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Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information

2026-04-06T15:42:21Z

Josh Bernard: /* Locomotives */

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

See [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information]]

==General==

The 1879 Material Inventory lists the following paints stocked at the Denver shops:

*Burnt Umber

*Raw Sienna

*Western Red

*Silver White

*Ivory Black

*Indian Red

*Orange Chrome Yellow

*Scarlet Lake

*Van Dyke Brown

*Rose Lake

*Raw Turkey Umber

*Burnt Sienna

*Prussian Blue

*Golden Ochre

*Tuscan Red

*Dry Burnt Umber

*Dry Raw Sienna

*Dry English Vermillon

*Lamp Black

*Raw Umber

*Chrome Yellow

*Dry Ultramarine Blue

*White Lead in oil

*Dry Red Lead

*Coach Green

*Shellacc

*Chicago Hard Body Drying Varnish

*"Standard Varnish"

*Valentine Medium Coats Finishing Varnish

*Elastic Carriage Varnish

*Japan

*Asphaltum (black paint)

*Venetian Red

*[[Oxide and Metallic Paints|Iron Clad Mineral (brown)]]

*Dry Rose Pink

*Dry Tuscan Red

*Yellow Ochre

*Black Diamond Paint

''Inventory of Tools, Material, Equipment & Other Property of Denver & Rio Grande Railway Trasnferred to Receiver, Aug. 14, 1879 by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Original ledger number 66 from the collection of Jason Sanford.''

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

Locomotives 47 through 72, 74 through 87, 90, 97, 98, and 102 through 106 are delivered in Baldwin Style 98 painted Olive Green, including the cab, with color (imitation gold) striping and lettering. The boiler jackets are American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 46, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Class 60N (later C-16) locomotives, Baldwin class 10-24 1/2 E, are delivered in Style 103, black and color. Body color is black, main striping and lettering are in imitation gold (yellow) with red pinstriping.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 197, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1881'''

Locomotives 150 through 165 are delivered in Baldwin Style 69 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 239, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 23, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 412 through 416 are delivered in Baldwin style 103 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 22, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Locomotives 166 through 177 are delivered in Baldwin Style 125 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 pp 165, 261, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1886'''

Locomotives 507 through 511 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the locomotive but no stripes on the tender. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 555 through 574 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 14 p 42-43, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1889'''

Locomotives 575 through 581 are delivered painted black with no striping. The lettering is "Lemon Yellow." The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 206, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 512 through 514 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the cab but not the tender, cylinders or wheels. The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 209, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1890'''

Locomotives 515 through 538 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 582 through 629 and 805 through 826 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 16 p 108-110, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1903'''

Standard gauge steam locomotives lettered in aluminum leaf on the cab, domes and tender sides. Rear of switch engine tenders and road engine tenders with rear-mounted air tanks and toolboxes lettered in white lead. All small lettering such as "KEEP OFF," tender capacity, and repair/maintenance dates is in white lead.

''D.&R.G. Standard Painting and Lettering - Standard Gauge Locomotives, 1903''

Narrow gauge locomotives 450-464 are delivered in Baldwin Style 261 painted black with gold leaf striping and lettering. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. The eccentric rods and straps are painted bright red.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 25 p 217, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1910'''

The name of the railroad "Denver & Rio Grande" is no longer spelled out on the tender; instead only the locomotive number is painted in "big orange letters."

''Telluride Journal, 7 April 1910.''

'''1912'''

Baldwin builder specifications for the 280S-class (K-59) standard gauge 2-8-2s indicate that the locomotives were painted black with no striping. Lettering was "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color i.e. orange".

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1200-1213; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

Standard gauge K-59 class steam locomotives number 1200 through 1213 are lettered in "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color." Headlight number plates in black glass with clear numbers. "KEEP OFF" stencils are in white lead.

''Lettering Freight Locomotives Class, D&RG. July 1912. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908-1916'''

Engineer Arthur "Art" Campbell, assigned to D&RG 768, carried "Plumbago" paint on the locomotive to paint the smokebox and stack with every time the train ran on time. Mr. Campbell's fireman described the color as silver that "would shine fit to knock your eye out." Note this was not standard and only applies to number 768.

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

'''1913'''

Standard gauge 262/261S (P-44) Class steam locomotives were painted black with no striping and lettered with "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color" (orange).

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1001-1006; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

'''1924'''

A telegram sent to the Rio Grande Southern from the D&RGW offices reads as follows:

<blockquote> "TELEGRAM—THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD SYSTEM - 1/20/24. RRBZ. If the yellow locomotive lettering paint comes, which I wired ADB to send you, have Randow use it on re-lettering the D&RGW engines coming from Montrose. If it doesn’t come, go ahead and use what you have. RCM."</blockquote>

'''1926'''

A letter addressed to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado lists the following paints for narrow gauge locomotives:

<blockquote>"Alamosa, Colorado - January 23 1926 - Following is a list of paints and what they are used for furnished by my painter foreman and I want you to specify from this list the paints that you order in the future: 1. [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Stay-Brite for front ends]]. 2. Long's Black Paint for headlights, hand rails, domes, and exterior of cabs and tenders. 3. Russian Black Jacket Enamel for jackets. 4. Cab Green for interior of cabs. 5. Aluminum leaf for lettering cabs and tender. 6. Underpining Black Paint for pilots and all running gear of engines, underneath running board, tender frames, and trucks. 7. White Lead for all stenciling. 8. TOCO Finishing Varnish for varnishing exterior of cabs and tenders... If your requisitions do not show the paint or enamel as described in this list, same will be held up or returned to you for proper description."</blockquote>

[https://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,277935,278267#msg-278267| Earl Knoob] of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad found an original can of Staybrite Front End Paint which he described as "basic metallic medium gray."

'''1937'''

D&RGW Standard Practice outlines that locomotives are to be painted with [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Staybrite Front End Paint]] on the smokebox and firebox, Locomotive Black Enamel on cylinders, pilots, and running gear, "Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green)" on the boiler jacket, Black Duco on the cab exterior and tender, aluminum paint on the cylinder heads, number plate bead, tire rims, and edge of running board, and "Cab Green, Medium" on the cab interior.

''D&RGWRR Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders, 1 November 1937.''

The subject of Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green) is highly controversial in D&RGW history circles; very few locomotives apparently actually received it, with most being on the standard gauge portions of the company.

'''1941'''

Du Pont Duco "Gold" (ochre yellow) is used on the first fifteen diesel road switchers. This is the first documented use of yellow-orange paint for lettering diesel locomotives, and while often confused with the later "aspen gold," is a different paint mix and different shade.

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1945'''

The red and white "Rising Sun" shield on the front of some steam locomotives, particularly the L-105 class, is abolished. Due to a series of fatal grade crossing accidents in Utah during the 1930s, the state asked the railroad to develop better visibility features for its steam locomotives, settling on the "Rising Sun" pattern that resembled the Japanese Gunki flag.

<blockquote>"No longer will this gaudy red and white shield adorn the front of Rio Grande Locomotives as they roar through the mountains. Originally designed to give motorists additional warning that a train was approaching, the shields have now been ordered removed. While Rio Grande officials did not say so, there are those who believe they are being removed because of their close resemblance to the Rising Sun of Japan."</blockquote>

''"D&RGW Sinks Rising Sun," The Sentinel (Midvale, Utah) 11 May 1945 p7.'' Also printed in the Park Record (Park City, Utah).

According to Robert LeMassena, the "Rising Sun" was replaced with chevron stripes painted with either white or aluminum (both colors were used, but not on the same locomotives). Yellow is also known to have been used but further research is required to determine which locomotives received which colors and for what period.

'''1946'''

Du Pont Dulux "Imitation Gold" is introduced to replace Duco "Gold". Dulux "Imitation Gold" is described as brighter and more yellow than the previous Duco "Gold."

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1949'''

"Aspen Gold" is introduced for the first time on the "Aspen Leaf" scheme on the noses of Alco PA diesel locomotives. This is Du Pont Duco 254-6479/EMD number 8173994. "Aspen Gold" is a later railfan name and was not the name of the paint color itself within the industry; Du Pont and D&RGW documents simply called it "orange."

D&RGW class C-16 number 268 is painted in the "Bumblebee" scheme for the Chicago Railroad Fair. This was an attempt to adapt the "Aspen Leaf" scheme of the new PA diesel locomotives to a faux 19th century setting. Paint colors used are:

*Du Pont Duco 6479 deck 620 shade "Orange Lacquer"

*Aluminum (frame and wheels)

*Black (stripes, letters, numbers)

*Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel

''"Timetable: Cripple Creek & Tin Cup R.R.," Chicago, Ill: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, 1949.''

'''1951'''

ALCO PA-1 A unit noses are painted "Non-Skid Flat Green."

''D&RGWRR Locomotive Painting: PA-1, Superseding all drawings prior to 9 July 1951.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1871'''

Cabooses painted "Brilliant Red" with black ironwork. Floors, platforms and steps painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Window sashes painted Tuscan Red. Lettering was done in imitation gold (yellow).

''[https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/equipment-data-sheet-no-1-web-optimized-2.pdf| Colorado Railroad Museum restoration report for D&RG caboose 49]''

'''1890'''

New standard gauge side-door cabooses are painted white.

''The Herald Democrat, 16 October 1890.''

A photograph of one of these cars is depicted in the 1895 Car-Builder's Dictionary.

