Chattenden and Upnor Livery

Hi All,

Does anyone know if there was an official "livery" for locomotives and rolling stock on the C&U? Was there an official Navy/Admiralty livery?

 

When the coaches arrived at the W&L from the C&U they were in a mid green. The wagons were grey with black ironwork. No idea if this was an official Navy livery or just a C&U one. There should be plenty of colour photos out there. Ray.

 

There should yes, but all I seem to be able to find is an abundance of black and white photos!

 

Would this help? I reckon it's not long after the re-opening and the coaches are in C&U livery before some got doors and cream upper panels. Ray.

 

Sorry to be pedantic but the Chattenden & Upnor ceased to be called that in 1906, when its ownership passed from the Royal Engineers to the Admiralty. From that date it was known as the Lodge Hill & Upnor Railway. It's a common mistake!
Richard

 

The official name was Lodge Hill & Upnor Railway anyway. However this rather poor blown up image of the crest on the side of the Combination Car, taken at Welshpool in 1963, clear states Upnor - Lodge Hill Railway. So you pays yer money........
Richard

 

Me again! (Apologies).
I wrote an article on the history of FR/WHR diesel Upnor Castle a few years ago for a supplement to the Journal of the Welsh Highland Heritage Group. A number of people sent me photographs showing ex-Lodge Hill stock during the early years of the Welshpool & Llanfair revival, but very few of these were in colour. Most were, sadly, of indifferent quality but I have a good early one of Upnor Castle under the canopy at Llanfair. The loco is still called "Yard No.44" (its Lodge Hill name/number) and I suspect that its livery is the same as that applied by the Admiralty. The loco is painted all over dark green with panels lined out in either white or cream. I am not sure what the style is called, but it is quite common and comprises rectangular 'boxes' with corners rounded off with concave half circles, if you know what I mean. The half circles are 'internal' to the boxes. In another photograph the Lodge Hill "Combination Car" is shown in a similar shade of green with the window frames picked out in either white or cream, and the crest mentioned in my previous posting still present on the vehicle sides.
Unfortunately, very few photographs of the Lodge Hill & Upnor itself came to light during my researches. This is understandable, as one correspondent who knew the railway in the 1950s told me that it was regarded as 'secret' and anyone wielding a camera was apt to be challenged by military personnel.
I hope that is helpful..........
Richard

 

C&U seems to be the more common name, aware that it's not the "official" post 1906 name though.

Really appreciate the information on Upnor Castle's livery! Would love a colour photograph so may have to do some digging. I'll try and find a better quality logo picture too as would really like to steal and modify it for my 16mm purposes

Thanks for your help chaps, love NatPres!

 

I'm digging has begun, something like this?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmar...Cxi-qTHjWf-gyrg1V-qzzecy-kH65bS-h94uQ7-eb4v23

 

Black and White - https://www.flickr.com/photos/train...ku1-vhGcaj-tsL8Qf-edP4j8-qTe35n-92gLWz-88uSGw

 

Green and cream does seem to the rolling sock livery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/the-e...qZh-hV6qwp-2AH4qh-fsZ5Ct-92jUs9-8Jxy67-anckaL

 

Although red and cream by '69? - https://www.flickr.com/photos/david...UZQ-89YKhj-aoieZe-8AgjA2-adEkXA-an9uF6-e2NcZb

 

Best colour photo I can come across is this from 1964 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/21602076@N05/6732813087/

It shows the coach livery and the logo relatively clearly.

I've found a picture of Chattenden from 1975 but I doubt this is it's original livery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/7275399522/

 

Found a colour picture of Upnor! - https://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/5937326498/

Now all that's left is an idea of the steam loco livery used...

 

Well done, the photo of Upnor + Combination Car together gives a very good impression of what I believe to be the correct Lodge Hill livery, as the loco and carriage do look very close to "as purchased" condition. The logo on the side of the carriage in the other photo is clearer than the one I already had.
The Industrial Railway Society has a Yahoo Discussion Group - they may be able to help with steam loco liveries.
Richard

 

The Industrial Railway Society has this on-line article which may be helpful. It has a few rather muddy b&w images of C&U steam locos which should give some idea of lining out etc.
http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/12/lodge_hill.htm
Richard

 

Is Chevallier the only surviving C&U steam locomotive?

 

Yes Chevallier was the only Steam loco to survive the ic locomotives being favoured by the military, I was in the Royal Engineers based at Chattenden in the early 1980's and always kept a look out for remains, there was a surprising amount of 2ft 6in track if you knew where to look.

 

I've found some early pictures of Chevallier from the 1960s/70s, but by then it's already in Bowater's colours.

Does anyone know who owns Chevallier now, as I gather it went from Whipsnade to a private owner?

 

Latest I heard was owned by Bill Parker of Flour Mill and was at Whipsnade again, seeing some use.
http://www.national-preservation.com/threads/whipsnade.371465/