By the mid 1970s the class was suffering from unreliability partially due to poor design and maintenance but also because of inadequate air circulation in the engine room. The specially introduced electronic systems were proving problematical. A major refurbishment of the class was therefore undertaken at Doncaster works between 1979 and 1983. During the refurbishment the headcode boxes were plated over but number of the class had this work done prior to refurbishment. Also during refurbishment the bodyside window closest to the number 1 end was replaced by a grille. However the bulk of the work concentrated on improving the engine room airflow which included modifications to the roof and removal of the sanding apparatus and complex electronics. This generally cured the common Class 50 ailments and they settled down to provide a reasonably reliable service . The introduction of High Speed Trains on Western services in the late 1970s saw the Class 50s again relegated to secondary duties and this is where the class becomes associated with the Southern. The "new Warship" class replaced the native (but under-powered for the task) class 33s, which themselves had replaced the original Warship class, on Waterloo to Exeter services. The bulk of the fleet was inherited by Network SouthEast (the rest went to Departmental sectors) who continued to run them on Waterloo-West of England and Paddington-Thames and Chiltern working until replaced by Class 47/7s in the early 1990s - the 50s lasting on Waterloo services until spring 1992. Their latter days were again plagued by unreliability and major frame cracking. |
| 50007, originally named Hercules, was in 1984 renamed
Sir Edward Elgar and repainted into lined Brunswick green GWR livery to
mark the 50th anniversary of his death. It is seen here on display at the
Greenwich 150 event at Cannon Street on 23 August 1986.
photograph by Colin Duff |
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Looking somewhat cleaner and smarter in preservation, almost 14 years later
50007 is still operational and was on display at Old Oak Common on 6 August
2000.
photograph by Colin Duff |
| Carrying the later version of Network SouthEast livery 50018
Resolution is seen here at Waterloo.
photograph by Jonathan Hall |
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50018 resting at the buffer stops at Waterloo.
photograph by Jonathan Hall |
All photographs are copyright
This page was last updated 3 December 2002
