WCR non heritage liveries on diesels, why?

[SomeTrainboy]

It's always bothered me seeing West Coast Railway stock in their drab maroon livery and I'm curious whether there's a specific reason for not having things like BR Blue. If it's a business move to make their services look neater by having a uniform livery?

 

[Acathater]

They're just another TOC with their own identity and livery.
Why shouldn't they use their livery?

 

[SomeTrainboy]

They're just another TOC with their own identity and livery.
Why shouldn't they use their livery?

They mainly focus on railtours so surely they should use old liveries too.

 

[simonw]

They mainly focus on railtours so surely they should use old liveries too.

It's their stock, they paint it as they wish and it's all one livery. No one is going to pay more of they repaint it.

 

[Mollman]

They mainly focus on railtours so surely they should use old liveries too.

Interestingly LSL seem to be moving away from heritage liveries.

 

[Bill57p9]

I would assume that the rights to many liveries will be owned by someone and therefore use will be subject to a licence - with or without a fee.

Rolling your own avoids that potential legal/commercial minefield. Plus of course "West Coast Railways" is a brand in it's own right with it's own corporate image and identity. Each coach and locomotive is a mobile advert for the brand.

 

[Isle of Mull]

Interestingly LSL seem to be moving away from heritage liveries.

Which is an awful shame

 

[fgwrich]

Don’t forget that the initial reason for West Coast’s Diesel loco fleet to be the colour it is dates back to when West Coast were the traction provider for the Royal Scotsman. Locos painted to match the rolling stock.

Unfortunately it’s something that as rather stuck, although 47270 thankfully remains in BR Blue.

 

[12C]

I would assume that the rights to many liveries will be owned by someone and therefore use will be subject to a licence - with or without a fee.

Rolling your own avoids that potential legal/commercial minefield. Plus of course "West Coast Railways" is a brand in it's own right with it's own corporate image and identity. Each coach and locomotive is a mobile advert for the brand.

I wonder whether with the rollout of the GBR livery gathering pace, the DfT will be less keen for private companies to paint heritage locos in BR blue with double arrow logo? It’s not too far removed from the colour scheme of the brave new world of GBR after all.

 

[JKF]

It also disguises diesel locos if they’re on the back of a steam charter providing ETH. Matching the colour of the stock means they doesn’t stand out as much, which will suit steam purists.

 

[mpthomson]

They mainly focus on railtours so surely they should use old liveries too.

LSL don't use appropriate heritage liveries for some of their diesels either

 

[fgwrich]

It also disguises diesel locos if they’re on the back of a steam charter providing ETH. Matching the colour of the stock means they doesn’t stand out as much, which will suit steam purists.

In theory anyway, but since West Coast bought out the rolling stock from Riviera, matching rakes seem to have largely become a thing of other past now unfortunately!

 

[37069]

In theory anyway, but since West Coast bought out the rolling stock from Riviera, matching rakes seem to have largely become a thing of other past now unfortunately!

A handful of vehicles (one buffet and one brake come to mind) have gone from blue and grey to maroon in the last year or so. I'd imagine more will follow eventually, but given a fair amount of the blue and grey vehicles were repainted within the last decade (quite a few by West Coast in the couple of years before they acquired the stock!), it will probably be on an as-required basis.

And if we see large-scale reintroduction of Mk. 1s, then that will probably delay any further Mk. 2 air-con repainting further.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Did I read somewhere that WCRC bought an IC125? Is that going to appear in maroon? That I'd like to see!

 

[37069]

They have five power cars and 12 trailers. None have moved since arrival at Steamtown - all still in GWR green.

 

[31160]

They have five power cars and 12 trailers. None have moved since arrival at Steamtown - all still in GWR green.

Oh I'm sure they will be in tip top condition then, we'll for normal WCRC stock anyhoo

 

[AM9]

They mainly focus on railtours so surely they should use old liveries too.

I wonder what proportion of ticket revenue is from general leisure travel (including extras like dining and special on-board extras), vs detail-obsessed enthusiasts.

 

[37069]

I wonder what proportion of ticket revenue is from general leisure travel (including extras like dining and special on-board extras), vs detail-obsessed enthusiasts.

The gradual slide over the last two decades of fewer and fewer Standard Class vehicles making up charter trains does quite strongly suggest the travelling enthusiast market continues to dwindle.

 

[xotGD]

The gradual slide over the last two decades of fewer and fewer Standard Class vehicles making up charter trains does quite strongly suggest the travelling enthusiast market continues to dwindle.

Or the teenage cranks from the 1980s are now all in well paid jobs and can splash out on First Class?

 

[172007]

Or the teenage cranks from the 1980s are now all in well paid jobs and can splash out on First Class?

Nail on the head i feel. Also the generation in their 70's and 80's quite often benefit from very good pensions with many having final salary ones and can afford these

 

[theblackwatch]

The gradual slide over the last two decades of fewer and fewer Standard Class vehicles making up charter trains does quite strongly suggest the travelling enthusiast market continues to dwindle.

Or the teenage cranks from the 1980s are now all in well paid jobs and can splash out on First Class?

I think it's a mix of the two of these!