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Class 37 - favourite livery/liveries?

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Strathclyder

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Basically what it says on the tin. Since the Class 47-themed thread on this particular subject seemed to do rather well at the end of last year, I thought a similar one on the Tractors was in order (if it hasn't been done already lol). As far as front ends go (as that will no doubt factor into some members' choices), split-headcode boxes are my overall preference, but am personally not overly fussed in the grand scheme of things.

Six of my picks (in no particular order; all linked images copyright of Martin Loader):

BR Blue


InterCity Executive


BR Large Logo


Regional Railways


Railfreight Red Stripe


Railfreight Grey (with Coal Sector markings)


Over to the rest of you. :)
 
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DB

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Definitely Large Logo (which is also the best livery on Class 50s as well).
 

Peter C

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I quite like the look of BR Large Logo - and Regional Railways for that matter. BR Green also looks quite nice on a 37 (especially 37667, with the ploughs on the front too - they just finish the look).

-Peter
 

61653 HTAFC

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It always struck me as slightly odd that the only 37s that got full Intercity Swallow branding were non-ETH examples (with the 37/4s having to make do with unbranded "mainline" livery). But large logo is definitely the winner for me. Train consists always look better to me when the locomotive isn't completely matched to the coaches colour-wise. If locos had been in blue/grey like the coaches rather than all blue, they'd have looked awful.
 

Cowley

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Definitely large logo for me. They just suit it really well to my eyes.
 

chipbury

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I've always had a soft spot for 37501/37502 when they used to run as a pair sporting a British Steel blue livery and railfreight grey with red stripe. They used to pass my school on an almost daily basis.
 

43096

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That isn’t IC Swallow. Swallow had two distinctive features from the other IC variants: it had the swallow logo and the lower bodyside is white. The version in that photo is the “Mainline” livery that BR developed in a vain attempt to prevent the proliferation of too many liveries.

Best one? I’d say Large Logo with an Eastfield west highland terrier.
 

delt1c

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Centre head code, BR blue with round buffers and full front valance is my favourite
 

xotGD

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Either large logo or regular blue for me.

Or in the case of Gateshead locos, all-over coal dust.
 

CW2

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It always struck me as slightly odd that the only 37s that got full Intercity Swallow branding were non-ETH examples ...
At the time 37505/510/683/685 were the locos dedicated to work in pairs with a generator van on the Inverness and Aberdeen sleepers north of Edinburgh. So of all the 37s they were the ones most deserving of Inter City livery.

Large logo blue for me too. It really suited the class 37.
 

Journeyman

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Large logo blue is actually the sort of livery that should work best on simple loco designs with clean lines and not too much in the way of clutter. Given that the 37 is one of the fussiest and busy loco designs going, with bits sticking out everywhere, grilles all over the place, and noses at each end, you'd expect large logo blue to look a right mess, but it doesn't! Easily my favourite livery on them too.
 

Cowley

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Large logo blue is actually the sort of livery that should work best on simple loco designs with clean lines and not too much in the way of clutter. Given that the 37 is one of the fussiest and busy loco designs going, with bits sticking out everywhere, grilles all over the place, and noses at each end, you'd expect large logo blue to look a right mess, but it doesn't! Easily my favourite livery on them too.

Oh god they’ve got some grilles happening haven’t they? :lol:
 

Strathclyder

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That isn’t IC Swallow. Swallow had two distinctive features from the other IC variants: it had the swallow logo and the lower bodyside is white. The version in that photo is the “Mainline” livery that BR developed in a vain attempt to prevent the proliferation of too many liveries.

Best one? I’d say Large Logo with an Eastfield west highland terrier.
Had a nagging feeling in my gut that it wasn't, guess the similarities/overall layout threw me. Will go back and amend the OP post.
 
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Bevan Price

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Regional Railways for me. Not that they looked bad in any other livery.
 

Irascible

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Green, small yellow panels, grey roof. Alternatively one of the triple grey variants. I remember large logo turning up on 50s on the services we regularily got when I was a kid & being really thankful there was finally some interesting paintjob ( the next few years made me way more thankful! ) but didn't really like it on a 37.
 

Ash Bridge

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Centre head code, BR blue with round buffers and full front valance is my favourite
Think I’m with you on this one, got to have the headcode panel fully functioning though! In later years I did think IC Swallow suited them - also large logo and Regional Railways. Slightly OT why (at least in my opinion) did large logo not look good when applied to 40145 in recent times when it seemed to suit virtually everything else that received it?
 

delt1c

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Think I’m with you on this one, got to have the headcode panel fully functioning though! In later years I did think IC Swallow suited them - also large logo and Regional Railways. Slightly OT why (at least in my opinion) did large logo not look good when applied to 40145 in recent times when it seemed to suit virtually everything else that received it?
Think it was due the length and the nose on the 40. Dont think Large Logo would have looked good on the peaks or deltics either. Back to the 37’s BR bue with working headcode, round buffers and front valance were perfect design.
 

Ash Bridge

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Think it was due the length and the nose on the 40. Dont think Large Logo would have looked good on the peaks or deltics either. Back to the 37’s BR bue with working headcode, round buffers and front valance were perfect design.

That’s pretty much what I was wondering; and yes, bet it would have looked hideous on a Peak - absolutely agree on the blue 37!
 

pieguyrob

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Regional railways liveried loco and carriages, I think looks very smart.
 

GusB

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Large logo with Highland Rail logos - perhaps "Mainline" at a push.
 

pieguyrob

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Large logo with Highland Rail logos - perhaps "Mainline"

By Mainline do you mean inter city, or mainline aircraft blue? If the blue then that livery looked smart on any loco it was applied to. I think Load Haul is another smart livery.
 

GusB

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By Mainline do you mean inter city, or mainline aircraft blue? If the blue then that livery looked smart on any loco it was applied to. I think Load Haul is another smart livery.
I meant BR Mainline.
 
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