By Justin Franz 

KIDDERMINSTER, England — The Southern Pacific painted their 4-8-4s orange, the Southern Railway (the American one) painted steamers green, and the Santa Fe had some in blue. But it’s hard to find an example of a steam locomotive getting painted purple — until now. This spring, England’s Severn Valley Railway painted 4-6-2 34027 purple in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. The heritage railway also renumbered the locomotive 70 to honor the Queen’s seventh decade on the throne. 

Purple is the official color of the Platinum Jubilee and officials say was selected for its boldness — especially on a steam locomotive. Previously, locomotive 34027, the “Taw Valley,” was painted green. The locomotive was built in 1946 for the Southern Railway (England’s Southern, not ours). In 1964, it was retired and ended up in the legendary Barry Scrapyard, the facility responsible for a number of British locomotives being saved in the post-steam era. In 1980, it was taken out of the scrapyard and restored in 1987 on the Severn Valley, a 16-mile heritage railway, about three hours northwest of London. 

Earlier this spring, the railroad painted the locomotive maroon before hand-painting it a bright purple. The maroon gave it a base that allowed the purple to really shine, officials said. The locomotive made its debut last weekend. 

“I thought it was a potty idea but it’s grown on me,” said Martin White, head of engineering for the railroad. 

The railroad said the locomotive will remain in the purple paint until later this year when it will go in for some work and most likely get its more traditional green. 

For more information, visit the railroad’s website.