'''1896'''

Ironwork painted Hanion Bros. & Co. "Anti-Rust" or "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal, August 1896''

'''1904'''
[[image:Paint PrincesMineral DRG Camp Car Cisco Utah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Example of faded Prince's Mineral Red on a 34-foot Denver & Rio Grande camp car located in Cisco, Utah.]]
[[image:VT-paintshop-roofcolors-PrincesMineral-VenetianRed-DarkBrown.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Original sample of Prince's Mineral from the Stephen Drew Collection.]]

AC&F built 5500 series narrow gauge stock cars painted Princes Mineral Brown with [[Asphaltum]] hardware and trucks.

Four-wheel cabooses painted Permanent Red. Wood roofs are also painted Permanent Red; tin roofs are painted Princes' Metallic Brown. Floor, platforms, and running board painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Interior walls painted light green. Ceilings painted Light Blue. Window sashes Tuscan Red. Ironwork is black. Lettered in white lead.

''Standard Lettering and Instructions, Narrow Gauge 4-Wheel Caboose, Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Card 3023 File C-373, Approved 18 May 1904.''

Interiors of four-wheel cabooses painted Pea Green with black trim.

''"Denver & Rio Grande: Cabooses No. 0513 to 0567 Incl.," Folio drawing 1904.''

'''1907'''

Standard gauge boxcars painted Prince's Metallic Brown on roof and body. Roofwalks are unpainted. Trucks and ironwork in black metallic. Lettering in white lead.

''Lettering Box D&RG. 20 April 1907. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908'''

31000-series standard gauge refrigerator cars painted Acme Chrome Yellow Refrigerator Color on sides, Princes' Metallic Brown on ends and roof, with black lettering.

''Lettering Refrigerator Car D&RG. 1908. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1912'''

The interiors of standard gauge construction cars are painted "light green."

''Denver & Rio Grande System: Construction Car 0776, Standard Gauge. Folio Sheet.''

'''1916'''

Cabooses repainted from "Brilliant Red" to Prince's Mineral Brown.

<blockquote>"Denver & Rio Grande Railway Burnham, May 24, 1916 - Gentleman: Effective on receipt of these instructions, we will discontinue the use of brilliant red on caboose cars and paint such cars the same as other freight equipment. Acknowledge receipt and advise if understood. Respectfully, J. F. Enright"</blockquote>

'''1920'''

[[DRG Freight Car Red|Freight Car Red]] introduced. Exact date of switch from Prince's Mineral is currently unknown.

Jackson Thode identified D&RGW Freight Car Red as Kohler-McLister KM-91 Box Car Red.

'''1937'''

Stock Cars switch from Freight Car Red to Black.

''Telegram from Alamosa to train masters in Durango, Gunnison and Montrose instructing them to not load any red stock cars in their territory, but to send them to Alamosa to be painted black.''

'''1939'''

Standard gauge maintenance bunk cars 63500 through 64199 are painted gray with black trucks, aluminum roofs and cream interiors.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p270.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. Standard Plan: Std. Gage Sleeper Car for B&B, Fence, Paint, Signal, Etc. Gangs." 1 August 1939.']'

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1871'''

Narrow-gauge passenger cars painted a “brown or cinnamon color,” relieved with gilt.

''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=7IRbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false| The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette (St. Joseph, MO), 17 August 1871]''

Passenger cars build by Jackson & Sharp are painted "rich dark green" on the interior with gold leaf relief and woodwork in walnut and Hungarian ash.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_44/page/n827/mode/1up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 22 July 1871 p817.]''

'''1876'''

Passenger cars "El Moro" and "La Veta," built by Billmeyer & Smalls, are painted in a "finely toned wine color" with yellow striping. The Buntin Patent seats are upholstered in crimson and green plush velvet with silver plated armrests. Metal wall fixtures are likewise silver plated. Interior woodwork is black walnut, bird's eye maple and cherry mouldings with gold leaf trim.

It is noted that the Billmeyer & Smalls artists that painted these cars are called Messrs. Watt.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n1073/mode/2up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 26 August 1876 p1080.]''

'''1878'''

Parlor cars painted “chocolate color,” striped and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WizuhXCLftk67hDMOEk2mPgGX1YfAWjP/view?usp=sharing| The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 21 June 1878]''

'''1888'''

Pullman sleeper and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are painted red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

New standard gauge passenger equipment built at the Burnham shops and by Pullman are painted red with gold leaf trim.

''"The Standard Gauge," The Rocky Mountain News 14 March 1888.''

'''1889'''

The Pullman sleepers and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are repainted to "olive" with gold leaf lettering during rebuilds at Burnham.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

'''1890'''

Standard gauge passenger cars are painted Tuscan red with gold leaf lettering and striping. The lettering is drop shadowed in two-tone "light color" (likely the light blue found on Pay Car F, former chair car 25 at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad). Corner and door posts are painted black with gold pinstriping. Roof chamfer is black.

''"Lettering and Stripes for Standard Gauge Baggage & Express Cars," D&RG card 3685 C-373, 5 April 1890, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1904'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted with Sherwin Williams Pullman Color (New) (Pullman olive green). Narrow gauge cars continue to be painted Tuscan Red.

'''1908'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted in Pullman color. Chamfers, crown mouldings, window nosings, door sills and ironwork all painted black. Lettered in gold leaf. Roof painted Prince's Metallic Brown. Window sashes finished mahogany. Trucks painted "Pullman Shade" and striped with yellow. Signal hose and gas valve painted Vermilion.

Baggage compartment interiors painted light green on the walls, Prince's Mineral Brown on the floors, and white on the ceiling.

''Denver & Rio Grande painting instructions, 1908, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1912'''

Gold striping on narrow gauge passenger cars is discontinued. Imitation gold lettering is replaced with real gold leaf, since leaf lasted longer than paint.

''Letter from J.F. Enright, 22 October 1912, quoted in Chappell, Gordon, '''[https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0305_p0319.pdf| Narrow Gauge over Cumbres,]''' New Mexico Geological Society: 1971.''

'''1918'''

Narrow gauge passenger cars painted standard Pullman Green instead of tuscan red as a cost saving measure.

<blockquote>"September 6 1918 - We have in the past, painted our narrow gauge equipment a Tuscan red, but as economy will result from the use of the Pullman color, as we figure about 3 months longer service and $1.25 per car less cost for material, wish you would arrange hereafter as narrow gauge equipment passes through the shop, to adopt the Pullman color as our standard. -W.W. Leman."</blockquote>

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

Lineside buildings were painted oxide brown (Prince's Metallic).

'''1890'''

The roofs of the snowsheds on Marshall Pass are painted with "fireproof paint."

''The Tomahawk (Denver, Colorado) 4 September 1890.''

'''1915'''

Lineside structures repainted to buff (Kolher-McLister 6-C-14 Jersey Cream) siding with brown (Kolher McLister 6-C-47 Brown) trim.

'''1942'''

Water columns are painted black on the bases and aluminum "or substitute" the rest of the way up.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p266.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "D.&R.G.W.R.R.Co. Standard Painting of Water Columns," 23 January 1942.]''

'''1945'''

Lineside structures repainted to cream siding with light green trim.

''Historical Overview of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Osier, Colorado, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad June 2010.''

Steel bridges are painted silver.

''Painting data, bridge 579.23 near Woodside, Utah''

[[image:Paint-DRGW-GilullyUtah-Phone-Booth-Sampled-May-2021-Yellow-Silver.jpg|400px|Paint samples from a D&RGW phone booth at the site of the Gilully Utah station]]

'''1946'''

Bridge 570.50 is painted two coats Aluminum paint

'''1963'''

Bridges at MP 544.94 and 566.93 Desert Siding are sand blasted, primed with Dupont Zinc Chromate, and painted with Rust-O-Leum Aluminum.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information

2026-03-17T03:50:24Z

Josh Bernard: /* Locomotives */

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

See [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information]]

==General==

The 1879 Material Inventory lists the following paints stocked at the Denver shops:

*Burnt Umber

*Raw Sienna

*Western Red

*Silver White

*Ivory Black

*Indian Red

*Orange Chrome Yellow

*Scarlet Lake

*Van Dyke Brown

*Rose Lake

*Raw Turkey Umber

*Burnt Sienna

*Prussian Blue

*Golden Ochre

*Tuscan Red

*Dry Burnt Umber

*Dry Raw Sienna

*Dry English Vermillon

*Lamp Black

*Raw Umber

*Chrome Yellow

*Dry Ultramarine Blue

*White Lead in oil

*Dry Red Lead

*Coach Green

*Shellacc

*Chicago Hard Body Drying Varnish

*"Standard Varnish"

*Valentine Medium Coats Finishing Varnish

*Elastic Carriage Varnish

*Japan

*Asphaltum (black paint)

*Venetian Red

*[[Oxide and Metallic Paints|Iron Clad Mineral (brown)]]

*Dry Rose Pink

*Dry Tuscan Red

*Yellow Ochre

*Black Diamond Paint

''Inventory of Tools, Material, Equipment & Other Property of Denver & Rio Grande Railway Trasnferred to Receiver, Aug. 14, 1879 by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Original ledger number 66 from the collection of Jason Sanford.''

