Blue small yellow panel
Vehicles painted in the short-lived early plain blue livery with a small yellow panel. More examples can be viewed on flickr - green sized Yellow panels or the larger ER sized panels.
Unknown date
Not a good quality image but the website does not have many pictures at Chester Northgate. This view in the mid-to-late 1960s shows a BRC&W set flanked by two Derby Lightweight (Blue Square) sets, the one on the right in blue with small yellow panel. David Faircloth.
circa 1966
BRC&W and Derby Lightweight (blue square series) DMUs in Chester Northgate station circa 1966. From here the former normally operated Manchester services, the latter New Brighton / Wrexham services. David Faircloth.
17th September 1966
An early blue liveried Park Royal set passing between Solihull and Widney Manor on the 4.50pm Birmingham Snow Hill - Knowle & Dorridge, 17th September 1966. Michael Mensing.
A Park Royal DMU seen at Bentley Heath, between Knowle & Dorridge and Widney Manor, with the 5.35pm from Lapworth on 17 September 1966. Michaal recorded it as a service to Wolverhampton Low Level but Birmingham is on the destination blind. Michael Mensing.
December 1966
A collection of units in Doncaster Works in December 1966; from left to right a Derby Lightweight, a Rolls-Royce Met-Camm DMBS with revised lining, and a freshly painted Class 108 with small yellow panel, and the rear of another freshly painted car. David Faircloth.
An Eastern Region Cravens DMBS outside the DMU paintshop at Doncaster Works in December 1966, during the period when small yellow panels were standard in blue livery. David Faircloth.
1967
Seen at Doncaster soon after conversion in 1967. David Faircloth.
Unknown date
A Class 107 in an early version of Rail Blue livery with just small yellow panels. Note under the drivers window there seems to be a set number stuck on with a white background. Seen at Fairlie, date unknown. Stuart Rankin.
Three 2-car Met-Camm Lightweights, the leading in car in blue livery with just a small yellow panel. Location / date unknown (late '60s), but they are ER vehicles and perhaps the catch points sign may be a clue as to where? Steve Davies Collection.
January 1967
E50004; Sheffield, January 1967. E50004 was the first DMU to be painted at Doncaster in rail-blue livery; the double-arrow symbols were painted by hand. BR produced a Design Manual when the double arrow was introduced, and this showed that the double arrow always faced forward when displayed on a ship's funnel. The paintshop at Doncaster mis-interpreted this, thinking that - as with the original BR crest - the arrow should always face the front, and so E50004 emerged from Doncaster incorrectly liveried on the driver's side. I don't know how long this remained before being corrected. David Faircloth.
circa 1967
BRC&W DMUs at Buxton depot, date unknown but the small yellow panels suggest circa 1967/8. Graham Clark.
A two-car GRC&W Cross-Country DMU labelled set 501 at Bedwyn. Undated, but the plain blue livery with small yellow panel dates it as the late 1960s. The vehicles are probably 51089 + 51061. Graham Clark.
Cross-Country GRC&W set 501 at Bedwyn in the late 1960s, the vehicles are probably 51089 + 51061. The marker light adjacent to the tail lamp is missing it's lens, perhaps been caught by a tail lamp being put on / off? Graham Clark.
A two-car GRC&W Cross-Country set at Bedwyn circa 1967. At the time Reading had two two-car sets allocated, 500 and 501, formed from 51053/61 and 51081/89, so this could be 51089 + 51061 if the higher set number contained the higher numbered vehicles. The two sets were transferred to the unlikely location of Inverness in May 1968. Graham Clark.
A BRC&W DMU in Chester Northgate station with a Manchester Central service circa 1967. David Faircloth.
A train arriving into Chester Northgate from Manchester Central circa 1967/8. It is formed of a two-car Derby Lightweight (blue square) and a two-car BRC&W DMU (with one vehicle still in green). David Faircloth.
