Last Saturday, 16 September, the Class 50 Alliance operated its 100th mainline rail tour when two of its locomotives, 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance operated a charter from Swindon to Edinburgh Waverley for Pathfinder Railtours.

Coincidentally, this was also the 50th rail tour that the Class 50 Alliance had run for Pathfinder Railtours which is celebrating its own 50th anniversary this year.

The Class 50 Alliance is the railway diesel preservation group in the UK to have run 100 rail tours.

Suitably named ‘The Pilgrim Centurion’, the tour echoed the group’s very first tour in November 1997 when 50031 Hood travelled from London to Plymouth via Birmingham with ‘The Pilgrim Hoover’. Enthusiasts have nicknamed the class “Hoovers” in reference to the distinctive sound of their cooling fan which sounds like a Hoover vacuum cleaner.

Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley just after 13:00, the tour had travelled the 380 miles from Swindon without any problems. The locomotives’ performance was monitored by the group’s experienced technical riders who always travel with the locomotives.

The Class 50 Alliance is completely run by volunteers and is based at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway where they operate passenger services as well as their outings on the mainline network.

In 1989 a small group of dedicated enthusiasts realised that Class 50s were nearing the end of their operational life on British Rail, so formed The Fifty Fund to raise sufficient to purchase a locomotive for preservation.

Class 50s remained in operation with British Rail until 1994, after which any remaining locomotives were destined for the scrapheap and the cutter’s torch. However, in 1991 the Fund handed over a cheque for £16,500 to British Rail and took ownership of 50035 Ark Royal.

In 2006, the Fund merged with Project Defiance, another class 50 preservation group, to form The Class 50 Alliance, which is now responsible for operating the locomotives whilst the Fifty Fund concentrates on fundraising for the organisation.

The Alliance has been based at The Severn Valley Railway since 1992 and now owns six members of the class, including:

• 50007 Hercules
• 50031 Hood
• 50033 Glorious
• 50035 Ark Royal
• 50044 Exeter
• 50049 Defiance.

A spokesman for the Fifty Fund said “We are fortunate to be able to call the Severn Valley Railway our home depot, with access to state-of-the-art maintenance facilities. This has enabled us to maintain and improve our fleet throughout the years. In fact, the locomotives are said to be in better condition than when operating for British Rail.

“With a huge following all over the UK class 50s are a popular locomotive with enthusiasts, be it at diesel galas or rail tours as hundreds of people are always at stations or line-side to capture the moment on their cameras. We are lucky to have such long-term loyal supporters.

“Seeing the pure joy the locomotives bring to so many people is always heartwarming to the group’s hard-working volunteers past & present, whose dedicated driving force & expertise ensures the long-term preservation of these wonderful locomotives for future generations to enjoy, which is I’m sure if you like trains of course, is the best destination”