GWR 1900-1906 Tender Loco Livery

Image courtesy Martin Finney/Chris Wesson. Click for large size image [72 kb]

This magificent livery was carried on tender locos from approximately 1900-1906. With the exception of some detail differences, it followed closely the overall style introduced from around 1894, when the standard Middle Chrome Green was introduced.

Wheel splashers and frames were in Indian Red (or shades thereof), with full lining throughout. Dome, safety valve and the chimney's copper cap were fully polished. From ca. 1904 the monogram seen here was replaced with the garter crest, located between the words 'Great Western'.

The rather stunning loco shown here is a 2-4-0 3232 class loco, magnificently built and painted by Chris Wesson from a Martin Finney kit. This is the 7mm version, but they are also available in 4mm. The 3232s were introduced under Dean in 1892, working at first on the South Wales expresses. They were later used on the secondary lines, including the Reading and Newbury area.

The Locomotive Volume 1, No. 3, March 1896 states: "The engines of the Great Western Railway are painted chrome green, the shades varying with the works at which the engine was constructed. Express and passenger engines built at Swindon are painted a lighter green than the goods and tank engines turned out of the same shops while engines from Wolverhampton assume quite a blue green. The striping of the engines also differ, Swindon engines having a black band of medium width a very fine yellow line on either side, but Wolverhampton engines a fine white line in place of the yellow. The framing and splashers of all engines are a dark red brown, edged round with, a narrow black border with a fine yellow line inside it. The domes and safety valve casings are bright brass, as also is the chimney top; this latter on Swindon-built engines in of a bell-top pattern whereas Wolverhampton engines have a moulded top. The buffer beams are vermillion edged round black and fine yellow line. The interior of the cabs is painted vermillion to about the height of the splashers, then green above, edged round with black and fine yellow line. Altogether the G.W. Railway engines are handsomely painted, and being kept very clean always boast of an imposing appearance. The splashers of the 3001 class of single bogie express engines are further decorated with the arms of the G.W. Railway surrounded by a garter cast in relief and maintained in true Heraldic fashion, and on either side of this the crests of London and Bristol respectively, also in relief. On other express engines the coat of arms is "transferred" on the driving splasher. Number plates are of brass, raised figures, with a background of black with fine yellow line round the inside."