50007
 

Forgive me for asking, but I think 50007 was painted green in the latter BR days....am I right or have I got the wrong one ?

48111

Sir Edward Elgar in GWR Green no less Seen here in Preservation at Swanwick MRC

Seen this loco at Laria shed on many occasions it really looks the part in green.

ccmmick.

Now at the GCR and still in Green.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Doesnt see much use though much like most Diesil Locos at the GCR and most Heritage Railways Arround.

50007 was on display at crewe Works open day in 1984, resplendent in lined Brunswick green, and with brass GWR-style plates, renamed 'Sir Edward Elgar'. The renaming put a lot of enthusiasts' noses out of joint as I recall - something akin to heresy to rename a pseudo-Warship after a composer! However, I don't think anyone could disagree that it looked superb. Here's a photo of it at Waterloo in 1988, waiting to leave with an Exeter train; pity about the NSE coaches.... :)

Had a superb run behind this loco down Honiton bank I clocked it at 105 mph at one point. Such days sadly missed.

Jack

There are 11 photos of this loco in our very own Railwayforum gallery.:)
http://www.railwayforum.net/gallery/...&searchid=3417

Many people claim 50007 was repainted as part of the GWR 150 celebrations (which was actually 1985), I couldn't say if it was or not, but I do know that 1984 was the 50th anniversary of Sir Edward Elgar's death (1934).

50007 was actually repainted & fitted with brass plates at Laira TMD at the start of 1984, and the renaming ceremony took place at Paddington on 25th February 1984, the honours of unveiling going to Sir Simon Rattle. Apparently, several of the class were going to be treated in this way, and renamed after famous people, but the idea was dropped after adverse press coverage of the 'new' look and name of 50007, especially after the loco being declared a failure (electrical problems) after working to Oxford & back immediately after the renaming ceremony. It LOOKS as if the name WAS chosen especially for the 50th anniversary, but not the GWR 150 - that was a bone of considerable contention amongst WR staff, who cancelled the 150 celebratory open day at Swindon Works in 1985 after it was announced that the Works was to close almost immediately. I wonder who else might have featured on Class 50 nameplates had the scheme been allowed to continue....?? :confused::)

Class 47 No.47484 was repainted into the same green livery and named 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel' - I'm not sure when, but always thought it was for GWR150 in 1985. The photo shows 47484 between D400 & 31568 'The Enginemen's Fund' at Old Oak Common open day, 18th August 1991.

Tony

I'm of the impression that the Class 47s that were treated in that way WERE done to commemorate the GWR 150, as they were already named after GWR engineers, and that can't have been coincidental. In the attached photo, 47079 "G J Churchward", 47484 "Isambard Kingdom Brunel", and 47628 "Sir Daniel Gooch" are standiing around the turntable at Old Oak Common open day on 13th September 1985. Also treated to GWR lined Brunswick Green & brass plates was 47500 "Great Western".
:):)

Thanks for the info Dave and nice shot of the three 47s in GW green.

Tony

I put one or two photos of 50007 in the gallery for sure(when in service for the WR), yet to see her since being preserved though...anyone remember reading in 'Rail Enthusiast' that there was a plan to repaint 50016 'Barham' in maroon at the time of 50007 painting into green?

Well chaps, after speaking to a retired BR driver who coincidentally was at Old Oak common in "84/85", 50007 & 47484 were both painted green especially for the GWR 150 celebrations.

48111

Thanks Peter; I suppose then that we can assume the original plan to treat a number of Class 50's was part of that thinking, then changed to 47's, although perhaps the scheme was to include 47s in the renaming/repainting?
I've managed to unearth a photo of 47500 "Great Western" in Brunswick Green at Reading at a later date, maybe 1989 (attached).
I have to say, I'd like to have seen a lot of other classes in this livery, it's very classy! :)

There are two other locos in this livery:

60081 Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Been out of action for some years and was one of the 60's offered for sale recently by DBS.

57604 Pendennis Castle repainted into this livery in 2010 by First Great Western for GWR 175.

Two of the GWR Green 47's: 47484 Isambard Kingdom Brunel and 47500 Great Western are preserved.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

D1501 is also in a simmilar green livery at the East LAncs Railway nopt sure if that is a special livery or not though.