First all blue BR diesels

[Rugd1022]

The Deltics were all blue by '69, I think '14 was the last one to get it that year, so I'd imagine they were the first complete class in that respect.

[rodent279]

The Deltics were all blue by '69, I think '14 was the last one to get it that year, so I'd imagine they were the first complete class in that respect.

 

I thought so. Being only 22 strong, and going through works quite regularly, it wouldn't have been difficult to get them all into blue.

 

cheers N

['CHARD]

I reckon the next diesel class to go fully blue probably didn't achieve it until a few years later - 1971 or '72 at a guess.

 

15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43 - withdrawn in green or part-green/ maroon.

 

26 - 1972 (5300, 5301 or 5306)

27 - 1974 (27024)

31 - 1973?

33 - 1971 (6566)

37 - 1976 (37244)

44 - 1973 (6)

45 - 1969 (100)

46 - 1972 (165)

47 - 1978 (47256)

52 - 1971 (1046)

 

 

Note that D6983 and D1671, 1734 plus others had been withdrawn in green long before Rail Blue was dreamed up.

[TravisM]

I seem to recall 40106 was THE green celebrity as it stayed in green longest and was then repainted green. 40122 (and 55002) were repainted green after wearing blue. All the 55s got blue early and being a small class.... To further narrow the OP, which was the first class to be all repainted into rail blue (the 50s being delivered in it)?

 

And surely the 74s don't count as they were rebuilt 71s?

 

I remember reading that 40106 was repainted blue in error after a overhaul at Crewe works and I believe that it even did a test run on the mainline before being hastily recalled for a repaint back into green.  Not sure how true that story is as no photographic evidence has ever emerged.

 

Julian Sprott

[SRman]

I remember reading that 40106 was repainted blue in error after a overhaul at Crewe works and I believe that it even did a test run on the mainline before being hastily recalled for a repaint back into green.  Not sure how true that story is as no photographic evidence has ever emerged.

 

Julian Sprott

 

There was a photo somewhere of the green 40 106 with one of the works plates missing; it was blue underneath that. I doubt that I can find that photo now, though.

[45125]

Now I've got my head round this, I'd say unlikely. 6835/36 were both Dairycoates ones but were notable in being obviously 'different' (the only other centre box one we had being the rebuilt 6791), and I'd have seen them both during 1968 (the year I started spotting), but most likely at some point after the 14s were withdrawn (1 April) as that was when the 37s fully took over the chalk trains to Wilmington. I dont remember seeing either in blue until I saw '36 in early '69 (further supporting late '68 or early '69 repaint dates); the most likely explanation seems that the pair of them just straddled the changeover from one style to the other - wasnt that generally in very late 1968?

 

 

Where's the photo BTW, it sounds like it might be around Hull?

 

Re 6835 and 6836, 6835 was in Doncaster works 11/68 for dual braking, 6836 was in Doncaster works for dual braking 12/68 and was reported to be still in GSYE, and was still there in Feb 69 having its boiler removed.

 

48 years is fair while ago but I can vaguely remember the pair of them in early 69 running round the Hull area as it made a change from the normal Dairycoates locos as they where at the time a mix of GSYE and GFYE.

 

The class 37 site is very vague with details for both these loco as it states both standard blue by mid 69.  6835 remained with the early blue style 

into the early 70s whilst a Tinsley loco.

 

Al Taylor.

[Russell Saxton]

Probably the nearest period to all locos wearing B.R. blue is from late 1979 when the last Class 20s were repainted to late 1982 when the first 58 emerged in Railfreight grey. That's only three years.

Less than that, last 20s went blue in May 1980 and 08934 in June. Then of course 40106, Class 15s in departmental.

[Russell Saxton]

Still think it's a bit of an exaggeration - take a typical year of the period I mentioned (1974-78) say 1976 and give the numbers of those locomotives that were not in standard rail blue - out of the entire fleet.....

There were actually over 500 locos in Green with TOPS numbers and still 136 in January 1977.

[Russell Saxton]

I reckon the next diesel class to go fully blue probably didn't achieve it until a few years later - 1971 or '72 at a guess.

 

15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43 - withdrawn in green or part-green/ maroon.

 

26 - 1972 (5300, 5301 or 5306)

27 - 1974 (27024)

31 - 1973?

33 - 1971 (6566)

37 - 1976 (37244)

44 - 1973 (6)

45 - 1969 (100)

46 - 1972 (165)

47 - 1978 (47256)

52 - 1971 (1046)

 

 

Note that D6983 and D1671, 1734 plus others had been withdrawn in green long before Rail Blue was dreamed up.

 

I remember reading that 40106 was repainted blue in error after a overhaul at Crewe works and I believe that it even did a test run on the mainline before being hastily recalled for a repaint back into green.  Not sure how true that story is as no photographic evidence has ever emerged.

 

Julian Sprott

 

I'd dismiss it as an urban myth mate.

[Russell Saxton]

26 - 1972 (5300, 5301 or 5306) 1973, either 5300 or 5301 both reported in May 1973.

27 - 1974 (27024) Or possibly 27001

31 - 1973? 1974-5818 in April although 5827 ran as green 31294 a little earlier.

33 - 1971 (6566)

37 - 1976 (37244)

44 - 1973 (6)

45 - 1969 (100) 1970 just and actually 119 repainted 19/2/70.

46 - 1972 (165)

47 - 1978 (47256)

52 - 1971 (1046)

['CHARD]

And while we're at it, here's some sleazy green TOPS:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffsimages/9418025364/in/photolist-fmeQPE-99uMVG-9GeMNV-8kipTR-dVUtxx-dVUsXP-8Kg9z

[wn 1A]

Hmmm, you know what, I think the man's right: 86215 wasn't it: "Sans Pareil" being named for the occasion?

 

I see posts totals have made a comeback, next time out, I'm at 666 !!!

 

 

86 235 'Novelty' was the other one, though I can't remember if they were both done at the same time. 235 just had the large 'crest' on the sides for a while, before gaining all yellow ends and large numbers

 

Nidge

86 215 was the first to be completed although the logo on the yellow side panels was a latter addition.This locomotive was in the cavalcade .http://www.railuk.info/gallery/notes/getimage.php?id=2561. 86235 was a slow burn first gaining the large numbers only,  the yellow side panel and at last the logo on this panel, being completed close to Rainhill 150 cavalcade in May. *^ 235 also was at the Ripple lane open day in SF IC livery !! 1980 

 

[jonny777]

Goodness me, that looks to be a rather complicated link.

 

Fortunately, I was at Rainhill 1980 and can save everyone the bother of searching Flickr or Google images. 

 

 

[jonny777]

I was also very fortunate in being allowed to wander around Willesden depot in 1982 by a very kind manager, and take a few photos. 

 

It just so happened that 86235 was parked outside that day and here it is as well. 

 

 

 

 

[wn 1A]

Simpler link https://www.flickr.com/photos/95155237@N07/28750233721/, https://www.flickr.com/photos/27017199@N07/5714114802/

[wn 1A]

Simpler link https://www.flickr.com/photos/95155237@N07/28750233721/

[jonny777]

I was exceptionally fortunate a few years ago, to buy a box of slides online, which included a shot of 86235 at Crewe in its appearance before the yellow/black cab livery was added.