A Moving Legacy: LNER Unveils ‘Gresley 150’ Azuma Livery to Celebrate Life of Railway Pioneer
19/06/2026
To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sir Nigel Gresley, former Chief Mechanical Engineer of the original LNER, a special Azuma train livery has been unveiled at Doncaster railway station.
‘Gresley 150’ marks the work and influence of the railway pioneer, famous for designing iconic locomotives such as Mallard and Flying Scotsman, who was instrumental in changing the face of the railway industry in the 1900s.
In a special event at Doncaster station, guests including Sir Nigel Gresley’s grandson and great-granddaughter were amongst the first people to see the striking livery on the side of a modern LNER Azuma train (unit no. 801228).
The design features original technical drawings of Gresley locomotives from the archives of the National Railway Museum, alongside artwork depicting the Mallard steam engine by John Park of Poster Creative, and a bust of Sir Nigel Gresley. Its Garter Blue colour is the same iconic colour that Gresley introduced for his streamlined A4 Pacific steam locomotives in 1937.
After being unveiled on Platform 8 at Doncaster station, invited guests then enjoyed a return trip to York on the train’s inaugural journey with its new livery. In the coming days, it will travel thousands of miles across the East Coast Main Line to destinations including Newcastle, Edinburgh, Leeds, and London.
David Horne, Managing Director of LNER, said: “This is a momentous day in the history of LNER as we recognise the significant impact that Sir Nigel Gresley had on the original LNER, as well as the wider rail industry.
“He was a pioneer, a true innovator, and is regarded as one of the all-time railway greats. It is fitting for us to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth with this special livery, which will be a moving legacy as we see this LNER Azuma travelling across the length of the East Coast Main Line, showcasing Gresley’s influence to thousands of customers each day.”
Ben Godfrey and Nina Britten, grandson and great-granddaughter of Sir Nigel Gresley, said: “We are incredibly proud of our grandfather and great-grandfather who did so much to positively change the railway. Alongside many steam locomotives and artefacts related to Sir Nigel Gresley that continue to be preserved, this new livery will tell a new generation of the impact felt by millions of people, both historically and in today’s world.”
During a weekend of celebrations, the Gresley Society has organised for every surviving Sir Nigel Gresley locomotive to carry a specially-commissioned ‘Gresley 150 Anniversary’ headboard on Friday 19 June 2026.
The new ‘Gresley 150’ train is scheduled to make its first passenger journey when it operates the 05.30 service from Leeds to London King’s Cross on Saturday morning (20 June 2026)*.
