Class 50s on the London Midland Region (North West)

[Jim76]

When did the class move away to the WR (I have invariably read 1975/76), where were they allocated and what were their last workings in the North West? Jim

[PenrithBeacon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_50

http://www.rail.co.uk/locomotives-and-engines/diesel-engines/british-rail-class-50/

[DY444]

When did the class move away to the WR (I have invariably read 1975/76), where were they allocated and what were their last workings in the North West? Jim

 

Iirc the first moves to the WR were in the Autumn of 1972

[Rivercider]

The low numbered locos were among the first to move south.

My Locoshed book 1974 edition (allocations correct to 16 March 1974), shows eight locos allocated to Bath Road, 50001-5, 50011, 50027, and 50050 (400), with the remainder still at Crewe.

 

I amended the allocations during the year (in pencil), so by the time the next book was published in 1975 the locos were allocated to:-

Crewe 15 (50006, 50008, 50010, 50012, 50017, 50021/2, 50029, 50031, 50034-6, 50040/1, 50045)

Bath Road 20

Old Oak 5

Laira 10

 

cheers

Edited October 13, 2018 by Rivercider

[Rugd1022]

400 arrived at Bath Road for train crew and fitter training in October '72 with 401 and 402 following soon after, probably in January / February of '73. 402 was Old Oak's crew training loco. 50 027 was the first one to reach Penzance in early '74, just after it was renumbered from 427 when it was used as the crew training loco at Long Rock.

[E3109]

Indeed, and until recently I'd always assumed that they migrated to the WR with TOPS numbers but in the 'Power of the 50s' book there was at least one shot of a non-TOPS loco down there which if memory serves me correctly was 402.

[Rivercider]

Here is 400 at Yeovil Pen Mill in 1973

https://www.flickr.com/photos/11224/16560849955/in/album-72157650461858050/

 

Also 401 at Yeovil Pen Mill in 1973

https://www.flickr.com/photos/11224/16374912127/in/album-72157650461858050/

 

cheers

[Jim76]

Thanks guys, though when did the last ones move and what were their final duties in the North West of England?

[Jim76]

Some further information here. Says Spring 76 or even 77

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/84864-wcml-class-50s/page-1

[Rugd1022]

Early shot of 402 at Old Oak, stabled outside the Factory...

 

Edited October 16, 2018 by Rugd1022

[Rivercider]

Thanks guys, though when did the last ones move and what were their final duties in the North West of England?

The Ian Allan Locoshed 1976 Edition (with LMR allocations correct to 8/11/1975) lists fourteen class 50s allocated to Crewe Diesel.

Nos 50006 50008 50010 50012 50017 50022 50029 50031 50034 50035 50036 50040 50041 50045.

 

They were all transferred to the WR (Laira) before the next 1977 edition came out, (with allocations correct to 27/11/1976).

 

cheers

[Jim76]

The Ian Allan Locoshed 1976 Edition (with LMR allocations correct to 8/11/1975) lists fourteen class 50s allocated to Crewe Diesel.

Nos 50006 50008 50010 50012 50017 50022 50029 50031 50034 50035 50036 50040 50041 50045.

 

They were all transferred to the WR (Laira) before the next 1977 edition came out, (with allocations correct to 27/11/1976).

 

cheers

Great, thanks Rivercider - much appreciated. Cheers, Jim

[beast66606]

I can remember seeing 50012 and 50022 ca 1975 at Rock Ferry on (probably) Birkenhead Docks - Fiddlers Ferry Power Station coal trains.

[davefreight]

The Ian Allan Locoshed 1976 Edition (with LMR allocations correct to 8/11/1975) lists fourteen class 50s allocated to Crewe Diesel.

Nos 50006 50008 50010 50012 50017 50022 50029 50031 50034 50035 50036 50040 50041 50045.

 

They were all transferred to the WR (Laira) before the next 1977 edition came out, (with allocations correct to 27/11/1976).

 

cheers

I've no idea whether all had officially been transferred but a Class 50 appeared on the early afternoon Manchester Victoria to Preston portion of the Liverpool/Manchester to Glasgow working as late as May 1977.  I recall being hauled by one on my way to an interview in Lancaster that month, and with just four coaches it was a sprightly run.  Unfortunately though it was before I began taking photos.

[reevesthecat]

I remember being in class at penketh south junior school and some of the other boys getting up saying that the fiddlers ferry coal train was being pulled by a class 50. I never saw the loco but this would be about 1980 which would be incorrect judging by the time frame given by beast. I suspect it was a 56!

Mark

[E3109]

There's a photo online, somewhere, of a D400 at Reddish of all places.

Not so unusual I suspect, all kinds of kit went there for the lathe over the years.

[Phil Bullock]

The final transfers in 76 were responsible for the final demise of our beloved Westerns.....although 125s had a part to play in that too!

 

Suspect WR locos would have continued to appear in the NW as long as Crewe was responsible for shopping - eventually transferred to Doncaster of course - and there would have still been plenty of traction knowledge with crews in the NW even after all the class had transferred to the WR. They certainly worked up to Brum consistently so a bit of skulduggery at Bescot could easily have resulted in one being appropriated and sent further north....

 

Phil

[64B]

Indeed, and until recently I'd always assumed that they migrated to the WR with TOPS numbers but in the 'Power of the 50s' book there was at least one shot of a non-TOPS loco down there which if memory serves me correctly was 402.

 

Here is a photo I took of 402 take at Old Oak Common in April 1973. Blue Pullman sitting alongside the class 50. 

[Ray M]

Here is a photo I took of 402 take at Old Oak Common in April 1973. Blue Pullman sitting alongside the class 50. 

Ha Ha .

Now is it possible, That 402 had orange MU boxes at 1 end (your pic)

& the early black boxes at the other end (Rudg1022 pic)

That pic seems to have being taken at a later date

 

Only asking .

As i have modeled 402, in the late 60`s/early 70`s.

[brushman47544]

Ha Ha .

Now is it possible, That 402 had orange MU boxes at 1 end (your pic)

& the early black boxes at the other end (Rudg1022 pic)

That pic seems to have being taken at a later date

 

Only asking .

As i have modeled 402, in the late 60`s/early 70`s.

I don’t think any 50s had black jumper boxes. Those in Rudg1022’s pic look dirty accentuated by the colour reproduction but are orange nevertheless.

[mark alden]

The picture quoted as 402 is in fact 400, not 402.

[DY444]

2 hours ago, mark alden said:

The picture quoted as 402 is in fact 400, not 402.

 

Yep, no horizontal handrails under the cab windows.

[mark alden]

On 27/10/2018 at 22:02, brushman47544 said:

I don’t think any 50s had black jumper boxes. Those in Rudg1022’s pic look dirty accentuated by the colour reproduction but are orange nevertheless.

The 50s did have black jumpers boxes. Well, thats what i've seen in pictures. However.... I've spoken to a fitter and he recalls they were dark Olive in colour. He believes that's the colour they were delivered in from the manufacturer (an undercoat / protection coat) and that when fitters were told to fit them, they took them out of the box and fitted them in the colour they were delivered in. It could be the difference between depot fitted and Works fitted MU jumpers. In those days depots didn't really weald a paint brush, unions made sure of that.

[Ray M]

Thanks Mark,

i Knew i was not going mad,

well not yet anyway 

[mark alden]

Here you are Ray M... quite a few had these in the colour at some stage...