Class 50 Nick Names

There have been several names used by both British Rail staff and enthusiasts to describe the class 50 over the years.

At the time of their arrival on the British Rail network they were either called "D400s" or "English Electric Type 4s", and both of these names appear to have been used by both BR in formal documents and by enthusiasts. However the "EE type 4" description appears to have quickly been adapted to "Big EE type 4s" and then dropped because of confusion with the class 40s (the original "English Electric Type 4").

By the time the class arrived on the Western Region the "Hoover" nick name had been coined by enthusiasts. This was eventually shortened to "Vac" when used by fans of the class. 

After refurbishment had removed the reostatic breaking system and the fans that cooled the resistors (the cause of the vacuum cleaner type sound the locos made when first coming to rests in a station), the "Hoover" name no longer seemed to fit. Consequently although the older enthusiasts continued with it, the younger ones started using "Dub-dub", derived this time from the engine sound under load.  

Rail enthusiasts who disliked the class might use the derogatory term "Log". 

Other locally used enthusiast nick names may have existed but these are not recorded here.