Hoovers
Also nicknamed ‘50-50s’ - the English Electric-built British Class 50 numbered 50 locomotives, and in their earlier troubled days, it was joked that they only stood a 50-50 chance of reaching their destination. The ‘Hoover’ nickname stemmed from the loud woosh emitted by the clean air plant that was likened to the sound of a vacuum cleaner, for sure a Class 50 aural signature.
The Class 50s were built in 1967-68 for service on the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe but were drafted en bloc to the Western Region after the full WCML route was electrified in 1974. Initially disliked by rail enthusiasts for enabling the displacement of the beloved Western-class diesel hydraulics, the Class 50s eventually won their hearts. Major rebuilding helped improve Hoover reliability. The Class 50s’ turn for withdrawal came between 1987 and 1992. Numerous class members were secured for preservation, and 18 out of the original 50 survive today.
Two survivors posed outside St. Leonards TMD on the occasion of the 1994 Hastings Rail Gala. Class pioneer 50 050 (originally D400) sports the later BR Large Logo livery and the ‘Fearless’ name. I did not record its sister alongside in Network Southeast livery, but speculate that it was either 50 026 ‘Indomitable’ or 50 027 ‘Lion’.
September 1994
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.
Hoovers
Also nicknamed ‘50-50s’ - the English Electric-built British Class 50 numbered 50 locomotives, and in their earlier troubled days, it was joked that they only stood a 50-50 chance of reaching their destination. The ‘Hoover’ nickname stemmed from the loud woosh emitted by the clean air plant that was likened to the sound of a vacuum cleaner, for sure a Class 50 aural signature.
The Class 50s were built in 1967-68 for service on the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe but were drafted en bloc to the Western Region after the full WCML route was electrified in 1974. Initially disliked by rail enthusiasts for enabling the displacement of the beloved Western-class diesel hydraulics, the Class 50s eventually won their hearts. Major rebuilding helped improve Hoover reliability. The Class 50s’ turn for withdrawal came between 1987 and 1992. Numerous class members were secured for preservation, and 18 out of the original 50 survive today.
Two survivors posed outside St. Leonards TMD on the occasion of the 1994 Hastings Rail Gala. Class pioneer 50 050 (originally D400) sports the later BR Large Logo livery and the ‘Fearless’ name. I did not record its sister alongside in Network Southeast livery, but speculate that it was either 50 026 ‘Indomitable’ or 50 027 ‘Lion’.
September 1994
Rollei 35 camera
Fujichrome 100 film.