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First Group's corporate colours were applied to ten First North Western class 156 units when they received code 6 overhauls at Wabtec Doncaster.

The blue, white and magenta scheme, designed by Lawrence & Pierce, is commonly known as 'Barbie' livery.

The first trains to appear in these colours were the class 175 units built from 1999.

Existing trains in the FNW fleet continued to be repainted in the old North Western Trains livery of blue with gold stars, however by the time the class 156 fleet was due for repaint the policy had changed.

156.420 became the first of its class to be repainted in the 'Barbie' scheme in June 2003.



156423 at Salford Crescent, 01-Nov-03

The third set painted was 156.423. It is seen arriving at Salford Crescent on 1st November 2003 with a Blackpool North - Buxton service.

The full width of cab fronts are yellow, with window frames and light clusters in black.

The roof dome above the orange warning line is dark grey.

 
156428 cabside, 17-Apr-04

Main colour is blue with magenta and white stripes. Doors are silver white.

First logos and the 'willow leaf' upsweep are towards the cab ends.

On the toilet side of the DMS(B) vehicle it completely covers the former window.

 
156452 cabside, 17-Apr-04

The small windows of the parcels area, and those opposite the toilet have the upsweep continued over the glass in broken form.

156.452 photographed on April 17, 2004.

The high level white stripe above the cant rail is already looking work stained after 8 months.

 
156452 bodyside, 17-Apr-04

The middle of each bodyside carries 'North Western' branding in a break in the white and Magenta waist stripes.

The magenta stripe above the windows fades out to white about a third down the carriage.

Solebars are painted the same blue colour as the body.

 
156452 inner ends, 17-Apr-04

A magenta First emblem is carried on the lower bodyside at the inner ends.

White on the upper bodyside stops short of the GRP end panels, although the waist stripes wrap round the corners.

The lower part of the doors have a white-blue fade pattern.

 
156428 at Manchester Piccadilly, 17-Apr-04

Many of First North Western's sets have received all yellow replacement gangway covers.

156.428 is an example, seen at Manchester Piccadilly with a service to the Airport from Southport on April 17, 2004.

 
156423 at Liverpool Lime St, 29-January-05

In the weeks leading up to the start of the Northern franchise on 17th December 2004, First branding has been removed.

156.423, in the de-branded 'barbie' livery, photographed at Liverpool Lime Street on January 29, 2005.