TT3013M Hornby TT Diesel Locomotive Class 50, Co-Co,"Sir Edward Elgar" of the BR

Novelty 2024 - Diesel Locomotive Class 50, Co-Co,"Sir Edward Elgar" of the BR

 No.: 50007

The Class 50 locomotives, built by English Electric at the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows between 1967-1968 were the last purpose-designed mixed-traffic locomotive built in the UK. 50 examples were built in total. Upon their introduction they were used on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The aim was to speed-up passenger timings on the then non-electrified portion up to Glasgow, and to haul express passenger trains at 100 mph. By 1974, the entire line had been electrified so the locomotives were re-deployed to other regions as had been planned. When delivered, the Class 50s were leased to British Rail by a subsidiary of English Electric. They were later sold to the British Railways Board.

Locomotive 50040 started life as D440 and would go on to receive the name Leviathan after a Royal Navy ship in 1978. The locomotive would go on in service until 1990, at which point it was withdrawn and stored awaiting confirmation of its fate. In June 2008, with most useful parts removed, the cutters torch descended on 50040 at Sims Metal Management in Halesowen some 80 miles from where it was constructed.

50007 Sir Edward Elgar started life as D407 in 1968, being named Hercules after a Royal Navy ship in 1978. The locomotive would go on to become Sir Edward Elgar in 1984, a name that it would keep into recent preservation, carrying it from withdrawal in 1991 until 2014 when it reclaimed its original name of Hercules. Hercules is now based at the Severn Valley Railway.

Epoch: VI

Length over Buffers:  174 mm