Difference between revisions of "BR Class 50 50035 Ark Royal"

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{{Infobox diesel loco
 
{{Infobox diesel loco
−
|image      = 50135 Ark Royal 2 (7690431654).jpg
+
|image      = 50035_20170510.jpg
−
|caption    = 50035 Ark Royal at Kidderminster
+
|caption    = 50035 Ark Royal at Hampton Loade (2017)
 
|construc  = English Electric Vulcan Foundry Works, Newton-le-Willows
 
|construc  = English Electric Vulcan Foundry Works, Newton-le-Willows
 
|wheels    = Co-Co
 
|wheels    = Co-Co
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|status    = In service
 
|status    = In service
 
|locono    = 50035
 
|locono    = 50035
−
|othernos  = D435
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|othernos  = D435, '50135'
 
|designed  = English Electric
 
|designed  = English Electric
 
|locotype  = '''Class 50'''
 
|locotype  = '''Class 50'''
Line 13: Line 13:
 
|years1    = 1991
 
|years1    = 1991
 
|events1    = Purchased by The 50 Fund
 
|events1    = Purchased by The 50 Fund
 +
|years2    = 1996
 +
|events2    = Arrived on the SVR
 
|length    = 68ft 6"
 
|length    = 68ft 6"
 
|weight    = 115t
 
|weight    = 115t
 
}}
 
}}
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50035 Ark Royal is a BR Class 50 diesel locomotive.  
+
'''50035 Ark Royal''' was the first BR Class 50 diesel locomotive to enter preservation. Unlike a number of the other Class 50s resident on the SVR, 50035 is not registered to work on the main line and is not fitted with the necessary equipment such as OTMR, TPWS or GSM-R. However it can be hauled for the purposes of [[SVR-based diesel locomotives visiting other events|visiting other railways]].  
 +
 
 
==BR Class 50==
 
==BR Class 50==
−
Fifty English Electric Type 4 (later BR Class 50) diesel locomotives were built by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works plant in Newton-le-Willows between 1967 and 1968. When built they were numbered in the D4xx series. They later became BR’s Class 50, being allocated 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.
+
Fifty English Electric Type 4 (later BR Class 50) diesel locomotives were built by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works plant in Newton-le-Willows between 1967 and 1968. 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.
 +
 
 +
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 last of the BR(W) Diesel Hydraulics in that role.
 +
 
 +
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.
 +
 
 +
Withdrawal of the class began in 1987 and was completed by 1994. 18 examples have been preserved
 +
 
 +
==50035 Ark Royal in service==
 +
The locomotive was built at English Electric's Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows as Works No 3805/D1176 and entered service as number D435 at Crewe in August 1968. It was re-numbered 50035 in March 1974.  Following electrification of the WCML, 50035 moved to Bristol Bath Road in January 1976 and then to Plymouth Laira in December 1976.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book, 9th edition</ref>
 +
 
 +
On 17 January 1978, 50035 was named in a ceremony at Plymouth Station.<ref>[https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=D&id=435&loco=435 BR Database]</ref> It received the name '''Ark Royal''' after HMS Ark Royal, a Royal Navy World War 2 aircraft carrier. Commissioned in 1938, HMS Ark Royal was sunk on 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by German U-boat U-81.
 +
 
 +
50035's final allocation was to London's Old Oak Common in June 1980. In June 1986 it received the distinctive "Network South East" livery as pictured below. It was withdrawn from service there by BR on 5th August 1990<ref name=SB9/><ref group="note">There are some discrepancies in service allocations and dates between the SVR Stock Book and the BR Database. The latter are marked as "WIP" therefore the Stock Book data has been used.</ref>.
 +
 
 +
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
File:50035 - Birmingham New Street (8959197574).jpg| 50035 at Birmingham New Street
 +
</gallery>
  
