50031 Rangeworthy 1 November 1997

1 November 1997 was an important day for followers of Class 50s, as it marked the first mainline run of a preserved loco, bringing the class back to the national network after a gap of over 3½ years. As, like most other modern image railway photographers, I had photographed what we thought at the time would be the last ever run, I certainly wasn't going to miss their triumphant return. 50031 Hood passes Rangeworthy with the Past Time Rail 1Z50 05:50 Euston to Plymouth 'Pilgrim Hoover' railtour. Hood had taken over from 87101 at Birmingham International. The fog was quite thick when I arrived at this location, but luckily when the train arrived the sun was just starting to break through. The English Electric 16 CSVT racket seems to have disturbed the local bird life!