1967
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU (later known as a Class 120) arrives at Gloucester with a service from Cheltenham in early 1967. Note the semaphore signalling still in use. Curly42.
circa 1967
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU at Flax Bourton circa late 1960s. Image by Derek Chaplin. Peter Brabham Collection.
circa late 1960s
A BRC&W DMU in blue livery with yellow panel and 1T55 stickers in the cab window is seen in Manchester Central, circa late 1960s. A (blue square) Derby Lightweight in mixed liveries is on the left. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1967
A GRC&W parcel car (55991 or 55992) in early blue livery with only a yellow gangway cover at Oxford circa 1967. It is paired with a Derby suburban DMBS still in green - likely to 50819 or 50862 which had their seats removed for parcel traffic - and there are two vans in tow. Doug Nicholls.
14th January 1967
A three-car BRC&W DMU (two vehicles in green, the closest in blue) in Buxton (Midland) station on January 14, 1967 with the 10.30am for Millers Dale. The station closed two months later. Stuart Mackay Collection.
4th March 1967
The M&GNJRS East Anglian Branch Farewell railtour passes Somersham on 4th March 1967 which was the last day of passenger services on the line. The Cravens DMU has E56440 leading, the Six Bells Junction website notes the DMBS as E51279. John Clark / Adrian Sutterby Collection.
9th March 1967
Not a great image but a rare shot of a Class 117 set in blue with just a small yellow panel. Taken near Paddington on 9-3-67. David Faircloth.
1st April 1967
The Monmouthshire Railway Society Afon Llwyd railtour next to Furnace Sidings signal box, Blaenavon, on 1 April 1967 formed of a Derby suburban DMU, vehicles W50838 (nearest), W59376 and W50891. Photograph by Norman Thomas. Monmouthshire Railway Society.
W50838 + W59376 + W50891 are seen at in Abersychan and Talywain station with the Monmouthshire Railway Society 'The Afon Llwyd' railtour on 1 April 1967. Robert Thomas.
BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (later Class 116) Nos.W50838 (116/2), W59376 (175), W50891 (116/1) in BR green with small yellow warning panel at Hafodyrynys Colliery on the "Afon Llwyd" railtour around the Eastern Valleys, South Wales, 01/04/67. Hugh Llewelyn.
Abersychan & Talywain Station showing BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (later Class 116) Nos.W50838 (116/2), W59376 (175), W50891 (116/1) on the "Afon Llwyd" railtour, 01/04/67. Hugh Llewelyn.
29th April 1967
A BRC&W DMU from Rugby arrives at Leicester Central on 29 April 1967. This was an Etches Park set, the centre car being 59155. Bryan Jeyes.
The arrival of the 11.02 to Nottingham at Leicester Central, April 29th 1967. Photo by Adam Jones. It is formed of a Derby Etches Park BRC&W DMU set. The DMCL is an early repaint into blue livery with a small yellow panel on the cab front. Bryan Jeyes.
June 1967
A Derby suburban DMU in Exeter Central station in June 1967 in an early version of the rail blue livery. David Faircloth.
A Derby suburban set (later Class 116) in Exeter Central with an Exmouth train during June 1967. David Faircloth.
4th June 1967
A Class 119 set in an early variation of rail blue livery, and unusual as most of the Class went from green straight into blue / grey. Taken at 3.32pm on the 4th June 1967 just north of Dorchester West and believed to be a relief for a loco-hauled Westbury - Weymouth that passed 20 minutes earlier. Michael Mensing.
1967
This view of Bristol Marsh Junction depot includes Swindon and GRC&W Cross-Country DMUs. Taken in the summer of 1967, two units are in the early blue livery with small yellow panels. David Faircloth.
July 1967
An interesting formation - Gloucester RC & W Co. Motor Parcels Van (later Class 128) No.W55992, with split headcodes, in Rail Blue and yellow gangway door coupled to BR (Derby) Class 130 Motor Parcels Van (converted from a Class 116/1 Motor Second from a 3-car suburban set) No.W50915, also in BR green, and three parcels vans (GUV's) approaching Paddington, 07/67. Hugh Llewelyn.
4th July 1967
A Class 101 DMU is seen calling at Pelaw station on Tuesday 04/07/1967 - then in Co. Durham - with a South Shields-Newcastle service, presumably not long after the EMUs were replaced with DMUs. The DMBS is in blue livery with a small yellow panel (since no yellow can be seen on the cabside). Graeme Phillips Collection.
