O Scale	Wargaming	Architectural	Narrow Gauge	Tools+

Southern to Southern

MARTIN LOVELL looks back at the evolution of Southern liveries.

In 1923, all of the smaller railway companies were consolidated into the 'Big-Four', namely Southern Railway, London North Eastern Railway, London Midland and Scottish Railway, and Great Western Railway.

Maunsell Green U-Class 1638 at the Bluebell Railway.

The Locomotives and rolling stock were painted in the company's own liveries - all of which will be well known to long-time enthusiasts - but to recap, Southern engines were usually green. The shade of green depended on the chief mechanical engineer at the time. From formation of the company until 1927 it was Richard Maunsell and he favoured an Olive green. Between 1937 and nationalisation in 1948, Oliver Bulleid changed the main locomotive colour to a bright Malachite green. Locomotives serviced during the Second World War were repainted black due to scarcity of paint.

Schools Class 'Cheltenham' in Malachite Green.

Q1 in Southern Wartime Black.

Coaching stock was also green, with older Maunsell Green coaches repainted Malachite if appropriate (or possible!) The exception was Pullman-liveried coaches, as used on the classic express trains such as the Brighton Belle, Devon Belle, and Atlantic Coast Express.

Freight stock was generally brown or grey, depending if the wagon was fitted with vacuum braking or not.

Bachmann 2-Car DMU in Southern Green.

The Green livery was also applied to Southern Electric stock, as the Southern was by far the largest user of Electric multiple units in the country with a light olive livery with full lining to start with, then a plainer, darker olive.

In 1948, the Big 4 were amalgamated into British Railways and for a while it looked as though one livery would be applied to all regional stock; for example, Crimson and Cream coaches and black Locomotives. What actually happened was each region seemed to go its own way, with the Western Region keeping its brown and cream coach livery, and Southern region sticking to green.

In 1965 Rail Blue was chosen for locomotives and stock, so many of the green multiple units ended up in blue with yellow ends (with the exception of the Brighton Belle which was still in Pullman livery) and finally to BR blue and grey in the early 1970s.

Two Class 309s, one in NSE 'Toothpaste' and the other in 'Jaffa Cake'.

From the 1980s onwards the railways were sectorised and privatised. Before the iconic (for one who lives round here - Ed) "Toothpaste" livery of Network SouthEast came into being, there was the short-lived and barely used "Jaffa Cake" livery.

Class 313 in the current Southern Livery.

With privatisation in 1996, the Southern region was split into different operators. With the taking over of the railway by Govia in 2003 the current Southern livery was applied in 2004 and has remained the same to this day.

Product Gallery

Graham Farish N Class in Maunsell Green.

Dapol Schools Class in Malachite Green.

Bachmann Class 205 1121 2 Car DEMU BR (SR) Green SYP Weathered.

Bachmann C-Class in Wartime Black.

Dapol Class 122 in Network SouthEast Toothpaste livery.

Dapol Class 73 in Govia Southern.

We are always looking to make improvements to our website to try and improve the quality of your visit.  We would welcome your feedback and suggestions, so please do not hesitate to e-mail our webmaster with your comments.  Alternatively call us on 01903 884488.

Home  Cookies  Privacy Statement  Terms & Conditions  Site Map  Site Guide
WEEE Regulations  Glossary  Careers & Jobs

Tel –  +44 (0) 1903 884488  Fax –  +44 (0) 1903 884377  E-Mail us –  click here

Gaugemaster.com is a trading name of Gaugemaster Controls Ltd.
Registered in England No. 2714470, Registered office:
Gaugemaster House, Ford Road
Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 0BN, United Kingdom

VAT Reg. No. 587 8089 71

Copyright © 2003-2014 Gaugemaster Controls Ltd. All Rights Reserved.