Trustworthy, administrator
11,919
edits
Changes
featured article
==BR Class 50==
Fifty English Electric Type 4 (later BR Class 50) diesel locomotives were built by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works plant in Newton-le-Willows between 1967 and 1968. When built they were numbered in the D4xx series. They later became BR’s Class 50, being allocated [[TOPS codes|TOPS numbers ]] in the 50xxx series. The class was nicknamed “Hoovers” because of the distinctive sound of the inertial air-filters with which the locomotives were originally fitted.
Initially the locomotives were used to haul express passenger trains on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) between Crewe and Scotland; that section not then being electrified. This often entailed ‘Multiple Working’, with two locomotives under control of a single driver.
==50033 Glorious in service==
D449 entered service at Stoke in July 1968. Renumbered to 50049 in January 1973, the locomotive moved to Bristol in May 1974 and Plymouth Laira in October 1976. It receive the name 'Glorious' in June 1978. It was withdrawn While operating a passenger service on 9 July 1970 it suffered minor damage from service in March 1994a fire caused by leaking fuel or lubricating oil.<refname=BRDatabase>[http://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=D&id=433&loco=433 BR Database]</ref>
==50033 Glorious in preservation==
After its last workingthe Cornish Caper Railtour, 50033 entered the national collection at was withdrawn from BR service and delivered to the [[National Railway Museum]] in Yorkas part of the national collection. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">York. - geograph.org.uk - 64446.jpg|50033 at York, April 1994</gallery> The [[National Railway Museum | NRM]] decided to dispose of the locomotive in 2003, subject to a suitable home being found, due to their inability to commit to future maintenance and storage costs. While still owned by the NRM, 50033 spent a period on loan to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway during 2004 , after which a home was found at the STEAM museum in Swindon as a static exhibit. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">50033 Swindon Steam Railway Museum.jpg | 50033 at Swindon, 2006</gallery>
A plan for 50033 to relocate to 'RailSchool' at the Royal Docks Heritage Railway in East London was unsuccessful and for many years the locomotive was stored in an unserviceable condition at the Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley. <ref>[https://www.englishelectric.org.uk/50033 EnglishElectric.org.uk, 50033]</ref>
In February 2018 an agreement was reached with owners Tyseley Locomotive Works<ref>SVR News 206, Diesel Update, Jonathan Dunster</ref> for [[The Class 50 Alliance]] to take 50033 on a 3 year loan with a view to restoring the loco and getting it operational.<ref>[https://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/index.php/our-locomotives/50033-glorious Fifty Fund]</ref> Work on the locomotive continued at Tyseley under the guidance of Fifty Fund volunteers<ref>[http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/index.php Fifty Fund website] (Retrieved 11 February 2018)</ref> before the locomotive moved to the [[Diesel Depot]] on 31 May 2018.<ref>[https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/6498/glorious-hoover-being-returned-to-its-former-glory/ Railway Magazine]</ref> The locomotive returned to traffic at the [[Tales from the Severn Valley#Class_50_Golden_Jubilee|Class 50 Golden Jubilee]] on 4-6 October 2018 in mostly green undercoat, with the public invited to 'tag' the locomotive with graffiti in marker pen in exchange for a contribution towards its repaint. Repainting in BR 'Large Logo' livery took place at Arlington in Eastleigh, effectively returning the locomotive to the same cosmetic condition in which it was withdrawn,<ref name=FiftyFund50033/> after which 50033 Glorious it was towed back to the SVR by sister 50007 Hercules on 29 August 2019.,<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/post/glorious-returns SVR Live]</ref>appearing in its new livery at the October 2019 [[Diesel galas|Diesel gala]].
The Alliance took the runner up prize at the [[Awards|HRA Awards 2020]] in the Coiley Locomotive Engineering Award category for this restoration.<ref>Severn Valley Diesels Official Facebook, 11 February 2020</ref> After the initial loan period expired the locomotive remained at the SVR on long term loan to the Alliance.<ref>Railways Illustrated, October 2022</ref>
In June 2021 the 33 -ton power unit was removed to allow the main generator to be replaced by an overhauled machineunit. In spring 2022 the internal bodywork was thoroughly cleaned and repainted prior to the engine-end being overhauled and main and auxiliary generators refitted. <ref>SVR News 217</ref> It returned to traffic on 24 September 2022 at an [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029#2022|event]] to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Class 50 to haul a public passenger train in preservation.
==See also==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Glorious HMS Glorious on Wikipedia]
{{DieselNavbox}}[[Category:Featured articles]]