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

Locomotives 47 through 72, 74 through 87, 90, 97, 98, and 102 through 106 are delivered in Baldwin Style 98 painted Olive Green, including the cab, with color (imitation gold) striping and lettering. The boiler jackets are American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 46, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Class 60N (later C-16) locomotives, Baldwin class 10-24 1/2 E, are delivered in Style 103, black and color. Body color is black, main striping and lettering are in imitation gold (yellow) with red pinstriping.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 197, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1881'''

Locomotives 150 through 165 are delivered in Baldwin Style 69 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 239, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 23, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 412 through 416 are delivered in Baldwin style 103 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 22, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Locomotives 166 through 177 are delivered in Baldwin Style 125 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 pp 165, 261, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1886'''

Locomotives 507 through 511 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the locomotive but no stripes on the tender. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 555 through 574 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 14 p 42-43, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1889'''

Locomotives 575 through 581 are delivered painted black with no striping. The lettering is "Lemon Yellow." The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 206, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 512 through 514 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the cab but not the tender, cylinders or wheels. The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 209, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1890'''

Locomotives 515 through 538 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 582 through 629 and 805 through 826 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 16 p 108-110, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1903'''

Standard gauge steam locomotives lettered in aluminum leaf on the cab, domes and tender sides. Rear of switch engine tenders and road engine tenders with rear-mounted air tanks and toolboxes lettered in white lead. All small lettering such as "KEEP OFF," tender capacity, and repair/maintenance dates is in white lead.

''D.&R.G. Standard Painting and Lettering - Standard Gauge Locomotives, 1903''

Narrow gauge locomotives 450-464 are delivered in Baldwin Style 261 painted black with gold leaf striping and lettering. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. The eccentric rods and straps are painted bright red.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 25 p 217, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1910'''

The name of the railroad "Denver & Rio Grande" is no longer spelled out on the tender; instead only the locomotive number is painted in "big orange letters."

''Telluride Journal, 7 April 1910.''

'''1912'''

Baldwin builder specifications for the 280S-class (K-59) standard gauge 2-8-2s indicate that the locomotives were painted black with no striping. Lettering was "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color i.e. orange".

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1200-1213; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

Standard gauge K-59 class steam locomotives number 1200 through 1213 are lettered in "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color." Headlight number plates in black glass with clear numbers. "KEEP OFF" stencils are in white lead.

''Lettering Freight Locomotives Class, D&RG. July 1912. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908-1916'''

Engineer Arthur "Art" Campbell, assigned to D&RG 768, carried "Plumbago" paint on the locomotive to paint the smokebox and stack with every time the train ran on time. Mr. Campbell's fireman described the color as silver that "would shine fit to knock your eye out." Note this was not standard and only applies to number 768.

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

'''1913'''

Standard gauge 262/261S (P-44) Class steam locomotives were painted black with no striping and lettered with "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color" (orange).

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1001-1006; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

'''1924'''

A telegram sent to the Rio Grande Southern from the D&RGW offices reads as follows:

<blockquote> "TELEGRAM—THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD SYSTEM - 1/20/24. RRBZ. If the yellow locomotive lettering paint comes, which I wired ADB to send you, have Randow use it on re-lettering the D&RGW engines coming from Montrose. If it doesn’t come, go ahead and use what you have. RCM."</blockquote>

'''1926'''

A letter addressed to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado lists the following paints for narrow gauge locomotives:

<blockquote>"Alamosa, Colorado - January 23 1926 - Following is a list of paints and what they are used for furnished by my painter foreman and I want you to specify from this list the paints that you order in the future: 1. [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Stay-Brite for front ends]]. 2. Long's Black Paint for headlights, hand rails, domes, and exterior of cabs and tenders. 3. Russian Black Jacket Enamel for jackets. 4. Cab Green for interior of cabs. 5. Aluminum leaf for lettering cabs and tender. 6. Underpining Black Paint for pilots and all running gear of engines, underneath running board, tender frames, and trucks. 7. White Lead for all stenciling. 8. TOCO Finishing Varnish for varnishing exterior of cabs and tenders... If your requisitions do not show the paint or enamel as described in this list, same will be held up or returned to you for proper description."</blockquote>

[https://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,277935,278267#msg-278267| Earl Knoob] of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad found an original can of Staybrite Front End Paint which he described as "basic metallic medium gray."

'''1937'''

D&RGW Standard Practice outlines that locomotives are to be painted with [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Staybrite Front End Paint]] on the smokebox and firebox, Locomotive Black Enamel on cylinders, pilots, and running gear, "Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green)" on the boiler jacket, Black Duco on the cab exterior and tender, aluminum paint on the cylinder heads, number plate bead, tire rims, and edge of running board, and "Cab Green, Medium" on the cab interior.

''D&RGWRR Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders, 1 November 1937.''

The subject of Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green) is highly controversial in D&RGW history circles; very few locomotives apparently actually received it, with most being on the standard gauge portions of the company.

'''1941'''

Du Pont Duco "Gold" (ochre yellow) is used on the first fifteen diesel road switchers. This is the first documented use of yellow-orange paint for lettering diesel locomotives, and while often confused with the later "aspen gold," is a different paint mix and different shade.

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1946'''

Du Pont Dulux "Imitation Gold" is introduced to replace Duco "Gold". Dulux "Imitation Gold" is described as brighter and more yellow than the previous Duco "Gold."

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1949'''

"Aspen Gold" is introduced for the first time on the "Aspen Leaf" scheme on the noses of Alco PA diesel locomotives. This is Du Pont Duco 254-6479/EMD number 8173994. "Aspen Gold" is a later railfan name and was not the name of the paint color itself within the industry; Du Pont and D&RGW documents simply called it "orange."

D&RGW class C-16 number 268 is painted in the "Bumblebee" scheme for the Chicago Railroad Fair. This was an attempt to adapt the "Aspen Leaf" scheme of the new PA diesel locomotives to a faux 19th century setting. Paint colors used are:

*Du Pont Duco 6479 deck 620 shade "Orange Lacquer"

*Aluminum (frame and wheels)

*Black (stripes, letters, numbers)

*Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel

''"Timetable: Cripple Creek & Tin Cup R.R.," Chicago, Ill: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, 1949.''

'''1951'''

ALCO PA-1 A unit noses are painted "Non-Skid Flat Green."

''D&RGWRR Locomotive Painting: PA-1, Superseding all drawings prior to 9 July 1951.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1871'''

Cabooses painted "Brilliant Red" with black ironwork. Floors, platforms and steps painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Window sashes painted Tuscan Red. Lettering was done in imitation gold (yellow).

''[https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/equipment-data-sheet-no-1-web-optimized-2.pdf| Colorado Railroad Museum restoration report for D&RG caboose 49]''

'''1890'''

New standard gauge side-door cabooses are painted white.

''The Herald Democrat, 16 October 1890.''

A photograph of one of these cars is depicted in the 1895 Car-Builder's Dictionary.

'''1896'''

Ironwork painted Hanion Bros. & Co. "Anti-Rust" or "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal, August 1896''

'''1904'''
[[image:Paint PrincesMineral DRG Camp Car Cisco Utah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Example of faded Prince's Mineral Red on a 34-foot Denver & Rio Grande camp car located in Cisco, Utah.]]
[[image:VT-paintshop-roofcolors-PrincesMineral-VenetianRed-DarkBrown.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Original sample of Prince's Mineral from the Stephen Drew Collection.]]

AC&F built 5500 series narrow gauge stock cars painted Princes Mineral Brown with [[Asphaltum]] hardware and trucks.

Four-wheel cabooses painted Permanent Red. Wood roofs are also painted Permanent Red; tin roofs are painted Princes' Metallic Brown. Floor, platforms, and running board painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Interior walls painted light green. Ceilings painted Light Blue. Window sashes Tuscan Red. Ironwork is black. Lettered in white lead.

''Standard Lettering and Instructions, Narrow Gauge 4-Wheel Caboose, Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Card 3023 File C-373, Approved 18 May 1904.''

Interiors of four-wheel cabooses painted Pea Green with black trim.

''"Denver & Rio Grande: Cabooses No. 0513 to 0567 Incl.," Folio drawing 1904.''

'''1907'''

Standard gauge boxcars painted Prince's Metallic Brown on roof and body. Roofwalks are unpainted. Trucks and ironwork in black metallic. Lettering in white lead.

''Lettering Box D&RG. 20 April 1907. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908'''

31000-series standard gauge refrigerator cars painted Acme Chrome Yellow Refrigerator Color on sides, Princes' Metallic Brown on ends and roof, with black lettering.

''Lettering Refrigerator Car D&RG. 1908. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1912'''

The interiors of standard gauge construction cars are painted "light green."

''Denver & Rio Grande System: Construction Car 0776, Standard Gauge. Folio Sheet.''

'''1916'''

Cabooses repainted from "Brilliant Red" to Prince's Mineral Brown.

<blockquote>"Denver & Rio Grande Railway Burnham, May 24, 1916 - Gentleman: Effective on receipt of these instructions, we will discontinue the use of brilliant red on caboose cars and paint such cars the same as other freight equipment. Acknowledge receipt and advise if understood. Respectfully, J. F. Enright"</blockquote>

'''1920'''

[[DRG Freight Car Red|Freight Car Red]] introduced. Exact date of switch from Prince's Mineral is currently unknown.

Jackson Thode identified D&RGW Freight Car Red as Kohler-McLister KM-91 Box Car Red.

'''1937'''

Stock Cars switch from Freight Car Red to Black.

''Telegram from Alamosa to train masters in Durango, Gunnison and Montrose instructing them to not load any red stock cars in their territory, but to send them to Alamosa to be painted black.''

