Crewe to Chester test run

Submitted by pete on 17th March 2011

Taken on 14 March 2011

Test run to Chester and back ,from Crewe,

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Thu, 17/03/2011 - 10:49pm - Philip M. Hicks

Hi there Pete, - It is good to see # 70000 ' Britannia' back in steam. With the original 'ferret and dartboard' logo on her tender and no lining in apparent she almost appears to be black [?] in the dark evening light at Chester. Is her re-paint not complete? Or is it just the trick of the light on a dark night? Regards from Phil H. Leura. Oz.

Thu, 17/03/2011 - 11:02pm - Ian Cawthorne

No, 70000 is black and intended to be so. It was the livery carried by it when first out-shopped. I'm not sure how long it is intended to carry the black livery, but it will go back to brunswick green eventually.

Fri, 18/03/2011 - 12:47am - Philip M. Hicks

Hello Ian - Are you sure she was first outshopped in BLACK. I have a BR colour film clip on a VCR of her at Marlebone just before and after her naming and she is fully lined out in BR green.She would have only been weeks old then in late 1950 or early 1951. I stood in her cab at the 1951 Festval of Britain and I remamber her being green. Regards, Phil H.

Fri, 18/03/2011 - 9:47am - Ian Cawthorne

Yes from what I have read it was originally in black, but only a matter of weeks. It ran with no emblem on the tender initially too, which was later applied while still in the black livery.

It was the only member of the class to be black and it went into brunswick green for the naming ceremony.

Fri, 18/03/2011 - 11:34am - Philip M. Hicks

That's the beauty of our hobby - you can learn something new every day if you look or ask. Thanks Ian, regards from Phil H.

Mon, 28/03/2011 - 3:40am - Philip M. Hicks

Hello again Ian - Just to comment that I can confirm what you said about # 70000 ' Britannia ' originally being out-shopped in unlined black. Here are two clips from and article in 'Steam Railway' Issue # 384 [ Jan. / Feb. 2011 ] You may well have read the article before you answered me, I'm copying direct from the magazine,
Quote - 1/ " This month marks a significant aniversary in the history of Britain's railways. For it was 60 years ago that the first of British Railways 'Standard Britannia' class 'Pacifics', rolled out of Crewe Works to great acclaim on January 2 1951. "

Quote - 2/ " When No. 70000 first emerged from Crewe Works it did so in unlined black livery, and briefly operated trains between Crewe and the South in that quise.
For its January 30th. 1951 naming ceremony it was repainted into BR passenger green with black and orange lining, a red background to the nameplate and a bright metal finish to the wheel rims, handrails, buffers and drawgear. "
So she was in black for somewhat less than 28 days! You were very correct and I learnt something new [ well new to me ]. My regards, Phil H. Leura. Oz.

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