−
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.
+
==50035 Ark Royal in preservation==
 +
50035 was the first Class 50 to be preserved, being acquired by [[Class 50 Alliance Limited|The Fifty Fund (now Class 50 Alliance)]]. Having been advised that the going rate for a Class 50 was £16500, the fund simply added the last two digits of the locos number to this and bid £16535. 50035 was handed over by Network SouthEast at the 1991 Old Oak Common Open Day held on 17-18 August.<ref>[http://www.bropendays.co.uk/1965_1993.html BR Open Days] (Retrieved 18 August 2019)</ref>
  
−
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.
+
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
File:50035 invoice.jpg | Invoice for the sale of 50035
 +
</gallery>
  
−
The Class 50’s 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.  
+
A few weeks after handover, 50035 was moved to St Leonards Depot in East Sussex where the restoration work and start-up was carried out, together with repainting from its final 'Network South East' livery into BR blue 'large logo' livery. While at St. Leonards, two other Class 50s, 50031 Hood and 50044 Exeter arrived at the SVR in May 1994.  
  
−
Withdrawal of the class began in the early 1990s.
+
Due to concerns about a suspect wheel-set flange profile, 50035 was moved to the SVR by road rather than by rail, arriving on 19 September 1996.<ref name=SB9>SVR Stock Book, 9th edition</ref>  After arrival, work on the locomotive continued at Kidderminster to address a number of minor mechanical problems and an issue with the engine shutting down due to a fault on the train heating generator. Five cylinder heads had to be removed so that worn-out exhaust valves could be replaced, with the fuel injectors all being overhauled at the same time. After reassembly, it then transpired that six cylinder liners were leaking water, requiring a complete engine strip-down and overhaul starting in winter 1997-98.<ref>SVR News 122, 123, 124</ref> The engine was fired up for the first time during  the October 1999 Diesel Gala weekend<ref>SVR News 131</ref>, and once a few teething problems were addressed, 50035 was able to attend the August 2000 Open Day at Old Oak Common with 50031 Hood. After the open day, 50035 remained at Old Oak Common while the No 6 wheel set was replaced.<ref>SVR News 134</ref>
  
−
==50035 Ark Royal in Service==
+
After returning, 50035 became a regular performer on the railway. During 2002 the ETH facility and cab heating were reinstated, culminating in it working the annual Fifty Fund shareholders' Christmas dining train, using the SVR's (then) ETH fitted dining car set.<ref>SVR News 144</ref>
−
D435 entered service at Stoke in August 1968, having been built as English Electric Works No 3805/D1176. 
 
  
−
In May 1973 D435 was transferred to Crewe, being re-numbered 50035 in March 1974. Following electrification of the WCML, 50031 moved to Plymouth Laira in December 1976 (following a brief spell at Bristol), moving again to London’s Old Oak Common in June 1980.
+
On 27 July 2003 50035 attended the Doncaster Works open day. It ran 2,102 miles during the year before failing just prior to the October 2003 SVR Diesel Gala due to high lubrication oil pressure, caused by a defective pressure relief valve.
 +
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
File:50035 'Ark Royal' at Doncaster Works.JPG|50035 at Doncaster in 2003 (Wikimedia Commons)
 +
</gallery>
  
−
In January 1978, 50035 was named Ark Royal after HMS Ark Royal, a Royal Navy World War 2 aircraft carrier. Commissioned in 1938, HMS Ark Royal was sunk on 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by German U-boat U-81.
+
It was planned that after repair over that winter, 50035 would visit the Mid Hants Railway Diesel Gala in May 2004, the first time it would have worked away from its home on the SVR.<ref>SVR News 146</ref> However the winter repair work revealed that the locomotive was suffering from an earth fault on its main generator, which required removal of the power unit complete with the faulty generator. The latter was then detached and sent away to Messrs Dowding & Mills in Bristol for repair.<ref>SVR News 148</ref> While that took place, 50035 was stored out of service away from the railway.<ref>SVR News 152</ref> In May 2007 50035 was still at Old Oak Common, awaiting the refitting of the engine after the generator repair.<ref>SVR-Online Forum</ref> In September 2008 the bodywork was being prepared for a repaint.<ref name=PD>www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/news via the Internet Archive</ref>
  