'''1939'''

Standard gauge maintenance bunk cars 63500 through 64199 are painted gray with black trucks, aluminum roofs and cream interiors.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p270.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. Standard Plan: Std. Gage Sleeper Car for B&B, Fence, Paint, Signal, Etc. Gangs." 1 August 1939.']'

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1871'''

Narrow-gauge passenger cars painted a “brown or cinnamon color,” relieved with gilt.

''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=7IRbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false| The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette (St. Joseph, MO), 17 August 1871]''

Passenger cars build by Jackson & Sharp are painted "rich dark green" on the interior with gold leaf relief and woodwork in walnut and Hungarian ash.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_44/page/n827/mode/1up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 22 July 1871 p817.]''

'''1876'''

Passenger cars "El Moro" and "La Veta," built by Billmeyer & Smalls, are painted in a "finely toned wine color" with yellow striping. The Buntin Patent seats are upholstered in crimson and green plush velvet with silver plated armrests. Metal wall fixtures are likewise silver plated. Interior woodwork is black walnut, bird's eye maple and cherry mouldings with gold leaf trim.

It is noted that the Billmeyer & Smalls artists that painted these cars are called Messrs. Watt.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n1073/mode/2up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 26 August 1876 p1080.]''

'''1878'''

Parlor cars painted “chocolate color,” striped and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WizuhXCLftk67hDMOEk2mPgGX1YfAWjP/view?usp=sharing| The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 21 June 1878]''

'''1888'''

Pullman sleeper and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are painted red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

New standard gauge passenger equipment built at the Burnham shops and by Pullman are painted red with gold leaf trim.

''"The Standard Gauge," The Rocky Mountain News 14 March 1888.''

'''1889'''

The Pullman sleepers and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are repainted to "olive" with gold leaf lettering during rebuilds at Burnham.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

'''1890'''

Standard gauge passenger cars are painted Tuscan red with gold leaf lettering and striping. The lettering is drop shadowed in two-tone "light color" (likely the light blue found on Pay Car F, former chair car 25 at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad). Corner and door posts are painted black with gold pinstriping. Roof chamfer is black.

''"Lettering and Stripes for Standard Gauge Baggage & Express Cars," D&RG card 3685 C-373, 5 April 1890, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1904'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted with Sherwin Williams Pullman Color (New) (Pullman olive green). Narrow gauge cars continue to be painted Tuscan Red.

'''1908'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted in Pullman color. Chamfers, crown mouldings, window nosings, door sills and ironwork all painted black. Lettered in gold leaf. Roof painted Prince's Metallic Brown. Window sashes finished mahogany. Trucks painted "Pullman Shade" and striped with yellow. Signal hose and gas valve painted Vermilion.

Baggage compartment interiors painted light green on the walls, Prince's Mineral Brown on the floors, and white on the ceiling.

''Denver & Rio Grande painting instructions, 1908, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1912'''

Gold striping on narrow gauge passenger cars is discontinued. Imitation gold lettering is replaced with real gold leaf, since leaf lasted longer than paint.

''Letter from J.F. Enright, 22 October 1912, quoted in Chappell, Gordon, '''[https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0305_p0319.pdf| Narrow Gauge over Cumbres,]''' New Mexico Geological Society: 1971.''

'''1918'''

Narrow gauge passenger cars painted standard Pullman Green instead of tuscan red as a cost saving measure.

<blockquote>"September 6 1918 - We have in the past, painted our narrow gauge equipment a Tuscan red, but as economy will result from the use of the Pullman color, as we figure about 3 months longer service and $1.25 per car less cost for material, wish you would arrange hereafter as narrow gauge equipment passes through the shop, to adopt the Pullman color as our standard. -W.W. Leman."</blockquote>

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

Lineside buildings were painted oxide brown (Prince's Metallic).

'''1890'''

The roofs of the snowsheds on Marshall Pass are painted with "fireproof paint."

''The Tomahawk (Denver, Colorado) 4 September 1890.''

'''1915'''

Lineside structures repainted to buff (Kolher-McLister 6-C-14 Jersey Cream) siding with brown (Kolher McLister 6-C-47 Brown) trim.

'''1942'''

Water columns are painted black on the bases and aluminum "or substitute" the rest of the way up.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p266.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "D.&R.G.W.R.R.Co. Standard Painting of Water Columns," 23 January 1942.]''

'''1945'''

Lineside structures repainted to cream siding with light green trim.

''Historical Overview of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Osier, Colorado, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad June 2010.''

Steel bridges are painted silver.

''Painting data, bridge 579.23 near Woodside, Utah''

[[image:Paint-DRGW-GilullyUtah-Phone-Booth-Sampled-May-2021-Yellow-Silver.jpg|400px|Paint samples from a D&RGW phone booth at the site of the Gilully Utah station]]

'''1946'''

Bridge 570.50 is painted two coats Aluminum paint

'''1963'''

Bridges at MP 544.94 and 566.93 Desert Siding are sand blasted, primed with Dupont Zinc Chromate, and painted with Rust-O-Leum Aluminum.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Illinois Central Railroad Paint Information

2026-03-15T19:38:34Z

Josh Bernard: /* Passenger Equipment */

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

==Locomotives==

'''1872'''

Locomotive No. 23 has a deep red pilot and is ornately trimmed with brass.

''"With Our Wisconsin Division Veterans," Illinois Central Magazine November 1921 p50.''

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1870'''

Illinois Central post office cars are painted dark yellow with black stripes and "little ornament." Interiors are finished in black walnut.

''[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015021737674?urlappend=%3Bseq=217| The Railroad Gazette, 26 October 1870]''

'''1880'''

The standard color of the Illinois Central for passenger cars is "bright yellow."

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q0qPVmCI5UKTRzjVCz4Q9JTWUmEs69JJ/view?usp=sharing| The Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL), 15 May 1880]''

'''1884'''

W.H. Sharkey recalls that "All coaches were painted yellow."

''"Here's A Man Who Strengthens Service," Illinois Central Magazine January 1922 p45.''

'''1890'''

Passenger coaches are painted yellow "with very little ornamentation."

''[https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286055090005961?lang=en| The National Car and Locomotive Builder, May 1890, pg. 78]''

'''1892'''

The boxcar-like rapid-loading passenger cars built for the World's Columbian Exposition were painted the standard passenger car color (yellow). Interiors are painted "light colors," "bright and cheerful."

''World's Fair Passenger Car," Railway Age 12 August 1892 p631.''

'''1893'''

Passenger cars are painted yellow.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lig1Cop92f8xWXbUY0oCPLeCUx_ap5tf/view?usp=sharing| The Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, PA), 24 February 1893]''

Cars dating to the 1860s are used in commuter service for the Chicago Columbian Exposition. They are described as "dun-colored" with white painted interiors.

''The Chicago Record (Chicago, IL), 10 October 1893''

'''1894'''

New passenger cars used between Centralia and Dubuque are painted a similar shade of green to that used by the Wabash.

''The Decatur Herald (Decatur, IL), 17 August 1894''

Passenger cars are repainted "Pullman Color" except for Chicago suburban cars which continue to be painted yellow.

''[https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286055650005961?lang=en| The National Car and Locomotive Builder, September 1894]''

'''1908'''

Coaches are painted "deep greenish tint" on the exterior and "softer shades" of green on the interior.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038306/1908-10-21/ed-1/seq-5/| Manchester Democrat (Manchester, Iowa), 21 October 1908.]''

'''1926'''

Electric commuter coaches and trailer cars are lettered with imitation gold (yellow) lettering. Former ICRR coaches owned by the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, Nevada, were stripped for repainting in March 2026, revealing the original yellow paint.

'''1950'''

Pullman's painting diagrams for Illinois Central service list the following paint names and codes for the ICRR scheme: Rust Brown #70-28, Orange #70-29, Yellow #70-30, Black L-43, Light Buff #70-312.

Roof, letterboard, window panels, bottom sill, end walls, car steps and diaphragms are painted Rust Brown.

Girder sheet (panels below windows) are orange.

Stripes are yellow.

Underframe is painted black, except for outside faces of equipment boxes which are painted Rust Brown. Grab irons are either stainless steel or black.

Interior of vestibules are painted light buff.

"PULLMAN" and "PANAMA LIMITED" lettering is yellow, car name is Rust Brown.

''[https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/nby_pullman/id/3509/rec/2| "Painting, Striping and Lettering, I.C. Owned Lightweight Cars," The Pullman Company: Chicago, Illinois. 22 November 1950.]''

''[https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/nby_pullman/id/5189| "Exterior Painting of N&W Owned Cars in Ill. Central Service," The Pullman Company: Chicago, Illinois. 28 June 1962.]''

==Freight Cars==

'''1887'''

35-foot stock cars are painted yellow.

''[https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=GG18870905-01.1.3&srpos=7&e=02-01-1839-01-01-1904--en-100--1--txt-txIN---------| Galena Daily Gazette, 5 September 1887]''

'''1890'''

Boxcar color is changed to dark brown.

''The Courier (Waterloo, IA), 31 December 1890''

'''1899'''

The Illinois Central adopts air pumps to paint freight cars, which provides a smoother, more protective coat than hand-painting with a brush.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85035816/1900-01-05/ed-1/seq-6/| The Morris County Chronicle (Morristown, New Jersey), 5 January 1900.]''

'''1914'''

Repairs made to wood-bodied cars using scrap metal are painted asphaltum (black).

