The Severn Valley Railway has announced that their purple locomotive, No. 70 ‘Elizabeth II', is getting black nameplates out of respect for Her Majesty The Queen.
HM The Queen sadly passed away last week, and with the Severn Valley Railway running their Autumn Steam Gala this weekend, the locomotive is set to run with a wreath all weekend.
No. 70 Elizabeth II, or 34027 Taw Valley, was painted purple earlier this year to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
“Over the past months, this locomotive has brought so much joy and pleasure to people in its unique livery,” said Helen Smith, the SVR's managing director. “Painting it in the official Jubilee colour, and renaming it were our way of celebrating the 70-year reign of The late Queen. When we heard the sad news last week that she had died, some of our volunteers put forward the idea of changing the nameplates to black.
“This feels like a very fitting and appropriate way for us, as a heritage railway, to pay our respects.”
The purple locomotive will be in service at the SVR's Autumn Steam Gala later this week, running from Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th September. It will also carry a wreath and black flags.
The Severn Valley Railway has already confirmed that locomotives will run with wreaths following the passing of The Queen.
Joining the purple locomotive in action at the gala will the home fleet of locomotives, 4930 Hagley Hall (which has just returned to steam after 36 years), as well as visiting locomotives 45231 The Sherwood Forester, 9351, Jessie and Anne.
A fitting tribute.