D400 Fund - Restoring 50050 Fearless

Photo courtesy Andy Fuller

D400 / 50050 'Fearless' is an English Electric 2700hp Class 50 Diesel Locomotive and is privately owned by Harry Schneider.

HISTORY - The locomotive was built in 1967 as D400 at the Vulcan Foundry works in Newton Le Willows and was initially hired to British Rail for work on the Midland Region between Crewe & Glasgow. BR later bought the class in its entirety and as part of its 1973 renumbering scheme D400 became 50050. When the West Coast route was electrified in 1974 the Class 50's were transferred to the Western Region and in August 1978 50050 was named 'FEARLESS' at Plymouth station. 50050 was withdrawn from BR service in 1994.

PRESERVATION - Following withdrawal 50050 was purchased from BR by Harry Schneider and was based at St Leonards depot in Sussex and visited various open days. In April 1998 the loco was recertified for mainline use by Deltic 9000 Locomotives Ltd (DNLL) who operated the loco on charters and service trains. 50050 last worked in December 1999 and remains mainline certified but does not have TPWS or OTMR fitted.

FUTURE - Fearless was moved to Yeovil Railway Centre by 31601 15,16 October 2004. Internal restoration is under way at Yeovil, external restoration to all over blue livery will commence as and when possible. Although the 50027 lads would like NSE livery!

UPDATE: 17th June 2008 - We had a successful working party from Wednesday to Saturday at Yeovil. Much was achieved. We have made a start on the locos repaint with Harry, the locos owner, busy with a needle gun for three days. The locos air system is now back intact, with the parts loaned to 50027 replaced, we also replaced a blowing straight air brake valve. More engine room repainting was carried out and corrosion inhibitor added to the coolant. On Saturday the 50027 lads joined us. Ex-Laira electrician Dickie Daw has obviously got bored waiting for a company to overhaul our KV10 and has decided to do it himself! With a DIY test rig, the KV10 was dismantled and every part tested. A fire damaged Zenna Diode was found. Hopefully once this is replaced 50050 will be able to work under its own power again. Sadly it also confirms our suspicion that 50050's KV10 was stolen and a defective item put in its place as how does a loco locked up out of use suffer fire damage? To speed up the bodywork repairs, we are considering employing a contractor to re-skin the cab sides. If anybody reading this is interested, please get in touch, we are looking for somebody who preferably has experience re-skinning class 50 or 37 cab sides.

	Dickie Daw and a dismantled KV10.
	50050 Under scaffolding.
	The locos owner applying rust treatment.
	As soon as we started needle gunning no. 2 end buffer beam, this wording appeared. Any idea what it means?
	24 November 2007 - Photo Brian Haigh

D400 FUND - The D400 Fund was formed in 2003 to return the locomotive to use for DNLL, however financial problems caused DNLL to cease trading during 2004 and 50050 is now solely in the care of the group. The D400 Fund is open to anyone who wishes to assist return the locomotive to operational condition. The group can be contacted at d400fund@d400fund.org.uk

THANKS - Thanks go to everyone who have supplied hardware, toil and advice to aid the restoration.

GALLERY - The move from Tyseley to Yeovil.

UPDATED: 17 June 2008