''"Reducing Losses from Defective Cars by the Use of Scrap Material," Illinois Central Magazine December 1914 pp101-102.''

'''1937'''

Steel refrigerator cars in the series 50000-50299 are painted according to the following instructions:
Roof: Aluminum; Moulding & Trim: black; Underframe: black; Ends: black; Sides: Yellow P.P.G.Co. 29-16; Door Yellow P.P.G.Co. 29-16; Side Sill: Green P.P.G.Co. 29-23; Side Sill Reenforcement: Black. Lettering: Green on yellow, white on green and black.

''Stenciling Drawing A5808, Illinois Central Railroad, 1937''

'''1946'''

Two-bay covered hoppers built for Illinois Central by Pullman-Standard are painted with Sherwin-Williams Carclad. Factory coat was reported to be defect-free in 1951.

''Railway Age 30 August 1951 p56.''

==Maintenance Equipment==

'''1922'''

Motor cars in charge of section foremen whose crews have a 100% safety record for the previous year are awarded with signs that say "SAFETY FIRST 100%" in white with blue lettering, which are attached to the front of the car over the radiator. This practice was introduced by Division Motorcar Repairman B.J. McAboy at Clinton Illinois a few years previously.

''"Would Label Safest Section," Illinois Central Magazine August 1922 p99.''

==Structures==

'''1858'''

Right of way milestones are painted white.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86092535/1858-06-01/ed-1/seq-1/| Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling, Virginia), 1 June 1858.]''

'''1898'''

The interior of the Chicago trainshed and the Randolph Street Viaduct are painted black using Edward Smith & Company's "Durable Metal Coating" paint.

''Sabin, A.H. "Painting to Avoid Corrosion." New York: Edward Smith & Co., 1898.''

'''1902'''

The Paducah Kentucky paint shop and planing mill are painted with a fireproof paint. The newspaper description indicates an asbestos product. Paint is applied with air pumps.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85052116/1902-01-14/ed-1/seq-2/| The Paducah Sun (Paducah, Kentucky), 14 January 1902.]''

'''1908'''

The Manchester Iowa depot is painted in "two shades of green, the company's trademark color."

Water tanks are painted green.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038306/1908-10-21/ed-1/seq-5/| Manchester Democrat (Manchester, Iowa), 21 October 1908.]''

'''1914'''

The Illinois Central adopts a paint recycling program; paint "skins" and dried slop is collected, ground, and mixed with boiling oil. This process saves the company $177 per month.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1914-08-02/ed-1/seq-61/| The Sun (New York, New York), 2 August 1914.]''

The interior woodwork of all woodshops is either whitewashed or painted with a fire-retardant paint.

''"Care of Property," Illinois Central Magazine December 1914 p66.''

'''1922'''

The Air Line Bridge at 16th and Dearbourn in Chicago is painted with Kapak Special Waterproof Paint to protect it from dripping refrigerator car brine.

''"Frost Paint & Oil Company," Sweet's Engineering Catalog 1922 p155.''

Stripes of white paint 6-8 inches wide and 2-3 feet long are painted on the ground or pavement below the position of the gangway step of a locomotive so as to indicate exactly where a locomotive should stop for taking on water or fuel, and at freight houses and station platforms so that the baggage car can be positioned in line with doors for loading.

''Landmarks End Rough Starts and Stops," Illinois Central Magazine February 1922 p73.''

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information

2026-02-27T05:35:04Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]] / [[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information]]

<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

2-8-0 Locomotives 219 through 233 are delivered in Baldwin style 109 Olive Green and "color" (imitation gold) lettering and striping. Boiler jackets are American Iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 200, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Union Pacific No.9, a 4-4-0 built at the Omaha shops, has wheels painted bright red. The cab is described as "ornamented very attractively, and the locomotive has a profusion of bright and beautiful brass decorative work."

''"A New Engine for the Dummy Line," Daily Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa), 19th April 1882.

'''1885'''

Locomotives 505 and 545 through 554 are delivered in black with no striping. Boiler jackets are planished iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 12 p 262, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1887'''

Locomotives are painted with the following process (see 1887 Standard Color List for interpretation):

Ironwork:

*No.2 or No.31 priming
*No.30 Intermediate coats
*No. 81 Rough stuff
*No. 29 Finishing coats
*No.67 (asphaltum) Smoke stack, ash pan, etc.

Woodwork:

*No.30 Priming and intermediate coats
*No.29 Finishing, outside
*No.34 Finishing, inside
*No.6 Lettering and numbers

'''1890'''

Locomotives are painted under the following specifications:

<blockquote>''Priming-''Tank, sand box, steam domes, drivers, truck wheels, cylinder and steam chest covers, engine frame, smoke stack and all wrought-irons to be primed with a paint composed of 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77; 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint, standard color NO. 95; 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp-black, standard color No.65; thinned with priming oil, composed of one gallon, best boiled linseed oil; one qt. turpentine; 1/2 pt. best Japan, and well rubbed out under the brush.</blockquote>
<blockquote>All wood-work, except inside of sash, to be primed with a paint composed of 4 pounds white lead, standard color No.30; 2 pounds Prince's Metallic, standard color No.97; made quite thin with priming oil composed of 2 gals. raw linseed oil, 1 pt. coach Japan, 1. qt. turpentine, mixed.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Surfacing-''All nail holes, etc., to be filled with hard drying lead putty, and tank, drivers, all rough irons, and all wood except inside of cab, to be brought to a level surface with a paste filler composed of 5 pounds white lead, standard color No.30; 1 pound Prince's metallic, standard color No.97; 4 pounds whiting, ground thick in coach Japan, and applied with a broad stiff knife, leaving none on the surface.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Second Coat-''Tank, outside of cab, sand box, domes, drivers, engine truck, wheels, cylinder and steam chest covers and pilot, to be second coated with a mixture of 5 pounds white lead, standard color No.30; 5 pounds ivory black, standard color No. 29; thinned with turpentine.</blockquote>
<blockquote>LETTERING.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Letters and numbers for Freight Engines-'' To have two coats of standard color No.8, as per pounce patterns furnished.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Letters and numbers for Passenger Engines-'' All letters and numbers on cab, sand box, and front end to be in gold, standard colors No.30 and 32. Numbers on tank to be two coats of standard color No.6.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Rods-''To be finished the same as the drivers.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Sash-''To have double thick glass, outside of sash to have two coats of ground color and grained light mahogany or beywood inside to be filled and finished on the natural wood.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Inside of Cab-''To have two coats of green, standard color No. 34, thinned with turpentine.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Tender Frame-''To be coated inside before floor is laid, and all joints put together with mineral paint, standard color No.98.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Inside of Tank, etc.-'' Water space and coal space, top and bottom of tank, outside of boiler under the lagging, and inside of wrought-iron plates on fender frame, to have a good coat of color, composed of 10 pounds red lead, standard color No.77; 10 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint, standard color No.95; thinned with boiled linseed oil, and thoroughly coated, especially the water space.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Finishing-'' Tank, outside of cab, sash, sand box, domes, drivers, engine truck wheels, steam chest and cylinder covers and number plate, to be finished with two coats of engine finishing varnish.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Inside of Cab and Sash-'' To be finished with two coats of coach rubbing varnish, and boiler plates, seat boxes, etc. to be painted the color of black walnut, mixed with coach rubbing varnish.
Engine frame, smoke-stack, trucks, all irons, chains, injector, air pump castings, to be finished with two coats of ivory black No.29, thinned with engine finishing varnish.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Cab Roof. -'' Floor of tender and cab, and top and bottom of running boards, to have two coats of standard color NO.98; also the cab roof to have one coat of the same under tin.</blockquote>
<blockquote>-G.W. Cushing, Sup't M.P. & Mach'y.</blockquote>

''Specification No.768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders, Union Pacific Railway Company, Office Sup't Motive Power and Machinery, January 1890.''

'''1891'''

General Master Mechanic Middleton issued "stringent orders" forbidding engine stacks from being painted red. Red stacks were not a railroad standard but were a very popular practice among engineers, so it is not known which Union Pacific locomotives had red stacks and for how long.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 23 January 1891''

'''1895'''

Union Pacific begins lettering freight locomotives with aluminum leaf and passenger engines with gold leaf.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 4 September 1895''

''Rawlins Republican, 13 September 1895''

'''1903'''

Steam locomotives and tenders are lettered using aluminum leaf. Cab roofs are CS-13 Carbon Black. Window sashes are painted CS-4 Maroon. The rest of the locomotive, including the channels of the rods, are painted CS-7 Black Varnish.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 26 October 1926.''

'''1905'''

Number plate figures were polished aluminum.

''Drawing CA-4492 "Union Pacific System Common Standard Number Plate," 28 January 1905.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1876'''

Rawlin's Metallic Paint Company advertises that Union Pacific and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company both use their product.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n552/mode/1up?q=paint| American Railroad Journal 29 April 1876 p543.]''

'''1883'''

Union Pacific specifies a light green color for refrigerator cars of all types and patents with a darker green fascia and mineral red roofs, underframe and trucks. Lettering in black. This paint scheme would have applied to all of Union Pacific's subsidiary railroads, including the Denver South Park & Pacific.

''Sherwin-Williams Union Pacific Paint Catalog, collection of Randy Hees''

''See also [http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Denver-NNGC-Notes-Tiffany-Reefer-Colors-again-UP-Standard-Reefer-Green-td9330.html| C&SNG Discussion Forum]''

'''1887'''

Box, stock and outfit cars are painted with standard colors No.2 or No.31 on the body and trucks, No.63 for trim, lettering and numbers and No.66 for the lettering panels.

