Class 50 50031 'The Mighty Hood' smoking nicely at Waterloo on the photographer's train to Exeter
<b>Memories of the fine art of Vac bashing</b>
Between 1983 and 1991 I spent many, many happy hours with my friends riding the rails behind the mighty 'Hoovers' or Class 50s. As well as enjoying the thrash, I managed to record many of the trips and railway scenes encountered on film for posterity. Those days are now long gone, but happily the photos remain for me to reminisce over and share ;)

<b>D431 / 50031 'Hood' - ready for the 'off' - Hood seen smoking nicely in large-logo livery - the guard chats to the driver as Hood chugs away waiting for 'the off'.</b>

I was a tad chuffed to see my adopted machine 'The Mighty Hood' at the head of my train to Exeter, on the morning of 31st May 1991, just a day after my birthday :) 

I took the opportunity of taking a short sequence of photos whilst the engine warmed up ready for the run to Exeter.

<u><b>'A day in the life' - log book update:</b></u>
<u>Friday 31st May 1991</u> - 50031 on 1V09 Waterloo - Exeter.
I returned later that day on 1O41 Exeter - Waterloo
and bagged 344 miles behind my favourite Vac.
These were to be my last runs behind 'Hood' which, sadly, was withdrawn from service just a couple of months later, on 5th August.

<b>Locomotive History</b>
D431 entered service 06-Jul-68
Renumbered 50031 in 1974
Named 'Hood' 28-Jun-78
Withdrawn 05-Aug-91

The 'Mighty Hood' happily made it into preservation, and is now located on the Severn Valley Railway. More information here: <a href="https://www.svrwiki.com/BR_Class_50_50031_Hood" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.svrwiki.com/BR_Class_50_50031_Hood</a>
and here: <a href="https://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/index.php/our-locomotives/50031-hood" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.fiftyfund.org.uk/index.php/our-locomotives/50031-hood</a>

Taken with a Nikon F-501 SLR camera and 75-200mm zoom lens.

You can see a random selection of my railway photos here on Flickriver: <a href="http://www.flickriver.com/photos/themightyhood/random/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.flickriver.com/photos/themightyhood/random/</a>
london diesel waterloo class50 50031 station locomotive d431 guard hood 431