LMS Insignia
Locomotives 1923-1927
Locos were numbered in black shaded figures in 18-inch size on most larger tenders
and tanks of some of the larger tank engines. Most tank engines and some smaller
tenders had 14-inch numbers. Red engines had the very small L M S on the cabsides
during 1923 and the round coat of arms from 1924 to 1928. Black engines had
the red and gold LM S panel on the cabsides. The concave cornered type was the
earlier pattern. Tank locos rarely had power classification numbers/letters
before 1928. The letters P and F were introduced around 1928.
Locomotives 1928 - 1938
Most red engines had black shaded insignia. Some of the Compounds and most lined
black engines had red-shaded insignia. Unlined black engines not painted at
Crewe used black shaded gold transfers. Company identity after 1927 was usually
indicated by L M S on the tender however the spacing varied. The largest - 60
inch centres - was used mainly on Stanier curved top tenders; the next - 53inch
centres - was on most large pre-group tank locos, many Deeley, Fowler and Scottish
pre-group tenders and Horwich painted tenders. The closest spacing - 40 inch
centres - appeared on most ex-LNWR, Johnson & Kirtley tenders, and some
Fowler tenders and on standard 2-6-4T and 2-6 2T locos. Garratts and some small
tank locos had 27-inch spacing. Royal Scots and unstreamlined Pacifics had 14-
inch cabside numbers. Princess Royals, Jubilees and most Compounds had 12 inch
lettering, but 10- inch numbers were used on some Compounds engines with small
cabs and at the St.Rollox works, on a wide variety of locos. New locos built
by Crewe, Derby and outside contractors during 1936.38 and the streamlined used
block style insignia.
Coaches 1923 -1933
From 1923 to 1928 most coaches had L M S in the waist panel near the centre
with the number towards each end but rarely at the extreme end in small 3 inch
serif style figures. L M S in 4-inch was the size on most coaches but 3-inch
was used on many pre-grouping vehicles with limited waist panel depth and on
many non-passenger coaching stock vehicles, e.g., fish and milk vans. From 1929,
the number appeared once only towards the right hand end of the coach with L
M S towards the left. From 1929 to 1932, the larger "stretched" shaded
numbers were used. The unshaded block numbers were used on renumbered and new
coaches from 1932. The round coat of arms was used on many end-door corridor
and open coaches (often not on third class coaches) and on most saloons. Dining
cars etc. that had waist panels had the wording in the panel with the coat of
arms below. Flush-sided coaches had the coat of arms in the lower part of the
side with the words spaced on either side to fit. Passenger doors other than
on unclassed restaurant cars carried class figures l or 3.
Locomotives 1938 - 1948
Locomotives used red-shaded insignia as standard from 1938 until around 1942,
except for streamlined Pacifics and almost all unlined black locos painted at
Crewe. After 1942 and until 1945 shaded insignia was confined largely to new
construction and to full re-paints (which were rare) of passenger engines. Unshaded
insignia was used for the partial wartime repaints and by Horwich works for
fully re-painted goods engines. From 1946, Crewe works mainly used the outlined
block style, but the other works, generally continued to use the serif insignia
The widest letter spacing with 60- inch centres, was used mainly on Stanier
curved top tenders. Fifty -three-inch centres, was used on most large pre-grouping
and Horwich painted tenders. The closest spacing at 40-inch centres, appeared
on most ex-LNWR, Johnson and Kirtley tenders, some Fowler tenders and on Fowler,
Stanier and Fairbum 2-6-2T and 2-6-4T locos. Other locos officially had the
largest size that would fit applied to them, however there were many anomalies.
Coaches
The letters LMS were applied in the waist panel towards the left, or at about
waist level on un-panelled stock as the standard insignia for coaches from 1934-1947,
except for relative few which had the 1946 block style. These numbers were applied
on the right at the same level. Block style numbers were used from 1934-1939
and serif style from 1940-1947. Class figures I & 3 were mounted in the
centres of lower door panel; the round topped 3 from 1934-1939 and the flat
topped 3 from 1940 to 1947. However, many coaches were never re-painted and
so did not receive the later style figures. The coat-of-arms used on coaches
were for dining, sleeping and other saloon vehicles and certain end door corridor
stock - mainly those vehicles which offered 1st. class accommodation. They were
not applied to non-corridor stock or to side-door corridor vehicles.
Locomotives
Serif style straw insignia was used at Crewe works from 1928 to 1947 for almost
all-plain black engines. Most ex-LNWR engines had largest size numbers, normally
on their cabsides, but on the bunker of many 2-4-2T's and Watford 0-6-2T's.
Smaller numbers were used where space precluded use of large ones (for example
10-inch numbers on 4F 0-6-0's) but the 10-inch size was more generally used
at the start of the period. Silver insignia was for the blue streamliners (numbers
6220-4) and no.5552 Silver Jubilee. Gold block style insignia was used from
1936 to 1938 on Crewe, Derby and outside builders' new locos and some repaints.
It was also very common on Black 5's, 8F's, 2-6.4T's and Jubilees. Red-shaded
insignia was normal on LMS standard classes, though some unlined locos had unshaded
at first, with plain gold on repaints of non-standard types, as well as on red
streamliners. These styles were not used at Horwich or St.Rollox. Straw block
style insignia was used at Crewe from April 1946 on new locos and full repaints.
Plain straw was used only for a month or two, then the maroon lined version
was used. Ivatt class 2 2-6-0' and 2-6-2 T's used smaller sized letters and
figures; most other locos had the larger size. This was style rarely used at
Derby, not at all at St.Rollox, and used at Horwich only for Black 5's from
March 1947. Numbers in this style were usually set higher on the cabside than
normal with the power class below the number.
Coaches
Block style insignia were used on certain mainline coaches in 1946-47. The letters
LMS were towards left of coach and the number towards the right. The crest was
in the lower panel at or near centre. The words "restaurant car" or
"sleeping car" was spaced either side of crest. Class figures l or
3 were in the middle of door lower panels.
This information is provided
by the Historical Model Railway Society