The LNER Encyclopedia

I was very interested to see on the EM1 page http://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/em1.shtml a photo of an EM1 in BR blue + full yellow ends, but sporting the pre-blue totem-style badge. Obviously conversion to the 'arrows' logo was intended as part of the switch to the blue livery - presumably the combination shown in the photo was a short-lived anomaly. Does anyone know how common this combination was?

The 'arrows' logo was often referred to by some BR employees at the time as being the arrow of indecision.

Werent the EM1s and EM2s painted in a shade known as electric blue rather than BR corporate blue long before BR started painting Diesels blue so the totem was correct for the era.

That was 76022 and was a minor celebrity at the time. It was in BR blue with the lion and wheel emblem, but I dont know why it was adorned in that fashion.

I'm sure there was another loco in BR blue with a lion and wheel, I think it was a class 25 but dont quote me on that. I dont know how long it lasted in that condition, but 76022 remained like that until withdrawal in 1981.

I was almost right; the other loco was 24021 and also carried the lion and wheel until withdrawal, as can be seen here:-

http://www.derbysulzers.com/24021swindon.jpg

Thanks for the replies - v. interesting and a bit bizarre: both the EM1 and Cl24 must have been running around for many years with this "off-piste" livery.... wonder why it happened in the first place (someone feeling a bit 'bolshy' in the paint shop, or maybe they'd temporarily run out of double arrow transfers and had a couple of old lion/wheel transfers lying around??), and also why it was never 'picked up' during maintenance etc.

strang steel wrote:I was almost right; the other loco was 24021 and also carried the lion and wheel until withdrawal, as can be seen here:-

http://www.derbysulzers.com/24021swindon.jpg

You were also right first time! Class 25 D5218 was repainted rail blue with BR totem whilst undergoing repair at Brush, Loughborough in 1966. Also EM1 76020 was another to be painted rail blue with BR totem. 24021 as D5021 was originally outshopped at Brush with small yellow panels as per D5218.

Here's a couple of shots I took at Reddish in 1979:

turning the clock back heres a 31 in green with inter city arrows ! Redcar next to Church Lane crossing. mr B