Vac Attack
On Saturday, September 16th 2000, D431 & D449 arrived at Glasgow Central with Pathfinder’s
“Celtic Hoovers” railtour on a journey that brought the two Class 50s back to their former London Midland haunts for the first time in nearly 25 years. This
"Wired
for Sound" programme features the return run along the West Coast Main Line on a 243-mile journey from Glasgow Central to Crewe.
With a respectable 13 coaches in tow, the two ‘Vacs’ set about recreating a piece
of railway history on a route that is as challenging as it is nostalgic.
The departure from Glasgow is accompanied by a fanfare of horns, and the run past Polmadie depot has to be seen
(and heard) to be believed! Then, the 50 thrash begins in
earnest! A standing start at Motherwell makes for a rousing climb to Craigenhill summit and
the ensuing haul up Beattock. South of Carlisle there’s the arduous 30-mile slog up Shap
before the big 1 in 75 drop to Tebay makes for an exhilarating run through the Lune Gorge.
After a short climb to Grayrigg there’s another spirited downhill run through Oxenholme.
A standing start at Carnforth provides an entertaining run past Hest Bank before
another impressive climb after Lancaster as the 50s power the train up Ripley Bank. South
of Preston there’s a taxing run from Balshaw Lane up to Coppull Moor summit. Wigan is
‘thrashed’ from a standing start. That’s followed by the 50s glimpsing their Vulcan Foundry
birthplace at Newton-Le-Willows. After Winwick Junction, the ‘Vacs’ spectacularly blast
their way through Warrington before pounding across the bridges of the Mersey and the Weaver. Appropriately, the train is finally checked at Weaver Junction which, in the
late-sixties and early-seventies, marked the most northerly point of the route’s electrification. The trip concludes with an atmospheric arrival at the locos’ spiritual home - Crewe.
To add to the nostalgia factor, both Class 50s were transformed into original BR blue livery for this historic trip. The result is a video which not only provides a reminder of the
days when the ‘Hoovers’ ruled the banks of Beattock and Shap, but also captures the day
D431 and D449 turned the clock back 25 years!
"History re-created in splendid style."
TRACTION Magazine
Voted "Best Class 50 Video" by readers of
the Vaclads website
