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“We dream big so we can achieve bigger” — well we certainly smashed that motto! We’re incredibly proud to have been included in an amazing race featured on Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour, which has launched tonight. The challenge saw 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance play a part along with our good friend Francis and co host James aboard the locomotives, as they attempted to reach a destination, before their co host Thomas in his super car. It was an unforgettable experience t

On 18 August 1991, 50035 Ark Royal became the first Class 50 locomotive to enter preservation, formally handed over at the Old Oak Common Open Day by Chris Green, then Managing Director of Network SouthEast. Photo J Topping The Fifty Fund had been formed by Dave Keogh and Jonathan Dunster in October 1988, as it became increasingly clear that the Class 50s were heading for the scrapyard. A massive fundraising appeal followed, with shares sold for £25. The response from fellow

Find our booked Severn Valley Railay running days below ⬇️ August *1st, 2nd, 18th, 19th, 20th,*22nd & 23rd * 1st & 22nd Aug = 2 x round trips ! ALSO THIS TREAT ⬇️ Saturday 22nd August at Kidderminster station + Geoff Hudson talk from 19:45 at Kidderminster on Saturday 22nd August These are the rostered running dates and as always locos subject to availability. Please always check with the SVR before making a long journey on locomotive availability & allocation ⬇️ https://svr

On Saturday 11th July 150 shareholders joined us for the 20th anniversary shareholder train at the Severn Valley Railway. Photo J Summerfield 50049 Defiance at Bridgnorth on the 1st trip. Our private charter completed three round trips to Bridgnorth and despite a slight delay and the extreme heat a fantastic day was enjoyed by all. Our 20th anniversary headboard Photo C Barrett We wish to thank everyone that attended and we plan to run future shareholder trains in the future.

We are pleased to give you all a long-overdue update on 50035 Ark Royal and 50044 Exeter. As many of you will remember, both locomotives enjoyed a starring role at The Greatest Gathering event last year , where they temporarily took on a very different appearance. The event was held at Alstom's historic Litchurch Lane Works in Derby last August, which attracted over 30,000 visitors, and formed part of the nationwide Railway 200 celebrations, marking 200 years since the birth

50049 Defiance has joined a fine line up of visiting locomotives for this weekend’s diesel gala at the Keighley Valley & Worth Railway 18th - 21st June. Timetables & tickets can be found here ⬇️ https://kwvr.co.uk/events/dieselgala/ Have a fantastic time if you are attending the gala. Photo J Allen On route to the gala with 55009

A NEW Visual and Audio Presentation on the History of the Class 50 📆Saturday 22nd August 2026 📍Station Tea Room, Kidderminster Town Station Severn Valley Railway DY10 1QX ⏰ 19:45 – 22:15 (Including a 15-minute break) We are delighted to welcome back our Honorary President, Geoff Hudson, for new installation in the history of the class. Tickets: £10 Book in advance or pay cash on the door. To reserve your place, email sales@fiftyfund.org.uk with the subject line: "Geoff Hud

An unexpected call for assistance came from the West Somerset Railway on Tuesday, and we were delighted to help. Unfortunately, the booked steam locomotive failed before its 14:30 departure from Minehead. Photo R Hiscox Fortunately, 50049 Defiance had just arrived with C50A Chairman and GBRf driver Tony Middleton. Before you could say "Notch 7", Defiance was heading back towards Bishops Lydeard, ensuring the service arrived only 20 minutes late. 50049 is appearing at the West

We are delighted to announce that 50049 Defiance will be attending the West Somerset Summer Diesel Festival from 4th–7th June 2026. As the railway celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, what better way to mark the occasion than by reuniting Defiance with its former home railway once again. Information and tickets can be found here ⬇️ www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk The West Somerset Railway is the longest heritage railway in the UK, running from Bishops Lydeard to Minehea