30th July 1967
Met-Camm DMUs in Glasgow Central station on 30 July 1967. The closest set in green has a DMBS in revised lining and a DTCL in original lining with yellow first class stripe. It is coupled to a set in blue with yellow panel. AM11 EMU set 108 has yellow cab doors. Tony Lambert.
August 1967
Two Met-Camms sets at Lochwinnoch in August 1967, with Largs to Glasgow train diverted from main line due to engineering works. The leading car is painted in rail blue with just a small yellow panel, the car behind has a first class stripe and still seems to be in green. Corriebob.
Featuring an early version of rail blue livery 55999 Cravens MPV is seen at Crewe in August 1967. John Grey Turner.
19th August 1967
A (blue square) Derby Lightweight DMU at Grange-over-Sands on 19 August 1967. The vehicles - M56267 and M50984 - were allocated to Accrington at the time. My late father, Stanley Smith, rarely took pictures with trains in them, this was a rare exception. It is from a 1 5/8 x 2 1/4 slide taken on a pre-war Zeiss Bellows camera. That's me with my back to the photographer on the wall. Nicholas T Smith Collection.
23rd August 1967
A GRC&W twin DMU set is seen at Aberdovey on 23 September 1967. The DMBS is in the early blue livery with small yellow panel, the DTCL is still in green. This was one of eleven of these sets that were allocated to Chester from 1966 to 1969. Stuart Mackay Collection.
2nd September 1967
Two two-car Derby Lightweights at Roose (near Barrow) on 2 September 1967. In the other platform is the SLS/MLS Furness Railtour. The KDH Archive.
October 1967
A Pressed Steel suburban triple DMU approaches Kennington Junction Signal Box, Oxford, in October 1967. Doug Nicholls.
26th December 1967
On 26 December 1967 - a few days before the closure of the station and branch - a Gloucester twin arrives at Corstorphine, presumably on a service from North Berwick. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Unknown date
A Class 121 in blue with small yellow panels is seen at Bridport. Date unknown. Steve Davies Collection.
A Class 121 in blue with small yellow panels is seen at Toller. Steve Davies Collection.
In rail blue but with small yellow warning panel, this 120 set is seen at Bingham. Undated. Steve Davies Collection.
A Class 121 in rail blue with small yellow panels, at Bridport. Steve Davies Collection.
1968
M50395 is caught at Llandudno Junction in 1968 paired with a Gloucester RC&W DTC. RW Carroll Collection.
circa 1968
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU, with Paddington on the blind this is probably Reading depot. The mixed liveries (the centre car is still in green) suggest late 1960s. The DMSL is from the small 51582-90 batch, of which 2, 3 and 8 spend time at Reading during 1968/8. The blue / grey vehicle on the right is a Class 123 TCK. Graham Clark.
A Class 120 D.M.U. standing at what is now platform 2 at Gloucester. Probably early 1968 (note: semaphore signals still in use). Curly42.
circa late 1960s
GRC&W double-ender M55003 at Gloucester (Central). The early version of Rail Blue livery with the yellow panel and 3" numbers suggests late 1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
10th February 1968
A Nottingham bound BRC&W DMU at Leicester Humberstone Road Station, 10th February 1968. Bryan Jeyes.
24th February 1968
A mixed-livery Derby Lightweight at Brock on 24.2.68 with a south bound train probably a Carlisle to Preston stopping service. George Woods.
2nd March 1968
An early rail-blue liveried class 101 (M50331) leading a three-car set (the other two being M59124 + M50313) at Redditch on a circuitous Birmingham University Transport Society railtour, 2/Mar/1968. Robert Chilton.
A Cravens DMU departs from Stockingford Station on the Leicester to Birmingham line looking toward Birmingham on 2nd March 1968. Bryan Jeyes.
Two three-car Met-Camm DMUs in North Queensferry station with an Edinburgh Waverley - Leven service on 2 March 1968. The closest vehicle is in blue, the next four in green with a mix of original and revised lining. Stuart Mackay Collection.
27th March 1968
A Derby suburban triple DMU set (with W50844 closest) is seen at Caerau with the 16:10 Bridgend-Treherbert service on 27 March 1968. Robert Thomas.
