A4s (with diagonal cab stripe)

[Graeme Leary]

Resources limited out here in the colonies and would like to find a COLOUR shot of any of the 5 or 6 A4s that were adorned with the diagonal cab stripes. Going through RCTS No 2A this is the only livery I haven't got covered in my 'fleet' of model A4s and as I plan to repaint one with this feature I would like it to be as accurate as possible. (I have 'Golden Plover' loco name plates so would prefer a photo of 60031 if possible as I may have to rename one of my existing 'spare' A4s). Also as the shot will be one side of the loco only, could you please clarify which way the stripe would run on the other - non photo - cab side ie left to right down or the other way around.
Many thanks.
Graeme Leary
New Zealand

[kingfisher24]

Hi Graeme, I too live in the colonies, and pretty close to you by all accounts, living half way between Drury and Pukekohe. I have a reasonable collection of books covering A4's with many in colour, and am originally from Aberdeen, having started my career at Ferryhill. It would be good to meet up!

Regards

Mike

[kingfisher24]

Oh, and one other thing; as I recall there were only ever two A4's which received the yellow cab-side stripe, both allocated to St Rollox, 65B: 60027 and 60031.

[52H]

Hi all
Could someone refresh my memory,what was the meaning of the yellow stripe.

52H

[giner]

Hi all
Could someone refresh my memory,what was the meaning of the yellow stripe.

52H

Death row, I believe.

I have seen a photo of 60031, only one side, with the stripe - b/w photo so I didn't know it was yellow. I think the photo was taken at Perth, IIRC.

[BJamieson]

The yellow cab stripes signified that the locos were barred from working under the wires on the WCML south of Crewe. It seems odd that this was considered necessary for the two A4s at St. Rollox but I would conjecture that there was the likelihood of them being diagrammed on Sighthill to Carlisle New Yard express freights and there was the theoretical possibility of them wandering further south from Carlisle. 60027 saw out its days from St. Margaret's and would probably have visited Carlisle more frequently then on freights from Millerhill over the Waverley Route, but so would have classmate 60024 which was at 64A until May 1965, well beyond summer 1964 when the stripes were applied, yet it never carried them. On the other hand, the last three A3s there (60041/52/100), which were frequent visitors to Carlisle on Waverley Route freights, did carry the stripes.

Bill

[52H]

Hi Bill
Thanks for the quick response, that fits in with my memories, we used to see the yellow stripes passing us at Kingmoor. We didn't see many locos with the stripe in the NE area.

52H

[BJamieson]

PS Here's a shot of 60031 at Galashiels on 18/4/65 working the Scottish Rambler No. 4 railtour, clearly showing the yellow stripe (photo by the late Robin Barbour, courtesy of Bruce McCartney). The stripes ran from top front to bottom rear of the cab side sheets on both sides.

Bill

[Graeme Leary]

Thanks all and photo Bill.
Mike/kingfisher24 would be very keen to catch up some time and have a look at any photos you may have on (in particular) A4s - but not averse to anything LNER for that matter. My number is 09 292 8700.
The reason for painting stripes on cab sides has always intrigued me anyway as does this imply electric locos were lower than steam with the catenary being set lower for that purpose and therefore a steam train of 'normal' dimensions as to height was therefore unable to safely travel below them. Maybe the stripes were applied to only certain classes/sizes (Pacifics I can well imagine) but an interesting question.
Graeme Leary

[strang steel]

This subject has been discussed elsewhere on the internet, although I can't remember the relevant websites. Some classes did not receive yellow stripes, and a few class members seemed to get then by mistake.

For instance only 3 of the 8Fs got them, but two of those had a large top feed and the third was a mistake.

I think the reduced clearances under certain bridges south of Crewe was the main reason. The pantographs on electrics would adjust automatically.

WDs with ex-GWR top feeds had them, and other classes with tall chimneys and domes (4F, LNWR 0-8-0).

[StevieG]

" ... I think the reduced clearances under certain bridges south of Crewe was the main reason. The pantographs on electrics would adjust automatically. .... "

... Only conjecture on my part, in this context, but there may also have been one other factor - that, as long-established in rail staff electrification safety training, whereas the danger with 650V DC conductor rail is 'only' one of touch (or almost touch?), with 25,000V AC overheads there is a significantly greater risk of arc-jump across air gaps to objects in proximity which afford a path to earth.

[BJamieson]

Graeme,

It was mainly ex-LMS express types with fatter/higher pitched boilers above large diameter driving wheels that were affected - Jubilees, Royal Scots, rebuilt Patriots and Duchesses - plus a handful of Scottish Region based ex-LNER Pacifics likely to work into Carlisle. As Strang Steel has mentioned some freight types with taller boiler fittings were also affected. The now preserved 8F 48773 was striped and I think this was the one done in error, based on a boiler with a taller top-feed which it no longer carried.

Like 52H, I mainly remember the stripes on LM locos at Carlisle - I must have seen them on a couple of ScR locos but probably inside the sheds at Perth or St. Margaret's where they weren't so obvious.

Bill

[1H was 2E]

Nothing to do with A4s, but I remember one little enigma about the yellow stripe. As mentioned Super Ds were banned south of Crewe, and so one already withdrawn and stored at Rugby shed on the introduction date duly received one. Now Rugby is south of Crewe, and the exit from the shed only led to lines already energised. Just wonder how that one was solved...

[Postman Prat]

I guess the 'Nelson touch' was used when the locos were removed from Rugby.

48773 was the 8Fdone in error. The three 8Fs taken into BR stock in the 50s were 48773-5 and they were out of gauge, so far as the stripe was concerned, because of a non-standard top-feed. However 48773 previously had a boiler change and was standard with the rest of the class. When the instruction was given someone obviously looked at an out of date record sheet with the result it was given the stripe.

It seems that this caught up with the loco in preservation because when it was wanted to run it on the mainline approval was not given because it had previously had the 'stripe'.