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Re: Brake Van & Newcastle Quayside

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:53 pm
by icairns
I am looking to make an N gauge model of the brake van used on the Newcastle Quayside branch.

Can anyone confirm the colour of this brake van in the 1950s and 1960s?

I have seen a model of this brake van complete with sandboxes and operating rod that was painted in what looks like BR grey.

However, all of the photos that I have seen of the prototype, the brake van appears to be darker in colour, more like bauxite/brown (like the photo above).

Also, were the ends (outside verandahs) ever painted a lighter colour as indicated in the photo of the brake van in the 1987 Railway World annual taken in February 1964? If so, what was the lighter colour?

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

Ian

Re: Brake Van & Newcastle Quayside

Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:53 pm
by billdonald
The brake van for the Quayside Branch was painted in BR Grey to indicate an unfitted vehicle. By the mid 1950s this had acquired a thick layer of grime and dust so the true colour was closer to a very dark grey. No other paint scheme was applied during its time on Tyneside and the discolouration of the end panel on the last day of electric operation was probably due to the lighting. It was a foggy day on February 29 1964 as I recall. I would refer the would-be modeller to my previous post some years ago in this topic for more details of this vehicle.

Bill Donald
Dublin, Ireland

Re: Brake Van & Newcastle Quayside

Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 11:35 pm
by icairns
Bill:

Thank you so much for your reply. I agree that the colour in later years looks to be close to dark/dirty grey in the photos I have seen. That is the colour I will use for my model.

Yes, I have seen the other information that you have provided on this forum about this vehicle including the sandboxes and mode of operation. This will be very helpful when I make my model.

I am still a little confused about the light colour of the outside end in the photo taken in February 1964 (see below) which looks to be more precise than just a trick of the lighting conditions.

However, if you say that there is no evidence that the outside ends were painted anything other than BR grey, that is good enough for me. I am not going to argue with an expert! It makes making my N gauge model easier, too!

Thanks again.

Ian

26500 & Brake Van Feb 1964
26500 & Brake Van Feb 1964