51L: The finely detailed railway model. London and North Western Railway, carriage liveries.

We have drawn up this page to list the paint and transfers required to complete your vehicle. Included are details for all the liveries likely to have been used on London and North Western carriages during their life time. (Details of life span for a particular model is to be found on the product pages.) If you would like any additional information please email wagons@51l.co.uk and we will assist as far as we can.

London and North Western Railway to 1923
Often referred to as 'plum and spilt milk', the lower panels and mouldings were a 'carmine lake', the upper panels were a shade of white. The carriage ends were painted chocolate not lake and the underframe and running gear black. Fixed window frame mouldings were usually indian red and the door and window drop lights varnished natural wood.

London Midland and Scottish 1923 to 1948
Carriages were painted crimson lake. Until 1936 both the ends and sides were painted crimson lake but from that date the ends were painted black with the exception of driving ends of motor carriages which remained crimson lake. Detail work on the ends, steps, pipework etc was painted black. In 1946 the LMS changed the name to maroon. The colour had probably become slightly darker over the years. Roofs were generally painted in the Midland style of light grey between the rain strips and black between the rain strips and cantrail. From 1933 onwards to outbreak of war the roof was specified to be a metallic aluminium type finish. The roofs quickly became dirty in service and more often than not were a muddy grey colour..

British Railways from 1948
Non corridor carriages were painted in BR standard Maroon and corridor stock in crimson and cream (blood and custard). How many carriages were repainted is off course a matter of debate.

Suggested paint and transfers for London and North Western Railway carriages:

Period
London and North Western Railway to 1923	P379, P380, P381	Sheet 16
London Midland and Scottish to 1934	P30, P35, P40	Sheet 1
London Midland and Scottish from 1934	P30, P 35 or P36, P41	Sheet 1
London Midland and Scottish from 1946	P34, P36, P40	Sheet 1
British Railways, non corridor stock	P108, P130	Sheet 14
British Railways, corridor stock	P116, P117, P131	Sheet 14

Paint and transfers may be obtained from

along with many other products of interest to the 4mm modeller working in OO, EM or P4 for details click here .