Midland Green Locomotives - and water towers

For some reason I get into occasional hot water from railway experts who insist that Midland Railway locomotives were red, not green.  Well if it keeps them happy and stops them breaking into places (my Mother-in-Law's expression) that's fine.

We found green, red and cream paint beneath later paint layers on our tank so took our lead from that rather strong evidence.

Having a bit of time on my hands I decided to nail this once and for all.   It seems that all Midland Railway locomotives were painted green until 1883.   Our tower was built in 1876.

Here is a picture of one of the green ones:

And another:

Here the artist has taken liberties with the LMS bit.   The LMS didn't start until January 1923 by which time the engine would have been red.

The authority on such things is Midland Style.   Page 71 of the 1975 Edition states: 

...... in September 1881 class 1492 2-4-0 No.1500 and nine other locomotives were experimentally painted a dull red. The object of this was to find a less fugitive, more economic and more distinctive colour than the green. The outcome of the experiment was the development and adoption of the famous crimson lake which became known as “Midland red”, although its official description at the time was oxide of iron. The Locomotive Committee minute of 2^nd November 1883 which ordered that all Midland engines were to be painted the new colour also stated that the estimated saving would be £2,000 a year. The last Midland engine to be painted green was 0-4-4T No.1636, completed at Derby in July 1883

I shall trouble you no further with this.   Promise.