The sad sight of Class 50 50038 looking not so "Formidable" behind The Factory at Old Oak Common
<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>50038 'Formidable'</b> was withdrawn with a failed main generator on 27 Sep 1988 after almost exactly 20 years of service, and the locomotive was cut up on site the following year at Old Oak Common by Vic Berry's of Leicester - one of eleven Class 50s to end their days on Old Oak Common shed.

The locomotive is seen here in early Jan 1989, already stripped of nameplates and awaiting the cutter's torch. <b>The photo brings back bittersweet memories for me, as she was one of my favourite 'Vacs', but I was also grateful as I believe she gave up her engine to keep my machine 50031 'Hood' on the road and into eventual preservation.</b>

My last run with 50038 was on 01 Jun 1988 on 1F71 - a regular Oxford-Paddington service. One of my higher mileage machines with 1,122 miles.

<b>Locomotive History</b>
D438 entered service 21-Sep-68
Renumbered 50038 in 1974
Named 'Formidable' 05-May-78
Withdrawn 27-Sep-88

<b>50038 'Formidable'</b> was one of the early casualties, being the seventh Class 50 to be withdrawn, after 50011, 50006, 50014, 50013, 50047 &amp; 50022. The locomotive languished at Old Oak Common for many months before being broken up on site by Vic Berry's in June 1989, along with 50013 'Agincourt', and crash-damaged 50025 'Invincible'.

More details on the fate of each of the Class 50s here: <a href="http://www.fiftyfund.org.uk/names_and_numbers.htm" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.fiftyfund.org.uk/names_and_numbers.htm</a>

Taken with a Nikon F-501 SLR 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>
class50 diesel locomotive oldoakcommon shed depot london d438 438 50038 withdrawn