The LNER Encyclopedia

Despite it's name, the book "Big Four In Colour" by Pendragon Books has a few colour photos of locos in various livery combinations during the late 1940s.

Most of the photos are taken from the Colour-Rail collection, and I suspect they may have more which were not considered as good enough quality for publication at that time.

Also the RCTS have extensive archives (of numerous photographers) in their care, and prints can be viewed and purchased online. Many of these are black & white, but I'm sure they include a number of short lived livery and number variations - as you say Giner there must be a book contained in that fast changing era somewhere, but probably by someone far more committed to detailed research than I have the patience for.


I found this photo interesting. In 1946 a number of C1 Atlantics were withdrawn, but nos 3274 and 3285 were retained and installed as stationary boilers at Doncaster Works. They had massive panels added to their tenders in order to contain a large amount of coal needed for their fires. Here we see the pair on 4th June 1950. They were eventually dismantled and cut up during March 1952.

The other 3 A4s in purple were 60027/28/29
A remarkable coincidence

D16 4-4-0 no 62609 looks rather unloved at Cambridge on 1st August 1950. Rods removed, and we could be forgiven for believing the end was nigh. However, this was a Heaton Mersey loco at that time, and was on its way to Stratford for routine works attention. After a spell at Trafford Park, the loco returned to the Cambridge/Kings Lynn/Peterborough triangle in 1952 and survived until 1957.


B17 4-6-0 no 61655 'Middlesbrough' is also seen at Cambridge on 1st August 1950, having recently returned to the shed from a works visit.

Thanks, strang steel. I'll have to have a nose around. The first locomotive I ever saw was a blue A1, no idea which one, on an express at Oakleigh Park.

E4 2-4-0 NO 62788 is seen at Cambridge on 29th June 1950.


J70 no 68219 is at Stratford in the process of being dismantled in mid-1953. The loco had been withdrawn from Ipswich a few months earlier, but this photo shows the boiler details with the outer 'tram' superstructure removed.


Only two J55s made it into BR ownership, and this is the final member of the class 68319 taking water at Doncaster on 4th June 1950.

I found this photo on the internet while searching for something not railway related.

I'm not sure of the date, but found it interesting nevertheless. It is an aerial photo looking east with the M&GN bridge crossing the Great Ouse and beyond are the sidings and station of South Lynn.