Russell Saxton

It was Rail Express by yours truly. This is the article from 2003 but in the 17 years since I have managed to update this considerably and whilst this is largely the 'definitive' list I now have an even more definitive list! I'll go through it and update where needed as I managed to find amongst others at least one extra green 24 (094) and an extra 47 (061) plus confirm/deny most of the probable and possible section. I stress this is basically comprehensive as written but if there is interest (I'm guessing there is!) I can post the current state of play as of May 2020. I must hold my hand up and say there are one or two listed I'm not so sure of given further research and are now relegated to the possibles list, With 24s add 24094. 24069/110 relegated to 'possibles' and 24071 def not. With 25s you can add 25054 37s, add 37186 and drop 37208/23/38 to the probables list. 47s add 47061 but demote 47125 and 47205 to possible The probables and possibles lists changes are. LOSE AS NOT GREEN TOPS 08294, 08367, 20171, 24042, 31286, 37106, 40189/90, CONFIRM AS GREEN TOPS 20028/57, 37186, 47170/3/82, 47206/18/23, Apart from that lot I would stick my neck out and say everything else is accurate. Cue a Photo of one I never knew about in 5...4...3... https://railexpress.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/welcome-to-the-computer-age/

That was the last main line loco but the last of all was 08934.

There were a fair few in blue with a D and a fair few without, the last did not go blue till may 1971 (6566)

And 24090/2

No idea, I hadn't even spotted that. 8577 wouldn't be that old in 1966 so maybe a few done from new?

I have a few differences; largely agree with your blue list but I have 8524 as GSYP and 8568 was definitely NOT blue but withdrawn GFYE. Add 8582 to the list of blue. Some doubt over 8514 as being blue. 8556 I have report but no proof as blue, also 8514, 8534. GFYE again largely agree but no proof of 8514, 8549, 8589, 8595, 8596, 8602 8603 was GSYP to withdrawal.

It's more than likely that that would be its final livery as it had just a few weeks to go.

In one of the Classic Diesel and Electric mags there is a shot of D7030 without a yellow panel in 1964. I'm sure i read something about this but for the life of me I can't recall what it said. Anyone know more?

Do you have the links for 8509/37?

West Riding Steam is also excellent. I bought it recently and it really is a top class book.

Rail Express August 2003

I hate to tell you this but D600 in BFYE and D602 in BSYP were the same shade of blue. Chromatic Blue is a myth caused by the optical illusion of the small yellow panel.

As the author of the original article in Rail express I can assure you that 27024 was photographed but is far from the few that were not if you follow me. I'm trying to get a shot of every green TOPS loco but I'm missing a few after all this time. Got at least two of 27024 though. 31294 anyone?

Apparently now sold out. A few individual copies left of parts 1, 2 and 4-pity as part 3 is possibly the best-but they are considering a reprint. if you missed out I'd get in contact and order it as it's a total masterpiece, the photography is fantastic and the tales hilarious and well detailed.

Got mine, number 273 out of I assume 1,000? If you are wavering-don't. It is truly superb and more than worth the price. Not noticed any sepia as mentioned, my copies are perfect. One of the best, if not THE best set of rail books I have ever seen. Almost all the shots are unpublished and the quality is excellent throughout. A bloody good read.

7019, yes somewhere. I think in the Adrian Curtis mags,

Ok, I need (main line classes only as i need loads of shunters) 20017 20056 24069 24082 24110 25005 25251 25285 37176 37208 37223 37231 37238 37239 37267 40031 40087 40140 40182 47148 47175 47213 47227 47297 47311 47313 47318 47354 47362 47374. I have got a poor quality (though still amazing) one of 31294 coutesy of marc Koch and there are a few others I suspect may not be green TOPS which are as follows. (Any of hse might or migt not be green TOPS, proof via a green phot or one blue pre TOPS required. 20028 24042 25149 25201 25204 25205 25206 25215 25235 25268 25279 25283 37186 37228 47125 47182 47184 47205 47212 47319.

yes D237 was done 11/5/67 and d270 16/5/67. Five days!

There were around 550 green locos in TOPS, I'm trying to collect shots of them all. Many are to be found here, all shots welcome... https://www.flickr.com/groups/br_green_liveried_tops_locos/

Not quite, they reverted to rail blue very quickly, 1967. Odd locos got released in maroon and green though and Crewe was a particular offender, releasing several 40s and 47s in green in 1971, one reason why so many survived into TOPS in green, 34 40s and around 100 47s.

Yes only D9010. Many plenty 15s, 16s, 31s and also examples of classes 03, 23, 24, 37.

Swindon repainted with panels because of a dispute with PW staff, somewhere I have the details. I'll dig them out. The early blue 45s were done en masse at Toton in June/july 1966 and the idea was abandoned. Chromatic blue doesn't exist. D1030 was spray painted rather than brush painted and it gives a metallic finish which looks different in the sun, however compare a BSYP loco to a BFYE loco if you can find a picture and you can see that the shade of blue is identical. It's one of those long standing myths that regardless of evidence will not die, file under 40106 in blue, D4 with panels etc. June 9 1966 was the date that the order to paint everything blue went out. It only took 14 years to do.

Some has, I have seen a few in magazines but not many.

I still can't find out what were the last steam workings along the Erwash Valley, it seems to be a question nobody knows the answer to. I reckon the end of 1966 but possibly into the early weeks of 1967. Does anyone know for sure? I know 70013 worked through on a special in June 1968 but I bet no steam had passed along for at least a year by that point.

Built in Blue you had 400-449 1953-61 7660-77 8178-99, 8300-27 The first of each class to go blue as far as my research says were; D4 D101 D184 D237 D602 D864 D1030 D1528 Shunters-some debate, poss D3464? Unsure re 03s, Class 10 poss D3638. D2554 D2992 D5068 D5389 D5649 D5701 D6300/3/14/27 unsure which was first. D6937 D7033 D8049 Claytons-no idea, several done at once in late 1967. D9002