WD 280 Liveries during World War II

[Windjabbers]

Hi,

 

I’m trying to find out what livery the WD 280 were delivered in as they were built in in 1943/4. 

 

We would like to model one which was lent to the LNER during this period before the WD took them back for duties overseas towards the end of the war.

 

Is the correct livery for a WD 280 operating on the LNER in 1944 is green or black?

 

Would welcome comments and advice.

 

Best Wishes

 

David

[eastglosmog]

From photographs I have seen, they came in 2 basic liveries from date of delivery - black or grimy black.

[jwealleans]

Do you have access to the Rowledge book? I don't have that volume, but my guess would be WD green as built and black when taken into railway company stock.

[Jim Martin]

I'd have expected the answer to this to be "black and more black", but the first paragraph of the"livery" section in the RCTS green book reads:

 

The "Austerities" were originally painted in khaki-brown livery, with 2in-high cab side numerals, tender letters and broad arrow motif, all painted in matt golden yellow. From March 1943 the cab numerals became 6in for clarity whilst operating in the United Kingdom, and finally 8in from the end of December 1943. From March 1944 the livery became khaki-green, whilst at a later date "W D" appeared on the tender in 12in letters with a 10in broad arrow motif"

 

So apparently not

 

Jim

[Marshall5]

I'm sure Colour Rail used to sell a colour slide of a WD in Khaki livery.  Just tried to search for it on their site without success but I didn't spend very long looking.

Ray.

[eastglosmog]

Just had another look at some video clips of WD 2-8-0's in 1943, and what I took for grimy black could be khaki green, difficult to tell in black and white!

[EddieB]

I'd have expected the answer to this to be "black and more black", but the first paragraph of the"livery" section in the RCTS green book reads:

 

The "Austerities" were originally painted in khaki-brown livery, with 2in-high cab side numerals, tender letters and broad arrow motif, all painted in matt golden yellow. From March 1943 the cab numerals became 6in for clarity whilst operating in the United Kingdom, and finally 8in from the end of December 1943. From March 1944 the livery became khaki-green, whilst at a later date "W D" appeared on the tender in 12in letters with a 10in broad arrow motif"

 

So apparently not

 

Jim

The same information is given in Tourret's "Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War".  

 

A similar transition from khaki to "army green" was applied to the 2-10-0s.