Met-Camm Lightweight 2-car DMUs
Liveries
Green no whiskers
The vehicles were turned out in Loco Green with the Met-Camm style of lining - three cream bands: one at the bottom edge of the body; one above window level; the third cutting a line through the window pillars at the base of the sliding ventilator windows. The latter swept down at the cab front corners to form a waist height line below the cab windows. The power cars would carry the lion over wheel emblem. In the image, taken circa late 1955, a set passes Bury St. Edmunds Yard Signal Box. In this case it appears not to be carrying the British Railways emblem. Peter Edey.
It is thought the ER vehicles were delivered with red buffer beams, but the LMR sets were green. The cowling below was green in both cases.
Green with whiskers, original lining
It seems that the ER vehicles were delivered without whiskers, but the LMR vehicles were, and all retained the original Met-Camm lining while carrying whiskers. Images of ER vehicles with whiskers carrying whiskers with the Met-Camm lining are rare, suggesting not many carried this combination. One example was noted as one of the sets working the RCTS Northern Heights railtour on 1/10/60.
Green with whiskers, revised lining
When whiskers appeared on the ER vehicles (by July 1959) this seems to normally be in combination with the application of the lighter DMU green and lining applied to match other DMU vehicles: a thicker waist band and a thinner one between the top of the windows and cantrail (a trait of Doncaster Works). They also now carried the coaching crest on power cars.
In this style is DTS E79270 heading a Dereham service at Kings Lynn circa 1958. 53A Models of Hull Collection.
Green with yellow panel, original lining
By 1964 the small yellow warning panel appeared below the cab windows in place of the whiskers, a practical step towards greater safety. The combination with original lining would be restricted to the LMR vehicles.
Such a set is seen north of Strines on a Hayfield - Manchester service, 19th June 1965. Michael Mensing.
Green with yellow panel and revised lining
When yellow panels appeared on the ER vehicles all seem to now carry the revised lining. At the same time there was a reversion to the darker Loco Green.
The first image shows E79272 and E79056 withdrawn from service and stored at the former 32B Ipswich depot pending collection for scrapping, 2nd May 1971. Gordon Edgar.
The second image shows an inner end, the lining wrapping around to meet the gangway. This is E79269 at Ipswich Loco, taken after withdrawal circa 1970. Tony Wilkins.
As these two images show, some vehicles were withdrawn while still in green.
Blue with small yellow panel
When blue first made an apperance at least one ER vehicle carried just a small yellow panel on the front end. In common with other type carrying this style, the BR 'arrows' were on the cab door, and the numbers were just 3" tall.
Such a vehicle leads three Met-Camm Lightweights, location / date unknown (late '60s) Steve Davies Collection.
Blue with yellow end, logo on cab doors
When the full yellow ends appeared, some sets carried the BR logo on the cab doors and had 3" numbers, as seen on this set at East Suffolk Junction in September 1967. Steve Davies Collection.
Blue with yellow end, logo on bodyside
E79062 seen at Dereham in September 1968. It's in blue but it's partner is still in green. Steve Davies Collection.