The information on this page has been provided by a correspondent with regard to Classes 44,45 & 46 and their repainting into blue livery, dual braking, last classified repair and where appropriate the fitting of ETH equipment.

The use of the 'D' prefix in the first column simply indicates the locomotive acquired blue livery prior to August 1968.

The fifth 'TOPS' column drives the order in which the information is presented.

Last Classified Overhaul column: ZC = Crewe Works; ZE = Derby Locomotive Works.

It may be possible to add further details, such as headcode box variants and sheeting over of the noses in due course.

Class 44

Class 45/0

Class 45/1

Class 46

Page added April 12th 2021.

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Note: as usual this is an unfinished work, the observations contained herein are based on photographs where the locomotive number is clearly visible. Other resources have been used to complement this information, locomotives identified through these other resources are identified in italics until confirmed with photographic support.

Pre-TOPS

Disc style

D1 - D10 were originally only fitted with the four disc style train identification system. During 1969 following an accident D9 did have one nose end fitted with the standard center headcode panel.

Split boxes with doors

With the decision to use a system of four character alpha/numeric train identification the current locomotive orders saw changes to their designs to accommodate the new train identification system. For the Peaks the initial change was the adding of two boxes on the nose end, split by the gangway doors that had been carried over from D1 - D10.

11, 12, 13, 14, 15

With the discontinuance of the use of the nose end gangway doors these were generally removed and sheeted over as the locomotives went through Works.

Split boxes no doors

The planned use of the gangway doors never reached their expected useage, with the Peaks this is not surprising considering how few workings required a pair of the big Type 4's. Consequently from D16 (Derby) & D68 (Crewe) the doors were no longer incorporated into the nose, but for the time being the headcode boxes remained on the outside edges of the nose front.

16 - 30
68 - 107

Center box with split

The next change in the nose end design was to bring the two headcode boxes into the center of the nose, but retaining the central break between what had been the two separate headcode displays.

31 - 67
108 - 137
138 - 173

Center box no split

The final production variant of the headcode panel was to bring the headcode panel together as one unit, with no central split in the display. This final variant would become the standard, particularly when locomotives were refurbished or required accident or corrosion repairs.

174 - 193

This style of nose end became the norm for locomotives receiving new nose fronts, either because of corrosion or accident damage. Additionally when the Class 46's were refurbished by Brush, Loughborough in the 1960's many of the batch from 138 - 173 received this type of one piece headcode panel.

Changes to the headcode panels

With four different types of headcode styles in use on the Peaks it would not be too long before changes were made to nose fronts as they went through Works. These changes occurred due to accident damage, corrosion or part of a refurbishment plan.

Refurbishments:
These can be split into three groups, the refurbishment of the Class 46's at Brush, Loughborough starting in 1965, the refurbishment of the Class 45's at Derby starting in 1967 and the general replacement of the nose end indicator panels with sheet metal and marker lights from 1975. For the refurbishments starting in 1965 & 1967 the four character single panel headcode, as found on the final production Class 46's became the standard.

Class 46 Brush Refurbishment - 1965 onwards, locomotives include 138 - 166.
Photographic records confirm the following - 140, 144, 148(11/69), 150(5/70), 151(3/69), 154, 155, 159, 160, (all mod undated but with D prefix)

Class 45 Derby Refurbishment - 1967 onwards, locomotives include 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 53, 60, 61, 115 116

Accident Damage:
When the nose ends sustained damage the opportunity was frequently taken to update the headcode panel with the standard one. Because accident damage might only affect one nose it was possible for the locomotive to have two different styles of nose ends.

Corrosion:
Frequently the Peaks entering the Works for shopping would arrive with corrosion problems in the bodywork. If this affected the nose ends the opportunity, as mentioned in the accident damaged text above, would be taken to renew and if necessary standardise the nose end(s). This could also lead to locomotives running with different nose end styles.

Locomotives reported running with different style nose ends with pre-TOPS numbers include;
9, 41, 81, 105, 109, 135

Post-TOPS Class 45's

The somewhat haphazard renumbering of the Class 45's broke up the original order of the numerical series carrying the various types of headcodes. The lists below are an attempt to identify which type of nose end the TOPS numbered locomotives carried at the time of renumbering during 1974.

Split boxes

45004, 45013, 45017, 45025 ( at WD), 45027 (at WD), 45029, 45046, 45047 ( at WD), 45049, 45051, 45053 (at WD), 45057, 45058, 45059, 45060, 45061 (at WD), 45062, 45063, 45113, 45115, 45120, 45127, 45132, 45135, 45142, 45150.

