The LNER Encyclopedia

I'm planning to model Meldon Station on the Wansbeck line in Northumberland. Can anyone please tell me what colour would have been used to paint woodwork on the buildings?

https://www.stationcolours.info/london- ... n-railway/

I went by this.

Alan

Thanks, Alan. That's exactly what I needed.

That's very much the same information that appears in the now old, but handy "Modeller's Guide to the LNER" by David Adair (pen name), although that on-line description is rather more long-winded and it's a pity the author cannot spell colour the proper English way...

I've been wondering whether the North Eastern area of the LNER was quick or slow to repaint its structures from the old NER colour scheme into the new LNER one, especially in the rural areas. We know that the former NER works for instance continued to apply various former NER standards to the maintenance and decoration of locos and rolling stock long after the new LNER standards had been issued. I had hoped that somebody specialising in North Eastern area research and modelling would offer an authoritative answer the original question on here.

I suspect by the 1930s only the most rural and inconsequential stations would still be wearing NER colours, rarely visited by any LNER officials, and any ex-NER ones would likely not mind seeing their old company's colours...

I can't now recollect where I read it, but I'm sure I've seen an account of someone going round photographing and recording a station building before demolition and finding a lot of north eastern paintwork in the 1970s, so I think you're on fairly safe ground in the 1930s if you're off the beaten track.

The original standard colour scheme was instituted in 1923 and revised slightly in 1930 - predominantly shades of brown and cream/stone. A much more drastic revision was instituted from 1937 - replacing browns with greens.

C1936 trials were undertaken with alternative colours and followed by an initiative described as the 'brighter stations scheme', which added specific variations or novel colours to the palette used at individual stations.

So first it depends on when in the 1930s, second the location, although in this instance the OP has stated where, and third the method of construction of the buildings (brick, stone or timber). Repainting typically averaged three-yearly intervals but again dependent on location and importance.

'David Adair' (RDA Johnson) offers simplified notes, whilst the station colours website has errors, notably there's no such colour as Buckingham Green.

Thanks for the additional details Mike. While there may not be an agreed standard tone or mixing formula, it certainly has been possible in my experience to buy at least one brand of paint in a shade described as Buckingham Green - not that I used it on a model.

g-g-good morning all from a shivering Surrey

Railway colours etc. seem to last a long time.

Harolds Wood station in East London/Essex still proudly displays LNER above the station entrance. It's only 76 years out of date.

Earlswood Nob

Atlantic 3279 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2023 11:11 am Thanks for the additional details Mike. While there may not be an agreed standard tone or mixing formula, it certainly has been possible in my experience to buy at least one brand of paint in a shade described as Buckingham Green - not that I used it on a model.

Perhaps I should be more specific. The colours on the stationcolours website are stated as being to BS381C as follows:

Deep cream BS381C 353 Light stone BS381C 361 Buckingham green BS381C 227 Light Buckingham green BS381C 225 Sea Green BS381C 217 Dark Brown BS381C 412

There are no Buckingham Greens in BS381C, they are respectively DARK BRUNSWICK Green 227 and Light BRUNSWICK Green 225 (Mid Brunswick Green is 226). That list is incomplete, the standard colours from BS381C (current numbers) used by the LNER included:

Light Brown 320; Dark Brown 412; Eau-de-nil 216; Sea Green 217; Brilliant Green 221; Light Brunswick Green 225; Deep Brunswick Green 227; Deep Cream 353; Middle Buff 359; Light Stone 361; Azure Blue 104; Red (Signal Red) 537; Yellow (Golden Yellow) 356.

And base colours of light oak, dark oak, and mahogany for graining; Copal varnish; blacks and whites of various types for specific uses: red lead; graphites; aluminium; and special coatings for certain situations such as marine exposure and tar roofs.

Reference to this website is highly recommended: https://www.e-paint.co.uk/chart-options.asp - a search for 'Buckingham Green' returns nil results.

I had used Tamiya's Red Brown as recommended in the station buildings link but found it very dark. Another option I chanced upon is Model Master Rotbraun RAL 8012 which seems to have a slightly more 'reddish' tone and seems to be closer to colour pics I've seen of NER buildings generally.

Graeme Leary
New Zealand

Graeme Leary wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:58 pm I had used Tamiya's Red Brown as recommended in the station buildings link but found it very dark. Another option I chanced upon is Model Master Rotbraun RAL 8012 which seems to have a slightly more 'reddish' tone and seems to be closer to colour pics I've seen of NER buildings generally.

Graeme Leary
New Zealand

But in this instance Graeme the OP is enquiry about the 1930s under the LNER, whereas I recall your previous research was for the pre-Grouping/NER period.

Thanks 65447, you are right about my earlier questions - as certain mutual friends, d17 and El Jobbo say, 'must try harder'. In my case, not to forget!
I'd not come across the charts you've provided the link to and will have a closer look at the BS colours you list. However perhaps my Model Master Rotbraun may have to be repainted in the Tamiya colours recommended in the 'stationcolours' link.

Graeme

Graeme.
As mentioned before many times your colour photo's are of Notwork Rails interpretation of NER livery using modern paints and are not a true representation of the old NER colour. But not too worry nobody alive can recall the colour and nobody in NZ will know the difference anyway.