20th April 1968
A mixed-livery (two in blue one in green) BRC&W DMU at Disley Station with a Buxton service on 20 April 1968. George Woods.
A Manchester-bound BRC&W DMU arrives into Disley Station on 20 April 1968. George Woods.
21st April 1968
A DMU on Shillamill Viaduct on the Plymouth to Launceston line on the 21st of April 1968. It seems to be what would become a Class 116, in blue with small yellow panels. The KDH Archive.
27th April 1968
A mixed-livery three-car BRC&W DMU at Disley on 27th April 1968. George Woods.
Passing BRC&W DMUs at Disley on 27 April 1968. George Woods.
28th April 1968
Two Rolls-Royce powered Cravens sets seen at Entwistle on 28/4/68, one with mechanical transmission (Class 112) and one with hydraulic transmission (Class 113, on the right). Accrington is thought to have just one of the former at this time (51704/51729), the other sets were now at Cricklewood and this set would move there in June. George Woods.
May 1968
A (blue square) Derby Lightweight DMU at Ais Gill during May 1969. George Woods.
15th May 1968
Two (blue square) Derby Lightweight twins arrive at Manchester Central on a drab 15 May 1968. Stuart Mackay Collection.
18th May 1968
Class 101 set TY410 with 50331, 59123 and 50313 on the RCTS (West Midland Branch) South Midlands railtour at Higham Ferrers goods yard, 18/May/1968. Robert Chilton.
25th May 1968
Two (blue square) Derby Lightweight DMUs seen at Lostock Hall on 25 May 1968. DMCL M56249 leads. Stuart Mackay Collection.
22nd June 1968
A Swindon Inter-City set snakes its way through Princes Street Gardens towards Edinburgh Waverley. Taken on 22 June 1968, it's a mixture of green and blue /grey liveries, and the second vehicle could be blue with a small yellow panel although there were also reports of an unlined green vehicle at this time. Graham Johnston.
circa 1968
GRC&W DTC 56291 arrives into Motherwell station - no date, but the M predix should date it to soon after transfer from Tyseley to Hamilton in June 1968. Also in the formation is a GRC&W bubble, a three-car Derby Heavyweight (later Class 107) and possibly at least one more vehicle. Graham Clark.
GRC&W DTC M56291 and three GRC&W bubble cars at Rutherglen. Date unknown, but probably circa late 1968 after the DTC had been transferred from Tyseley to Hamilton. Graham Clark.
August 1968
BR (Swindon) Cross Country DMU (later Class 120) vehicles at Inverness MPD, August 1968. Closest is No.Sc51783 (120/1 in blue with small yellow warning panel) then No.Sc59679 (179 in blue), and No.Sc51788 (120/2 in green) & Sc51790 (120/2 also in green). The DMBF seems to have a different shade (or glossier?) of blue in the centre section - was the conversion done after the vehicles had been painted into blue? Hugh Llewelyn.
11th August 1968
Derby suburban triple sets at Barry on 11 August 1968. The middle vehicle is recorded as W50123, it and its centre car are gangwayed. Stuart Mackay Collection.
12th August 1968
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU in Falmouth station with W51589 closest, 12 August 1968. David Mant.
A Derby suburban triple DMU (later known as a 116) after arrived at St Ives on 12 August 1968. DMBS W50848 is closest, it would be transferred to Cardiff by the end of the month. David Mant.
W50848 at St Erth on St Ives duties on 12 August 1968. On the left are D803 and D804. David Mant.
13th August 1968
Pressed Steel bubble W55034 at Looe on 13 August 1968. David Mant.
1st September 1968
A Branch Line Society tour to Mallaig waits at Ardlui on the outbound direction, probably waiting on a southbound service to pass. 1st September 1968. Stuart Rankin.
4th September 1968
Five days before the Station closed a (Blue Square) Derby Lightweight DMU on the 13.55 Chester to New Brighton service is calling at Blacon on the 4th of September 1968. The KDH Archive.
6th September 1968
Passing through Saughall Station on the 6th of September 1968 is a Met-Camm DMU on the 13.55 Chester to New Brighton service. According to disused stations Saughall closed to passengers on the 1st of February 1954 but it looks like someone was still living in the house and attending to the garden. The KDH Archive.
