Liveries carried by the P tanks

What shade of green is that?

It has often been said that the most important part of a locomotive's restoration is the colour it is painted in.  It is my firm belief that this is not the most important thing!

Having said that I would like to share the thoughts of the restoration team with you regarding the livery and how it is chosen, also when it needs to be decided.

The committee of the Fenchurch Fund and the Project 27 team set down and discussed the livery that we are to turn 27 out in.  Whilst this decision is not vital, it does need to be made at a fairly early stage in the restoration. The livery chosen must fall within the guidelines of the Historical Committee, the wishes of the Loco Director and other interested parties.  Whilst we have made our mind up which livery 27 should be turned out in we still need it rubber stamped before we go "public".

Why do we need to know what colour it will be painted so early? I hear you ask.  Well, as soon as paint is applied, there needs to be some idea of what the final colour (e.g. green, black, crimson lake etc... etc...). This will allow the correct shade of undercoat and primer to be applied first.  there are some colour differences with various parts of the loco depending on livery also, so the final livery will need to be known before these parts are painted.

As an example of liveries that 27 could carry, I have sorted out some pictures of P Tanks in various liveries.  Unfortunately, as far as I am aware there are no pictures of the Crimson Lake or Light Green experimental liveries which were applied in the early days, and the locos never left the paint shops in these liveries!

Still here is the first batch of pictures to be going on with!



27 Resplendent in SECR livery on Platform 2 at Sheffield Park on the 14th June 1965
(Photo: SECR Society/Peter Tangye)

 

SECR No.27 "Primrose in Bluebell Railway Black with yellow lining around 1962 at Sheffield Park
(Photo: The Fenchurch Fund Collection)

 

ROD No.27 in plain olive green as applied before 27 went to France in 1915 for 18 months war service
(Photo: Clive Emsley)



Southern No A27 at Dover Marine in Maunsell lined green livery in mid 1929
(Photo: by courtesy of Locofotos)



Whilst we cannot say for definite what livery the loco will be turned out in we are 99.9% certain that it will be a shade of green with black frames!

We will be continuing this topic as time goes by and as always we welcome any contributions to the livery debate!