And that concludes my production of the AC Electrics, except for a few odd-bods to come later. I am up to Livery upload *994 with E3200, so the countdown to *1000 begins here. I have chosen the loco to commemorate the achievement and it will involve 2 locos - twins - in a selection of liveries!...
*995 is ex-LMS 10000 in BR Lined Green livery, as applied in 1956 for the 'Royal Scot' train, which it hauled with twin 10001. This was before the introduction of the first Pilot Scheme Diesels. The twins looked good in the Steam-style BR Lined Green, but I'm not sure the 'Primrose Yellow' roofs were the best choice! (They look somewhat Grey in the pics). At least the use of the later BR Crest make them look a bit more modern for the time.
*996 is the ex-LMS Twin 10001, also in 1956 BR Lined Green livery. They must have presented quite a sight - and sound - heading out of Euston station with a heavy train.
Livery upload *997 is ex-LMS Twin 10000 in plain BR Green livery, as running from about 1958 to withdrawal in 1963. Once the EE Type 4s entered service in 1958, they began to dominate the prestigious passenger services on the WCML, and the Twins were relegated to more mundane duties. Their livery was altered too, as the now-standard Diesel livery - as applied to the EE Type 4s - was plainer in appearance to the Lined Green that had come from the Steam locos. The plain sides were broken by an off-white body stripe, but it did little to enhance the locos' look. 10000 and 10001 were split up and rarely worked together again. 10000 ended her days in this livery and was withdrawn from service in December 1963. Sadly, despite her claim to fame as the first Mainline Diesel in the UK, she was cut-up in January 1968.
Livery upload *998 is ex-LMS Twin 10001 in the plain BR Green livery. While Twin 10000 was withdrawn in 1963, 10001 survived for a few more years. This drab livery was not to be her last...
Livery upload *999 is 10001 in BR Green with small Yellow panels. This was the final livery change for 10001. 10000 did not carry this variation due to being withdrawn in 1963, but 10001 carried the panel until withdrawal in March 1966. By 1968, the LMS mainline Diesel experiment was gone.
Upload *1000 So the locomotive which graces the *1000 Livery upload slot is... ex-LMS 10000 in a livery you have never seen her in! I love the BR Lined Green livery given to the LMS Twins in 1956 (as used on BR Steam locos of the time) but always thought it would look even better with a Grey roof (rather than Primrose Yellow) and small Yellow panels. Back when I modelled in 'OO' gauge, I had this livery commissioned to a body kit of 10000 and it was the pride of my fleet. It may not be to everyone's taste, but you know what they say about variety... Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to any of my uploads, I appreciate it very much. I hope you enjoy them. There are plenty more to come - Thanks to BR!
I wanted to use the # key to indicate 'number' as in: #1000; but i uploaded that batch of pics from my other PC and the keyboard is a bit wibbly and the # key does not work! I could edit all the * above using this PC, but I can't be bothered. Edit (ironically!) Had a look at the keyboard settings and added an English (UK) set. Now I have this: ################################### This is on my 'other' keyboard.
Upload #1001. Ex-LMS 10001 is upload #1001 in its 'What If...' BR Lined Green livery with small Yellow panels.
Returning to the AC Electrics, the late 1960s / early 1970s produced a few livery variations among the various classes. BR Blue started to take over with full yellow ends, some locos gaining the BR arrow while others retained the aluminium crest. The E3xxx numbers remained until TOPS. AL1 E3001 in Electric Blue with small yellow panels but with a BR arrow on a BR Blue background
AL1 E3010 in BR Blue with full yellow ends and BR arrow. Notice the odd spacing of one set of numbers.
What will be for now the final livery upload for the AC Electrics - 83013 in 1970s BR Blue with double TOPS numbers and obsolete alpha-numeric headcodes.
After a brief pause while I deal with some necessary business here at home ( preparing a lecture and delving into a friend's Ancestry), I hope to return to both the 'Collections' repaints and to finish off the 'Scottie Dog' Base locos, which has become something of a nemesis! 1 dog ; 2 dogs ; 3 dogs ; 4 dogs ! I hope the Class 26s and 27s don't become available too soon!
Well, that pause didn't last long - and there's more AC Electrics to come! I forgot I'd done a few 86/0s and 86/3s, so I may as well release them now. 86003 in BR Blue
The 86/3s were a development of the 86/0s with SAB resilient wheels which allowed for a higher top speed. 86312 'Elizabeth Garrett Anderson'
