neilrh

One?!? I'll take 50! Time to start saving for them

My understanding is that single colour coaching stock only happened for a single year during WWII, while locomotives were painted black almost for the duration. And I thought they were painted a more reddish brown, rather than the more traditional chocolate. I would surmise that since matching rakes were not standard any colouring would be a mix of brown and chocolate/cream.

I believe that shirtbutton livery rooves would be white, and obviously progressively more grime covered. Darker rooves were applied during WWII onwards, but then you'd be moving through WWII austerity brown, and into the Hawksworth era Great Crest Western pattern.

From what I've read, there was no real consistency in what was considered "express locomotive", so Halls could be both lined and unlined - I would guess that there could be a mix of GWR, and G crest W, though I could not say with any certainty. I'd also allow for a mix of Collett and Hawksworth tenders. You're still likely to see wartime black paint jobs. And any locomotive not serviced since before the war would likely carry the Collett Shirtbutton monogram, also as many engines did not see the monogram, it's entirely possible locomotives nearing service time could still be found in Great (crest) Western finish. As with anything, if you can find a dated photograph of something, then it would be allowed - especially if you model that particular locomotive.

It's quite impressive how a little thing can make such an huge difference, adding ballast makes one stride, but adding weathering steps it up again, then adding errant greenery takes it to another level.