50031 Hood and 50049 Defiance at Perth during a railtour of Scotland (June 2006)
Introduction
Locomotives 50044 Exeter and 50049 Defiance are currently fitted with the mandatory electronic equipment to allow for their operation on the national mainline. Since returning to the mainline 50049 has seen use on many railtours and land cruises for a variety of train operators. Previously 50031 Hood was certified for mainline use but this has now expired and 50044 has taken its place.
Destinations for these tours have been varied. The locomotives have revisited their old stamping grounds down in Devon and Cornwall as well as places never frequented by the class such as Wick and Thurso in the far north of Scotland.
Class 50s
from the