No.2 is "Perfect Method Freight Car Color," a half-and-half mix of English Venetian red and Prince's Metallic. No.31 is "Freight Car Color," Rawlins' Mineral Red.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardFreightCarColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

Refrigerator cars are painted with standard colors No.24 on the body and roof; No.25 for trim; No.2 or No.31 on underframe and trucks, No.63 for lettering on trucks and No.66 for lettering and numbering.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardRefrigeratorColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1893'''

Rawlins Red paint is the standard freight car color.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2017270211/1893-07-13/ed-1/seq-7/|The Alliance-Independent (Lincoln, Nebraska), 13 July 1893.]''

'''1896'''

Iron and other metal parts on rolling stock painted with Hanion Brothers & Co. "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal August 1896''

'''1903'''

Automobile cars, boxcars and stock cars, are painted CS-11 "Metallic."

Refrigerator car sides are painted CS-8 Refrigerator Yellow with CS-11 "Metallic" ends. Metal roofs, metal underframes, trucks and grab irons are painted CS-13 Carbon Black; wood roofs are painted CS-11 "Metallic."

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 26 October 1926.''

'''1904'''

Defect card holders on freight cars are painted CS-17 lamp black, regardless of color of carbody, with white lettering spelling "DEFECT CARDS."

''Drawing C-420 "Common Standard Defect Card Board," May 1904, revised 21 October 1913.''

'''1950'''

Steel boxcars and automobile cars are painted C.S. 22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on sides, roofs, underframes, all runningboards, trucks, and interior surfaces. The interior is then painted from floor line upwards two feet with C.S.22 No. 167 Light Black Car Cement. Lettering, including stenciling on trucks, is in C.S.22 No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste. Auto loader stenciling is done in black enamel on a white background. B-50-40 and B-50-41 class boxcars receive C.S.22 No.168 Medium Black Car Cement on roofs, ends, and underframe.

Wood boxcars and automobile cars are painted C.S. 22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on all exterior wood surfaces, roofs, all runningboards, underframes and trucks.

Open gondolas and flatcars are painted C.S. 22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on all exterior surfaces, underframe, trucks. Interiors and decking are given two coats Chromate primer on steel surfaces and C.S.22 No.40 Wood Primer on wood surfaces. When repainted, the interior surfaces and decks do not get re-primed or repainted. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste. Class G-50-13 gondolas receive C.S.222 No.168 medium black car cement on ends and underframe.

Red stock cars are painted C.S.22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on all surfaces including runningboards, underframes and trucks. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste.

Yellow stock cars are painted C.S.22 No.35 Yellow Freight Car Paint on all exterior side surfaces and C.S.22 No.26 Aluminum on steel ends, roofs, and runningboards, both metal and wood. Underframe and trucks are painted C.S.22 No.34 Black Freight Car Paint. Journal box lids on roller bearing-equipped cars are painted C.S.22 No.35 Armour Yellow Freight Car Paint. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.187 Red Stencil Paste; stenciling on trucks is in No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste.

Covered hoppers are painted C.S.22 No.42 harbor Mist Gray Freight Car Paint on all exterior surfaces including trucks and runningboards. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.188 Black Stencil Paste.

Tank cars are painted C.S.22 No.34 Black Freight Car Paint on all surfaces including trucks and runningboards.

Sand is applied to painted wood runningboards before paint dries.

''Standard Practice for Painting, Repainting and Stenciling Freight Train Cars and Work Equipment Cars. Omaha, Nebraska: 29 April 1950.''

'''1960'''

The roofs of classes CH-70-4, CH-70-5, CH-70-7, CH-70-8, CH-70-9, and CH-70-12 covered hoppers, even those painted aluminum, are primed with No.37 Red Zinc Chromate primer and painted with A.C. Horn Company's Battleship Gray Tread-Sure or Truscon Lboratory's Saf-T-Dek No.700 Gray.

''Correspondence, D.S. Neuhart to R.J. Dunn, C.T. Armstrong, R.F. Weiss, H.L. Crane, F.D. Acord, J.E. Pickett, Omaha, Nebraska, 11 January 1960.''

'''1963'''

Due to a surplus of DuPont #83-508 white enamel at the Ablina and Omaha stores, the use of yellow lettering on boxcars is discontinued and replaced with white lettering.

''Correspondence D.S. Neuhart to W.C. Haber, Omaha, Nebraska, 7 December 1963.''

40 and 50 foot boxcars and auto cars are painted in Red Synthetic Freight Car paint with white lettering. The use of the "Be Specific - Ship Union Pacific" herald is replaced with a 60-inch shield herald applied as a Scotchcal decal and the "Ship and Travel the Automated Railway" slogan.

Insulated boxcars are painted orange with black lettering.

''Correspondence D.S. Neuhart to R.F. Weiss, H.L. Crane, J.A. Schellhorn, J.E. Pickett and R.C. Cochran, Omaha, Nebraska, 18 December 1963.''

==Cabooses==

'''1886'''

Before September 9th cabooses are painted Standard Paint Color No. 20 "Outside Caboose Color." After September 9th cabooses are painted Standard Paint Color No. 32 "Outside Caboose Color."

Inside walls are painted Standard Paint Color No. 21, slate green color. Lettering and numbers are shaded with the same color until December 4th. After December 4th lettering shading is Standard Paint Color No.89.

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1887'''

A majority of the Union Pacific cabooses have donned a bright yellow coat. The remainder will be given a similar coat as soon as possible.

Cheyenne Daily Leader, September 24, 1887.

Cabooses are painted on the outside with standard paint colors No.30 for priming; No.32 for finishing coats, No.21 for trim, No.22 for lettering and numbers shaded with No.89, No.3 on the trucks, No.29 on the hand rails, truss rods and ironwork on the trucks, No.63 for truck striping, No.2 or No.31 for the roof and underframe, and No.26 for the signal balls.

The interior is painted with standard colors No.21 on the walls, No.23 on the ceiling and No.33 on the floor.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardCabooseColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1901'''

The work of painting cabooses the standard color of red is progressing rapidly and many cabooses are now seen on the road of this color.

Cheyenne Daily Leader Wednesday, October 30, 1901.

'''1903'''

Cabooses are painted CS-11 Metallic (brown) with CS-13 Carbon Black on trucks and iron work.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 26 October 1926.''

'''1907'''

Fusee boxes in class CA-1 and CA-2 cabooses are painted Signal Red with "FUSEES," "MATCHES," "TORPEDOS" and "UP" lettered in black.

''Drawing C-1325 "Common Standard Fusee & Torpedo Box," December 1907.''

'''1950'''

Cabooses are painted C.S.22 No.35 Armour Yellow Freight Car Paint on sides, ends, doors, and step risers. Platforms and step treads are painted C.S.22 NO.4 maroon paint. Platform railings, hand brakes, ladders, and handholds (except on cupolas) are painted C.S.22 No.29 Striping Red Enamel. Roofs, all runningboards and cupola handholds are painted C.S.22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint (except mulehide roofs, which are unpainted). Underframes and trucks are painted C.S.22 No.34 Black Freight Car Paint. Walls, ceilings and interior walls of cupolas painted C.S.22 No.31 Light Green Flat Paint. Interior wainscotting is painted up to four feet from floor in C.S.22 No.30 Dark Green Flat Paint. Interior floors and cupola platforms painted C.S.22 No.4 Maroon Paint.

''Standard Practice for Painting, Repainting and Stenciling Freight Train Cars and Work Equipment Cars. Omaha, Nebraska: 29 April 1950.''

'''1959'''

Caboose interiors are changed from flat to semi-gloss paint. Interior walls are painted CS-22 No.30 "Dark Green Interior Semi-Gloss Paint" and CS-22 No.31 "Light Green Interior Semi-Gloss Paint."

''Correspondence, D.S. Neuhart to G.T. Wickstrom, Omaha, Nebraska, 5 October 1959.''

'''1960'''

Cabooses 25402 and 25441 assigned to pool service with the CB&Q are painted aluminum on the sides, ends and cupola; red on the roof; underframe and appliances in black freight car paint; and all lettering in red stencil paint.

''Correspondence D.S. Neuhart to R.C. Cochran, Omaha, Nebraska, 22 November 1960.''

'''1963'''

The interiors of all cabooses are changed from semi-gloss to full gloss. Interior walls are painted CS-22 No.30 Dark Green and No.32 Light Green.
Union Pacific's paint supplier at this time is American-Marietta, Charles R. Long Division.

''Correspondence H.C. Haber to R.J. Murphy, Omaha, Nebraska, 15 March 1963.''

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1866'''

Director's car "Omaha" was painted a rich wine color.

''Fort Wayne Daily Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 30 May 1866''

'''1868'''

First and Second Class passenger cars and the paymaster's car are painted a wine color.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022046/1868-01-22/ed-1/seq-3/ The Gold Hill Daily News (Gold Hill, NV), 22 January 1868].''

'''1870'''

Passenger cars painted "Quaker Drab."

''[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015021737674?urlappend=%3Bseq=85 Railroad Gazette, 22 October 1870, pg. 73].''

'''1871'''

Passenger cars uniformly painted a “rich brown, set off with gold trimmings.”

