D1015 leading the "Pathfinder Finalé 1973-2025", 20th December 2025

On 20th December 2025 Pathfinder Railtours ran their last charter train, The "Pathfinder Finalé 1973 - 2025" featuring D1015 "Western Champion" which had been renamed & numbered as D1001 "Western Pathfinder" for the event. This was the thirtieth time D1015 had been used on a Pathfinder tour and it was most likely a coincidence that a Class 52 was used for the last tour after 52 years.

The stock used was a rake of BR Blue & Grey Mk.2 coaches with a Mk.1 restaurant car and class 57 57314 'Conwy Castle' at the rear to provide train heat and assistance if necessary.

One subtle feature of the tour was the use of two slightly different headboards on the train, one with the F&W Vulture facing to the left on the outbound Salisbury to Lostock Hall Junction train and a board with the Vulture facing to the right on the return from Lostock Hall Junction to Salisbury.

Locations in this video were an overbridge just to the north of Denton station and an overbridge just to the west of Pleasington station. At Denton the sound of D1015 powering toward Denton junction was faintly heard over the engine note of 57314. At Pleasington D1015 was working hard on the uphill gradient, the engine sound could be heard reverberating for a few minutes after the train passed.

Train details:
1Z52 0550 Salisbury to Lostock Hall Jn
1Z53 1526 Lostock Hall Jn to Salisbury

D1015 'Western Champion' carrying D1001 'Western Pathfinder' name and number plates
57314 "Conwy Castle'



[4K & HD sources]
00:00 Denton
02:16 Pleasington
03:15 Pleasington (Alternative view)
03:59 Thanks for watching! Please 'Like' and 'Subscribe' :-)


#dtg #westerns #class52 #pathfinder #f&w #maybach