Ten Class 50s now booked for Golden Jubilee event

Four visiting Class 50s have been confirmed for the Golden Jubilee event celebrating the class at the Severn Valley Railway on October 4-6.

That takes the planned number that will be in action to ten, with the possibility of one or two more locomotives still to be added to the line-up.

The event marks the delivery of the 50th and final member of the Class 50 fleet in 1968. That locomotive, 50049 Defiance, is one of six ‘50s’ based at the SVR as part of The Class 50 Alliance fleet (C50A is organising the gala).

Confirmed visiting locomotives will be Garcia Hanson’s 50008 Thunderer, Paul Spracklen’s 50026 Indomitable, and Neil Boden’s 50017 Royal Oak and 50050 Fearless (the first-built ‘50’). All will haul trains at the event (50026’s appearance depends upon completion of engine repairs).

They will work alongside C50A fleet members 50007 Hercules, 50031 Hood, 50033 Glorious (if its overhaul is completed), 50035 Ark Royal and 50044 Exeter (depending upon completion of engine repairs).

Jon Dunster, Director of Class 50 Alliance Ltd & SVR (Holdings) plc, said: “The event is shaping up well, and we’ll be releasing more details in the coming months.

“We’re currently working hard to get 50044 ready, and are making great progress on the return to traffic of 50033, which we’ve taken on a three-year loan from Tyseley Railway Museum.

“To have ten Class 50s at the one event will be a great achievement and something we doubt will be repeated. We’re still in discussions to see if one or more other locomotives could attend, and finalising the programme for the three days.”

Of those that could attend, 50044 has not hauled a train since it hauled a GB Railfreight staff charter in July 2012, while 50033 has not hauled a train since June 2004, before the National Railway Museum disposed of it to STEAM in Swindon.