KNOW YOUR… LIVERIES
PART 19: Ex-GWR locomotives – the ‘Cycling Lion’ years
Paul Chancellor studies how the Western Region adopted the original BR emblem.
During the locomotive livery experiments undertaken during the early years of nationalisation, BRITISH RAILWAYS lettering initially adorned locomotive tenders or side tanks, pending the creation of a distinctive logo.
By 1949, however, a nominally ‘standard’ set of liveries was announced that would be applied across each of BR’s regions. This was to be lined blue for prestige Class 8 locomotive types, lined green for Class 6 and 7 passenger locomotives, and lined black for all other passenger or mixed traffic types, while all freight traction would receive a plain black scheme.