Class 50s - second refurbishment

[Helvellyn]

In the early 1980s the Class 50 fleet was subject to a refurbishment at Doncaster Works. This removed some equipment that was considered troublesome (rheostatic brakes, sanding equipment) as well as to generally improve reliability. My question is, whilst a small fleet, could they have benefitted from a Class 37 style refurbishment in the mid-1980s, e.g. fitting an alternator in place of the generator, new electrical control cubicle and other reliability mods?

Whilst the ETH fitted Class 47 fleet were a much larger fleet I just wondered if InterCity could have benefitted from a core fleet of 50 100 mph locomotives, which was essentially the same size as the long range fuel tank fitted 47/4s (numbered in the 478xx series) became.

 

[455driver]

My opinion is that the 37s were fitted with alternators because of the continuing problems with the generators on the 50s after refurbishment despite the gennys on the 37s not giving any trouble.

The gennys on the 50s should have been changed as they were always the biggest problem, the EE840/4B was the highest rated genny on any loco and didn't like getting dirty, whereas the EE822/10G fitted in the 37s was pretty much bullet proof.

A Brush BA1101A would have fitted in the 50s quite easily as these are the
alternators fitted to 56s and the engines in these was a development of the EE lump in the 50s which were being built at Crewe at the time so a follow on order for alternators would have been easy, good old penny pinching during refurbishment put paid to the class.