46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

Thanks for that Anthony ,If people looked at the overhaul pictures they would realise how much work is involved in overhauling a 150 ton steam loco paint is about 2% of the job.

 

But, alas, all joking aside it does seem to be the most important part. Irrespective of colour, engines which have a fresh shiny coat of paint but are mechanically a little 'tired' still seem to attract higher prices than engines which are mechanically sound, but are a bit 'lived in' on the paint department.

Seems a bit daft to me, a coat of paint can hide a multitude of sins and is much quicker and cheaper to apply than more major boiler work or sorting worn motion etc. Still, higher prices keep sellers happy, and so long as the purchasers are happy with their aquisitions then everyone's happy - that's all that matters.

 

I think you are talking about Traction Engines .

 

Interestingley, a loco getting a heavy general overhaul at Crewe Works spent more time in the paint shop than it did in the erecting shop.

 

Probably while they awaited the outcome of the livery poll ...... :bolt:

 

good one, sheff.

 

Nice sunny morning, just trying to cheer the place up a bit!

 

In the old days the reason for that was to let all the coats dry!

 

Shiny engines seem to attract more 'Oooos' and 'ahhhhs' than more worn looking ones, what ever their size and type.

Slapping a fresh coat of paint on a loco 12 to 18 months before it's withdrawn for mechanical overall seems to create a great deal of fuss and attention amoungst the trainspotters, despite it's mechanical condition not necessarily living up to it's freshly 'outshopped' appearance.

Likewise road steam engines that look shiny and new seem to attract higher prices and more attention than more 'used' looking engines, even if their boilers are operating on 'borrowed time' or they sound like a bag of nails.

Some owners will spend money on what amounts to cosmetic appearance seemingly at the expense of mechanical condition. In some cases absolutely spotless engines have started to enter the infamous world of the magic self-healing boiler - yet because they still look shiny...

It seems to be a sad fact that it doesn't matter what type of steam engine, if it has a nice looking coat of paint then it will be declared to have had "...a top notch high class restoration", "...something to be proud of..." etc. etc., even if hidden underneath the gloss the mechanical work isn't quite to such a high standard. Conversely a great deal of time, care and attention on the mechanical side can get dismissed in an instant by the 'expert enthusiasts' if the paint isn't shiny enough or is deemed by the instant experts not to be the right shade.

...personally I know where my priorities tend to lie.


Of course the two aren't mutually exclusive!
It is perfectly possible to have an engine (no matter what type) which is in top notch mechanical condition and has shiny paint... just as you can have an engine in poor mechanical condition (worn out, or fresh from less than ideal restoration) which is paired with a less than 'perfect' paint job (colour or condition).

'Enthusiast attention' still seems to get stuck on the paint and rarely ventures further, except in occasional extreme cases...


Note: I have no knowledge of what sort of standard of work is being applied to 6233, my comments above are an observation on steam preservation in general, not specific to any one locomotive in particular.

 

Just in case anybody is interested in the overhaul have a look here.


http://www.prclt.co.uk/New_6233_Overhaul.htm

 

Latest poll shows like this:

1st: LMS Crimson Lake (585 votes)
2nd: BR Green (553 votes)
3rd: BR Blue (511 votes)
4th: LMS Ivatt Black (65 votes)

 

44806 was in green at one time. When she went to the embryonic East Lancashire Railway's former base at Helmshore in the early 1970s she was in green livery, albeit not as M4806

 

44932 was green as well in 1979! View attachment 2498

 

I have always liked the look of 44932 in lined green. Wouldnt mind seeing it appear in that livery once again as it suits a "Black" 5 very nicely....

 

Hmm, i must say i prefer that look to the livery its in now. BR late logo black has become a tad cliched on black 5s....

 

Black 5's look very good in green i must say, Almost 'Hall' like, Bet an 8f would look better in green too...

Has there ever been an Apple green A4 in Preservation...?

 

Keep talking, Anthony!! Talking is the first stage of any project...........

 

Not as far as I know. We've had LNER Garter Blue, LNER 'silver', BR blue and BR dark green so apple green is on the "to do" list for somebody.

 

According to Locomotives in detail there were 9 diferent liveries carried by A4's : -

Silver grey, Green, Garter Blue, Black LNER, Black NE, Garter Blue(Red/white lining), BR Blue/Purple, Dark Blue Black & White lining, BR Brunswick Green.