The LNER Encyclopedia

I wish to locate photographs of the engines which were finished in the experimental purple livery from 1948-1950. The need is for broadside and three-quarter rear images of any of the "Purple four"... being:-

[1] 60024;
[2] 60027;
[3] 60028;
[4] 60029.

Whilst the preference is for colour images I am interested in any black and white photos of the above engines in the period 1948-1950. I have approached the Transport Treasury and that has been productive, apart from Transport Treasury, what other photographic collections are worth investigating?

The Colour-Rail collection includes an image of 60028 in Purple... the rendition of this image in Backtrack (Vol 1. issue 3) and in Railway Liveries (Haresnape) appears too light and too blue for the RCTS description of the purple livery. If anyone has purchased this slide from Colour-Rail then please offer an opinion as to the reproduction in the book versus the slide.

thank you, Graham

I have yet to see a colour photo of one of the 'purple' A4s. My understanding is that they were close to a GER royal blue. I'm not sure if I would trust the subtleties of such colour on a 60 year old photo.

I've only found this: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?num=10&h ... s:20,i:182

Thank you for posting that link.... which I followed and read through... which contained a reference to a thread on this forum. After some searching I found the referenced thread on this forum and the conclusion seems to be that colour images are probably limited to 28 at Grantham.

regards and thanks, Graham

I found 60024



Hope that helps, I know it's black & white sorry

RCTS 2A I think?

It does show one thing; the theory that the purple A4s had their curly 6s changed to the standard 6 whilst in purple does at least ring true for Kingfisher. It was on the basis of RCTS that my purple Walter K. Whigham has the later 6 and not the curly six too.

S.A.C. Martin wrote:RCTS 2A I think?

It does show one thing; the theory that the purple A4s had their curly 6s changed to the standard 6 whilst in purple does at least ring true for Kingfisher. It was on the basis of RCTS that my purple Walter K. Whigham has the later 6 and not the curly six too.

Correct

Thank you for posting the photo of 24.

Blackout60800 wrote:I've only found this: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?num=10&h ... s:20,i:182

I believe that a copy of this picture has been computer enhanced by some photography experts as it was well known that colour film used of that era didn't correctly represent the colours, especially purple/blues. That image was printed on the inside cover of railway mag about 12-18 months ago and was much more purple than we had previosuly thought.
I take it that no loco that was painted in this livery has survived. Did any of the ex LMS pacifics get it?

This is my latest representation of the livery: http://2509-silverlink.deviantart.com/#/d57uzge

Yes, I know it's done in ms paint and the correct font isn't available to me etc, etc - I've heard it all before and do the best I can with what I have - besides it's recreational, not professional.

So, putting that aside, how close is mine to the general consensus of what the livery should be like?

Well thats the problem because nobody really knows! The picture in Railway Mag last year as mentioned above was much more purple. The photography experts seem to think its right, but I've since spoken to a gent this very evening who claims to remember it well and says it was more blue than purple.

Is there a chance that the paint used might be detailed in some archived paperwork some where? If that was known, then as it was almost certainly supplied by Williamson's of Ripon, they would be able to recreate the shade with a high degree of accuracy.

Sawdust.

That is a very interesting shade. I wonder if they had an idea of the colour of the stock that would go with it?

I don't see crimson/cream matching very well, and plum/spilt milk would have clashed as well (at least from looking at the few colour photos that I have seen).

Blackout60800 wrote:This is my latest representation of the livery: http://2509-silverlink.deviantart.com/#/d57uzge

The experimental BR Blue livery is always going to be difficult to show properly due to its complexity it being the LNWR livery, but against blue instead of black. Other descriptions of the colour mention Caledonian Blue, something more like Prussian Blue, but I also think Ultramarine may be closer.

Looking at your drawing you have omitted the firebox band lining, unless Merlin was different in this. Also Merlin was fitted with torpedo guides at the front and the makers plates were inside the cab at this time if you wish to correct these.

I've altered the makers plates and rear boiler band, but have left the nose detail as is, but I will get torpedo guides drawn sometime