Southern West Country Class No. 34027 Taw Valley will be repainted into a new purple livery to commemorate The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the Severn Valley Railway has announced
Whilst only temporary, the repaint will co-incide with the renaming of the locomotive for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and for the Commonwealth Games, set to be held in Birmingham in 2022.
This isnt the first time that 34027 Taw Valley has appeared in an unusual livery, it was painted up to promote the Harry Potter books and the Hogwarts Express, though, film producers later chose 5972 Olton Hall for the films instead.
Taw Valley will be restored to its original name and livery later in 2022, when the locomotive will undergo scheduled maintenance for a valve and piston examination.
The new name will be put to a public vote on Monday 14th February, with the new name being cast onto authentic nameplates.
“This is all about making the biggest impact possible,” said SVR chairman Mike Ball. “We're putting a huge amount of effort into our celebrations for both The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the 2022 Commonwealth Games which are being held in Birmingham. We're sure that the unusual appearance of the loco will prove a huge draw to visitors.”
“The sight of a purple steam loco might not appeal to all heritage enthusiasts, but it's certainly going to cause a stir amongst the visiting public, and we're aiming to stimulate maximum interest in heritage rail amongst the widest possible audience this year.”
The SVR's head of engineering Martin White gave details of how the transformation into purple will take place: “Taw Valley is booked in for its annual boiler exam in early February, and following its steam exam will enter the paint shop at Bridgnorth. We expect to have the repaint completed by early April.
“In all fairness, the loco was starting to look a little weather-beaten. With three years still to run on its boiler ticket, a smarten-up was a good idea to avoid further deterioration and enable maximum use of the loco.”
The loco's owners are fully supportive of the temporary name and livery change. Speaking on behalf of his fellow owners, SVR director Phil Swallow said: “We're delighted that Taw Valley is going to play such a prominent role at the SVR in 2022. The rename and repaint will be a very fitting and memorable way to celebrate two extremely important occasions this year. Ultimately, this is a hugely fun thing to do, and whilst it might upset some people, it will contribute significantly to our celebration of these important events and will attract many visitors to the SVR.”
Is it going to be called the Purple Pacific or Cock of the Midlands? Its going to resemble a giant marital aid. Why are you grovelling and fawning to Maj?
It looks ridiculous in purple, just corresponds to the societies fantasy – in blue like 35005 would have been better. I would not change the name either. Commemorate nothing in fact.
In your opinion it looks ridiculous. In the opinion of my children, it looks great! I’m with the kids, not the rivet counters.
The Tyrian Thunderer
Apart from the fact that OVSB did not approve of the rebuilding of his design, I can’t imagine that he would have approved of painting this locomotive in purple. Royal claret maybe, but purple?
fantastic! What a great gesture for our Queen. Well done. The crowds will pour in.
UGH!!!
One word HIDEOUS !!!
What a joke and waste of paint, these are certainly strange times we are living in.
I think it’ll be quite pleasent site to behold, especially for this locomotive to be of honour, in wearing the pleasure of the colour purple, from which it might also be appealingly uplifting, and uniquely astounding… I also bet it’ll be a multi-colourfully enterprising highlight of the (platinum jubilee) year 2022.
Sorry, I shall give the SDVR a miss this year.
What a pathetic comment. The heritage movement relies 100% on money coming in from the ‘general public’ not on a handful of narrow minded, blinkered traditionalists who believe that THEY are the centre of the universe. Well done Severn Valley on an innovative and worthwhile project.
Fantastic, well done everybody, now our national rail companies should join in.
I hope its an April Fool
Completed early April…….something like the 1st?
Purple?
Surely it should be Royal Claret?
It was not painted red for the film’s. The Hogwarts livery it carried predated the film’s, and was done for JK Rolling to publicize the release of the Harry Potter stories, she toured to the country in WCRC Queen of Scott’s train hauled by this loco, in Hogwarts Railways livery, renamed Hogwarts Castle. When the film’s were to be made, the producers wanted a old fashioned looking steam loco, so opted for a GWR loco, and hired on David Smith’s Olton Hall. Filming on the West Highland line was not without incident, as the loco was out of gauge and clouted platform faces that the producers had to pay to be removed/repaired/changed.
Really thought the Author of this story could have checked his facts. Taw valleys repaint I to Hogwarts Railways Red had Nothing to do with the film.
That has changed our plans for a visit this year. West Somerset Railway beckons.
you refuse to visit just because they are painting a locomotive?, grow up!
‘We expect to have the repaint completed by early April’.
Would that be April 1st ?
You guys whingeing represent everything that will see the end of the heritage movement. In your blinkered world NOTHING must ever change and in your heads the Titfield Thunderbolt is the real world. DO try and move on to 2022 where SOME people are attempting to forge a future as well as remembering the past.
John, I am curious to know why a simple question – Is this an April fool prank ? – which implies neither approval nor disapproval of the repaint, should warrant such a ridiculous rant from you.