Class 50 – 50017

Built by English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, the Class 50 fleet was introduced between 1967 and 1968 to haul high-speed express passenger services at up to 100 mph. A total of 50 locomotives were delivered, with their powerful performance earning them a long-standing role on key routes across the British Rail network.

50017 entered service in April 1968 as D417, later renumbered under TOPS as 50017 in 1973. In 1978, it received the name ‘Royal Oak’, and went on to enjoy a 23-year mainline career before being withdrawn in 1991.

After its time with BR, 50017 passed into private ownership and was purchased by Boden Rail in 2014. It appeared at a number of high-profile events, including the Old Oak Common open day in 2017 and the Class 50 Jubilee at the Severn Valley Railway in 2018, carrying Network SouthEast livery. It remained mainline operational until late 2018.

In early 2019, with the locomotive’s future uncertain and options such as dismantling for spares being considered, the Great Central Railway stepped in, securing the locomotive for preservation on 1st February 2019. The locomotive was delivered to the GCR at Loughborough by road on 18th February 2019, though its main line safety equipment had been removed.

Since then, 50017 ‘Royal Oak’ has become a regular and valued member of the GCR’s operational diesel fleet, appearing at diesel galas and running days throughout the year. No longer confined to static display or uncertain status, this English Electric Type 4 continues to offer the sights and sounds of mainline British Rail power to a new generation of enthusiasts.