−
50035 was withdrawn from service by BR on 5th August 1990.
+
50035 returned to service in 2009, carrying a fictitious Load Haul livery and [[Locomotive numbering|numbered 50135]]. It appeared as a static exhibit at the 100th Anniversary of Eastleigh Locomotive Works Open Weekend on 27-28 May and was rostered to work its first booked SVR passenger train for over four years on Saturday 18 July 2009, although this was subsequently postponed.<ref name=PD/> However it did participate in the October 2009 Diesel Gala.<ref>Pictures on Sharpo's World.</ref>
  
−
==50035 Ark Royal in Preservation==
+
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
File:50135 Ark Royal profile Eastleigh.jpg|50135 as 50135 in 'Load Haul' livery at Eastleigh in 2009 (Wikimedia Commons)
 +
</gallery>
  
−
50035 was the first Class 50 to be preserved, being acquired by The Fund and handed over by BR at the 1991 Old Oak Common Open Day. Since acquisition 50035 has been a regular performer on the SVR.
+
'50135' sustained damage to a wheelset while appearing at the East Lancashire Railway in 2011. The damage prevented a return move by rail so, with no facilities at the ELR for lifting a locomotive of that size, it was moved to Cardiff Canton by road. Once there the locomotive was jacked up, the bogie with the damaged wheelset was removed, a spare wheelset was overhauled and fitted, along with an overhauled traction motor, with all the work being carried out by SVR volunteers." Plans for the SVR's [[Diesel Depot]] were in progress at the time; SVR News noted that "''hopefully sufficient facilities will soon be available at Kidderminster for this type of activity to be done without the costs associated with using workshops elsewhere.''"<ref name=SVR178>SVR News 178</ref>
  
−
In recent years 50035 has been running in a fictitious Load Haul livery (see Wikimedia Commons photo above), but in 2015 it has been repainted into BR blue livery.
+
'50135' had returned to service by 2012 as pictured below.
 +
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
 +
File:50135 Ark Royal 2 (7690431654).jpg|50035 as 50135 at Kidderminster in July 2012
 +
</gallery>
 +
Having been repainted into BR Blue livery, 50035 appropriately played a prominent role in the opening ceremony in January 2016.<ref>SVR News 194, 196</ref>. In May 2016 50035 attended the St Philip's Marsh open day.<ref>Photo on Wikimedia Commons</ref>
  
−
==Links==
+
In August 2017, 50035 was one of five SVR based diesels to travel in convoy to that year's Old Oak Common open day, the others being 50049, 50007, 50044 and D1015.<ref>SVR News 200</ref> July to October 2019 was spent on hire to the GWSR at Toddington.<ref>SVR News 206</ref> During 2020 it worked a considerable number of ballast trains associated with the [[Falling Sands Viaduct|Falling Sands]] track renewal.<ref>SVR News 211</ref>
−
[http://www.class50alliance.co.uk/ Class 50 Alliance web site]<br>
 
−
[http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/ 50 Fund web site] (still maintained)<br>
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
−
[[Diesel Locomotives]]<br>
+
*[[Diesel Locomotives]]
−
[[List of preservation groups]]
+
*[[List of preservation groups]]
 +
*[[SVR-based diesel locomotives visiting other events]]
 +
*[[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] (still maintained)
 +
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_50 British Rail Class 50] on Wikipedia
 +
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_(91) HMS Ark Royal] on Wikipedia
  
 
{{DieselNavbox}}
 
{{DieselNavbox}}
  
−
[[Category:Operational passenger hauling diesel locomotives]]
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[[Category:Operational passenger hauling diesel locomotives]]
 +
[[Category:Featured articles]]

Latest revision as of 14:22, 16 May 2022

BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 50 50035 Ark Royal
50035 20170510.jpg
50035 Ark Royal at Hampton Loade (2017)
Built By English Electric Vulcan Foundry Works, Newton-le-Willows
Configuration Co-Co
Power type Diesel Electric
Status In service
Loco Number 50035
Other Numbers D435, '50135'
History
Built 1968
Designed By English Electric
Type Class 50
1991 Purchased by The 50 Fund
1996 Arrived on the SVRSevern Valley Railway
Technical
Length 68ft 6"
Weight 115t

Diesel Locomotives

50035 Ark Royal was the first BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 50 diesel locomotive to enter preservation. Unlike a number of the other Class 50s resident on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, 50035 is not registered to work on the main line and is not fitted with the necessary equipment such as OTMROn-Train Monitoring Recorder, a device similar in principle to the flight data recorder found on aircraft, TPWS or GSM-R. However it can be hauled for the purposes of visiting other railways.

BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 50

Fifty English Electric Type 4The British Railways classification for diesel locomotives of 2000 bhp to 2999 bhp (later BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 50) diesel locomotives were built by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works plant in Newton-le-Willows between 1967 and 1968. When built they were numbered in the D4xx series. They later became BRBritish Rail or British Railways's Class 50, being allocated 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.

By 1974 the northern WCML had been electrified, and the Class 50 fleet was being transferred to BRBritish Rail or British Railways's Western Region to work main line passenger services out of London Paddington, replacing the last of the BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) Diesel Hydraulics in that role.

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

Withdrawal of the class began in 1987 and was completed by 1994. 18 examples have been preserved

50035 Ark Royal in service

The locomotive was built at English Electric's Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows as Works No 3805/D1176 and entered service as number D435 at Crewe in August 1968. It was re-numbered 50035 in March 1974. Following electrification of the WCML, 50035 moved to Bristol Bath Road in January 1976 and then to Plymouth Laira in December 1976.[1]

On 17 January 1978, 50035 was named in a ceremony at Plymouth Station.[2] It received the name Ark Royal after HMS Ark Royal, a Royal Navy World War 2 aircraft carrier. Commissioned in 1938, HMS Ark Royal was sunk on 14 November 1941 after being torpedoed by German U-boat U-81.

50035's final allocation was to London's Old Oak Common in June 1980. In June 1986 it received the distinctive "Network South East" livery as pictured below. It was withdrawn from service there by BRBritish Rail or British Railways on 5th August 1990[1][note 1].

  • 50035 at Birmingham New Street

50035 Ark Royal in preservation

50035 was the first Class 50 to be preserved, being acquired by The Fifty Fund (now Class 50 Alliance). Having been advised that the going rate for a Class 50 was £16500, the fund simply added the last two digits of the locos number to this and bid £16535. 50035 was handed over by Network SouthEast at the 1991 Old Oak Common Open Day held on 17-18 August.[3]

  • Invoice for the sale of 50035

A few weeks after handover, 50035 was moved to St Leonards Depot in East Sussex where the restoration work and start-up was carried out, together with repainting from its final 'Network South East' livery into BRBritish Rail or British Railways blue 'large logo' livery. While at St. Leonards, two other Class 50s, 50031 Hood and 50044 Exeter arrived at the SVRSevern Valley Railway in May 1994.

Due to concerns about a suspect wheel-set flange profile, 50035 was moved to the SVRSevern Valley Railway by road rather than by rail, arriving on 19 September 1996.[1] After arrival, work on the locomotive continued at Kidderminster to address a number of minor mechanical problems and an issue with the engine shutting down due to a fault on the train heating generator. Five cylinder heads had to be removed so that worn-out exhaust valves could be replaced, with the fuel injectors all being overhauled at the same time. After reassembly, it then transpired that six cylinder liners were leaking water, requiring a complete engine strip-down and overhaul starting in winter 1997-98.[4] The engine was fired up for the first time during the October 1999 Diesel Gala weekend[5], and once a few teething problems were addressed, 50035 was able to attend the August 2000 Open Day at Old Oak Common with 50031 Hood. After the open day, 50035 remained at Old Oak Common while the No 6 wheel set was replaced.[6]

After returning, 50035 became a regular performer on the railway. During 2002 the ETHElectric Train Heating facility and cab heating were reinstated, culminating in it working the annual Fifty Fund shareholders' Christmas dining train, using the SVRSevern Valley Railway's (then) ETHElectric Train Heating fitted dining car set.[7]

On 27 July 2003 50035 attended the Doncaster Works open day. It ran 2,102 miles during the year before failing just prior to the October 2003 SVRSevern Valley Railway Diesel Gala due to high lubrication oil pressure, caused by a defective pressure relief valve.

