Class 129 Cravens Parcel DMU Cars

Liveries

Green with whiskers

Delivered in lined green with whiskers, silver/grey roof and red buffer beam. White tyres were also applied on delivery. One end carried small data text painted on the left side (pictured below). The coaching crest roundel, normally centred on a bodyside was off-centre due to door placement. It was always to the left side due to the radiator filler on the right side. Gutter edges were black.

The image shows M55998 in Birmingham New Street station on the 28th November 1958. Michael Mensing.

At the guard's van end was the usual "Load ??tons distributed", and after a short time text was added to each corner of the bodyside to the inner side of the drivers door "Tail Load - Tare Weight Not to Exceed 32 Tons".

During the whisker era electrification flashes were added in various places and the outer jumper sockers painted white. A depot code could sometimes be found on the lower cab corner, such as '3G'.

The path of the the top lining passed through the top of the cab windows, but this wasn't noticeable as the window frames were left unpainted.

Green with yellow panel

In time the whiskers were replaced by a yellow panel on the lower cab front. It wasn't unknown for the window frames to be painted green and the lining to stop where it met the windows (with no line between the windows).

In this livery is M55997, the two jumper cables hanging down suggests it has recently been uncoupled from a Derby Lightweight unit when seen in Carlisle station on the 29th August 1966. Michael Mensing.

Rail blue with yellow panel

At least M55999 appeared in corporate rail blue with just a small yellow panel for a short time, it carried the smaller 3" high numbers and double arrows on the cab doors.

M55999 is seen arriving into Crewe in August 1967. John Grey Turner.

Rail Blue with full yellow end

The norm for rail blue livery would become full yellow ends. In the early days at least 55998 initially had 3" numbers rather than the 4" figures that became standard. Normally the double arrows would be on the bodyside to the side of the drivers doors.

In the standard blue colours is M55997 at Newton Heath depot on 10th April 1971. Gordon Edgar.

In all liveries, despite being only a class of three, there are a great many variations in placement of text and logos.

RTC Red / Blue

When converted to departmental use, 55997 received the red/blue RTC livery, becoming 975385 'Hydra'.

It is seen at Doncaster Works in 1979. Martyn Hilbert.