Helvellyn
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- 28 Aug 2009
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In 1985, to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Great Western Railway, BR held a number of events and namings. There were also some repaints. Some seemed logical and others random. I'm hoping people might be able to piece together what was done.
Repaints
Four Class 47s were repainted in what was termed GWR Brunswick Green. They gained cast brass numberplates and nameplates.
The less obvious choice for a repaint was a Class 50! 50007 not only gained cast brass numberplates and nameplates but lost its warship name, Hercules, in favour of honouring the composer SIR EDWARD ELGAR. Does anyone know not only why a 50 was repainted green but was renamed? If the WR wanted to do a fifth loco surely they could have picked one of the other original 1960s named locos such as 47625 CITY OF TRURO or 47508 Great Britain (named after Brunel's ship). If it was part of the celebrations to honour Elgar why not repaint and name an unadorned Class 47, of which there plenty?
What other locos were named specifically as part of the celebrayions? I believe 47609 FIRE FLY and 47620 Windsor Castle were two.
The repainting of a Bristol based Class 117 three-car DMU into Chocolate and Cream was well known because the set kept those colours after transfer to Tyseley, and even kept them after at least one works visit. But I think a Class 121 bubble car was also repainted - I assume it gained NSE colours in the late 1980s?
There was also a Mark 1 set that was repainted for specials in 1985 but it didn't last much after that. Was it for particular services, or general use?
Finally is anyone aware of things planned that never happened?
Repaints
Four Class 47s were repainted in what was termed GWR Brunswick Green. They gained cast brass numberplates and nameplates.
- 47079 G J CHURCHWARD
- 47484 ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL
- 47500 GREAT WESTERN
- 47628 SIR DANIEL GOOCH
The less obvious choice for a repaint was a Class 50! 50007 not only gained cast brass numberplates and nameplates but lost its warship name, Hercules, in favour of honouring the composer SIR EDWARD ELGAR. Does anyone know not only why a 50 was repainted green but was renamed? If the WR wanted to do a fifth loco surely they could have picked one of the other original 1960s named locos such as 47625 CITY OF TRURO or 47508 Great Britain (named after Brunel's ship). If it was part of the celebrations to honour Elgar why not repaint and name an unadorned Class 47, of which there plenty?
What other locos were named specifically as part of the celebrayions? I believe 47609 FIRE FLY and 47620 Windsor Castle were two.
The repainting of a Bristol based Class 117 three-car DMU into Chocolate and Cream was well known because the set kept those colours after transfer to Tyseley, and even kept them after at least one works visit. But I think a Class 121 bubble car was also repainted - I assume it gained NSE colours in the late 1980s?
There was also a Mark 1 set that was repainted for specials in 1985 but it didn't last much after that. Was it for particular services, or general use?
Finally is anyone aware of things planned that never happened?