PERPETUAL AUTHENTICITY

Stephen Lee’s comments concerning livery authenticity in a previous issue’s Mailbag raises an interesting dilemma when taking into account the Kent & East Sussex Railway’s requirement for larger engines (SR469). The preservation of part of the former KESR was to offer the public a typical country light railway of the Col Stephens type and in that regard they have done extremely well. Col Stephens was well known for running railways on a shoestring and that extended to his buying of second-hand locomotives which, if suitable, could come from anywhere. One thing that he did do, though, was to repaint the locos in KESR livery irrespective of former ownership. If the current operators of the KESR should ever get the heavier locos for their line, even a GWR ‘Castle’, I would not have any sleepless nights should they paint them in KESR livery, which is what Stephens would have done. As a representation of past practice, it would be authentic, even if it does raise a blood pressure or two. Norman Langridge, by email