Not the post we wanted to write….. We are deeply disappointed to announce that The Lord of the Isles will no longer be proceeding. Despite exhaustive efforts across the supply chain — including exceptional support from Severn Valley Railway, GB Railfreight, Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and Eastern Rail Services — the operating costs associated with this charter have continued to exceed projected revenue by a substantial margin. The recent surge in oil prices has been a significa

For the first time ever, 50049 Defiance is attending the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Diesel Gala! 🚨 📅 18th – 21st June 2026 The Class 50 Alliance / Fifty Fund are delighted to have been invited back following a fantastic visit in 2019, and we’re really looking forward to returning to this wonderful railway with Defiance. Don’t miss the chance to see 50049 in action on the KWVR for the very first time! Full event details and tickets available here: www.kwvr.co.uk

Class 50 Alliance 20th Anniversary Charter Exclusive Shareholder Invitation On Saturday 11th July, the Class 50 Alliance warmly invites its valued shareholders to a very special commemorative charter at our home railway, the Severn Valley Railway, celebrating 20 years since the Alliance’s formation in 2006. As a token of appreciation for the incredible support shown by our shareholders over the years, this exclusive charter train has been arranged solely for shareholders and

Saturday 23rd May 2026 UK Railtours presents: The West Midlands Deviator Join one of the Class 50 Alliance’s mainline-registered locomotives, alongside a pair of Class 20s in top & tail formation, for a full-day rail adventure exploring the West Midlands and beyond. Fulll details and tickets:⬇️ https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-west-midlands-deviator/ www.fiftyfund-alliance.co.uk www.ukrailtours.com

Today saw 50049 Defiance arrive on the metals on the East Lancashire Railway with UK Railtours tour from Watford Junction. Seen here at Beeston on outward leg. Image L Ball Unfortunately on route Hanson & Hall’s 50008 Thunderer developed a unknown fault, which saw her detached from the train at Leicester on the outward journey. Defiance then carried on solo and made up the time lost, arriving only 4 mins late at Bury. The tour has arrived back at Watford junction this eveni

This friday sees 50049 Defiance heading down to London in readiness for UK Railtours “The East Lancashire Railway tour on Saturday 7th March. Defiance will run light engine as 0H50 11:52 Kidderminster S.V.R - Wembley Receptions 1 -7 https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R31696/2026-03-06/detailed * These movements can run early without warning.

The Fifty Fund 2026 AGM takes place tomorrow, in person & online 📆 Saturday 21 February 2026 ⏰ Time: 14:00 (GMT) 📍 Location: Kidderminster Museum, Kidderminster Station, Severn Valley Railway 💻 Attendance: In person or online Before the AGM, we will also be offering a tour of Kidderminster TMD, giving members and supporters the opportunity to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look with a tour at 12:00. Please head towards the TMD via the Severn valley railway car park and as you g

Saturday 11th April offers a opportunity to enjoy the stunning landscapes of North Wales aboard, "The Not Holyhead" railtour with UK Railtours. Joined by Hanson & Hall's 50008 Thunderer, we depart Derby heading to the seaside town of Llandudno and then onto the dramatic scenery of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Full travel details and tickets can be found here https://www.ukrailtours.com/product/the-not-holyhead/

Last night, Network Rail requested the hire of Class 50 No. 50049 Defiance to assist with snow-clearing operations on the West Midlands corridor ahead of the arrival of Storm Goretti. Departing Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway at 23:30, Defiance headed for Birmingham Snow Hill after being prepared by the C50A volunteers — many of whom had endured a challenging journey just to reach Kidderminster in the first place. Fortunately, conditions proved less severe than e

We all would like to wish all our shareholders and supporters a very happy new year.

Today marks the running of the final tour by our friends at Pathfinder Railtours, bringing to a close more than five decades of unforgettable charters and excursions. We are immensely proud to have shared such a treasured partnership with Pathfinder Railtours, with the privilege of 52 main line railtours powered by our locomotives. Our journey together began in July 1999, when 50031 Hood provided traction for The Royal Edinburgh, running in conjunction with D172. In 2023, we