7th September 1968
The 16.01 departure to Chester has just left Sealand Station on the 7th of September 1968 two days before it closed. The KDH Archive.
Two days before it Closed I think this will be a Manchester or New Brighton to Chester Northgate DMU arriving at Blacon on the 7th of September 1968. The KDH Archive.
October 1968
Pantyffynon Station on the Central Wales line, with a BR (Swindon) 3-car Cross Country dmu (Class 120) on a Carmarthen - Shrewsbury service, 10/68. Hugh Llewelyn.
3rd October 1968
A Swindon Cross-Country DMU seen at Sydney Gardens in Bath on 3 October 1968. Stuart Mackay Collection.
12th October 1968
A Railway Society of Scotland charter at Menstrie on the 12th October 1968, formed 56308 + 51109. Stuart Rankin.
A Railway Society of Scotland charter on the 12th October 1968 at Newburgh, between Perth & Ladybank (location identified by 'Mad Mac'). Formed of GRCW set 56308 + 51109. Stuart Rankin.
December 1968
A BRCW Class 104 three-car set makes a smoky departure from a wet Manchester Piccadilly in December 1968, forming a Buxton service. Gordon Edgar Collection.
Unknown date
A rare image of a Class 116 in the short-lived rail blue with small yellow panel livery. Birmingham Moor Street circa 1969. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1969
A Class 101 set at Petheram Bridge in St. Andrews. The closest vehicle is in the early blue livery with small yellow panel, the rear vehicle in standard rail blue with full yellow ends. Circa 1969. Stuart Rankin.
Derby Heavyweight vehicles on Doncaster shed circa 1969. The loose DTC is in rail blue with a small yellow panel. John Law.
Withdrawn Met-Camm "Lightweights", including E79285, circa 1969. Location unknown, possibly Stratford. Graham Clark.
circa late 1960s
Passing through Princes Street Gardens circa late 1960s are a three-car Met-Camm DMU on an Edinburgh Waverley - Kirkcaldy service, an empty car transporter hauled by a Brush type 4, and just caught on the right is a Swindon Inter-City DMU. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1st March 1969
55000 at Barassie on the 5:15pm Ayr - Kilmarnock, 1/3/69. It's carrying an early version of rail blue livery. Hamish Stevenson.
March 1969
Thought to be a Class 118 "twin" in the early variant of BR blue (with half yellow panel), hauling no less than three milk tankers at Stuart Road, Plymouth. Reportedly limited to two tankers if loaded, the presence of three suggests these are "empties" possibly returning to Saltash. The tankers were often tripped between Saltash and Plymouth by steam auto trains for onward attachment to London expresses. In latter years, the same routine continued with DMU's. March 1969. Bernard Mills.
22nd April 1969
A driver waits to take M50102 out of Birmingham Moor Street on the 22nd April 1969. The vehicle is an blue livery with just a small yellow panel and white roof dome. Stuart Mackay Collection.
30th April 1969
The 30th of April 1969 and a Swindon Cross-Country DMU has just arrived at Falmouth station with the 14.10 service from Truro. The KDH Archive.
May 1969
A (blue square) Derby Lightweight DMU at Ais Gill during May 1969. George Woods.
22nd March 1969
Passengers dismount from a Derby Heavyweight triple (later known as a Class 107) DMU on a service from Glasgow at Fairlie Pier to transfer to the ferry that will take them to the Isle of Arran. 22 March 1969. Tom Burnham.
30th June 1969
Derby suburban DMS W50907 sits in St Erth station with the 10:00 (SX) to St Ives on 30 June 1969. The two Warships are D811 on the milk tanks in the siding and D824 light engine. Robert Thomas.
A Class 116 DMU set in St Ives station with the 09:35 to St Erth on 30 June 1969. The power cars are W50854 (closest) and W50907. Robert Thomas.
W50907 is the closest vehicle in the three-car Derby suburban DMU sitting in St Erth station with the 10.00 (SX) service to St Ives on 30 June 1969. Robert Thomas.
July 1969
An image of an unidentified Class 26 at Inverness during July 1969, out of context for a DMU website but added as it also includes a very rare capture of the Class 119s that were allocated to the depot, but never used, seen on the left. Curly42.
