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Last BR blue and grey train/coach

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frankmoh

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Just wondering what year the last train or coach was repainted from the BR blue and grey livery into something else. Did anything with this livery survive after privatisation?

32738524877_64baf5f516_b.jpg

Pictured: EPB from 1983 in BR blue and grey
 
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hexagon789

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Just wondering what year the last train or coach was repainted from the BR blue and grey livery into something else. Did anything with this livery survive after privatisation?

32738524877_64baf5f516_b.jpg

Pictured: EPB from 1983 in BR blue and grey
There were some 304s and 508s still in Blue/Grey in 1996.
 

The exile

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There were some 304s and 508s still in Blue/Grey in 1996.
Think Merseyrail may well have been the last bastion in terms of passenger trains - but I bet the odd Mk1 BG survived longer (maybe something used as a barrier vehicle or maybe even one of the de-icer units?)
 

frankmoh

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Does anyone have pictures of these 304s, 508s or Mk1s in BR blue?

24808743991_43573e4358_b.jpg


Also very odd to hear 508 being mentioned as once it used to wear a livery that is still currently used by 465s!
 

Transilien

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I am pretty sure that there was a class 303 that was used in departmental work until at least the late 90s that retained BR Blue and Grey
 

Merle Haggard

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Although perhaps it doesn't quite count, there was an M.M.L. hired-in loco hauled train in the Up morning peak (fast from Leicester) ca 2003 and I'm pretty sure this was in B&G. Around the same year here was a similar loco-hauled set on Virgin (NOT the 'pretendolino") that ran Up from Birmingham in the late afternoon and I think this might have been B&G; it certainly wasn't in Virgin livery and I can't think what else it would be, other than B&G. I travelled on both for the experience, but I may well be wrong on livery.
 

Wilts Wanderer

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Weren’t there Class 507/8 units on Merseyrail running in blue/grey well into privatisation?
 

Ashley Hill

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Laira had a Mk2 barrier coach in blue and grey which lasted well into FGW days before it was painted FG blue. I haven`t seen it for a long time though.
 

RPI

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I do remember a couple of 304's in the West Midlands in around 1996, there was one class 117 that ended up in Cornwall in the middle 90's, I remember at the time it was quite unique, I believe it's the one now at the Plymouth Valley.
 

Wilts Wanderer

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I do remember a couple of 304's in the West Midlands in around 1996, there was one class 117 that ended up in Cornwall in the middle 90's, I remember at the time it was quite unique, I believe it's the one now at the Plymouth Valley.

There were some heritage DMU ‘dregs‘ working the Cornish branch lines to the mid-90s and although several were ex-NSE 117s Im sure I recall at least one blue/grey 101 vehicle as well. (Edit - that being said, I can’t find a photo of it so maybe I’m mistaken.)
 
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4SubAsociation

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EPBs would be 1995. 6213 and 6259 was still in BR blue grey when withdrawn. These where when they were at Kineton.


Some of the Class 307 that where in storage where still in blue grey. They where kept for PCV trains potentially which did not happen.


Probably would be the Class 304s being the last thing in blue grey. The last where withdrawn in early 1996. 304021 was briefly preserved in 1998 but scrapped by the early 2000 (vandalism issues). https://aclocogroup.co.uk/index.php/preservation/ac-preservation-to-1999/preservation-1998
 
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According to Wikipedia 304002 and 304033 were the last of the class to be withdrawn in March 1996 Both still carried blue and grey at the time.
There may just have been some Merseyrail 507/508s in blue and grey at the time. Photos online show some still in use in the livery in autumn 1995, although most were stored in around October/November of that year.
IIRC the Merseyrail yellow/white was applied during a mini-refurbishment which saw the original low-backed seats retained but re-covered in new cloth, and that's why it took a long time to do the whole fleet.
 

RPI

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There were some heritage DMU ‘dregs‘ working the Cornish branch lines to the mid-90s and although several were ex-NSE 117s Im sure I recall at least one blue/grey 101 vehicle as well. (Edit - that being said, I can’t find a photo of it so maybe I’m mistaken.)
Right at the very end there were three or four NSE 117's, an NSE/Chocolate and Cream Hybrid set (with two brakes, 117305) and a solitary 101 which was in NSE (L842). The 117 that was blue and grey was withdrawn about 1994/5 after derailing at St Blazey and being damaged. I don't recall any Blue 101's after about 91?
 

Wilts Wanderer

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Right at the very end there were three or four NSE 117's, an NSE/Chocolate and Cream Hybrid set (with two brakes, 117305) and a solitary 101 which was in NSE (L842). The 117 that was blue and grey was withdrawn about 1994/5 after derailing at St Blazey and being damaged. I don't recall any Blue 101's after about 91?

Your memory of this is probably better than mine. I suspect the 117 is what I’m recalling, I didn’t realise that was its fate.
 

Mogz

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I’m pretty sure that Merseyrail 507s and 508s had all been repainted to not Merseytravel yellow by about 1994/95.

I’m sure I saw the odd Class 101 at Chester in BR blue later than that.
 

Deepgreen

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prod_pep

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I’m pretty sure that Merseyrail 507s and 508s had all been repainted to not Merseytravel yellow by about 1994/95.
There were still a goodly number of 508s (and at least one 507) in blue and grey into 1996. Two of them (507004 and 508139) may have lasted into early 1997; they made it into the late autumn of '96 at least.
 

Failed Unit

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I’m pretty sure that Merseyrail 507s and 508s had all been repainted to not Merseytravel yellow by about 1994/95.

I’m sure I saw the odd Class 101 at Chester in BR blue later than that.
I am sure a 101 made privatisation in BR blue as well. They literally were on chewing gum and sticky tape by then.
 

sprinterguy

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I am sure a 101 made privatisation in BR blue as well. They literally were on chewing gum and sticky tape by then.
101 829 is listed as the last operational blue and grey 101 in the 1994 Combined Volume - It was withdrawn as a power twin towards the end of June 1995.
 

B&W

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Lymington Flyer CIG 1497 operated in Blue and Grey till withdrawal May 2010. Can't recall if it was painted in NSE before the Blue and Grey was painted on, could not see any signs of NSE when I rubbed an area down couple of weeks ago. I am told the depot wanted to do a correct Blue and Grey but were overruled by management as regards position of white lines and use of Alloy Arrows re Stick on Arrows of indecision.
 

ls2270

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Lymington Flyer CIG 1497 operated in Blue and Grey till withdrawal May 2010. Can't recall if it was painted in NSE before the Blue and Grey was painted on, could not see any signs of NSE when I rubbed an area down couple of weeks ago. I am told the depot wanted to do a correct Blue and Grey but were overruled by management as regards position of white lines and use of Alloy Arrows re Stick on Arrows of indecision.
Not only was it once in NSE livery, it was in Stagecoach SWT stripes (when numbered 1883) before its blue and grey repaint!
 
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