(Pre-Order) A Lament to Western Tribute: 50 Years On

£22.95

DUE FOR PUBLICATION LATE-NOVEMBER 2026 - PRE-ORDERS OPEN SOON!

February 2027 marks the 50th anniversary of the demise of British Rail’s distinctive Class 55 “Western” diesel-hydraulic locomotives, which were a common sight on long-distance expresses on the Western Region throughout their short operating lives.

Their last few months of service were a momentous time for rail enthusiasts and a turning point in the British traction scene, as their demise spelled the end of the diesel-hydraulic era. At the time, Bernard Mills was already an accomplished photographer and his love of the Westerns led him to travel extensively and intensively throughout the WR to capture as many of their final workings as possible. As well as their regular passenger and freight workings, these also included the farewell railtours in late 1976 and early 1977. Some of these tours featured routes not normally associated with the class, such as the South Wales Valley Lines and the Carne Point and Falmouth branches, as well as locations as far afield as York. 

The author, Bernard Mills, has kept most of this collection of evocative colour photographs unseen for 50 years, and Platform 5 Publishing are now delighted to present this firsthand account of the last five months of the Class 52 Westerns’ working lives. All the images are accompanied by detailed captions containing considerable historical and anecdotal information relating to the lines, stations and trains depicted. A4 size. 96 pages.