850 Lord Nelson

Would anyone know what the chances of this engine returning to the main line? Or whether it is now confined to private lines?

 

Watch this space.

 

I'd love to see her come out to play around Kent

 

Please tell them to repaint it to Brunswick green.:smt023

 

So long as you restore it to malachite immediately after your charter, Martin ;-)

 

Oh please dont paint it in bloody boring br brunswick green. It doesnt matter how you remember it, the fact is that normal people like and remember Lord Nelson because of its distinctive colour. It adds a splash of colour to the Mid hants which it desperately needs.

People like it like it it and repainting it will mean it will be less popular and have less commercial value.

Yeah i know there is nobody saying it is going to happen, however i just wanted to give the public opinion when it comes to the locos livery.

 

Even though we've trod this path so many times, it would be nice if 30777 was given malachite/olive green (hasn't had it since the eighties), whilst 30850 gets its first(?) coat of Brunswick in preservation...

Now for the controversial bit: at the end of the day, I don't think Joe public cares too much about the colour of the engine as long as its steam, so in the same measure, who, apart from the half of the enthusiast fraternity who want variety, really cares if the entire mainline steam fleet was turned out in this colour? Conversely, I for one belong to the half that thinks Brunswick green is rather smart, and it gives a sense of corporate image. In this respect, I applaud the MHR's boldness in steadfastly adhering to a general BR image.

Finally a disclaimer: before anyone tries to start another pointless round of livery arguments, this is but my own opinion, my ideal, and I have my own 00 gauge layout on which to undertake it (and very smart the fleet looks, too). I am in no way trying to influence decision-making processes, and realise that its up to the groups involved as to what paint they put on the finished product.

 

**OFF TOPIC**

BR Livery does matter as we proved with 6880 in terms of 9017. Would we have had ELEVEN charters with her in GWR livery? No. Would she have got onto the front cover of SR in GWR? No. Sorry but BR liveries do pay, the SRPS will agree aswell following 419 repaint near the end of her ticket. Yes personally I do prefer to see locos in the livery they were built to wear, but I can also see the commercial sense in BR liveries. To say it makes no commercial sense is totally bonkers.

 

*Dons tin hat* What about a different livery each side? I remember from an old video of LNER locos Butler Henderson on the GCR (late 80s/early 90s AFAIR) in full GCR livery on the right(?) hand side and unlined black on the left

 

Wasn't it lined black one side and unlined black the other?

 

Yes it was.

 

How much of that was due to the change in livery rather than what it changed to? If it had always carried BR black in preservation, would the same level of interest have occurred if you had painted it in GWR livery for the first time since nationalisation? We'll never know.

Where locos are unique, it makes sense to ring the changes with authentic liveries. 42968 is currently in BR livery, and carried LMS livery during its last ticket. That's how it should be. So, yes, it would be nice to see Nellie in BR livery and Sir Lamiel in Southern again.

And, whilst I totally agree that the livery is down to the owners, it would be nice to see an operational Black 5 in LMS livery, and an operational Spamcan in Southern livery (or the early BR version as was carried by 34081).

 

Back on topic people, plans are still afoot for Lord Nelson to return to the mainline one day but when that will be still remains to be discussed between ERPS, NRM & the MHR. Time will have to tell on this unfortunately....

 

I believe experience shows that photographers are only really interested in BR liveries. What they tend to forget is that only on smaller lines or in special circumstances (for example, paying for a guess loco's appearance) do photo charters make up a major part of income. Most of the major lines have non-enthusiasts paying a large part of the bills. The general public like a named engine, and probably a bit of variety - many years ago, the then NYMR Marketing Manager said she wished she had something other than Black Locos to use in marketing material. Many locos ran longer in non-BR liveries than BR ones and the "different" locos make a greater public impression.

That said, changing a livery during a boiler ticket can be almost like getting a new loco amd certainly rekindle interest. The real experts at maintaining public interest are the A1 Trust and there are 2 livery changes planned in 60163's 1st 10 years, which probably helps make the point.

And would 9017's livery change have been such a success if it was planned as being permanent?

Steven

 

Dont worry Martin I thought it was very funny!

 

I agree. In my experience the public like named engines and I suspect (but dont know) they prefer the brighter colours, probably not BR green and unlined black.

Being relatively young I cant speak for the older generation of photographers, but for me it was definitely the change in 9017s livery (rather than what it was changed to) that got my interest. Variety is the spice of life after all!

Well I'm a photographer and I prefer pre grouping liveries (but see Martin's comment about the problem of matching it to authentic stock).
I dont expect railways to pamper solely to the requirements of photographers and photo charters, but when the cost/"damage" (e.g. at the end of a locos ticket) is relatively minor surely every little bit of income helps?

Just out of interest, in your position with the NYMR do you know the proportion of general public vs enthusiast income when it comes to donations/appeals rather than normal running days? (Obviously Bridge 30 is a special case and seems to have attracted a large response from the general public).

Kind regards,

Ben

PS: Sorry for keeping the thread off topic - perhaps this can be moved by the Mods?