"The First of the Last, the life and times of 50050 Fearless" the complete history of 50050, the book tells the story of the locomotive from its inception through to its preservation. Published by the D400 Fund, written by Andy Coward, Ian Horner and Richard Thompson with contributions from, Murray Brown, Paul Furtek, Harry Schneider and Michael Timms. Forword by Les Ross MBE
140 pages
Full colour - perfect bound
£13.95 + £2.00 post and UK packing (overseas buyers, please contact us for shipping rates)
Softback card cover and printed on quality gloss paper.
Trade discounts available - contact D400 Fund for further details.
"It is very well researched and put together ... A very entertaining read and a good value for money product" Pip Dunn, Railways Illustrated
"Buy it" David Brown, Traction magazine
"A very interesting and informative book and one which is recommended to any followers or the 50s. Worth buying" Colin J Marsden, Modern Locomotives Illustrated
Class 50 Finale - The Laira Years DVD
Locomaster Profiles have at long last released their "CLASS 50 FINALE - THE INSIDE STORY" and "FALL & RISE OF THE 50s" programmes on DVD. On one DVD to be precise.
These two programmes, which were produced in association with Laira Depot and Network South East, provide a detailed account of how the Class 50 fleet was managed and maintained during their final years in service and showed how the farewell railtour programme was planned and executed.
Although both programmes also documented the early years of Class 50 preservation, the "CLASS 50 FINALE - THE LAIRA YEARS" focuses solely on BR's remaining locos, covering the period from the summer of 1991 to the "50 Terminator" farewell railtour in March 1994.
Introduced and narrated by Geoff Hudson, who was BR's Area Fleet Manager at Plymouth during the final years of the Class 50s, this programme includes:
| WEST OF ENGLAND SWANSONG | the last twelve Class 50s at work on the Waterloo-Exeter route. Also includes extensive coverage of the final day of Class 50 haulage on the West of England route on 24th May 1992 |
| THE ADVENTURES OF VALIANT & THUNDERER | the last 3 months of 5008 and 50015 includes Thunderer working a Waterloo-Exeter service in September '91, the "Hoover Hoop" and "Valiant Thunderer" railtours. |
| THE RETURN OF SIR EDWARD | the restoration and return to traffic of 50007 Sir Edward Elgar including the power unit and bogie swaps with 50046, its test run to Newton Abbot in grey primer and applying the final touches to its re-paint. |
| Glorious AGAINST ALL ODDS | the remarkable story of 50033 - "Old Smokey Joe" - featuring sandite duties, its nameplates being removed, flashover assessment, power unit repairs and a test run to Bristol with TPO stock. |
| SCRAPLINES & SCRAP CONVOYS | various withdrawn locos being towed to the breakers yards at MC Metals of Glasgow and Booth's of Rotherham and footage of 50 010 being cut up on site at Laira. |
| CLASS 50s ON TOUR | featuring every Class 50 railtour between August 1991 and January 1993. Includes unusual locations such as Pontycymer, Littlehampton, Chester, York, Cynghordy, Bethnal Green bank, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Southfields on London Underground's District Line! |
| LOCO EXAMS | featuring an A examination being carried out on 50 015 and a B exam on 50 033. |
| LAIRA's TOURING TRIO | visits of Laira's 50007, 50033 and D400 to the Mid-Hants, West Somerset and Paignton & Dart Valley railways. Includes 50 007, 50033 and D400 hauling freight trains in Devon and a Class 50 triple-header in Hampshire! |
| THE FAREWELL TOURS | the farewell programme of railtours including the "Cornish Caper" to St Ives, the "Midland Scotsman" to Glasgow, the "Glorious Sunset" to Scarborough and the "50 Terminator" from Waterloo to Penzance. |
| GLORIOUS FAREWELL | the major restoration of 50 033 into Large Logo livery at Laira culminates in the handover ceremony of the loco by Laira's staff in the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum at York. |
This DVD has a running time of just under 2 hours. Not only has all the footage in this programme been
digitally re-mastered for vastly improved picture quality, but Geoff Hudson has also provided a new commentary.
"CLASS 50 FINALE - THE INSIDE STORY" £19.95 (no shipping charge on this item)
D400 Mouse Mat
Mouse Mats showing 50050 hauling the VSOE from Bristol to London at Great Wishford on 2 Sept 1998. Photo Martin Loader
£6.00 including UK postage.
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