Class 50 Commute
Steve Clark
Back in 1987, I dropped out of College at Farnham and took up the offer of a job in London, working in the warehouse of a Company which imported and sold finished Leather skins to the trade.
My commute consisted of catching the 07.40 Farnham to Waterloo, which was formed of a 12 car slam door stock, then crossing to Waterloo East to catch an EPB unit one stop to London Bridge, as that was the closest to Bermondsey.
One day, as I was heading to 'The Smoke', my train developed a fault and we were kicked off at Woking and told to catch another London-bound service. To my amazement, the next train in was formed of a Class 50 working the 06.20-something off Yeovil Junction to Waterloo. At the time I wasn't sure whether this was a regular thing or whether I'd just got lucky, so I did it the following day and sure enough, in rolled another 50. That was it, I was hooked!
or the next year I duly changed at Woking and rode behind over half of the Class 50's into Waterloo. I did my days work, went for a drink afterwards and then made my way to Waterloo for the 19.10 to Exeter - another Class 50 - as far as Woking, where I would often run to Mr. Cod for a bag of chips before heading back to Woking station for my train to Farnham. Mum was not best pleased when I did this, as she had prepared dinner for me which usually ended up in the Bin!
Sadly, the fun had to end when my Company merged with another one in North London and I ended up moving to London in 1988 to save the commuting costs.
I enclose a few of images of Class 50s at Waterloo and Woking during this period.
My commute consisted of catching the 07.40 Farnham to Waterloo, which was formed of a 12 car slam door stock, then crossing to Waterloo East to catch an EPB unit one stop to London Bridge, as that was the closest to Bermondsey.
One day, as I was heading to 'The Smoke', my train developed a fault and we were kicked off at Woking and told to catch another London-bound service. To my amazement, the next train in was formed of a Class 50 working the 06.20-something off Yeovil Junction to Waterloo. At the time I wasn't sure whether this was a regular thing or whether I'd just got lucky, so I did it the following day and sure enough, in rolled another 50. That was it, I was hooked!
or the next year I duly changed at Woking and rode behind over half of the Class 50's into Waterloo. I did my days work, went for a drink afterwards and then made my way to Waterloo for the 19.10 to Exeter - another Class 50 - as far as Woking, where I would often run to Mr. Cod for a bag of chips before heading back to Woking station for my train to Farnham. Mum was not best pleased when I did this, as she had prepared dinner for me which usually ended up in the Bin!
Sadly, the fun had to end when my Company merged with another one in North London and I ended up moving to London in 1988 to save the commuting costs.
I enclose a few of images of Class 50s at Waterloo and Woking during this period.
50012 'Benbow'. Copyright Steve Clark.
A tatty 50002 Superb in the early version of the NSE livery. This loco is now under restoration at Buckfastleigh. Copyright Steve Clark.
50009 'Conquerer'. Copyright Steve Clark.
50003 'Glorious' aka 'Smokey Joe'! Copyright Steve Clark.
50050 'Fearless' (now in service with Locomotive Services LTD.). Copyright Steve Clark.
50018 'Resolution' on the blocks at Waterloo. Copyright Steve Clark.
Many thanks for a great article, Steve. Not a bad commute by any accounts.
Droning at Dawlish
Paul Barlow
43198 43156 working the 0745 Penzance to Exeter past Riviera Terrace Dawlish on 10 October 2025. Copyright Paul Barlow.
43198 43156 working the 0745 Penzance to Exeter past Riviera Terrace Dawlish on 10 October 2025. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks, Paul - nice photos.