The LNER Encyclopedia

Which shade of BR experimental blue would be correct for Peppercorn A1's in the early 1950's, dark or light?

I feel certain the blue A1s were of the darker shade of blue.
The lighter shade, sometimes called purple, was only an experimental livery applied to a handful of A3s and A4s in 1948

The BR Blue that was applied to express passenger engines wasn't an experiment, it just didn't last long. It was lighter than the experimental purple colour. The problem with the description of dark and light is that is only relevant as a comparison.

BR Express Passenger Blue, as applied to the A1's was reputedly based on the Caledonian livery (and that is always a good way to start an argument!) which itself is derived from the Saltire. A reasonable test would be to Google 'Saltire" and compare. Be careful though to use the azure blue and not to look at the Navy blue saltire, which is of course the flag of Tenerife!

Caledonian blue...….the shade depends on which works painted the loco !

Have you looked at pictures of Tornado in the 'Blue Period'?


Page 10 of the gallery on the A1 Steam website ...and scroll down.... should show you this.

Thank you all for your responses. I must say that the photos shown on the A1 Steam website make me even more confused as the reproduction of the pictures show an inconsistency in the shade of blue. I will stick to Caledonian blue and leave it at that!

bittern19 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 09, 2019 6:53 pm

drmditch wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2019 3:52 am Have you looked at pictures of Tornado in the 'Blue Period'?


Page 10 of the gallery on the A1 Steam website ...and scroll down.... should show you this.

Thank you all for your responses. I must say that the photos shown on the A1 Steam website make me even more confused as the reproduction of the pictures show an inconsistency in the shade of blue. I will stick to Caledonian blue and leave it at that!

I like that shade of blue, but it seems to change depending on the ambient light.