Railfreight at 30

GEORGE DENT has fond memories of freight in the ’80s, so let him guide you through the ‘triple grey’ areas of BR’S Railfreight sector, in this masterclass of livery detailing and technique.

A trio of Brush type 4s help George dent feel nostalgic and turn the clock back to the 1980s.

BR’s Railfreight sector livery emerged during the height of my teenage trainspotting obsession. Not surprisingly, it has retained a nostalgic attraction for me and others of my modelling generation. After posting images of freshly repainted Class 31s, 37s and 47s on our bedroom walls, both my brother and I wasted little time in replicating the livery on our Hornby and Lima models. Then, as now, decal and paint manufacturers were quick off the mark in producing replica shades and logos in 4mm scale, and I seem to recall that an old Tri-ang Class 31 was first in line for a crudely hand-painted coal sector scheme. Since the late 1980s, the ‘triple grey’ livery has been well represented on ready-to-run models, although the choice of sectors has not always been representative, especially for diverse fleets, such as classes 37 and 47. While Vitrains and Heljan have been prolific in terms of livery options with certain releases, Hornby and Bachmann have been a little slower over the years. I’ve decided, therefore, to demonstrate how to create the sub-sector livery from scratch, as well as modify an existing livery without the need for a repaint. Indeed, prototype locomotives did switch between sectors and, in later years, had some or all of the logos removed. Being able to modify liveries is a useful skill to possess, and helps us to create plenty of variety in our traction fleets.