Blue Unit at Ilford

[Bringback309s]

As I flew through Ilford Sunday I had a very brief glimpse at a plain blue carriage through a gap between the sheds - it had bright window frames and if I had to guess could have been the 4-VEP. Does anyone know if it was or what else it might have been?

 

[Deepgreen]

The VEP is at Ilford for refurbishment work at the moment.

 

[Shunter_69]

3 of its coaches are in BR Blue but one of the driving ends has now been through the paint shop and is in white undercoat. This seems to be the only work carried out thus far.

 

[physics34]

Be great if the unit is painted blue/grey or NSE!

 

[AM9]

Be great if the unit is painted blue/grey or NSE!

I think that the original all-blue with bright window frames and a relief double arrow symbol fitted, looks far better. In fact I think most BR stock looks better in its original livery.
The BIG/CIGs are better suited to the main-line rail-blue/grey levery though as the end doors and unbroken window lines present a better contrast. Worst of all was the daft practice of painting suburban slammers two-tone. The VEPs were really local trains so that livery wasn't really right for them.

 

[colchesterken]

I still liked the cl 309 Jaffa Cakes

 

[yorksrob]

Worst of all was the daft practice of painting suburban slammers two-tone. The VEPs were really local trains so that livery wasn't really right for them.

I'd disagree - they seemed to do a lot of main line running in my corner of the Southern. I also remember Blue/Grey as being the residual livery in my younger years, surviving on high density EPB's and DEMU's some time after longer distance units had been repainted.

 

[AM9]

I still liked the cl 309 Jaffa Cakes

When they were labelled 'Essex Express' until some wag removed the 'Es' on some of them.

I thought that the original Maroon (Crimson Lake?) was best, especially when the original profiled cab windows were fitted.

 

[scott118]

When they were labelled 'Essex Express' until some wag removed the 'Es' on some of them.

I thought that the original Maroon (Crimson Lake?) was best, especially when the original profiled cab windows were fitted.

Essex xpres ?

 

[AM9]

Essex xpres ?

Was it you then?

 

[Bigfoot]

Gordon!

 

[CockneySparrow]

3 of its coaches are in BR Blue but one of the driving ends has now been through the paint shop and is in white undercoat. This seems to be the only work carried out thus far.

Are the doors red lol

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Blue/grey "InterCity" livery was the best for semi-fast/express stock IMO and some suburban stock. The problem with plain blue was how dull it became when the sheen wore off and how horrible it looked after a unit had been dragged through the carriage washer upteem times.

Perhaps Gordon is getting a different livery that hasn't been made public yet?

As long as it's not green as Veps never carried green livery (I'm not including 3514 which carried Southern green...)

 

[Panupreset]

One of the non driving coaches went in for shot blasting earlier this week, presumably prior to painting

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Are there any updates that can be made public?

 

[Juniper Driver]

I still liked the cl 309 Jaffa Cakes

The only class of units I didn't drive on the GE.I even drove 321's in training.

 

[Shunter_69]

The second coach was hanging out of the paintshop this morning as is now white (I'm assuming it's undercoat unless they are planning on giving it the Connex livery).

 

[Wivenswold]

Ah, I came on here to see what that slam door was. I was hoping someone had found a 4 car 312 in a field and it was being renovated.

I notice that a museum in Coventry has what appears to be a complete 309 unit. Does anyone know whether there is a plan to get these back to a condition where they can run?

Also, saw a 317 in the Ilford shed last night in full TfL Overground livery.

 

[Panupreset]

LOROL 317's and MTR Crossrail 315's will continue to be maintained and prepared for service at Abellio's Ilford depot.

 

[jopsuk]

Also, saw a 317 in the Ilford shed last night in full TfL Overground livery.

By "full" livery are we talking wrap-around yellow front, orange doors, blue lower bodyside?

 

[Wivenswold]

The very same! I'll have another look tonight see if I can ID it.

 

[Shunter_69]

317708 is the unit in full LO livery. Looks quite smart freshly painted and sitting in the sun.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A couple of updates, 3/4 of the second VEP coach have been painted white. Not sure why there is a gap in the middle but it may be because the paintshop has been busy of late.

317708 has been joined by 317729 in LO livery and 708 has been conveniently placed in full view of the main and electric lines (best view will be at peak hours when yard is empty).

 

[AM9]

317708 is the unit in full LO livery. Looks quite smart freshly painted and sitting in the sun.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A couple of updates, 3/4 of the second VEP coach have been painted white. Not sure why there is a gap in the middle but it may be because the paintshop has been busy of late.

317708 has been joined by 317729 in LO livery and 708 has been conveniently placed in full view of the main and electric lines (best view will be at peak hours when yard is empty).

Is that so that they can put large accessibility stripes on it ala Southeastern's 377s?

 

[Shunter_69]

I'm not too familiar with Southeastern 377's

 

[D365]

I'm not too familiar with Southeastern 377's

That's because theirs are known as 'Class 375'
I don't know if the Electrostars to be received from Thameslink will be reclassified, but that's a different matter to the topic at hand.