Passing Swindon Cross-Country DMUs at Elgin in July 1969. Both are probably working services between Aberdeen and Inverness, one in each direction, the left one in blue and the one the photographer is travelling on is still in green. Curly42.
2nd July 1969
Pressed Steel single car W55028 is seen at Bridport with the 16:14 (SX) service to Maiden Newton on 2 July 1969. Robert Thomas.
8th July 1969
A Gloucester twin in rail blue with small yellow panels, departs from Yaxham on the 8th July 1969 with the 2.35pm Dereham - Norwich. This was the last year of passenger trains on the Norwich / Dereham line. Steve Davies Collection.
A Gloucester twin in blue with small yellow panel arrives at Yaxham with the 2.35pm Dereham - Norwich. Taken on the 8th July 1969, the last year of passenger trains on the Norwich / Dereham line. Steve Davies Collection.
circa September 1969
The beautiful old Great Western Railway Birmingham Snow Hill station with single car GRC&W dmu 55008 forming the shuttle train to Wolverhampton Low Level, Autumn 1969. Pete LG99.
Wolverhampton Low Level station in Autumn 1969. Single car diesel multiple unit dmu W55008, in rail blue with yellow end panels, stands in the only rail connected platform as the late afternoon light is fading. The very last gasp for passenger services on this one-time Great Western Railway trunk route from London to Merseyside. Pete LG99.
Taken at Birmingham Snow Hill in Autumn 1969, the days when at least a shuttle service ran to Wolverhampton Low Level. This single car dmu (55008) sitting in bay platfom 4 looks a bit lost in the grandeur of the setting but was sufficient for the expected custom. The disused Great Charles Street exit is ringed by the delicate Edwardian wrought iron fencing & gate between bay platform 4 & the Down Main platform 5. The tracks are still in the platform lines but the through lines have been severed at this point. Pete LG99.
Birmingham Snow Hill in Autumn 1969. A single diesel multiple unit (W55008) was sufficient for the weekend traffic to Wolverhampton Low Level. It was in blue livery with a small yellow warning panel & here with exhaust billowing from its two cab roof pipes it is ticking over in bay platform 4 prior to departure. Pete LG99.
Unknown date
Two Etches Park Class 120 Swindon Cross-Country sets, one in plain blue and one in blue / grey heading for Norwich. Date unknown, the location is possibly Syston South Junction. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1970
A Swindon Cross-Country set with DMS M50655 closest at Norwich Thorpe. Circa 1970, this would be a Derby Etches Park set. Graham Clark.
February 1970
A Class 125 DMU sits in Southminster station in February 1970. The closest vehicle is in rail blue livery with just a small yellow panel. Steve Davies Collection.
A Class 125 DMU sits in Southminster station in February 1970. Steve Davies Collection.
early 1970
Lincoln Central Station and High Street signal box in the spring of 1970 with a Derby Heavyweight DMU. High Street signal box was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1874 and extended in 1925. Although now closed it is preserved as a listed structure. Bryan Jeyes.
7th March 1970
Felixstowe Town station on 7 March 1970 and a Metro-Cammell 3-car unit (50270 + 59102 + 50280) with an excursion which started from Stratford (E) via Bishops Stortford to Sheringham and Cromer. Leslie Foster.
18th April 1970
Two Derby Heavyweight DMUs seen at Firsby, looking north, on 18 April 1970. An image from the Jim Freebury Railway Slide Archive. David Page Collection.
A Derby Heavyweight DMU and some rotating ground signals at Tumby Woodside on 18 April 1970. From the James Freebury Railway slide Archive. David Page Collection.
2nd May 1970
A Derby Heavyweight DMU passing signals at Mablethorpe on 2 May 1970. From the James Freebury Railway slide Archive. David Page Collection.
1st June 1970
A Swindon "Cross-Country" Class 120 awaits it next duty at Inverness, whilst Class 26 D5340 and an unidentified Class 24 prepare to depart with a Glasgow bound express - 1st June 1970. 53A Models of Hull Collection.
July 1970
Two GRC&W units at Cambridge in July 1970. Alf Yates.