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1opz5LIKthcdbryiglClJCK2JwdVlhPGY/view?usp=sharing The Watchman (Montpelier, VT), 19 July 1871]''

'''1878'''

Passenger cars painted a “deep wine color,” lettered and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EgGtBBX7sx33oPijlP89mBjKKtjIa4VS/view?usp=sharing The Omaha Daily Bee (Omaha, NE), 8 March 1878]''

'''1880'''

Emigrant sleepers are painted yellow on the exterior with the interior being polished unpainted wood.

''Georgetown Courier 27 May 1880.''

'''1883'''

Buffet car, “Monterey,” painted chocolate brown, relieved with gold trimming.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FA8_jXMwgcNcYTzvfQmd_tyFJ5fwvwNn/view?usp=sharing San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA), 22 December 1883]''

'''1887'''

Coaches and Emigrant Cars are painted with standard colors No.30 for priming; No.1 for exterior finishing; No.4 (ground) and No.5 (finish) together on belt rails and patches; No.6 for ornamentation; No.82 and No.80 for lettering; No.7 and No.8 for lettering shading; No.11 for faux mahogany graining on window sashes; No.2 or No.31 on roof and underframe; No.3 on the trucks and platforms; No.29 on hand rails, trussrods and truck iron; and No.63 for truck striping.

The interior is painted standard colors No.19 on hat racks and seats and No.33 on the floor.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardPassengerEquipmentColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

Pullman sleepers are painted with standard colors No.30 for priming, No.1 for exterior finishing; No.4 (ground) and No.5 (finish) together on exterior bands; No.29 on band centers, panels, hand rails, truss roads and truck iron; No.82 and No.80 for lettering, figuring and ornamentation; No.7 and No.8 for shading the lettering; No.11 for the faux mahogany grain on the window sashes; No.2 or No.31 on roof and underframe; No.3 on trucks and platforms and No.63 for striping and lettering on trucks.

The interior of Pullman sleepers is painted with standard color No.33 on the floor.

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1894'''

Passenger coaches painted light yellow.

'''1895'''

Passenger cars repainted to Van Dyke Brown.

''The Kansas City Journal (Kansas City, MO), 28 October 1895''

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6qg03ht/12825282| "First Car Finished," The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 May 1899"]''

'''1902'''

The car fleet used on Overland Limited trains, jointly owned by UP, SP, and C&NW, is painted Pullman Standard color.

''Railway Age 4 April 1902.''

'''1903'''

Passenger cars are painted CS-1 Dark Olive on the bodies, vestibules, and windows; CS-2 Olive Enamel on the trucks, platforms, steps and battery boxes; heater pipes and signal lines painted CS-4 Maroon; buffer faces, diaphragm face plates, handrails and grab irons, and wheels are CS-7 Black Varnish and roofs are painted CS-13 Carbon Black.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 20 January 1923.''

'''1951'''

Two tone gray and olive green passenger schemes are both abolished on 19 December 1951.

<blockquote>"Effective immediately, all future repainting of exterior of Union Pacific passenger cars including sleeping cars will be done in the yellow and red streamline train colors and the two tone gray and olive green colors will be discontinued. -D.S. Neuhart."</blockquote>

''Mailgram: Union Pacific offices, Omaha, Nebraska 19 December 1951.''

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

The Ogden Utah depot (shared with the Central Pacific) introduced time boards to be placed on the platforms next to each train indicating when it would depart. These were painted red with yellow lettering.

''Ogden Herald, 14 July 1881''

The recently completed Union Pacific (Echo & Park City Railway) depot in Park City Utah was painted Lead color.

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6dz1fq2/10579899| Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 3 March 1881]''

'''1887'''

Station signs are painted with white lettering on a black background. Mileage markers on station signs are painted with white lettering on a red background.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardDepotSigns.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

'''1889'''

Western Union Company replaced the two pole lines on Union Pacific right-of-way between Omaha and Ogden with a single pole line. The poles were painted white.

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6sf42vp/10797338| Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 19 March 1883.]''

'''1890'''

Machinery used in repair, car and machine shops on the Union Pacific is painted gray. Documentation as to when this practice was implemented has not been found yet.

''[https://books.google.com/books?id=92s9AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PP14&ots=Xr0UVA6bd2&dq=pullman%20freight%20car%20paint%20diagrams&pg=RA4-PA62#v=onepage&q=painted&f=false| Railway Master Mechanic, May 1891 p62.]''

'''1891'''

The interior of the Logan, Utah depot was finished in oiled natural wood. The roof was painted mineral brown.

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6v421v1/10822667| Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 13 March 1891]''

Machinery in all Union Pacific machine shops is painted green with brown facings and yellow pinstriping to create a "panel appearance." Wheels and gears are painted red. Cheyenne was the first location to receive these new colors.

''[https://books.google.com/books?id=92s9AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PP14&ots=Xr0UVA6bd2&dq=pullman%20freight%20car%20paint%20diagrams&pg=RA4-PA62#v=onepage&q=painted&f=false| Railway Master Mechanic, May 1891 p62.]''

Machinery at the Salt Lake shops is painted green with "dark wine" and yellow striping in relief.

The interior of the Salt Lake City roundhouse is whitewashed. The doors are painted Venetian Red with black posts.

''"Rumbles of the Railroads," Salt Lake Daily Tribune 13 May 1891.''

'''1901'''

The depot and freight house in Park City Utah are repainted in a "red, red color."

''Park Record, Park City, 23 November 1901''

[[image:Paint SPLASL UP CommonStandards Windowframe Bunkhouse LynndylUtah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Visualization of every Union Pacific common standard color on the window frame of an SPLA&SL bunkhouse at Lynndyl, Utah.]]

'''1910'''

Railroad buildings adopt Common Standard 22 specifications: CS 201 Colonial Yellow exterior walls, CS 202 Light Brown trim, CS 210 and CS 211 Slate Color for roofs. Interiors are painted CS 203 Cream from the wainscotting to the ceiling, CS 202 Light Brown on wainscotting, and CS 213 Gray Floor Paint on porches and other floors exposed to weather.

On buildings where smoke discoloration is a noticeable problem, building exteriors are painted CS 11-A Dark Brown with black window sashes.

Plain wood seats in depots are painted CS-4 Maroon.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 20 January 1923.''

'''1946'''

Two-tone gray scheme with white trim is adopted for depots.

'''1956'''

Building exteriors are painted white with light green windows, trim and lower walls.

'''1968'''

Remaining wooden buildings are painted white with black windows.

