One Way Wizzo” was due to pass later that afternoon as the train was sure to attract much attention from railway enthusiasts. Satisfied that I was not a security risk, the Land Sheriffs left me to await the first appearance of No. D1015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ runs light engine towards Pangbourne railway station working 0Z55 1020 Kidderminster SVR to London Paddington – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was a good couple of hours before ‘Western Champion’ was timed to pass Pangbourne on her way to Bescot, so we decamped to National Trust Basildon Park where we enjoyed a woodland walk taking in the bluebells before Caroline took a tour of the mansion house and Yoshi and I headed back to the railway station car park for another shot at photographing No. D1015, this time at the head of a rake of carriages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yoshi amongst the bluebells in the wooded parkland at Basildon Park – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Yoshi at National Trust Basildon Park. The estate was purchased by Francis Sykes in 1771. Sykes had made his fortune in the East India Company and required a home befitting his status. He demolished the old house and employed architect John Carr to build the Bath-stone mansion which exists today. The property was gifted to the National Trust in 1978 by Lord and Lady Iliffe who had bought Basildon Park in 1952 – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Class 52 “Western” diesel-hydraulic No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ passes Pangbourne with “One Way Wizzo” 1Z56 1352 London Paddington to Birmingham New Street – 14\/04\/2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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