[[File:50135 {{Infobox diesel loco|image = 50035_20170510.jpg|caption = 50035 Ark Royal 2 at Hampton Loade (76904316542017).jpg|construc = English Electric Vulcan Foundry Works, Newton-le-Willows|wheels = Co-Co|thumbpower = Diesel Electric|200pxstatus = In service|rightlocono = 50035| othernos = D435, '50135 '|designed = English Electric|locotype = '''Class 50'''|built = 1968|years1 = 1991|events1 = Purchased by The 50 Fund|years2 = 1996|events2 = Arrived on the SVR|length = 68ft 6"|weight = 115t}}'''50035 Ark Royal (Wikimedia Commons)''' was the first BR Class 50 diesel locomotive to 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]].
==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 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.
Initially 50035's final allocation was to London's Old Oak Common in June 1980. In June 1986 it received the locomotives were used to haul express passenger trains 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 West Coast Main Line (WCML) between Crewe SVR Stock Book and Scotland; that section not then being electrifiedthe BR Database. The latter are marked as "WIP" therefore the Stock Book data has been used. This often entailed ‘Multiple Working’, with two locomotives under control of a single driver</ref>.
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<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50035 - Birmingham New Street (8959197574).jpg| 50035 at Birmingham New Street</gallery>
==50035 Ark Royal in preservation==50035 was the first Class 50 to be preserved, being acquired by [[Class 50 Alliance Limited|The Fifty Fund (now Class 50 Alliance)]]. Having been advised that the going rate for a Class 50’s did not originally carry names50 was £16500, but in the late 1970s BR agreed fund simply added the last two digits of the locos number to their being named after Royal Navy vessels with notable records in this and bid £16535. 50035 was handed over by Network SouthEast at the First and Second World Wars1991 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>
Withdrawal <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50035 invoice.jpg | Invoice for the sale of the class began in the early 1990s.50035</gallery>
==A few weeks after handover, 50035 Ark Royal was moved to St Leonards Depot in Service==D435 entered service East Sussex where the restoration work and start-up was carried out, together with repainting from its final 'Network South East' livery into BR blue 'large logo' livery. While at St. Leonards, two other Class 50s, 50031 Hood and 50044 Exeter arrived at Stoke the SVR in August 1968, having been built as English Electric Works No 3805/D1176May 1994.
In May 1973 D435 Due to concerns about a suspect wheel-set flange profile, 50035 was transferred 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 Crewebe removed so that worn-out exhaust valves could be replaced, with the fuel injectors all being reoverhauled at the same time. After reassembly, it then transpired that six cylinder liners were leaking water, requiring a complete engine strip-numbered 50035 down and overhaul starting in March 1974winter 1997-98. <ref>SVR News 122, 123, 124</ref> The engine was fired up for the first time during Following electrification of the WCMLOctober 1999 Diesel Gala weekend<ref>SVR News 131</ref>, 50031 moved and once a few teething problems were addressed, 50035 was able to Plymouth Laira in December 1976 (following a brief spell attend the August 2000 Open Day at Bristol)Old Oak Common with 50031 Hood. After the open day, moving again to London’s 50035 remained at Old Oak Common in June 1980while the No 6 wheel set was replaced.<ref>SVR News 134</ref>
In January 1978After returning, 50035 was named Ark Royal after HMS Ark Royal, became a Royal Navy World War 2 aircraft carrierregular performer on the railway. Commissioned During 2002 the ETH facility and cab heating were reinstated, culminating in 1938it working the annual Fifty Fund shareholders' Christmas dining train, HMS Ark Royal was sunk on 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by German U-boat U-81using the SVR's (then) ETH fitted dining car set.<ref>SVR News 144</ref>
On 27 July 2003 50035 was withdrawn from service attended the Doncaster Works open day. It ran 2,102 miles during the year before failing just prior to the October 2003 SVR Diesel Gala due to high lubrication oil pressure, caused by BR on 5th August 1990a defective pressure relief valve. <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50035 'Ark Royal' at Doncaster Works.JPG|50035 at Doncaster in 2003 (Wikimedia Commons)</gallery>
==It was planned that after repair over that winter, 50035 Ark Royal 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 suffering from an earth fault on its main generator, which required removal of the power unit complete with the faulty generator. The latter was then detached and sent away to Messrs Dowding & Mills in Preservation=Bristol for repair.<ref>SVR News 148</ref> While that took place, 50035 was stored out of service away from the railway.<ref>SVR News 152</ref> In May 2007 50035 was 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 prepared for a repaint.<ref name=PD>www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/news via the Internet Archive</ref>
50035 was the first Class 50 returned to be preservedservice in 2009, being acquired by The Fund carrying a fictitious Load Haul livery and handed over by BR [[Locomotive numbering|numbered 50135]]. It appeared as a static exhibit at the 1991 Old Oak Common 100th Anniversary of Eastleigh Locomotive Works Open DayWeekend 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 subsequently postponed. Since acquisition 50035 has been a regular performer <ref name=PD/> However it did participate in the October 2009 Diesel Gala.<ref>Pictures on the SVRSharpo's World.</ref>
In recent years 50035 has been running <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50135 Ark Royal profile Eastleigh.jpg|50135 as 50135 in a fictitious 'Load Haul ' livery at Eastleigh in 2009 (see Wikimedia Commons photo above)</gallery> '50135' sustained damage to a wheelset while appearing at the East Lancashire Railway in 2011. The damage prevented a return move by rail so, but with no facilities at the ELR for lifting a locomotive of that size, it was moved to Cardiff Canton by road. Once there the locomotive was jacked up, the bogie with the damaged wheelset was removed, a spare wheelset was overhauled and fitted, along with an overhauled traction motor, with all the work being carried out by SVR volunteers." 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> '50135' had returned to service by 2012 as pictured below.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:50135 Ark Royal 2 (7690431654).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> In 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.<ref>SVR News 200</ref> July to October 2019 was spent on hire to the GWSR at Toddington.<ref>SVR News 206</ref> During 2020 it worked a considerable number of ballast trains associated with the [[Falling Sands Viaduct|Falling Sands]] track renewal.<ref>SVR News 211</ref> ==See also==*[[Diesel Locomotives]]*[[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]<br>*[http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/ 50 Fund web site] (still maintained)<br>*[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
==See also==[[Diesel Locomotives]]<br>[[List of preservation groups]]{{DieselNavbox}}
[[Category:Operational passenger hauling diesel locomotives]] [[Category:Featured articles]]
