FGW powrcars livery

[whole diary]

[r james]

I know its been covered many times before, But i have tried looking and cant seem to find the answer!
Basically I wondered why the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) powercars are painted in just blue, and dont have the dymanic lines livery like the rest of the trains.  Looks a bit off if you ask me, and would be much better if the lines came to an end on the powercar.   

I also dont seem to be seeing many carraiges with the yellow safety diamonds painted onto them.... was this idea dropped?

[Ollie]

There once was a powercar which had the dynamic lines livery on it, there is probably a picture somewhere.

The yellow safety diamonds are only on a couple of sets as a trial. I am not sure when that is due to finish.

[Phil]

I quite like the First Capital Connect powercards, which instead of the disco lights on a blue background, have a city skyline picked out above a river of light, with a matching reflection below.

[Sprog]

RE^▸ (Religious Education). The Yellow Diamonds:

First Great Western
Engineering Technical Bulletin
^Door Diamond^ Trial
No. 48    June 2008

Following a staff suggestion from a member of the Plymouth station team, two HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) sets (LA01 & LA13) are being fitted with yellow diamond shaped vinyl labels on the passenger doorways.

Dispatch staff look down the length of the HST before departure to ensure doors are shut. At the moment leading edges of doors are painted bright yellow, but this does not aid visibility when the door opening faces away from you.

Using the door diamond, with one half placed on the bodyside and the other half on the door, it is easy to tell at a glance if the two halves of the diamonds are aligned. If they are not, it is immediately obvious to station teams that the door is not shut properly.


In order to determine the effectiveness of the proposal, these two sets will be operated for six months while feedback is obtained from Train Managers and platform dispatch teams. If it proves successful the vinyl diamonds will be applied across the fleet.

Hope this clears things up.

[r james]

What I dont understand though is the sets seem to have been split up, and I now see just one or two carraiges on a whole train having the door diamonds.

Anyone know about the powercars?

[r james]

I see Sprog that your signature picture on the forum has got a picture of the powercar with the dynamic lines livery 

Why wasnt this adopted?  Surely not just cost?

[devon_metro]

The vinyls got damaged when being cleaned i believe.

[r james]

Ah right, im guessing a more abrasive cleaning method is used on powercars?

[smithy]

I see Sprog that your signature picture on the forum has got a picture of the powercar with the dynamic lines livery 

Why wasnt this adopted?  Surely not just cost?

the vinyl peeled off at speed on powercars.

[devon_metro]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/paigntonrailway/ww8.jpg In all its glory

[Sprog]

Ah right, im guessing a more abrasive cleaning method is used on powercars?

No, they all receive the same treatment when they go through the various carriage wash plants at depots. (basically a super-sized car wash).

The 'dynamic lines' power car livery using vinyls was dropped for various reasons, including cost & the fact that as 'smithy' said, after only a short amount of time, the viynls began peeling off at Speed/looking tatty.

Three power cars received the Dynamic Lines livery, 43004 & 43009 which where the two FGW^▸ (First Great Western) prototype/trial MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) power cars & were vinyled up along with a TF, TS & TRFB^▸ (Trailer Restaurant First Buffet (Mark 3 coach type)) & formed to run as a 'mini set' for the 2006 'First Greater Western' franchise launch @ London Paddington.

The third power car was stored 43194, which was in actual fact the very first one given Dynamic Lines vinyls on its 'B' side only at St. Philips Marsh depot to trial the application & look of the Vinyls. It never ran in traffic in this condition & after being transferred to Landore, Swansea, it was later taken to Brush for re-engineering.

The power cars are left in plain blue to minimalise the potential of them looking tatty. They where given a high-quality two-pack paint job in the spray shops whilst at Brush works & the paintwork is under warranty. I liked the Dynamic lines livery on 43004/009, until i got close-up & i could see all the joints in the vinyls.

I am a fan of the blue power car livery because i think they are simple, yet smart & a full set looks very 'trick'.

[Sprog]

Picure of 43194:

http://davidmulligan.fotopic.net/p36385790.html