50033 SO 'GLORIOUS' !

ONE of the final three Class 50s in BR traffic, 50033 worked numerous ‘farewell’ specials alongside 50007 or 50050. However, in early 1992, as the Exeter-Waterloo services were transferring to Class 47/7s, it was Glorious that actually soldiered on to be the last Class 50 to work ‘normal’ service trains on the route, lasting until March 1992. Glorious took part in the final weekend of service on the route a couple of months later. All didn’t go to plan however, as 50033 failed at Basingstoke after working the 14.22 from Exeter, and couldn’t take part in the following day’s finale. Into 1994, and with the end in sight, Glorious was returned to its original identity as D433, working a memorable tour to Glasgow with D400. By now, it was agreed that the locomotive would be handed over to the National Railway Museum, York, after withdrawal.

After a spell in York, Glorious moved to the STEAM Museum in Swindon. However, a change of heart saw the loco surplus to requirements and it transferred to the custodianship of Tyseley
Railway Museum. Little in the way of restoration was done at
Tyseley, although a small team did, for a while, keep its engine
operable. Sadly, over time, the loco fell into disrepair and looked a sorry sight for many years.

Fast forward to 2018, and discussions between the Class 50 Alliance, and Bob Meanley at Tyseley, saw an agreement signed to loan Glorious to the Alliance for three years. With this weekend’s gala in their sights, volunteers set about a rapid and thorough overhaul, to get Glorious ready.

At this event you could pay £5 to write on the locomotive, all funds were for the upcoming repaint and restoration of the locomotive.