Class 50 Bashing: 1988 to 1991

I was never a particular fan of the class 50's. How could I be when they displaced the Western class diesel hydraulics on the lines from Paddington in the mid 1970's. But 15 years later, when the writing was on the wall for the 50's, I decided that it was time to do some 50 bashing. In the intervening years, I did have a few 50 runs, one with 50045 on the Birmingham to Bristol line, a good one with 50048 from Birmingham to Cardiff, and an even better one with 50007 from Totnes to Paddington in 1985. But that was about it.

So in late 1988, I headed for Waterloo, booked a return to Sherborne, and found a class 47 up front. At the time three 47's were on trial for comparison with the class 50's. But the trials only lasted a few months before the 47's were defeated. Meanwhile, I concentrated on the Oxford line services to and from Paddington. And I certainly found the standard of running to my satisfaction, despite a number of locos being in poor condition. But from March 1989, I travelled mainly on the Waterloo to Salisbury and Exeter line, plus the Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour workings in each direction.

Below is a summary of my runs from late 1988 to mid 1991.

RUNS ON WATERLOO & OXFORD LINES: 12/1988 to 6/1991:

Loco no/name	Waterloo	Oxford	Total

50001 Dreadnought	6	-	6
50002 Superb	2	-	2
50003 Temeraire	3	-	3
50005 Collingwood	2	-	2
50007 Sir Edward Elgar	5	-	5
50009 Conqueror	3	-	3
50016 Barham	1	-	1
50017 Royal Oak	5	-	5
50018 Resolution	5	-	5
50019 Ramillies	1	-	1
50023 Howe	-	3	3
50024 Vanguard	-	4	4
50025 Invincible	-	3	3
50026 Indomitable	-	4	4
50027 Lion	3	-	3
50028 Tiger	5	-	5
50030 Repulse	1	2	3
50031 Hood	1	3	4
50033 Glorious	1	2	3
50035 Ark Royal	-	1	1
50036 Victorious	-	1	1
50037 Illustrious	1	-	1
50039 Implacable	-	3	3
50040 Leviathan	-	2	2
50041 Bulwark	4	-	4
50043 Eagle	7	-	7
50044 Exeter	3	-	3
50045 Achilles	2	-	2
50046 Ajax	-	1	1
50048 Dauntless	5	-	5
50049 Defiance	3	-	3
50050 Fearless	1	2	3

TOTALS 101: 70 Waterloo line: 31 Oxford line.

I devised several different itineraries for the Waterloo to Exeter route, mainly based on a Basingstoke start. I soon realized that travelling through to Exeter was a waste of time, since it would mean the same locomotive each way. But Honiton was another matter. A Basingstoke to Honiton, then Honiton to Woking, then back to Basingstoke meant 3 locos. And there was also time to nip down into the town for a tasty "Honiton Pasty". If however, if I embarked at Sherborne, and caught the next train back to Basingstoke, the same itinerary could be repeated. So "twice to Sherborne" became another popular day. In theory it was also possible to add "Waterloo and back" to either of the previous itineraries, though I found to my cost that if the return service from Waterloo ran late, my Cross Country connection at Basingstoke back to the Midlands could be missed.

The Portsmouth service could only be done in one direction if I continued through to Salisbury, the same applying in the opposite direction. And before the 50's took over the Salisbury semi fast workings, it was possible to mix in some class 33 haulage.

I also found that there was a considerable variation in the running capabilities of the different locomotives. 50001, 50003, and 50043 were strong engines, and 50016 and 50045 seemed weak. The only failure I had was, in fact, behind 50043 Eagle, my favourite. On 3rd March 1990, on the 9.15am down from Waterloo, the loco was showing a tendency to shut down at high speed, and, having just come down Porton bank at 94 mph, was failed. Fortunately, 50005 Collingwood was spare at Salisbury, and came on to the front. 50005 was a no heat loco, and on a crisp day, coach windows were closed to preserve what warmth there was. In fact 50005 did well with a 425 ton load, though with 40 minutes lost at Salisbury, I had to detrain at Axminster in order to maintain my return connection.

I also amassed a large class 47 mileage, travelling south, initially from Birmingham International, then subsequently from Banbury (Network card!) on the 6.41am Wolverhampton to Poole service, due in Basingstoke 9.38am. My return was on the 4.40pm Poole to Liverpool, off Basingstoke 6.15pm.

		On the Oxford line, I always travelled to Oxford, and then caught the next Paddington service, provided it was class 50 hauled. The same principle applied at Paddington, where I often found that the next Oxford service was 47 hauled, so I waited an hour (on one occasion 2 hours) for a 50. I usually managed two complete round trips, and sometimes got in an extra Oxford to Reading and return.

		But of course, just like almost all loco hauled services, it had to end. And Multiple Units now run down from Waterloo to Exeter and beyond, as they do from Paddington to Oxford. In subsequent years, I have travelled quite extensively behind the preserved examples of the class 50 fleet. Including two spectacular West Country tours promoted by Pathfinder. So all is not lost.