Owners and operators of D2246, 37037 "Loch Treig" and 50002 "Superb"

50 002

Class Details

The Class 50 dates from the late 1960’s and at one time consisted of 50 locomotives.  The class was built by English Electric after British Rail decided in 1966 that it had a requirement for a small fleet of modern diesel electric locomotives, and followed on from the successful operation of the English Electric trial locomotive DP2.

The prototype DP2 was built around a Deltic body, but with major internal differences, these including new technology such as electronic control systems designed to give an enhanced overall performance.  The power unit utilised was a development of English Electric’s “v” type, the origins of which can be traced back to the former London Midland & Scottish Railway’s two mixed traffic diesel locomotives, No's 10000 and 10001, which were introduced in 1947 and employed the 16SVT Mk 1 power unit.  This same unit, in various forms and sizes has been employed on a number of builds over the years including Class 20, 31, 37, 40 and 50.

The new locomotives were to be unusual in that they were not sold to British Rail, but retained by the builder and operated under lease through a subsidiary company known as English Electric Leasings Ltd.  Whilst BR did not own the locomotives, it did take responsibility for the routine maintenance.

Construction of the new locomotives took place at the Vulcan Foundry at Newton le Willows.  At the design stage it was proposed to adopt various new ideas, one of which would have been to incorporate wrap-round cab windows, however this was not adopted following the insistence of the British Rail design panel, a new “standard” cab had to be adopted, this resulting in a flat fronted design.

Construction took place between January 1967 and December 1968.  The completed locomotives were out-shopped in the corporate blue livery with full yellow ends, and given the numbers D400 to D449.  On entry into service the fleet was allocated to Crewe diesel depot and used to operate, in the main, north west and Anglo-Scottish express passenger services, although appearances on other services, including freight were also made at this time.

From mid 1970 the Anglo-Scottish services were accelerated to give a better service.  To facilitate this the class were fitted to operate in multiple, and thus allow pairs of class 50’s to work together under the control of a single driver.  All the fleet had this equipment fitted when new, although only the first two locomotives actually had the jumper cables fitted from new.

With electrification of the West Coast mainline progressing, new work was sought for the class and with this in mind, in 1972, D400 was transferred to the Western Region to allow staff training to commence.  With full electrification of the West Coast route complete, electric motive power displaced diesel.  The Class 50 moved south, and in turn displaced the remaining Class 52 diesel hydraulics from service.  At about this time the locomotives were also sold to British Rail.

50003 climbing up Dainton Bank with a Western region service in 1977

Unfortunately reliability of the class was of major concern, and at one time was down to just 39%.  The decision was made to undertake a full refurbishment of the whole class.  This took place in the mid 1980’s, after which reliability improved.  Although upon introduction on the Western Region the class saw employment on the region’s express passenger services, the class were destined to be ousted from their work once again, this time by the newly introduced High Speed Train sets.  The Class 50 remained on the Western Region and found further work hauling internal services and inter-regional diagrams.  The class also took over from the smaller class 33’s on the Exeter to Waterloo route.

 50026 at Salisbury on the Exeter to Waterloo route

By mid 1987 it was announced that the class 50 fleet would be run down prior to full withdrawal.  The first casualty (50 011) was withdrawn in February that year, however it was to take another seven years until the last locomotives were withdrawn, 50 007 and 50 050 hauling The Fifty Terminator on 26^th March 1994.

There was a small glimmer of hope for the class when in 1987 the Railfreight Sector paid for the conversion of 50 049 into a freight locomotive by re-gearing and installing Class 37 bogies.  The loco was renumbered 50 149 but was destined to be the only member of this sub-class.

All of the class were renumbered in the mid 1970’s under the TOPS system and were given the numbers 50 001 to 50 050, and following relocation to the Western Region all also received names.  Some members of the class were also adorned with twinning plaques.  The names and numbers applied to each locomotive were as follows :

On entry into service all Class 50’s carried all over corporate blue livery with full yellow ends with numbers and BR arrows under each window.  As renumbering under the TOPS system progressed, the arrow was moved to the centre of the main body whilst numbers were only carried under the driver’s side cab windows.

 50002 in BR Blue Livery

A major change took place in August 1980 when 50 023 Howe became the first member of the class to appear in what is now known as Large Logo livery.  This new colour scheme was very striking for its time and is probably the most popular livery the class ever carried.  Initially locomotives adorned with this colour scheme carried a grey roof, however several were later given a black roof, whilst one, 50 010, carried a blue roof.

 50012 in BR Large Logo Livery with a Grey Roof 

In February 1984 50 007 emerged from the paint shop in green livery in preparation for the Great Western 150 celebrations the following year.  The livery was similar to the original blue style with full yellow ends, but also included GWR style orange and black lining along the mid bodyside, together with brass name and number plates.

 50007 "Sir Edward Elgar" in GWR 150 Green Livery

In 1986 a new livery appeared, this being for the newly created Network South East.  The colour scheme consisted of blue bodywork with black roof, white, red and grey stripes along the lower bodyside, each of which swept upwards towards the cab.  The front end was yellow with the area around the cab windows being white.  The first two locomotives so treated were 50 017 and 50 023.

 50025 "Invincible" in original NSE Livery

The original style of NSE livery was initially modified to remove the upward flow of the bodyside stripes, and again later to change the shade of the blue to a much deeper version. 

50024 "Vanguard" in revised NSE Livery

There were two other notable liveries carried by members of the class.  Various locomotives, in later years, were allocated to the Departmental Sector.  Laira depot were responsible for repainting 50 008, 50 19 and 50 037 into a revised style of blue livery employing all over blue bodywork with grey roof, black window surrounds and yellow warning panel.

50008 "Thunderer" in Laira DCWA Blue Livery

Another livery, and a one off, was applied to 50 015.  Permission was given for Laira depot to repaint the locomotive into the Civil Engineers “Dutch” livery prior to it taking part in a railtour.  The livery was well suited to the body style of the 50 and was popular with enthusiasts. 

Although the final mainline run took place in 1994, several members of the class have been saved for preservation by many groups around the country.  Many have already operated on various preserved lines, whilst a small number, 50017, 50031, 50044, 50049 and 50050 have also returned to the mainline operating various special charters and railtours.

Content © The Devon Diesel Society Ltd - Website Designed by P Seymour