During the transition from the shadow franchise era to EWS ownership, 60022 became unique in its class by being outshopped in primer and entering traffic in this unfinished state. This was because the final EWS livery had not yet been decided, but the locomotive was urgently needed for service. It featured primer-grey bodysides, a few black-painted details, numbers and warning flashes – and nothing more! Whilst some of these “ghost locos” were quickly repainted into the maroon and gold EWS livery, 60022 remained in its distinctive state for around 14 months. It skipped the original EW&S branding entirely, instead later receiving the EWS lettering and the famous “three beasties” logo on the cab side.