The topic of the locomotive liveries of the Isle of Man Railway is one that splits the enthusiast fraternity, with many believing that each should carry the same colour scheme in line with historic tradition, and others of the opinion that different (and not necessarily historical) liveries are preferable.  The lineage of these colour schemes can be outlined as follows:-

In The Beginning (1873 - 1945)

The original livery details can be pieced together from existing documentation and period photographs, the latter of which give detail of lining styles only, as the earliest known colour photography of the line dates from as late as 1944 and these are rare.  When delivered all the locomotives carried a deep "brunswick" green livery (this being specified on the order papers, some of which still exist today).  This base colour was complimented by detailed lining out of a broad black line, thinner lines of vermillion (red) and off-white (cream) on either side.  There were many different variations on this over the years and it was simplified as time went by.  For instance, early views show the lining on the front cab sheets following the contour of the boiler barrel over the top but this was changed to that carried today.  Certainly there was more detailing generally, with the wheel centres lined out and an off-white line surrounding the nameplates on some photographs of the period.  As today, the locomotives generally carried their fleet numbers on the lower rear cab sheet but this doesn't appear to have always been the case.  By the 1940s what few colour images exist show that the green was considerably lighter and accompanied only by a black lining band with no further detailing, and the backing of name and worksplates was in red by this time.

The Post-War Years (1946-1966)

What would today be classed as a re-branding exercise took place in the immediate post-war period with all service locomotives systematically receiving a new "Indian Red" livery, initially referred to in the company's documents as the new red; this is thought to have been a cost-cutting measure and simply been red lead oxide paint which was then varnished over, accounting for the many different variations in shade that seemed to have appeared.  Couple this with the less vigorous cleaning procedures and this makes it difficult to pinpoint any one colour shade that was used.  Lining out was re-adopted with black line, outlined in either cream or bright yellow, but with less detailing than had been employed prior to the war.  Some locomotive nameplates featured a lining out around their wooden backing boards on occassion, with name and works plates being given signal red backdrops.  There are a great many photographs to reference covering this period, and they reveal a wide variation on the basic red livery from locomotive to locomotive.  Certainly, photographs exist of  No. 8 Fenella at Ramsey Station in what appears to be a brown livery and orange / black / orange lining, and it is though that this itself is a variant of the red standard.  other images show No. 11 Maitland  in a brighter red livery with orange / black / orange lining detail, which was not always applied to the boiler bands or pony box axle which is commonplace now.  It was also standard for a time to apply lining around the edge of the nameplate.

The Ailsa Years & Beyond (1967 - 1978)

The reopening on 2nd June 1967 was heralded by a further change of image, with locomotives receiving a bright green livery akin to the L.N.E.R. green on all service locomotives, the origin of which is said to stem from the Rev. Teddy Boston who was a friend of Lord Ailsa and owned a model of an I.M.R. locomotive that he had painted green to great effect - the rest, as they say, is history!   This has been known variously as Ailsa green, or spring green, apple green, Northern green, or any variation thereof!  The lining at this period mirrored L.N.E.R. practice and was white/black/white.  Also a this time, the practice of repainting withdrawn locomotives for display purposes began with No. 1 Sutherland, No. 6 Peveril and No. 16 Mannin being so treated.  The one exception was No. 15 Caledonia which was only green for a short time (she was driven through the opening day ribbon in green) before reverting to an approximation of her original Manx Northern Railway livery then being withdrawn in 1968 with a weak boiler.  At this time the non-service locomotives carried a variety of colours, notably a non-standard red which was an approximation of the immediate post-war colour scheme, with No. 3 Pender  and No. 14 Thornhill appearing in this scheme (the latter with some precedent as it was thought to resemble her original Manx Northern colour scheme).  The familiar spring shade of green remained as standard on all fleet members until nationalisation in 1978 when changes were made, though it did become a little deeper in shade later.

Jackson & Smith Eras (1979 - 1998)

Nationalisation saw many visual changes, the first being the repaint of No. 4 "Loch" into a previously unseen maroon livery with yellow/black/yellow lining (a painted-on works plate on the tank side was also a feature at this time).  No. 11 Maitland was to follow, appearing in 1981 in a variation of the Indian Red livery of the post-war period, and notoriously No. 12 Hutchinson in the bright blue livery, complete with a square cab housing akin to No.16 Mannin. She remained in this guise until rebuilt in 1999-2000.  No. 13 Kissack remained in green though the shade was latterly darker, an assimilation of the original livery, and this was carried until she was withdrawn at the end of the 1991 season.  No. 10 G.H.Wood received her donor boiler and emerged in 1993 for the Year Of Railways celebrations in a very dark green which was applied to resemble the original livery, though this variation had an orange line either side of the black, further darkening the appearance.  This was further changed to a yellow line for one season in 1999 brightening the scheme considerably.  Of note also during this period was No. 11 Maitland which was painted matt black with no lining for one season only in 1988 in connection with a filming assignment.  When the unique Caledonia re-entered service in 1995 for the International Railway Festival much research revealred her original livery and she was repainted into this elaborate scheme based on rubbings and studies of the official works' photograph.  No. 1 Sutherland was rebuilt and entered service in 1998 but the shade of green was lighter than that used previously, this was based on the last coat of paint received by her in the museum at Port Erin which was not an historically accurate one.

The Howard Regime (1999 - 2006)

The arrival of new management saw a standard livery re-adapted and the Indian Red scheme was chosen and applied to all but No. 15 which was selected, purely by management whim, to receive an unusual deep blue livery with single line red lining.  Diesel locomotive No. 17 was also repainted from brunswick to spring green during this period which was typified by its health and safety policy and standardisation of many aspects of the line.  No. 12 Hutchinson did however re-emerge from major works in traditional form at this time, as did No. 13 Kissack, both in the standard Indian Red livery.  New diesel locomotive No. 18 was named Ailsa and was said to be receiving spring green but to date this has not happened and the locomotive remains allover white, albeit with a painted numeral on the rear cab sheet to match her predecessors.

Right Up To Date (2007 - Date)

The pattern was changed in 2007 when, to mark the 40th anniversary of the re-opening of the railway No. 10 G.H. Wood was selected to be repainted into the spring green scheme, a more accurate version than that carried by No. 1 upon her 1998 re-commissioning.  No. 15 Caledonia lost her I.M.R. identity again and is now purely Manx Northern No. 4 carrying the intricate original livery and it is proposed to repaint further locomotives in historical liveries as time allows, with one most certainly due to appear in the original 1873 scheme in the near future.  The line also has two Simplex locomotives, one in blue the other yellow, though these have never received fleet numbers or names.  It is understood that the intention is to repaint one service locomotive into the original brunswick green of 1873 but to date this has yet to happen.