Center box with split

45003, 45007, 45009, 45012, 45014, 45023, 45030, 45031, 45032 (at WD), 45034, 45035 ( at WD), 45036 (at WD), 45037, 45038, 45039, 45040, 45044, 45065, 45066, 45070, 45072, 45073, 45074, 45075, 45077, 45117, 45118, 45125, 45128, 45129, 45130, 45133, 45137, 45143, 45144, 45145, 45148

Center box no split

45008 (at WD), 45009, 45011, 45015, 45016, 45018 ( at WD), 45019, 45022, 45024 (at WD), 45041, 45067 (at WD), 45104, 45105, 45108, 45109, 45112, 45114, 45121, 45147,

From the above list it can be determined that the following Class 45's were withdrawn without having been fitted with the simplified nose ends with marker lights: 45008, 45018, 45024, 45025, 45027, 45032, 45035, 45036, 45047, 45053, 45061 & 45067.

Post TOPS Class 46's

Center box no split

46002, 46005 (at WD), 46007, 46010, 46012 (at WD), 46013, 46020 (at WD), 46021, 46024 (at WD), 46026, 46027, 46032, 46033, 46037 (at WD), 46041 (at WD), 46043, 46045, 46052

Locomotives reported running with different style nose ends with TOPS numbers and prior to fitting with the simplified nose ends and marker lights include;
45115 after accident at Buxton, November 18th 1974.

Repanelled, twin headlights

The discontinuance of train identification by the four character alpha/numeric displays made immediately redundant all the headcode equipment on many classes of locomotive. The Peaks were no exception and it was left to accident damaged 125 (45071) to be outshopped from Derby during 1975 with all evidence of its headcode panels replaced by sheet metal. Two marker lights were also added to the front panel, the style carried by 45071 was unique, all the other members of the class carried a different style of marker light. Additionally over time the number of brackets and handholds on the cab fronts was simplified, prinicipally with those situated on the upper part of the nose being removed. Compare the view of 45071 with those of 45059 & 45124 below.

Mis-matched headcode panels -Post TOPS

The decision to simplify the nose ends with sheet metal and marker lights led to a number of locomotives running with the new design at one end and the old headcode panels at the other. This situation was invariably due to accident damage, and was generally corrected when the locomotives were later received for Classified repairs. Locomotives so noted include:

45042 from January 1977 after collision at Dorridge.
45056 from May 1977.
45031 from March 1978.
45120 from November 1978.

Large Headlight

Late in the career of the Peak's a program was instituted to fit a large high intensity headlight to the locomotive fleet. Although the lifespan of the Peak's at this time was very short a number of the Class 45/1's were so equipped.

45103, 45104, 45106, 45107, 45108, 45110, 45113, 45116, 45118, 45119, 45120, 45122, 45124, 45128, 45129, 45132, 45134, 45138, 45139, 45140, 45141, 45143, 45145, 45146, 45150

All the BR/Sulzer Type 4's were delivered in green with a broad stripe, later receiving the corporate blue livery with a variety of yellow nose panels. The transition in this livery change during three decades includes many variants.

October 1960 - January 1963
Delivery from Derby & Crewe of the BR/Sulzer Type 4's was in an all over green livery with the exception of the light grey roof, engine room grilles and a broad band between the cab doors just above frame level. The buffer beam was painted red. The numbers were carried on each cab sheet below the cab side windows. The 'lion & wheel' emblem was carried at the No.2 end between the roof access footsteps and the boiler room grille. If the locomotive carried a nameplate it was positioned between the boiler room grille and the large engine room grille.

With the addition of small yellow warning panels, these were initially placed from frame level to the bottom of the headcode boxes, with the vertical edge splitting the marker light dead center. Variants include:
1/ The vertical edges barely touched the inside of the marker light rim, D23 was noted in August 1962 with this syle.
2/ The vertical edges are placed outside the marker light rims, giving a slightly larger, neater look, as carried by D175 in October 1967.
3/ The vertical edges split the marker light dead center but with the whole rim picked out in yellow, this was a very common practice.

1966 - 1972
With the decision to repaint the diesel and electric locomotive fleet in to the corporate blue and yellow livery, there began a period of about six years of transition for the Class 45/46's. Gradually the brunswick green gave way to solid blue. The mid-life refurbishment by Derby Works & Brush, Loughborough saw simplification of the green livery with the omission of the grey stripe and engine grilles.

