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|image = 50135 Ark Royal 2 (7690431654)50035_20170510.jpg|caption = 50035 Ark Royal at KidderminsterHampton Loade (2017)

|othernos = D435, '50135'

'''50035 Ark Royal is a ''' was the first BR Class 50 diesel locomotiveto enter preservation. Unlike a number of the other Class 50s resident on the SVR, 50035 is not registered to work on the main line and is not fitted with the necessary equipment such as OTMR, TPWS or GSM-R. However it can be hauled for the purposes of [[SVR-based diesel locomotives visiting other events|visiting other railways]].  

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 BR's Class 50, being allocated [[TOPS codes|TOPS numbers ]] in the 50xxx series. The class was nicknamed “Hoovers” "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. By 1974 the northern WCML had been electrified, and the Class 50 fleet was being transferred to BR's Western Region to work main line passenger services out of London Paddington, replacing the last of the BR(W) Diesel Hydraulics in that role. The Class 50s did not originally carry names, but in the late 1970s BR agreed to their being named after Royal Navy vessels with notable records in the First and Second World Wars.  Withdrawal of the class began in 1987 and was completed by 1994. 18 examples have been preserved ==50035 Ark Royal in service==The locomotive was built at English Electric's Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows as Works No 3805/D1176 and entered service as number D435 at Crewe in August 1968. It was re-numbered 50035 in March 1974. Following electrification of the WCML, 50035 moved to Bristol Bath Road in January 1976 and then to Plymouth Laira in December 1976.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book, 9th edition</ref> On 17 January 1978, 50035 was named in a ceremony at Plymouth Station.<ref>[https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=D&id=435&loco=435 BR Database]</ref> It received the name '''Ark Royal''' after HMS Ark Royal, a Royal Navy World War 2 aircraft carrier. Commissioned in 1938, HMS Ark Royal was sunk on 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by German U-boat U-81. 50035's final allocation was to London's Old Oak Common in June 1980. In June 1986 it received the distinctive "Network South East" livery as pictured below. It was withdrawn from service there by BR on 5th August 1990<ref name=SB9/><ref group="note">There are some discrepancies in service allocations and dates between the SVR Stock Book and the BR Database. The latter are marked as "WIP" therefore the Stock Book data has been used.</ref>. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50035 - Birmingham New Street (8959197574).jpg| 50035 at Birmingham New Street</gallery>

Initially ==50035 Ark Royal in preservation==50035 was the locomotives were used first Class 50 to haul express passenger trains on the West Coast Main Line be preserved, being acquired by [[Class 50 Alliance Limited|The Fifty Fund (WCMLnow Class 50 Alliance) between Crewe and Scotland; ]]. Having been advised that section not then being electrified. This often entailed ‘Multiple Working’the going rate for a Class 50 was £16500, with the fund simply added the last two locomotives under control digits of a single driverthe locos number to this and bid £16535. 50035 was handed over by Network SouthEast at the 1991 Old Oak Common Open Day held on 17-18 August.<ref>[http://www.bropendays.co.uk/1965_1993.html BR Open Days] (Retrieved 18 August 2019)</ref>

By 1974 <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50035 invoice.jpg | Invoice for the northern WCML had been electrified, and the Class 50 fleet was being transferred to BR’s Western Region to work main line passenger services out sale of London Paddington.50035</gallery>

The Class 50’s did not originally carry namesA few weeks after handover, but 50035 was moved to St Leonards Depot in East Sussex where the late 1970s restoration work and start-up was carried out, together with repainting from its final 'Network South East' livery into BR agreed to their being named after Royal Navy vessels with notable records blue 'large logo' livery. While at St. Leonards, two other Class 50s, 50031 Hood and 50044 Exeter arrived at the SVR in the First and Second World WarsMay 1994.

Withdrawal Due to concerns about a suspect wheel-set flange profile, 50035 was moved to the SVR by road rather than by rail, arriving on 19 September 1996.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book, 9th edition</ref> After arrival, work on the locomotive continued at Kidderminster to address a number of minor mechanical problems and an issue with the engine shutting down due to a fault on the train heating generator. Five cylinder heads had to be removed so that worn-out exhaust valves could be replaced, with the fuel injectors all being overhauled at the class began same time. After reassembly, it then transpired that six cylinder liners were leaking water, requiring a complete engine strip-down and overhaul starting in winter 1997-98.<ref>SVR News 122, 123, 124</ref> The engine was fired up for the first time during the October 1999 Diesel Gala weekend<ref>SVR News 131</ref>, and once a few teething problems were addressed, 50035 was able to attend the August 2000 Open Day at Old Oak Common with 50031 Hood. After the open day, 50035 remained at Old Oak Common while the early 1990sNo 6 wheel set was replaced.<ref>SVR News 134</ref>

==After returning, 50035 Ark Royal in Service==D435 entered service at Stoke became a regular performer on the railway. During 2002 the ETH facility and cab heating were reinstated, culminating in August 1968it working the annual Fifty Fund shareholders' Christmas dining train, having been built as English Electric Works No 3805using the SVR's (then) ETH fitted dining car set.<ref>SVR News 144</D1176. ref>

