THE close working relationship between the Class 50 Alliance and GB Railfreight took a major step forward on January 18 when it was announced that Nos. 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance are to be repainted in GB Railfreight colours.
The new colour scheme, to be applied by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works, has been sympathetically designed in a style similar to ‘large logo’ colour applied to most of the class in the 1980s.
The new arrangement between the locos’ owners and
the freight operator will see the ‘50s’ being used on a spot-hire basis, covering charters, gala drags and
other movements. The first of these took place on January 23/24, when
No. 50007 was used to move surplus HST stock from St Philip’s Marsh to Long Marston (see page 95). Earlier
in the month on January 15, Hercules had moved from the Severn Valley Railway to Eastleigh in readiness for its repaint. The pair will continue to be based at the SVR.
Read more in the March issue of Rail Express, on sale now.
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