Hopes for Glorious to return at Golden Jubilee gala

The Class 50 Alliance is loaning 50033 Glorious for an initial threeyear period, and hopes to have it serviceable for the Class 50 Golden Jubilee gala at the Severn Valley Railway on October 4-6.

A deal has been agreed following discussions between The Fifty Fund/C50A and Bob Meanley/ Tyseley Locomotive Works. The ‘50’ has been located at Tyseley since moving from STEAM at Swindon in 2007. It has not hauled a train since 2004, when the National Railway Museum disposed of the locomotive and it moved to Wiltshire.

The Alliance is keen to stress that as part of the deal no Fifty Fund or C50A funds will be used on 50033. Its owners have made a sum of cash available towards the initial restoration, but more must be generated through donations.

A dedicated PayPal account has been created, and the Alliance says it’s important that this is accounted for separately. Donations can be made via 50033@fiftyfund.org.uk

An extensive appraisal of the ‘50’ has been carried out, with some work already started. The Fund said that this will continue at Tyseley, with Tony Middleton leading the programme. No date has yet been set, but the ‘50’ will move to the SVR at some point this year ahead of the gala.

Already at the SVR are the C50A’s other locomotives: 50007 Hercules, 50031 Hood, 50035 Ark Royal, 50044 Exeter and 50049 Defiance.