[John H-T]

Nova Scotian,

I was a bit uneasy after suggesting a rigid guide to Auto Coach Colours, especially as the the Western Region of BR was a bit of a maverick in all sorts of ways including liveries! See lots of lined and unlined green applied to locos which were painted black, lined or otherwise by other regions!

The 2004 Hornby Catalogue confirms my dates and they are often fairly accurate!

I then started looking at photos. I have only found one of an Auto Coach in Blood and Custard from 1951 of W50. I think a BR built Coach. (BR continued to build Auto Coaches until about 1954!) As I understand it the BR built coaches do not have a 'W' suffix.

However I have found a number of photos from the same period showing coaches in red. If the WR had followed the rules the Auto Coaches as non corridor stock should have been red. It may very well depend on where they were painted.

So if you want to be safe go for red. However I don't know what livery the BR built coaches first carried.

As I think I have said on this Forum before try to find a photo of your prototype, it is the only way you can be 100% certain and there are many traps to fall into!

While on Auto Trains. If you are running the Hornby Auto Tank be aware that some of the Tanks carried boilers without top feeds until withdrawn and 1450 still does in presevation. The Hornby model has a top feed.

I have attached two photos taken at The Llangollen Railway of their red and cream auto coach with 1450 with an Auto Coach in GWR livery behind.

I would point out that a livery carried in preservation does not necessarily mean it is authentic!

Does anyone else have any more info to add. I feel that it is very important to try to get this sort of thing right for the record so that misinformation does not become accepted as fact.

Best wishes,

John H-T.