Changes

Following withdrawal, 50044 was sent to London’s Stratford depot for component recovery and later offered for sale as suitable for scrap only. The Fifty Fund were seeking a locomotive as a source of spares, but finding that few components had been removed, successfully purchased 50044 for preservation. The locomotive has been cosmetically de-refurbished, to appear as it did when released to BR from English Electric's Vulcan Foundry works. Since then its preservation 50044 has worked both on the SVR and on the main line.

Exeter was repainted in un-prototypical two tone green and rededicated by the Crew of HMS Exeter at Kidderminster in 2007. '44 has subsequently been repainted in BR Blue.  In 2012 a problem with oil temperature on a mainline railtour damaged 50044's diesel set. A replacement English Electric 16CSVT has been secured from Portugal (ex CP 1807) which is now fitted inside '44 and the final touches to bring it in line with UK specifications are being worked on. Start up is anticipated in late 2016.