Haynes English Electric Class 50 Trains Railway 1967 onwards (all models)

Haynes Publishing Group

The Class 50 locomotives were built by English Electric between 1967 and\n 1968, and 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the locomotive s debut. \nFifty examples were built, and were initially used to haul express \npassenger trains on the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Scotland.\n Class 50s were nicknamed Hoovers by rail enthusiasts because of the \ndistinctive sound made by the air-filters originally fitted. The Class \n50s were later moved to services in the south west of England, primarily\n on the mainline from London to Exeter, and were eventually retired from\n service in 1994. In the late-1970s BR was persuaded to name the class \n50s after Royal Navy Vessels with notable records in the First and \nSecond World Wars, and in January 1978 50035 was named Ark Royal by the \ncaptain and crew of then current aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. The \nrest of the fleet was named during the course of the next few years. The\n Class 50 has always been popular with railway enthusias.