Additionally in the summer of 1966 Toton depot painted about twenty Class 45/46's in blue livery, with the numbers on the cabside but without an emblem, these are referred to as '1966 style' in the tabular notes below.

Eventually a standard was set for the locomotives being repainted into blue livery with full yellow ends, with the numbers positioned behind the cab doors, whilst the new double-arrow 'barbed wire' emblem was carried on the cabside, recognised in the notes below as 'standard'. The 'D' prefix was discontinued following the final withdrawl of steam during August 1968, with the 'D' prefix being painted out over time.

In some cases red buffer beams continued to be applied with the blue livery.

1972 - 1988
When the last Class 46's were repainted into blue livery during the summer of 1972, the Class 45/46's maintained a conformity of blue and yellow livery until their final demise in 1988.

The introduction of TOPS saw the data panel transfer being fixed underneath the number. As the locomotives were renumbered into the TOPS format the two numbers per side were retained but later numbers were only applied to the position behind the driver's side cab door.

When the research for the individual locomotives listed below is completed it should reveal the dates of any livery changes. It assumes lined green livery when delivered and corporate blue and yellow when withdrawn. It also assumes that not every locomotive visiting the Works for a Classified repair would get a full repaint into blue livery after 1966/67. It is not known if the Peaks visiting Darlington received livery variations from their paint shop.

The basis of this list is through period reports and photographs. In its finalised form it should record the date when the locomotive transitioned from green to blue and any variations (if any) when it was carrying green and blue livery. Obviously right now it is just very much raw, incomplete data.

