railography photo galleries : Collections : New Photos : 25-D-1980 : (233 of 300)

Origin Unknown

69014, not long out of the Eastleigh Works paintshop, passed Potbridge with 6Y48, the 09:01 Eastleigh East Yard to Hoo Junction Up Yard departmental, on 17 April 2025.

The origins of the livery are unclear but it's been suggested that the inspiration came from either 'Kestrel', the Brush Sulzer 4000hp prototype of 1968, or more likely given the loco is named 'EMD Longport', the EMD FT Demonstrator of 1939, widely acknowledged as the locomotive that paved the way for the widespread dieselisation of America's railroads. Neither of them were painted in these colours so there may be another explanation. Still, it looks OK, which is what matters in the end.