When did BW switch to black and white?

[Capt Ahab]

I was looking at a book on Shropshire Canals recently and realised that at least the Shropshire Union painted their lock gate balance beams in a fetching shade of grey.

http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/

When did BW switch to a uniform black and white and what other colour schemes existed? Its hard to imagine anything other than B&W.

[alan_fincher]

I was looking at a book on Shropshire Canals recently and realised that at least the Shropshire Union painted their lock gate balance beams in a fetching shade of grey.

http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/

When did BW switch to a uniform black and white and what other colour schemes existed? Its hard to imagine anything other than B&W.

Except that quite a few locks on the Shroppie, (possibly all ?) are still painted using quite a light shade of grey, not black, on the balance beams !

 

Perhaps you need to take a trip up there!

Edited November 29, 2011 by alan_fincher

[Capt Ahab]

Except that quite a few locks on the Shroppie are, I feel sure, still painted using grey instead of black......

Which ones - I must be really unobservant!

[Rebotco]

Except that quite a few locks on the Shroppie are, I feel sure, still painted using grey instead of black......

 

Shows how long since any maintenance was done there, then!

Brian

[Capt Ahab]

Except that quite a few locks on the Shroppie, (possibly all ?) are still painted using quite a light shade of grey, not black, on the balance beams !

 

Perhaps you need to take a trip up there!

You are right Alan - had a look at my old blog posts and Hack Green and some of Audlem at least are grey.

http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/

I wonder why?

[alan_fincher]

Shows how long since any maintenance was done there, then!

Brian

Possibly a bit harsh!......

 

Some of these are amongst the best maintained locks we saw in what was really quite an epic summer trip.

 

This is quite typical - everything worked, and lock surrounds and grass in good order......

 

[Sir Nibble]

Looks like primer to me.

[alan_fincher]

Looks like primer to me.

Yeah, but it ain't!

[haggis]

Did the lock beams on the Shroppie not used to be grey and a few years ago, BW were contemplating returning them to their original colour. if my memory serves me right they painted (some or all) of them grey than asked for feedback from boaters. I think I can remember seeing a notice about it on lock beams.

Or maybe not :-)

 

haggis

[Rebotco]

Possibly a bit harsh!......

 

Some of these are amongst the best maintained locks we saw in what was really quite an epic summer trip.

 

This is quite typical - everything worked, and lock surrounds and grass in good order......

 

Yes - said with tongue in cheek, of course. I've never got that far yet, but it does look quite pretty.

Brian

Edited November 29, 2011 by Rebotco

[AJLintern]

I wonder if they use the same paint as on the Thames locks?

[FadeToScarlet]

I always feel on holiday at the transition between green and white gates and lock furniture, and black and white.

[WotEver]

When I saw the thread title I thought to myself "Probably when the cutbacks meant they could no longer afford a colour license..."

[furnessvale]

Did the lock beams on the Shroppie not used to be grey and a few years ago, BW were contemplating returning them to their original colour. if my memory serves me right they painted (some or all) of them grey than asked for feedback from boaters. I think I can remember seeing a notice about it on lock beams.

Or maybe not :-)

 

haggis

 

The old Shroppie company used to have grey balance beams. BW, or maybe even the D&IWE, decided to standardise on black. A few years ago, in the search for cheap "heritage" hits, BW decided to restore the old grey colour scheme.

 

I recently went down the Shroppie but I cannot recall the ratio of black to grey beams. One thing is certain, the grey beams are not a hangover from SU days but are more modern new beams or repaints. The black beams will be the older ones.

 

George ex nb Alton retired

[alan_fincher]

I recently went down the Shroppie but I cannot recall the ratio of black to grey beams. One thing is certain, the grey beams are not a hangover from SU days but are more modern new beams or repaints. The black beams will be the older ones.

 

George ex nb Alton retired

I have quite a few pictures taken at locks as we came down the Shroppie (from Barbridge) this summer.

 

Every one I have from Hack Green, Audlem, Adderley, Tyrley, Wheaton Aston and even Autherley only shows grey balance beams.

 

I didn't photograph all locks, (!), so it is possible there are some occasional black ones, but I'd argue, whatever the history, the vast majority, if not all, on that stretch are currently grey.

[furnessvale]

I have quite a few pictures taken at locks as we came down the Shroppie (from Barbridge) this summer.

 

Every one I have from Hack Green, Audlem, Adderley, Tyrley, Wheaton Aston and even Autherley only shows grey balance beams.

 

I didn't photograph all locks, (!), so it is possible there are some occasional black ones, but I'd argue, whatever the history, the vast majority, if not all, on that stretch are currently grey.

 

I certainly wouldn't argue with you. The decision to repaint beams grey was taken some years ago so I would expect routine maintenance will see them all painted grey by now.

 

George ex nb Alton retired

[Laurence Hogg]

Trent & Mersey locks were painted in bands of black and white seen here at Stone in 1969.

 

[magpie patrick]

Trent & Mersey locks were painted in bands of black and white seen here at Stone in 1969.

 

 

Ooooooo just look at that gate paddle.....