11 lined green small yellow ends with doors date?, blue (standard) with center boxes, noted November 1967
12 lined green small yellow ends with doors date?, unlined green early 1967
13 lined green small yellow ends with doors date?, unlined green early 1967, also July 1967, blue (standard) January 1968
14 lined green no yellow ends with doors, blue (standard) March 1969
15 blue (standard) with side boxes, noted July 1967
16 green unlined by November 1967, blue (standard) April 1969
17 lined green small yellow ends by Sept 1965, blue (standard) with side boxes with train of red coaches no date, noted November 1967
18 lined green no yellow ends, blue (standard) with center boxes, noted November 1967
19 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) with side boxes by June 1968
20 side boxes November 1967, still green January 1968, blue (standard) by July 1971 with side boxes & 'D'
21 lined green, small yellow warning panel 1961, blue (standard) with center boxes, noted November 1967
22 green lined noted November 1967, blue (standard) by June 1968
23 lined green with narrow yellow warning panel Aug 1962, green January 1968, blue (standard) with side boxes February 1969
24 green lined noted November 1967, blue (standard) by June 1968. #'s under cab windows & no emblems by December 1968
25 green unlined noted November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
26 green January 1968, blue (standard) March 1969
27 blue (standard) with side boxes, noted November 1967
28 green lined noted November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
29 small yellow panel Aug 1962, green January 1968, blue (standard) by June 1968
30 lined green small yellow ends January 1968, blue (standard) with side boxes October 1969
31 lined green small yellow ends January 1968, blue (standard) July 1969
32 green January 1968, blue (standard) by June 1968
33 plain green July 1967, blue (standard) January 1968
34 green lined no yellow ends date?, small yellow panel by November 1967, blue (standard) September 1968, no D
35 green January 1968, blue (standard) February 1968
36 unlined green early 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
37 blue (standard) January 1968
38 green lined small yellow panel September 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
39 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) March 1970
40 green lined small yellow panel by Aug 1965 and by November 1967
41 green lined no yellow panel, green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
42 green unlined by November 1967, blue (standard) March 1970
43 blue (standard) noted November 1967
44 green September 1967, blue (standard) February 1969
45 green small yellow panel by Oct 1962, green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) center split box February 1970
46 unlined green early 1967, green September 1967, blue (standard) by 1972
47 blue, unlined small yellow panel, noted July 1967, blue (standard) January 1968
48 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) February 1969
49 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
50 green lined small yellow panel, blue small yellow panel, noted July 1967
51 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow panel noted July 1967, emblem by November 1967
52 unlined green early 1967, blue (standard) February 1968
53 blue (standard) noted November 1967, blue with center box Jan 1971
54 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
55 blue, unlined small yellow panel, noted July 1967, still with SYE August 1968, blue (standard) September 1968
56 blue, unlined small yellow panel, noted July 1967, still with small yellow end August 1968, blue (standard) March 1969
57 lined green small yellow panel from new July 1963, blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, still with SYE August 1968, blue (standard) March 1970
58 lined green small yellow ends, blue, unlined small yellow panel, noted July 1967, still with SYE August 1968, blue (standard) March 1968
59 lined green small yellow end by Aug 1962, blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, emblem by November 1967
60 lined green small yellow panel no date, blue (standard) noted November 1967
61 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, emblem by November 1967. center box headcode no split by 1972
62 lined green with small yellow ends from new April 1962, unlined green early 1967. later center box headcode with split
63 green unlined September 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
64 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, still with SYE August 1968, blue (standard) March 1969
65 lined green small yellow ends from new April 1962, green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
66 green lined small yellow end by July 1963, green unlined by November 1967, blue (standard) May 1969
67 blue (standard) by July 1967
68 lined green no warning panels July 1961, blue (standard) with side boxes, note July 1967
69 blue (standard) with side boxes, note July 1967
70 lined green with small yellow panel no date, by November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
71 lined green with small yellow panel, blue, unlined small yellow panel, noted July 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
72 green unlined small yellow panel noted September 1967, blue (standard) May 1969
73 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) with side boxes February 1968
74 green lined by November 1967
75 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) by May 1970
76 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
77 green lined small yellow panel by May 1966 & November 1967, blue (standard) February 1970
78 plain green July 1967 retaining side box headcodes, blue (standard) February 1969
79 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967 & August 1968, still with SYE and no emblems July 1970
80 green lined with small yellow panel by November 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
81 green lined, side boxes September 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
82 blue (standard) with center boxes, noted November 1967
83 unlined green early 1967, unlined blue, full yellow end by July 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
84 unlined green small yellow panel early 1967, blue (standard) February 1970
85 center boxes January 1968, blue (standard) by August 1968
86 lined green no yellow end no date, blue (standard) with center boxes, noted November 1967
87 blue (standard) January 1968
88 blue (standard) with side boxes by July 1967
89 lined green no yellow end no date, blue (standard) with side boxes noted November 1967
90 blue (standard) with center boxes January 1968
91 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967 and center boxes, emblem by November 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
92 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, still with SYE August 1968, blue (standard) July 1970
93 green unlined September 1967, blue (standard) July 1969
94 blue September 1967, blue (standard) with and center boxes by November 1967
95 lined green small yellow end no date, unlined green early 1967, blue (standard) by August 1971 with split boxes
96 green lined by November 1967
97 green lined, side boxes by November 1967, blue (standard) March 1969
98 green unlined by November 1967, blue (standard) December 1969
99 green lined September 1967, blue (standard) with split boxes June 1969