In May 1973 D435 was transferred On 27 July 2003 50035 attended the Doncaster Works open day. It ran 2,102 miles during the year before failing just prior to Crewethe October 2003 SVR Diesel Gala due to high lubrication oil pressure, being recaused by a defective pressure relief valve. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-numbered align:left">File:50035 in March 1974'Ark Royal' at Doncaster Works. Following electrification of the WCML, 50031 moved to Plymouth Laira JPG|50035 at Doncaster in December 1976 2003 (following a brief spell at BristolWikimedia Commons), moving again to London’s Old Oak Common in June 1980.</gallery>

In January 1978It was planned that after repair over that winter, 50035 would visit the Mid Hants Railway Diesel Gala in May 2004, the first time it would have worked away from its home on the SVR.<ref>SVR News 146</ref> However the winter repair work revealed that the locomotive was named Ark Royal after HMS Ark Royalsuffering from an earth fault on its main generator, a Royal Navy World War 2 aircraft carrierwhich required removal of the power unit complete with the faulty generator. Commissioned The latter was then detached and sent away to Messrs Dowding & Mills in 1938Bristol for repair.<ref>SVR News 148</ref> While that took place, HMS Ark Royal 50035 was stored out of service away from the railway.<ref>SVR News 152</ref> In May 2007 50035 was sunk on 14 November 1941 still at Old Oak Common, awaiting the refitting of the engine after the generator repair.<ref>SVR-Online Forum</ref> In September 2008 the bodywork was being torpedoed by German Uprepared for a repaint.<ref name=PD>www.preserved-boat U-81diesels.co.uk/news via the Internet Archive</ref>

50035 returned to service in 2009, carrying a fictitious Load Haul livery and [[Locomotive numbering|numbered 50135]]. It appeared as a static exhibit at the 100th Anniversary of Eastleigh Locomotive Works Open Weekend on 27-28 May and was rostered to work its first booked SVR passenger train for over four years on Saturday 18 July 2009, although this was withdrawn from service by BR subsequently postponed.<ref name=PD/> However it did participate in the October 2009 Diesel Gala.<ref>Pictures on 5th August 1990Sharpo's World.</ref>

<gallery mode=packed heights=50035 200px style="text-align:left">File:50135 Ark Royal profile Eastleigh.jpg|50135 as 50135 in 'Load Haul' livery at Eastleigh in Preservation==2009 (Wikimedia Commons)</gallery>

50035 was '50135' sustained damage to a wheelset while appearing at the first Class 50 to be preserved, being acquired by East Lancashire Railway in 2011. The Fund and handed over damage prevented a return move by BR rail so, with no facilities at the 1991 Old Oak Common Open DayELR for lifting a locomotive of that size, it was moved to Cardiff Canton by road. Since acquisition 50035 has been Once there the locomotive was jacked up, the bogie with the damaged wheelset was removed, a regular performer on spare wheelset was overhauled and fitted, along with an overhauled traction motor, with all the work being carried out by SVRvolunteers." Plans for the SVR's [[Diesel Depot]] were in progress at the time; SVR News noted that "''hopefully sufficient facilities will soon be available at Kidderminster for this type of activity to be done without the costs associated with using workshops elsewhere.''"<ref name=SVR178>SVR News 178</ref>

In recent years 50035 has been running in a fictitious Load Haul livery '50135' had returned to service by 2012 as pictured below.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50135 Ark Royal 2 (see Wikimedia Commons photo above7690431654), but .jpg|50035 as 50135 at Kidderminster in 2015 it has July 2012</gallery>Having been repainted into BR blue Blue livery, 50035 appropriately played a prominent role in the opening ceremony in January 2016.<ref>SVR News 194, 196</ref>. In May 2016 50035 attended the St Philip's Marsh open day.<ref>Photo on Wikimedia Commons</ref>

==Links==[http://www.class50allianceIn August 2017, 50035 was one of five SVR based diesels to travel in convoy to that year's Old Oak Common open day, the others being 50049, 50007, 50044 and D1015.co.uk/ Class 50 Alliance web site]<brref>[http:SVR News 200<//wwwref> July to October 2019 was spent on hire to the GWSR at Toddington.fiftyfund.org.uk<ref>SVR News 206</ 50 Fund web siteref> During 2020 it worked a considerable number of ballast trains associated with the [[Falling Sands Viaduct|Falling Sands] (still maintained)] track renewal.<ref>SVR News 211<br/ref>

*[[Diesel Locomotives]]<br>*[[List of preservation groups]]*[[SVR-based diesel locomotives visiting other events]]*[[Locomotive numbering|Locomotives running under different identities]] ==Notes==<references group="note"/> ==References==<references/> ==Links==*[http://www.class50alliance.co.uk/ Class 50 Alliance web site]*[http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/ 50 Fund web site] (still maintained)*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_50 British Rail Class 50] on Wikipedia*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_(91) HMS Ark Royal] on Wikipedia

[[Category:Operational passenger hauling diesel locomotives]] [[Category:Featured articles]]