Class 50 Golden Jubilee Gala - Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway played host the biggest gathering of preserved Class 50 locomotives between the 4th to 6th October 2018. The Class 50 Golden Jubilee Gala had been the idea of the Fifty Fund to gather as many operational Class 50s together at their preserved spiritual home on the Severn Valley Railway, the event planned to celebrate the cult following the of the Class as they turned 50 years old. Examples of the Class were gathered from all over the UK. The biggest bonus of the event was the return to service of long term stored (and former National Railway Museum Locomotive) of No.50033 'Glorious'. In just over six months the locomotive was turned from a rusting stored locomotive with an unknown future, into an operational working locomotive by the Fifty Fund volunteers. A huge effort went into returning Glorious to service and the unprecedented fund raising, donations, time, and effort which went into reviving a former operational locomotive when it was first handed to the National Railway Museum was incredible. Although the bodywork paint was not complete the Fifty Fund did not let this beat them, and turned it into a way of raising funds for the future paint job by letting visitors pay £5 each to 'tag' the loco with their name or comment. This simple and novel idea was a huge success and raised £3460 towards the paint which went a long way to the total bill, which will be around £13,000 to paint the loco. By the end of the weekend the loco ended up looking like a work of art with every bit of available space being used to allow enthusiasts to write on the locomotive. The whole weekend was a complete success and one of the best gala weekends I've attended in years.
|
BR Large Logo Class 50 No.50049 'Defiance' passes through the tree lined canopy at Orchard Bungalow on Thursday 4th October 2018 hauling 1C25 09:45 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth.
Laira Blue liveried Class 50 No.50008 passes Tenbury Wall on Thursday 4th October 2018, hauling the 7V05 09:35 Bridgnorth - Highley representing the former DCWA freight locomotives.
|
Intercity liveried Class 50 No.50031 'Hood' passes Orchard Bungallow on Thursday 4th October working 1A55 09:35 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster.
BR Blue Class 50 No.50050 'Fearless' rounds the curve at Alun Aquaduct on the 4th October 2018 working 1C27 10:50 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth.
|
BR Blue Class 50 operated by The Fifty Fund No.50035 'Ark Royal' passes Alun Aquaduct on the 4th October 2018 operating 1S71 10:35 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster.
|
BR Blue Class 50 No.50007 'Hercules' passes Chelmash on the 4th October operating 1V76 11:30 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth.
|
BR Large Logo Class 50 No.50049 'Defiance' passes Chelmarsh on the 4th October 2018 hauling 1A50 12:20 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster.
|
BR Blue Class 50 No.50050 'Fearless' (owned by Neil Boden) rolls slowly down Erdington Bank on the 4th October operating 1S61 13:05 Birdgnorth - Kidderminster with LMS stock in tow.
|
|
|
Former British Rail Class 50s attending the Golden Jubilee event were as follows:
50007 'Hercules' (The Fifty Fund) 50008 'Thunderer' (Garcia Hanson) 50015 'Valient' (East Lancashire Railway) 50017 'Royal Oak' (Neil Boden) 50026 'Indomitable' (Paul Spraklen) - Non Operational |
50031 'Hood' (The Fifty Fund) 50033 'Glorious' (The Fifty Fund) 50035 'Ark Royal' (The Fifty Fund) 50044 'Exeter' (The Fifty Fund) 50049 'Defiance' (The Fifty Fund) 50050 'Fearless' (Neil Boden) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A small display of original British Rail Nameplates from collectors were on display at the Highley Engine House. These original and priceless' artifacts were kindly displayed by their owners for the weekend, having been purchased from British Rail when the locomotive classes were withdrawn from service.
50033 'Glorious'
While looking rather like the 'ugly ducking' of the event, the part restoration of No.50033 'Glorious' provided the Fifty Fund with a novel method to help raise funds towards the remaining restoration and repaint of the locomotive. Running in part restored condition, the locomotive was operationally sound and provided plenty of enjoyment for enthusiasts who flocked to see such a unique site.
It's expected that the total bill for the repaint will be around £13,000 and the total raised during the weekend raised the total kitty to just over £10,000. Glorious is expected to retain its BR Large Logo livery which will will return the loco to a resplendent condition. It's likely that 50033 will become the 2019 Summer preserved railway gala locomotive touring the country to provide even more enjoyment for railway enthusiasts.