  • 50035 at Doncaster in 2003 (Wikimedia Commons)

It was planned that after repair over that winter, 50035 would visit the Mid Hants Railway Diesel Gala in May 2004, the first time it would have worked away from its home on the SVRSevern Valley Railway.[8] However the winter repair work revealed that the locomotive was suffering from an earth fault on its main generator, which required removal of the power unit complete with the faulty generator. The latter was then detached and sent away to Messrs Dowding & Mills in Bristol for repair.[9] While that took place, 50035 was stored out of service away from the railway.[10] In May 2007 50035 was still at Old Oak Common, awaiting the refitting of the engine after the generator repair.[11] In September 2008 the bodywork was being prepared for a repaint.[12]

50035 returned to service in 2009, carrying a fictitious Load Haul livery and numbered 50135. It appeared as a static exhibit at the 100th Anniversary of Eastleigh Locomotive Works Open Weekend on 27-28 May and was rostered to work its first booked SVRSevern Valley Railway passenger train for over four years on Saturday 18 July 2009, although this was subsequently postponed.[12] However it did participate in the October 2009 Diesel Gala.[13]

  • 50135 as 50135 in 'Load Haul' livery at Eastleigh in 2009 (Wikimedia Commons)

'50135' sustained damage to a wheelset while appearing at the East Lancashire Railway in 2011. The damage prevented a return move by rail so, with no facilities at the ELREngineer's Line Reference, East Lancashire Railway for lifting a locomotive of that size, it was moved to Cardiff Canton by road. Once there the locomotive was jacked up, the bogie with the damaged wheelset was removed, a spare wheelset was overhauled and fitted, along with an overhauled traction motor, with all the work being carried out by SVRSevern Valley Railway volunteers." Plans for the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Diesel Depot were in progress at the time; SVRSevern Valley Railway News noted that "hopefully sufficient facilities will soon be available at Kidderminster for this type of activity to be done without the costs associated with using workshops elsewhere."[14]

'50135' had returned to service by 2012 as pictured below.

  • 50035 as 50135 at Kidderminster in July 2012

Having been repainted into BRBritish Rail or British Railways Blue livery, 50035 appropriately played a prominent role in the opening ceremony in January 2016.[15]. In May 2016 50035 attended the St Philip's Marsh open day.[16]

In August 2017, 50035 was one of five SVRSevern Valley Railway based diesels to travel in convoy to that year's Old Oak Common open day, the others being 50049, 50007, 50044 and D1015.[17] July to October 2019 was spent on hire to the GWSRGloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (Commonly known as the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway) at Toddington.[18] During 2020 it worked a considerable number of ballast trains associated with the Falling Sands track renewal.[19]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ There are some discrepancies in service allocations and dates between the SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book and the BRBritish Rail or British Railways Database. The latter are marked as "WIP" therefore the Stock Book data has been used.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book, 9th edition
  2. ↑ BR Database
  3. ↑ BR Open Days (Retrieved 18 August 2019)
  4. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 122, 123, 124
  5. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 131
  6. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 134
  7. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 144
  8. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 146
  9. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 148
  10. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 152
  11. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway-Online Forum
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/news via the Internet Archive
  13. ↑ Pictures on Sharpo's World.
  14. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 178
  15. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 194, 196
  16. ↑ Photo on Wikimedia Commons
  17. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 200
  18. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 206
  19. ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway News 211

Links

Diesel Locomotives on the SVRSevern Valley Railway
RH 165hp Shunters
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Shunters
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 14
Clayton Class 17
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 20
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 33
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 35
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 37
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 40
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 42 Warship
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 50
BRBritish Rail or British Railways Class 52 Western
Diesel Multiple Units
Former residents and locomotives hired by the SVR
RH 165hp Shunters
Main Line locomotives
Other
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