Centred on Oswestry, the Cambrian Railway was not extensive in terms of the mileage it operated, totalling just 230 miles, but it certainly was in the area it covered. The Cambrian served central and coastal Wales with railways that encompassed not only standard-gauge operations, but also included several narrow-gauge railways. These included the Vale of Rheidol, the Welshpool and Llanfair, the Corris, the Ffestiniog, and the Talyllyn Railway, among others.

Between 1883 and 1909, the standard Cambrian coach livery featured bronze green on the lower body panels, coach ends (apart from brake ends, which were vermilion until at least 1911 and possibly up to 1915), and upper body beading. The waist and upper panels were white under varnish, resulting in a colour with a distinctly creamy tone. Solebars were black, with all running gear below also finished in black. Mansell wheel centres were unusually painted a red-brown colour, which stood out against the general appearance of the coaches.

Panel lining was in gold with black edging, although in the later part of this period an ultra-thin vermilion lining was introduced. The Cambrian armorial device was carried twice on each side of the six-wheeled stock, with the company legend, class numerals, and coach numbering all appearing in gold sans-serif characters, blocked in dark blue, light blue, and white.