September 1970
A Class 101 after arrival in Glasgow Central with a local service in September 1970. The (sprayed) 'chromatic' blue paint used with the small yellow panel was often described as being more mat, and in this image the shade is distinctly different from the centre car behind and EMU to the left. Walter Burt.
circa 1971
Circa 1971, a Class 114 in rail blue livery with small yellow panel forms the rear set in this formation at Habrough. John Law.
8th January 1971
E79291 has had some windows smashed when seen awaiting disposal at Tilbury Riverside on 8/1/71. It is paired with DMBS E79075. Note it is now a DTCL, first class having been added at some point. The vehicle it is facing is in blue livery with a small yellow panel. Andrew Parr.
August 1971
A couple of slightly unusual Derby Heavyweight units at Grantham in August 1971. On the left E56019 carries an early version of the rail blue livery with just a yellow panel and the BR logo on the cab door. On the right the set of formed of two DMBSs with a Met-Camm centre car inbetween (E50018 + E59542 + E50003). Mel Smith.
A GRC&W bubble (possibly 55000) on the rear of a Met-Camm triple at Saughton Junction in August 1971. Walter Burt.
7th September 1971
The 5.39pm from Edinburgh Waverley is seen at Kingsknowe on 7 September 1971. The DTC is in the early version of blue livery with just a small yellow panel. Hamish Stevenson.
12th April 1972
A Class 101 seen at Whitby on the 12th April 1972. It is in blue livery with just a small yellow warning panel. John Reddyhoff.
14th April 1972
This image of a Class 101 in blue livery with just a small yellow panel was captured at Battersby on 14/4/72. John Reddyhoff.
15th April 1972
The RCTS Kesteven Ironstone Branches railtour at Stainby sidings on 15 April 1972. The tour started at Grantham and a Hull Botanic Gardens Cravens DMU was used - closest is DTCL E56440 and the Six Bells Junction website notes the DMBS as E50381. Stuart Mackay Collection.
6th June 1972
Class 105 Glasgow Central 6 June 1972. I liked this spartan style of early blue paint which was a more matt shade and with a half end yellow warning panel. Not many of the Scottish Region units allocated to Hamilton Depot were painted like this as most went from green livery to the darker shade of blue with full yellow ends. It is carrying set number 45 on the yellow panel. Alistair Ness.
June 1973
51117 on the back of a set (also containing a Met-Camm vehicle) heading out of Edinburgh Waverley in June 1973. The vehicle kept the small yellow panel until the end of the year. Alan Rintoul.
Unknown date
Cravens DMUs in the early Rail Blue era. The driver trailer (possibly E56431) has no sign that first class is on offer, no yellow stripe or transfers on the windows. It has yellow cab doors, the vehicle facing has another short-lived variation from this era, a small yellow panel. Date / location unknown. Graham Clark.
At Hornsey depot in North London, from left to right: part of Derby suburban triple, a GRC&W DTC, a Cravens, and more Cravens. There are four livery styles (green, blue with small yellow panel (standard style), blue with small yellow panel (ER style), blue with full yellow end, suggesting late 1960s. The GRC&W DTC has window bars on the doors, suggesting it was a South Gosforth vehicle for a time before moving south. Graham Clark.
A mixed-livery GRC&W set arriving at Chester General from North Wales in the mid-to-late 1960s. David Faircloth.
One of Chester's GRC&W sets (CR558) arrives at Shrewsbury station off the Wolverhampton line. No date, but the leading vehicle DMS M51099 was noted in plain blue by March 1967. Note that it does not have white cab roof dome unlike the DMBC at the far end. Graham Clark.
A two-car Met-Camm set with DTCL Sc56392 closest at Motherwell, circa late 1960s. Graham Clark.
A GRC&W single car in Stratford-upon-Avon circa late 1960s, it appears to be on a southbound working to either Honeybourne to form a connection for the North Cotswold Line or more likely to Evesham. Another suburban DMU can be seen to the left. Stuart Mackay Collection.
A Met-Camm DMU arrives into Tyne Dock station with a Newcastle - South Shields service. Date unknown, the blue livery with yellow panel suggests 1967 to late 1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.