View source for BR Class 50 50007 Hercules

{{Infobox diesel loco
|image      = 50007_Hercules_20240914.jpg
|caption    = 50007 ''Hercules'' at Kidderminster, September 2024
|construc   = English Electric Vulcan Foundry Works, Newton-le-Willows
|wheels     = Co-Co
|power      = Diesel Electric
|status     = Operational
|locono     = 50007
|othernos   = D407
|designed   = English Electric
|locotype   = '''Class 50'''
|built      = 1968
|years1     = 1994
|events1    = Preserved
|years2     = 2016
|events2    = Purchased by The Class 50 Alliance
|length     = 68ft 6"
|weight     = 115t
}}
'''50007 Hercules''' is a '''BR Class 50 diesel locomotive''', purchased by the SVR-based [[The Class 50 Alliance|Class 50 Alliance]] in November 2016. Between 1984 and 2014, it was named Sir Edward Elgar.

==BR Class 50==
Fifty English Electric Type 4 (later BR Class 50) diesel locomotives were built by English Electric (EE) at their Vulcan Foundry Works plant in Newton-le-Willows between 1967 and 1968. The class was a production series of the prototype DP2 of 1962. EE owned the class and leased them to BR: the locomotives carried an owners plate to note this. 

The class shared parts with other EE classes 37, 40 and 55. The 16CSVT engine of 2,700hp was a development of the 16SVT used in the Class 40. These 'advanced' Type 4 locomotives were amongst the first in the UK to include innovative features such as electronic control, dynamic braking and electric train heating incorporated into their design. The fleet was delivered in BR blue to the London Midland Region and utilised on all types of traffic, including prestige trains such as the 'Royal Scot'.<ref name=SVR156>SVR News 156</ref>

When built they were numbered in the D4xx series. They later became BR's Class 50, being allocated [[TOPS codes|TOPS numbers]] in the 50xxx series.  The class was nicknamed "Hoovers" because of the distinctive sound of the inertial air-filters with which the locomotives were originally fitted.

Initially the locomotives were used to haul express passenger trains on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) between Crewe and Scotland; that section not then being electrified.  This often entailed ‘Multiple Working’, with two locomotives under control of a single driver. The class utilised a unique ‘Orange Square’ control, and so could only work in multiple with other class members. 

By 1974 the northern WCML had been electrified, and the Class 50 fleet was being transferred to BR’s Western Region to work main line passenger services out of London Paddington, replacing the 'Western Hydraulics' which were in the course of being withdrawn. The arrival of HSTs after 1976 saw them transferred onto other work, including Waterloo to Exeter trains and inter-regional trains from both Bristol and Paddington to Birmingham New Street.

The Class 50s did not originally carry names, but in the late 1970s BR agreed to their being named after Royal Navy vessels with notable records in the First and Second World Wars. 

The low number of Class 50s made them a target for BR's fleet rationalisation plan of 1985, and they were progressively withdrawn between 1987 and 1994. 19 are preserved, six of which are based on the SVR.

==50007 Hercules in service==
'''D407''' entered service in March 1968, initially allocated to the Western Lines (LMR)<ref group="note">a generic 'paper' allocation for LMR mainline locomotives in the late 1960's</ref> before being re-allocated to the Stoke Division in June of that year. It was equipped with Dual brakes and Electric Train Heating from new, and was additionally fitted for Multiple Working in February 1970. <ref name="BRDatabase">[https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=D&id=407&loco=407 BRDatabase], accessed 9 June 2023</ref>.

D407 was re-numbered as 50007 under [[TOPS code|TOPS]] in April 1974. The following month it was re-allocated to Plymouth Laira, where it received the name '''Hercules''' on 6 April 1978 after the British First World War battleship of the same name. It carried the name Hercules until 5 February 1984.

On 25 April 1984<ref group="note">BRDatabase states 25 April 1984. Wikipedia states 25 February 1984</ref> the locomotive was outshopped in Brunswick Green and renamed Sir Edward Elgar<ref group="note">The name 'Sir Edward Elgar' was previously carried by GWR Castle 7005 (originally named 'Lamphey Castle') between 1957 and withdrawal in 1964.</ref> by Simon (later Sir Simon) Rattle at Paddington Station, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Great Western Railway.<ref name="wikipedia">BR Class 50 on Wikipedia</ref> On 29 December 1984 the locomotive visited the SVR at the head of 'The Thames Severn Pullman' railtour as part of those celebrations.<ref>SVR News 76</ref><ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/71592768@N08/8180499913/ David Rostance photo on Flickr]</ref>

After initially being withdrawn on 16 July 1991, the locomotive was re-instated for railtour service, and was one of the two Class 50 locomotives to haul the final BR Class 50 railtour, the '50 Terminator', in March 1994.<ref name="wikipedia" /><ref name="EEArchive">[http://www.englishelectric.org.uk/50007 English Electric Archive | 50007 Hercules], accessed 22 November 2016</ref> 50007 was the second to last member of the fleet, being retired on 26 March 1994.

