Now we've all that stuff out of the way, can we get back to heraldry???
briyeo1950 wrote:To be correct it would seem the lion should always face to the left.
From the Wiki page I linked to earlier (and yes, I know Wiki isn't the most authoratative source) my reading is that heraldic animals face to the left, based on that being the left of the bloke holding the shield. That would mean that the viewer (ie: us) would see a lion, unicorn et al facing right; admittedly just about every photo I've seen disproves that.
I dropped across an unfortunately dead link that promised..."I would call that the ferret and dartboard logo. > > The lion and wheel was the earlier one that the College of Heralds > objected to BR turning" (
http://forums.travel.com) though an old post in these very forums says "The 2nd emblem, Ferret with dartboard, originally was made in two versions and was used for about 18 months until the Royal Collage of Heralds pointed out that they had not authorised the left facing version. Since defying these people was punishable by hanging (and still is), the BR board ordered them to be replaced quickly by the depots." (
http://forums.atomic-systems.com/viewto ... 4#p1319235)
The best I've been able to find is from
http://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/precisi ... large.html
"British Railways
Post 1956 Locomotive Crest.
Right Facing verses Left Facing Lion.
When the British Transport Commision applied to the College of Heralds for an Heraldic Device or Coat of Arms, they were joining a very small group of British Railway Companies to ever have held such.
The actual part of the Locomotive crest that is the heraldic device is the Lion sitting in the Crown holding the Wheel, as shown above, and it is this design that according to the College rules that cannot be changed.
When British Railways were handed the designs for the crests from the British Transport Commision they commissioned the production of transfers for application to both locomotives and coaching stock.
As with the Pre 1956 design of crest the locomotive transfers were produced with both right and left facing lions, so that when applied to the tender or tanks of a locomotive the lion would always face forward.
Whilst the exact time frame is unknown, someone from the College of Heralds spotted the right facing crest and a representation was made to the British Transport Commision to the effect that they were in breach of their agreement with the College and that they were either to stop using the right facing crest or to petition for another Heraldic Device with the Lion facing right.
As petitioning for another Device would have required the outlay of another, not inconsiderable, sum of money the British Transport Commision declined to petition and instructed British Railways to stop using and to remove all of the offending crests. In some cases it took up to eighteen months for the removal of said crests"
I really should get out more......
