The two locomotives were purchased by the Operation Collingwood charity and on Friday 21st April 1995 they left Laira as 7Z90 behind a Loadhaul Class 37 No. 37258 loaned to contractors Transrail. They arrived at Allied Steel and Wire in Cardiff where they were shunted into their stabling point using an 08 shunter.

The two locomotives were later moved by road to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. Unfortunately, the 50s like to cause trouble and mischief wherever they go, and 50029’s trip to Blaenavon was no exception!

When 50029 was first being persuaded to leave BR metals she lived up to the 50s reputation for mischief and snapped one of the loading ramp rails in two like a twig. She sat there looking smug for 20 minutes while heads were scratched and it was figured out how to get her off it, safely back onto BR metals by about 12 feet so that a replacement ramp rail could be placed.

The highlight reported in the local media was the closure of a vital road link into Cardiff. A large bridge had a maximum weight limit and the only thing allowed on it was 50029. All traffic at the height of the rush hour was brought to a complete standstill while 50029 made her stately way across. Delays of over half an hour were caused and a police chopper watched from overhead. It made the evening news such was the disruption and excitement.

50029 took two days to make the trip up through the heads of the valleys past Black Rock, Bryn-Mawr and Garn-yr-erw. At Black Rock a "normal" heavy articulated truck had to be moved off road to make way for 50029. The low-loader crawled past with no problems but it took 20 minutes to extricate the unfortunate artic from the snow covered soil into which it had been forced by the South Wales Police.

By the time Blaenavon was reached a two mile traffic tailback had formed. Sadly they misjudged the site and under the snow instead of there being a tarmac lorry park, there was a soggy field. Renown, tractor-units A & B and the low-loader all went across and then sank down where they sat for a week while the weather battered the gathering until a rescue could be effected.

They finally arrived at the Blaenavon railway site and there they sat.... for years


The group was set-up and in a matter of months raised the funds to save the locomotives.

This is where you come, yes you! We need more support, lots of it. The locomotives have been saved by us, made secure and moved to Peak Rail.

Help us continue the story of these two locomotives by becoming a member and maybe even a shareholder then join us on the working parties.