...so are you saying that the GREAT crest WESTERN and the painting of splasher beadings started in 1903?

Yes, though whether it all happened at once, I'm not so sure...

Whoops, I think I've allowed some confusion to enter here. As far as I can see, features like green splasher sides, black springs, polished whatsits, etc. all start to appear around 1903 and are all part of this transition period leading up to the introduction of black frames on County tanks in Aug/Sept 1906.

 

The appearance of tenders with GREAT crest WESTERN in a single panel probably dates from some time in 1905. There is a photo of No 182 (built June 1905) in original form (Russell 2 Fig 103) with one of these. The photo could be this early, but is no later than Sept 1907 when it received a D4 boiler (though it reverted to a D2 a year later). The frames may well be red and the splasher beading is painted in a contrasting colour, possibly black. Another early example of this tender livery is the works grey photo of 2803 (built Oct 1905). I've not found any well-dated photos showing this tender livery before mid-1905.

 

One rather interesting variant is the tender attached to the French Atlantic No 104 when it was taken into stock in June 1905 (photo in RCTS and Russell). This has the earlier three panels but, instead of a monogram, it has the crest in the central panel.

 

Painted splasher beading is probably earlier than 1903. There are photos of No 100 as built in Feb 1902, named 'Dean' (June 1902) and 'William Dean (Nov 1902) all showing the beading painted in a contrasting colour to the splasher sides. Although polished brass beading re-appeared with the black frame livery, and had been normal on express passenger locos of the 1890s, it was not normally seen on lesser locos such as most 2-4-0s and almost all goods and tank locos which were usually painted.

 

Nick

 

ps. the implication for the photo of 2467 is that the date is probably 1905-6, so Locomotives Illustrated weren't far out and GWW was up a gum tree...

Haven't got my Locos Illustrated handy - what does its caption say?

 

On the colour of cab interiors, there is a quote from The Locomotive Volume 1, No. 3, March 1896, that they were vermilion up to about splasher height, and green above that, with lining. The quote is given at the bottom of this page.

 

Having vermilion inside the cab seems most odd to me.

I don't have a copy, but IIRC it said something like  "about 1906". Maybe Dave can confirm.

 

Very interesting quote from the Locomotive. As you say, vermillion inside the cab seems very odd. "about the height of the splashers" is rather vague as it would mean something quite different for a single and an 0-6-0.

 

Nick

They missed out the S2 from April 1913.

 

Nick

Wow awesome looking loco there me old fruit!

 

What a shine on that dome!! 

 

Looking forward to a trundle

 

Roger

 

Sent poolside in Gran Canaria !