The Cattle Wagon seen here illustrates the overall dark grey livery used on general service wagons and vans from around the turn of the century until nationalisation (see the preceding page for a discussion on the exact change-over from red to grey livery). Unlike most other companies, the dark grey extended to the underframes also. Van rooves were painted all-over white until 1939, but as they were never washed they quickly turned a dirty grey. From 1939, the GWR finally gave in and painted rooves all-over grey as new.

The earliest known lettering on GWR wagons took the form of 5 inch white "G.W.R." lettering painted directly on the wagon along with tare numbers etc. Around 1894 many newly built wagons were fitted with lettering and numbers on cast plates, continuing until ca. 1903. At this point, large 25 inch "GW" lettering was introduced, lasting until 1919 when the 16 inch lettering illustrated above took over. The general service vehicles never saw use of the GWR Roundel when this was introduced in 1933/34, but in 1936 the 5 inch letters were re-introduced on all grey stock, lasting until nationalisation.

Note that special vehicles often had variations in livery design. Cattle wagons were among the few types to have the "GW" on the ends also, as seen above. Meat Vans were of a different colour scheme altogether, being white with red lettering.

The cattle wagon illustrated is one of Slaters 7mm kits, which builds into the 18'6" Dia W1 or W5 types.