To celebrate the one hundredth charter train for the Class 50 Alliance and the Fifty Fund, Pathfinder Tours will organise ‘The Pilgrim Centurion’ excursion from Swindon to Edinburgh on Saturday 16 September.

This will also be the fiftieth Pathfinder railtour hauled by the Alliance’s locomotives.

Just over twenty-five years ago, 50031 ‘Hood’ became the first main line certified class 50 in private ownership. Its first train was ‘The Pilgrim Hoover’ charter, and ran on Saturday 1 November 1997.

Since then, 50031 has been joined on the main line by 50007, 50044 and 50049. Class 50 locomotives have hauled charter trains over many routes, covering most of Great Britain.

The Fifty Fund is a not-for-profit society that works to promote the activity of the Class 50 Alliance. It raises money to fund preservation activities, holds class 50 related activities, and represents the interests of its members.

Formed in the early 1990s, the award-winning Class 50 Alliance Ltd maintains the following locomotives:

• 50007 Hercules, bought in 2017, returned to mainline shortly afterwards
• 50031 Hood, bought in 1991, restored, hauled first preserved train in May 1992, returned to mainline in November 1997
• 50033 Glorious, on loan from Tyseley Locomotive Works since May 2018
• 50035 Ark Royal, bought in April 1991, restored, hauled first preserved train in September 1996
• 50044 Exeter, bought in 1991, restored in three years, hauled first preserved train in May 1994, returned to mainline in 1999
• 50049 Defiance, bought in December 1991 in working order, returned to the mainline in 2000.

All the locomotives are based at the Severn Valley Railway.

Tony Middleton, chairman of the Class 50 Alliance enthused; “this will be yet another milestone in the history of class 50 preservation and we are very proud of the achievements of our organisation over the last thirty-two years. Main line running is a challenge, and a great deal of effort and commitment is required to maintain our locomotives to the necessary standard, and for that I am eternally grateful to our team of dedicated working volunteers.”

Joe Burr, chairman of the Fifty Fund added; “Pathfinder railtours have been a precious partner since our first charter train with them in 1999 (“The Royal Edinburgh” which 50031 worked from Cardiff to Chester) and we thank them for hiring our locomotives over the last 24 years. It is a privilege to be marking this historic occasion with Pathfinder Tours, an event that is worthy of celebration.”