Cycling lion switch to ferret and dartboard

I understand the BR logo changed in 1956.
Does anyone know how many years after this would some locos still be sporting the cycling lion?
For example, could early diesel locos of the late 50s be seen running with steam locos still using the earlier emblem?

Any thoughts welcome

 

USA 0-6-0 30069 carried the earlier crest upto 1967. See Southern Email group website http://www.semgonline.com/steam/usa_01.html

 

I believe that 41241 on the Worth Valley Railway is wearing the later crest for the first time ever, after it's recent repaint!

Regards

Andrew.

 

I'm probably in a minority, but I prefer the 'Ferret and Dartboard' to the first crest, something that has had profound implications for my model railway. In this respect, I am modelling a freelance microcosm of the Southern Region in 1960-1961. However, I do make concessions if there is a locomotive I want and it had the early crest in this time period...

 

I think that I prefer the cycling lion crest - it seems more symbolic, when compared to the newer "ferret and dartboard" logo, which does nothing for me.

 

According to E.R.Mountford in his book on Caerphilly Works the first loco to receive the new crest at Caerphilly was 0-6-2T 5690 which left the works on 19 March 1957, so the general application of the crest probably didn't start until 1957. Many engines never received the new crest before being withdrawn in the 1960s.

For the benefit of Western Region modellers, the new crest appeared several months after the switch to lined green livery for smaller passenger engines, so quite a few of these (eg small prairies etc) received full lined green but retained the old cycling lion crest.

David

 

I can't recall seeing any photos of locos carrying the new crest before March 1957. Although it is referred to as the new 1956 crest, I don't think it was actually applied to any locos in 1956. I remember seeing an 08 diesel shunter at Crewe in 1973 still running with the old cycling lion crest.

Slightly off topic. I've seen photos of steam locos with electrification warning flashes from approx. April 1960. Does anyone know exactly when they were first applied to locos?

 

This is correct its strange lookign at it however a fine engine none the less

 

First later emblem noted in my spotting records was 'U' 31612 ex Ashford Works on 12th May 1957. First electrification flashes noted on 6th June 1960 on Bulleid's 34003/5/16/17/21/22/25. Seems 73A and 73B both started fitting them around the same time

 

I recall seeing 41223 at Exeter Central, with the old cycling lion, near the end of July 1965. She was shunting cement wagons and this must have been the very tail end of normal steam working in Exeter.

 

Fairburn Tank 42116 retained the old crest until its withdrawal from Low Moor in mid 1967

 

In my opinion the earlier emblem lion over the wheel is more striking compared to the later emblem.

 

I knew I'd be in the minority However, being a bit of a traditionalist (I know it's rich coming from a Bulleid fanatic!), I prefer the sense of balance that BR has attempted to achieve with the later crest, which has created a rather pleasing symmetry that has a symbiotic relationship with an object found on the side of... well, no, maybe not. It's more to do with the fact that it is a similar shape to a MN nameplate, so that's another cheeky Southern infuence on BR!

 

I prefer the later version but, as for emulating the MNs, it has a lot in common with the London Transport logo. Perhaps both designs were influenced by LT.

Meic

 

If you look at the fireman's side tank on 80100 at the Bluebell, the cycling lion and both left and right facing ferret and dartboards are visible! Slightly confusing seeing all three emblems at once.

 

Returning to this topic, I've just noticed in George Dow's book on railway heraldry that he mistakenly refers to the original (cycling lion) emblem - which he clearly did not like - as the "ferret and dartboard". The second emblem he did like, but gives no nickname for it.
A strange mistake for such a renowned author ....

 

There were two class 01 0-4-0 diesel shunters that were used in Holyhead that retained their cycling lion transfers and their BR black liveries (but with wasp stripes) right up until they were withdrawn in the early 1980's. There are photos of these shunters with news TOPS numbers below original BR cycling lion transfers!

 

I prefer the early crest generally, but I do have exceptions. For example, I always prefer to see Std 4MT Tanks and 9Fs with the later crest. I really don't know why!

I wasn't there, but I always had it in my head as 1957 being the changeover year.

 

Which is Clan Line is my favourite MN - the only unmodified one with the later crest...