TT3015M GBRf, Class 50, Co-Co, 50049 'Defiance' - Era 11

This modern locomotive might have been too powerful for the real world, but it has just the right amount of power for your model railway layout. Resplendent in its bold blue and yellow GBRf livery, this TT:120 scale locomotive is DCC ready for upgrade to HM7000.

History

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 locomotives built in the UK,wth 50 examples were built. 

Upon introduction, they were used on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The aim was to speed up passenger timings on the then non-electrified stretch 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 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.

The Class 50s were incredibly powerful. Indeed, following the full electrification of the WCML and the introduction of more powerful DMUs in the late 1980’s, they were almost pointlessly powerful, and they began to be withdrawn as their roles were handed to more efficient DMUs. 

All examples of the Class were named which was rather unusual for corporate BR diesel locomotives, and 18 examples are preserved.

No.50049

No. 50049 started its working life as D449 in the Stoke Division depot (D05) after being constructed at the Vulcan Foundry by English Electric in 1968. 

The locomotive was the last of the Class 50s to be built and the last diesel locomotive until the Class 56s were constructed in 1977. 

D449 was renumbered to 50049 under TOPS in 1974. After a reallocation to Bristol Bath Road and then to Laira in 1977, the locomotive was named ‘Defiance’ at Laira in 1978. 

No. 50049 was outshopped as 50149 in a Railfreight grey livery in 1987 for heavy stone and china clay haulage. The bogies were also modified for this purpose. 

It became 50049 once more shortly before withdrawal from service in 1991. ‘Defiance’ was saved for preservation and moved to the Severn Valley Railway in 1999. 

Now mainline registered and in a GBRf livery, ‘Defiance’ carries out rolling stock moves and other duties. As of June 2024, ‘Defiance’ carried out its last duty in the GBRf livery and will be repainted at Eastleigh.