50035 Pre-Preservation Archive

Ark Royal powers through Castle Cary with 1A41 (09.45 Paignton - London Paddington) on 2nd October 1982.

Photo Nigel Dyson

5th June 1985 Ark Royal powers 1F36 through West Ealing.

Photo Nicholas Green.

A classic location for a Vac, Birmingham New Street with a "inter-regional" train.

Photo Ian Goodwin 

Climbing Hemerdon a scene repeated daily until the early 1990's. Ark Royal shatters the West Country peace on 6th July 1984.

Photo David Wainwright 

Perhaps the strangest chapter in Ark Royal's  history is the ghost appearance on the 1V65 (Newcastle - Penzance) on 15th July 1986, which she hauled from Sheffield to Bristol. 50035 was returning from overhaul and was to appear in the new livery to be carried by all NSE stock. Doncaster could not get hold of the paint so Ark Royal came south in primer, with plans made to paint her at Old Oak Common. The transfer was supposed to take place overnight to avoid publicity, but (un)fortunately a locomotive shortage saw a ghostly '35 in charge of a train in Daylight!

Photo Jon Dunster's collection.

In the finished Network South East livery "Ark Royal" is seen in charge of a class 1 express.