David Clough presents a photospread of unusual class 50 workings mostly from the 1970s.
Before they migrated south to the Western Region, Class 50s were commonplace north of Crewe on the West Coast Main Line. However, as David Clough illustrates, they could also be found at less obvious places or on rather unusual duties during the 1960s/70s.
An incorrect headcode has prevented identification of 404’s train.
It is at Manchester Victoria’s Platform 11 and appears to have arrived from the east and terminated. (Alf Yates)
LEFT: Newton Heath Depot supplied the motive power for trains originating in north Manchester. The services from Manchester Victoria to Glasgow that combined at Preston with a portion from Liverpool were examples. For a time, the Sunday afternoon service was rostered for a pair and the photo depicts 426 and 449 coupled ready to make their way to Red Bank carriage sidings to collect the coaches. (Jim Carte)
Travel-stained 50040 passes Westhoughton on October 15, 1975 with a diverted Scottish-bound working. This diversionary route was used when the WCML was closed north of Wigan. (Gerry Bent)
The railway between Wigan and Manchester via Atherton only saw loco-hauled services that were diverted from their usual routes. This London-bound train has just passed Atherton with 411 in charge. (Ian Isherwood)
Class 50 D441, later named Bulwark, stands at Barrow-in-furness on August 21, 1970 with a London Euston service. (Ian Isherwood)
Slow speed control equipment enabled Class 50 to power MGR trains. 50006 waits at Warrington Arpley on December 16, 1975 for a preceding train to clear Fiddlers Ferry power station before heading there with coal from a local colliery. (Gerry Bent)