==50007 Hercules in preservation==
50007 Sir Edward Elgar was purchased by the Class 40 Appeal and was transferred to the Midland Railway Butterley in July 1994. Under this name, 50007 [[Diesel Locomotives visiting the SVR for galas|attended SVR diesel galas]] in 2000 and 2004. 

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
50007_Great_Central_Railway.jpg|50007 on the Great Central Railway in 2009, in GWR livery and named Sir Edward Elgar
</gallery>

In 2013, the locomotive was sold to Neil Boden and relocated to Washwood Heath, where it was repainted from GWR Green to BR Blue, and restored to its original name of Hercules.<ref name="EEArchive" /> The locomotive was also fitted with the relevant equipment for mainline running, including TPWS, OTMR, and GSM-R.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
St_Philips_open_day_-_50007,_50050_and_50035.JPG|50007 Hercules at St Philips Marsh, May 2016
</gallery>

[[The Class 50 Alliance]] acquired 50007 from Neil Boden in November 2016. It was moved to the SVR on 16 January 2017 and spent that most of that year at [[Diesel Depot|Kidderminster TMD]] while the generators were removed, sent away for overhaul and refitted, before planned haulage of a number of railtours in 2017 and 2018 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the class.<ref>[http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/index.php/our-locomotives/50007-hercules The Fifty Fund - 50007 Hercules], accessed 22 November 2016</ref>

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
50007_Engine_20170409.jpg|Engine and generator, Apr 2017
50007_Hercules_20170618.jpg |50007 at Kidderminster TMD in June 2017
</gallery>

On 30 August 2017, 50007 was one of a convoy of main line diesels to travel from the SVR to London for the Old Oak Common open day (the consist being 50049, 50007, 50044, 50035 and D1015).<ref>SVR News 200</ref> 50007 then became the first locomotive to use the newly installed lifting jacks in the Diesel Depot when it was lifted for maintenance on 4 November 2017.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
50007onjacks1.jpg | 50007 being lifted for maintenance, Nov 2017
50007onjacks2.jpg | 50007 with bogies removed, Nov 2017
</gallery>

Unlike most other [[Class 50 Alliance Limited|Fifty Fund]] operated locomotives there was no running agreement with the SVR, until 50007 was added to the SVR/Class 50 Alliance running agreement in 2018.<ref name=SVR206>SVR News 206</ref>

On 20 March 2019 freight operator GB Railfreight and [[The Class 50 Alliance]] unveiled 50007 and [[BR Class 50 50049 Defiance|50049 Defiance]] in GBRf livery, with the locomotives available to operate selected GBRf trains on a ‘spot-hire’ basis.<ref>Class 50 Alliance, 15 January 2019</ref><ref>GB Railfreight Facebook 20 March 2019</ref>  In the same month both locomotives hauled the charter train from Paddington to Penzance and return to mark the 25th anniversary of the final BR Class 50-hauled train.<ref name=SVR206/> Both reverted to 'blue large logo' livery in 2024.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
50007_Hercules_20190418.jpg |50007 in GBRf livery at Kidderminster TMD in April 2019
</gallery>

In mid-2021 one side of 50007 was temporarily re-designated as 50034 "Furious" as a thank you to GBRf charter manager Paul Taylor for his prostate cancer charity fundraising efforts; Furious was his favourite class 50<ref>Trackside Magazine, Issue 2, p. 15.</ref>.

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
50007_Hercules_as_50044_20220507.jpg|50007 as 50044 Furious, May 2022
</gallery>

In 2024 Hercules required some extensive cab side repairs, before a repaint into BR Blue large logo livery as pictured above.<ref>[https://www.fiftyfund-alliance.co.uk/post/bodywork-repairs-for-007-049 Class 50 Alliance, 10 and 27 April 2024] (Retrieved 17 May 2024)</ref>.

==See also==
*[[Diesel Locomotives]]
*[[Locomotive numbering|Locomotives running under different identities]]

==Notes==
<references group="note"/>

== References ==
<references />

==Links==
* [http://www.class50alliance.co.uk/ Class 50 Alliance web site]
* [http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/ 50 Fund web site]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_50 BR Class 50] on Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hercules_(1910) HMS Hercules (1910)] on Wikipedia

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