100 green lined no yellow panel May 1962, with small yellow panel by November 1967, blue (standard) September 1969
101 blue (1966 style) prior to Dec 25th 1966, small yellow end noted July 1967, blue (standard) September 1970
102 unlined green with small yellow panel early 1967, & July 1968, blue (standard) October 1969
103 green lined with small yellow panel by July 1963 & November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
104 green lined with small yellow panel by Nov 1967 & Aug 68, blue (standard) June 1969
105 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, still with SYE August 1968,blue (standard) March 1969
106 blue (standard) with center boxes, noted November 1967
107 green lined no yellow panel when new, with small yellow panel by May 1967, blue (standard) with split boxes October 1968
108 green lined small yellow panel by November 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
109 green lined no yellow panel when new, blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
110 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
111 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) February 1969
112 green lined by November 1967
113 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, still with SYE August 1968, blue (standard) February 1969
114 lined green with small yellow panel April 1962, blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
115 green lined with small yellow panel August 1966 & September 1967
116 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967, blue (standard) July 1969
117 green lined by November 1967
118 blue (standard) noted November 1967
119 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) April 1970
120 blue (standard) by August 1968
121 green lined small yellow panel by September 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
122 green lined with small yellow panel by November 1967
123 green unlined by November 1967, blue (standard) February 1968
124 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) September 1968
125 green unlined by November 1967, blue (standard) February 1970
126
127 green lined small yellow panel by November 1967, blue (standard) November 1969
128 green lined with small yellow panel by November 1967, blue (standard) October 1969
129 blue (standard) by July 1967
130 green January 1968, green with yellow panels August 1969
131 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) February 1970
132 green lined with small yellow panel from new Dec 1961, & November 1967, blue (standard) June 1969
133 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967 & August 1968, blue (standard) May 1970
134 green September 1967, January 1968
135 blue (1966 style) prior to March 1967, small yellow end noted July 1967 & August 1968, blue (standard) March 1969
136 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) February 1970
137 green september 1967, blue (standard) by August 1968
138 (no yellow panel when new), green lined by November 1967, lined green FYE Feb & Aug 1971, blue (standard) March 1972
139 blue (standard) noted November 1967
140 blue (standard) by July 1967
141 green lined by November 1967, green with yellow panel August 1969, blue (standard) February 1972
142 blue (standard) by March 1967, noted full yellow end by July 1967
143 blue (standard) by July 1967
144 blue (standard) by July 1967, also reported green September 1967
145 blue (standard) by July 1967
146 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) by February 1971
147 unlined green early 1967, unlined green small yellow panel August 1971 & May 1972, blue (standard) September 1972
148 blue (standard) noted November 1967
149 blue (standard) by July 1967
150 blue (standard) by July 1967
151 blue (standard) by July 1967
152 blue (standard) by July 1967
153 blue September 1967, (standard) by November 1967
154 refurbished Brush early 1965 (1st one), green lined by November 1967, with small yellow panel & 'D' Aug 1970, green FYE February 1971, blue (standard) March 1972
155 green lined with small yellow panel by November 1967, green FYE February 1971, blue (standard) February 1972
156 unlined green November 1967 & January 1968, blue (standard) April 1971
157 green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) February 1972
158 blue (standard) by July 1967
159 lined green November 1967 & January 1968, green FYE February 1971, blue (standard) April 1972
160 blue (standard) noted November 1967
161 blue (standard) by July 1967
162 blue (standard) by July 1967
163 lined green with small yellow panel no date, green unlined September 1967, unlined green small yellow panel May 1972, blue (standard) June 1972
164 blue (standard) noted November 1967
165 green lined with small yellow panel by November 1967, lined green with yellow panel August 1969 & May 1972, blue (standard) October 1972
166 unlined green early 1967, plain green July 1967, green with full yellow ends August 1969, blue (standard) October 1970
167 blue (standard) by July 1967
168 refurbished Brush #2, green lined by November 1967, green with full yellow ends August 1969, blue (standard) July 1970
169 blue (standard) ex Brush November 13th 1966, with full yellow ends noted July 1967
170 lined green small yellow panel Feb 1964, blue (standard) noted November 1967
171 blue (standard) noted November 1967
172 unlined green, then blue ex Brush November 13th 1966, but also reported plain green July 1967, blue (standard) October 1970
173 blue (standard) by July 1967
174 blue (standard) by July 1967
175 blue (standard) by July 1967
176 refurbished Brush #8, green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) July 1970
177 blue (standard) noted November 1967
178 blue (standard) noted November 1967
179 blue (standard) by July 1967
180 blue (standard) noted November 1967
181 blue (standard) by July 1967
182 refurbished Brush #7, green lined by November 1967, blue (standard) October 1970
183 blue (standard) by July 1967
184 blue (standard), first so noted? by November 1967, by July 1967
185 green lined small yellow panel by Aug 1964, blue (standard) by July 1967
186 blue (standard) ex Brush November 13th 1966, by July 1967
187 blue (standard) by July 1967
188 green lined with small yellow panel from new & by November 1967, blue (standard) by August 1970
189 green with small yellow panel no date, blue (standard) November 1970
190 blue (standard) by June 1968
191 blue (standard) by July 1967
192 green lined no date, blue (standard) noted November 1967
193 green January 1968, green FYE February 1970, blue (standard) November 1970

Green locomotives as at December 31st 1968:
12, 20, 39, 40/42/45/46, 62, 74/75/77, 84, 95/96, 112/115/117/119, 122/125/126??, 130/131/134/136/138, 141/146/147, 154/155/156/157/159, 163/165/166/168, 172??/176, 182/188/189?? & 193

Green locomotives as at December 31st 1969:
12, 20, 40/46, 62, 74/75, 95/96, 112/115/117, 122/126??, 130/134/138, 141/146/147, 154/155/156/157/159, 163/165

All Class 45's reported as blue by December 31st 1970 so some of the above must be wrong.

Green locomotives as at December 31st 1970:
141/147, 156, 163/165

As of May 1972 only 147, 163 & 165 were green, so 141 & 156 became blue when?

163 at Derby Works early June 1972 and repainted blue.
147 at Derby Works early September 1972 and repainted blue
165 at Derby Works late October 1972 and repainted blue.

Renumbered 45/46's with two numbers per side:

45003 split box center, no date
45112 September 1973 relatively ex-works center box no split

Page added February 23rd 2008
Last updated December 12th 2016