It's expected that the total bill for the repaint will be around £13,000 and the total raised during the weekend raised the total kitty to just over £10,000. Glorious is expected to retain its BR Large Logo livery which will will return the loco to a resplendent condition. It's likely that 50033 will become the 2019 Summer preserved railway gala locomotive touring the country to provide even more enjoyment for railway enthusiasts.
Former large logo Class 50 No.50033 'Glorious' stands at Kidderminster on the 4th October 2018. The locomotive had been returned to service by The Fifty Fund having been rescued from a rotting state at Tyseley. The loco is seen in operational but part restroed state, enthusiasts paid £5 to 'Tag' the loco to help raise funds for its final paint and bodywork to be applied.
|
BR Class 50 No.50033 'Glorious' stands at Bewdley on the 4th October 2018 having arrived with the 2C76 15:30 Kidderminster - Bewdley service.
|
|
|
Sadley out of service for the Golen Jubilee event. Revised Network Southeast Class 50 No.50026 stands on display at Kidderminster on the 4th October 2018.
Original Network Southeast liveried Class 50 No.50017 rolls slowly back into Bridgnorth to form the 1F88 18:15 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster service on the 4th October 2018.
|
Class 50 No.50033 runs around its train at Bewdley Station having arrived from Kidderminster on the 4th October 2018.
|
Network Southeast liveried twosome No.50026 and No.50017 are pictured at Kidderminster on the 5th October 2018.
|
Network Southeast liveried twosome No.50026 and No.50017 are pictured at Kidderminster on the 5th October 2018.
BR Large Logo No.50015 is pictured at Kidderminster on the 5th October 2018.
|
BR Class 50's No.50033 'Glorious' & No.50049 'Defiance', stand at Kidderminster on the 5th October 2018.
|
BR Class 50's No.50035 'Ark Royal' and No.50008 'Thunderer' are pictured at Bewdley on the 5th October 2018, with No.50008 arriving on a rake of Seacows.
|
Intercity Class 50 No.50031 'Hood' arrives into the platform at Bewdley on the 5th October 2018 ready to couple to stock and form the 11:14 service to Kidderminster.
|
Intercity Class 50 No.50031 stands at Bedley on the 5th October 2018 ready to depart with the 11:14 to Kidderminster.
|
BR Large Logo Class 50 No.50049 'Defiance' arrives into Bewdley on the 10:50 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth service on the 5th October 2018.
|
Laira Blue liveried Class 50 No.50008 'Thunderer' is pictured at Highley on a typical freight train of its time on the 5th October 2018.
BR Large Logo Class 50 No.50015 'Valient' arrives into Highley on the 5th October 2018 with the 11:20 Bridgnorth - Kidderminster service passing former mainline farewell tour loco No.50008 'Thunderer'
|
BR Blue Class 50 No.50007 arrives into Highley working the 11:30 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth on the 5th October 2018.
BR Blue Class 50 No.50044 'Exeter' stands at Kidderminster on the 5th October 2018.
|
Original Network Southeast liveried Class 50 No.50017 arrives into Highley on the 5th October about to take the token while hauling the 12:20 from Brignorth to Kidderminster.
|
BR Blue Class 50 No.50050 (D400) arrives into Arley Station with the 09:05 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth service on the 6th October 2018.
Network Southeast liveried Class 50 No.50017 is pictured moving off its stock at Kidderminster having arrived from Bridgnorth on the 6th October 2018.
|
Network Southeast liveried Class 50 No.50017 is pictured moving off its stock at Kidderminster having arrived from Bridgnorth on the 6th October 2018.
|
BR Blue Class 50 No.50044 'Exeter' is pictured at at Kidderminster on the 6th October 2018 having arrived with the 12:10 from Bridgnorth.
BR Blue Class 50 No.50044 'Exeter' stands at Kidderminster between duties on the 6th October 2018 under darkening skies.
Network Southeast Class 50 No.50017 'Royal Oak' departs from Kidderminster on the 6th October 2018, working the 14:00 to Bridgnorth.
|
Class 50 No.50015 visiting from the East Lancashire Railway arrives into Kidderminster passing No.50044 'Exeter' while working the 13:00 from Bridgnorth.
BR Class 50 No.50033 'Glorious' departs Kidderminster in fine style on the 6th October 2018, working the 13:40 Kidderminster - Bridgnorth service.
From a Different Viewpoint:
(Locomotive branding removed from this image)
|
|