==1887 Standard Color List==

*No.1 - Outside finishing color for passenger and sleeping cars. Used for all passenger equipment, including Pullman sleepers.
*No.2 - Perfect method freight car color. This paint is composed of one-half English Venetian red and one-half Prince's metallic in boiled oil
*No.3 - Standard truck and platform color. Used on all passenger car equipment.
*No.4 - Ground color for scarlet lake, on belt rails and patches on passenger cars and sleepers. This paint is Indian red, used on all passenger car equipment
*No.5 - Scarlet lake for belt rails and patches on passenger cars and sleepers. Used on all passenger car equipment.
*No.6 - Lettering color for emigrant sleepers, ornaments on coaches and lettering for locomotives. This paint is used on all passenger car equipment and for lettering and numbering on locomotives.
*No.7 - Light shading color for lettering on all passenger car equipment. Used for all passenger car equipment.
*No.8 - Dark shading color for lettering all passenger car equipment.
*No.9 - Ground color for maple graining.
*No.10 - Maple graining.
*No.11 - Ground color for mahogany graining.
*No.12 - Mahogany graining
*No.13 - Ground color for walnut graining.
*No.14 - Walnut graining.
*No.15 - Ground color for light oak graining.
*No.16 - Light oak graining.
*No.17 - Ground color for French walnut graining.
*No.18 - French walnut graining.
*No.19 - Hat rack and seat color. Used for all passenger car equipment.
*No.20 - Outside caboose color. Abandoned September 9th, 1886. (See No.32)
*No.21 - Inside wall caboose color and outside trimming, shading of letters and numbers. This color abandoned as shading color for letters and figures December 4th, 1886. (See No.89.) [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a dark slate green.]
*No.22 - Caboose lettering color.
*No.23 - Ceiling color, emigrant, sleepers, cabooses, mail, express and baggage. [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a gray.]
*No.24 - Refrigerator car body color. [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a green.]
*No.25 - Refrigerator car trimming color. [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a dark green.]
*No.26 - Caboose signal ball color.
*No.27 - Black walnut stain.
*No.28 - Whitewood shellacked and varnished.
*No.29 - Ivory drop black "R," in japan.
*No.30 - White lead.
*No.31 - Freight car color. This paint is Rawlins' Mineral Red.
*No.32 - Outside caboose color. This color to be used in place of No.20. Was adopted as the standard September 9th, 1886.
*No.33 - Floor color for coaches, emigrant, mail, baggage and express cars.
*No.34 - Locomotive cab, inside, baggage wagon and warehouse truck color. Chrome green, extra choach.
*No.35 - Raw Turkey Umber, in oil.
*No.36 - Raw Turkey Umber, in japan.
*No.37 - Burnt Turkey Umber, in oil.
*No.38 - Burnt Turkey Umber, in japan.
*No.39 - Raw Italian Sienna, in oil.
*No.40 - Raw Italian Sienna, in japan.
*No.41 - Burnt Italian Sienna, in oil.
*No.42 - Burnt Italian Sienna, in japan.
*No.43 - Vandyke Brown, in oil.
*No.44 - Vandyke Brown, in japan.
*No.45 - Golden Ochre, in oil.
*No.46 - Golden Ochre, in japan.
*No.47 - English Tuscan Red, in oil.
*No.48 - English Tuscan Red, in japan.
*No.49 - Chrome yellow, in oil, dark.
*No.50 - Old standard depot outside body color. [Sample on page 12 indicates that this is a light oxide red.]
*No.51 - Old standard depot outside sash color. [Sample on page 12 indicates that this is a dark green.]
*No.52 - Old standard depot outside window casing color. [Sample on page 13 indicates that this is a brown.]
*No.53 - Old standard depot outside body color, shingle gables. [Sample on page 13 indicates that this is a green.]
*No.54 - New standard outside body color for depots, hotels, tenement and section houses.
*No.55 - New standard outside trimming color for depots, hotels, tenement and section houses.
*No.56 - New standard outside trimming color for depots, hotels, tenement and section houses.
*No.57 - New standard inside color for depots and hotels.
*No.58 - New standard inside color for depots and hotels.
*No.59 - New standard inside color for depots and hotels.
*No.60 - New standard inside body color for tenement and section houses.
*No.61 - New standard inside trimming color for tenement and section houses.
*No.62 - New standard inside trimming color for tenement and section houses.
*No.63 - Outside white for freight car trimmings.
*No.64 - Prussian Blue, in oil.
*No.65 - S.-W. Co. refined lamp black, dry.
*No.66 - Lamp black, in oil and japan.
*No.67 Main smoke stack paint. This is a cheap black used for locomotive front ends, ash pans, etc. and for water tank spouts and steam heating pipes. [p.33 indicates that this is an asphaltum paint sold as a liquid in barrels.]
*No.68 - Chrome Yellow, medium, in oil.
*No.69 - Chrome Yellow, light, in oil.
*No.70 - Ivory Drop Black, in distemper.
*No.71 - Raw Turkey Umber, in distemper.
*No.72 - Burnt Turkey Umber, in distemper.
*No.73 - Raw Italian Sienna, in distemper.
*No.74 - Burnt Italian Sienna, in distemper.
*No.75 - Vandyke Brown, in distemper.
*No.76 - Ultramarine Blue, dry.
*No.77 - English Red Lead, dry.
*No.78 - English Vermilion, dry.
*No.79 - Black Smalts, dry.
*No.80 - Hastings' XX Gold Leaf.
*No.81 - Noble & Hoare's English Filling or Rough Stuff, dry.
*No.82 - Noble & Hoare's Gold Size.
*No.83 - Gold Lining Bronze, dry.
*No.84 - Burnt Turkey Umber, dry.
*No.85 - Raw Turkey Umber, dry.
*No.86 - Burnt Italian Sienna, dry.
*No.87 - Raw Italian Sienna, dry.
*No.88 - White Lead, dry.
*No.89 - Caboose shading color, letters and figures. This color to be used in place of No. 21 for shading of letters and figures.
*No.90 - Chrome Green, in oil, dark.
*No.91 - Chrome green, in oil, medium.
*No.92 - Chrome Green, in oil, light.
*No.93 - Lamp Black, in oil.

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

==1890 Standard Color List==

*No.6 - Imitation gold
*No.8 - Yellow
*No.29 - Ivory Black
*No.30 - White lead
*No.32 - when mixed with No.30 makes "gold"
*No.34 - Green
*No.65 - Eddie's Lamp-black
*No.77 - English Red Lead
*No.95 - Johnson's Magnetic Paint
*No.97 - Prince's Metallic Paint
*No.98 - Mineral Paint

==1903 Common Standard CS-22 Color List==

*No.1 - Dark Olive
*No.2 - Olive Enamel
*No.4 - Maroon
*NO.5 - Burnt Sienna in Japan
*No.7 - Black varnish
*No.8 - Refrigerator Yellow
*No.9 - Drab Enamel
*No.10 - Pearl Gray
*No.11 - Metallic
*No.11A - Dark Brown
*No.12 - White Lead
*No.12B - Semaphore White Enamel
*No.12C - White
*No.13 - Carbon Black
*No.14 - Drop Black
*No.15 - Green Enamel
*No.16 - Aluminum Leaf
*No.17 - Lamp Black
*No.18 - Gold Leaf
*No.20 - Red Lead
*No.23 - Postal Car Brown
*No.24 - Hard Wood Filler
*No.26 - Aluminum Paint
*No.27 - Copper Bronze Paint
*No.28 - Light Cream Flat Enamel
*No.28A - Light Cream Gloss
*No.29 - White Enamel Flat
*No.29A - White Enamel Gloss
*No.30 - Dark Green Flat
*No.31 - Light Green Flat
*No.201 - Colonial Yellow
*No.202 - Light Brown
*No.203 - Cream
*No.205 - Semaphore Vermilion
*No.205A - Vermilion
*No.206 - Semaphore Yellow
*No.210 - Slate Color
*No.211 - Slate Color Stain
*No.213 - Gray Floor Paint
*No.214 - Asphalt Roof Coating
*No.215 - White Interior Cold Water Paint
*No.216 - Semaphore Black
*No.217 - Semaphore Green
*No.218 - Semaphore Blue
*No.218A - Blue
*No.219 - Gold Bronze

==1927 Revisions to CS-22 Color List==

*No.8 - Refrigerator Light Orange Paint
*No.8A - Refrigerator Light Orange Enamel
*No.8B - Refrigerator Yellow (for repairs on old cars)

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]] / [[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information]]

California Fast Freight Line

2026-02-08T03:35:46Z

Josh Bernard:

The California Fast Freight Line was a Fast Freight partnership that advertised direct freight service from Chicago to the California Coast.

There were two California Fast Freight Lines which muddies the knowledge of this system. The first was organized in 1870 by the Chicago & North Western Railroad to facilitate through interchange with the Union Pacific and Central Pacific from railroads originating in New York. The second was organized by Union Pacific in 1885 in response to the threat of the Denver & Rio Grande's narrow gauge Utah Extension and Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, both of which would offer alternative routes to California bypassing the UP system. The second company is the more famous of the two, but they were two completely separate and independent companies with no legal or financial overlap and should not be confused with each other, although Union Pacific was the common denominator between the two.

==The First California Fast Freight Line==

The original California Fast Freight Line was a pool operation owned jointly by the Chicago & North Western; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; and Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads to direct traffic flowing from New York to California by way of Chicago, Illinois. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific were not co-owners in the pool operation but were parties to the contract to accept CFFL cars without breaking bulk.

This company was organized within a year of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 by Grafton T. Nutter. Nutter was at the time the General Eastern Freight Agent for the C&NW, located in New York, where he worked with the Vanderbilt-associated railroads to organize the CFFL traffic pool to Chicago.

The first California Fast Freight Line was disbanded on 25 February 1888 under general order issued by the four member railroads.<ref>'Fast Freight,' Los Angeles Daily Times 6 March 1888</ref>

==The Second California Fast Freight Line==

The second California Fast Freight Line was organized in 1885 by the Union Pacific in response to the recently completed Denver & Rio Grande/Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Utah Extension that connected Denver, Colorado with Ogden, Utah, allowing traffic from Chicago to bypass the Union Pacific. In addition, Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, opened at the same time as the Utah Extension, bypassed Ogden entirely allowing another through-interchange route outside of Union Pacific's control.

Discussions among the Iowa Pool, a treaty of railroads that controlled all traffic moving through Council Bluffs, to form the new California Fast Freight Line began in 1883, although a corporation was not established until two years later. When the first CFFL disbanded in 1888, the second CFFL was rebranded as the "Union Pacific California Fast Freight Line."<ref>'Fast Freight,' Los Angeles Daily Times 6 March 1888</ref> After 1888, the only participants in the CFFL rolling stock pool were Union Pacific, Central Pacific and Southern Pacific.

Central Pacific at first was included in the new CFFL organization, providing 1,500 freight cars to Union Pacific for the rolling stock pool in February 1885.<ref>'The Fast Freight Line,' Sacramento Daily Record Union 12 February 1885.</ref> However, soon after the Central Pacific withdrew from negotiations and refused to contribute to operating costs,<ref>'Notes,' Chicago Daily Tribune 15 October 1885.</ref> instead directing interchange traffic obtained from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe over the Sunset Route and interchange traffic obtained from the CB&Q over the D&RG to Ogden. It took a whole year to work out a deal that included the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific in the California Fast Freight Line company. <ref>'The Transcontinental Trouble,' Sacramento Daily Record Union 30 April 1886.</ref>

By 1888 the CFFL fleet contained 2,900 freight cars.

==Sources==

California Fast Freight Line

2026-02-08T03:21:49Z

Josh Bernard:

The California Fast Freight Line was a Fast Freight partnership that advertised direct freight service from Chicago to the California Coast.

There were two California Fast Freight Lines which muddies the knowledge of this system. The first was organized in 1870 by the Chicago & North Western Railroad to facilitate through interchange with the Union Pacific and Central Pacific from railroads originating in New York. The second was organized by Union Pacific in 1885 in response to the threat of the Denver & Rio Grande's narrow gauge Utah Extension and Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, both of which would offer alternative routes to California bypassing the UP system. The first CFFL was dissolved in 1889 after a protracted legal battle over the use of the name which Union Pacific won. The second company is the more famous of the two, but they were two completely separate and independent companies with no legal or financial overlap and should not be confused with each other.

==The First California Fast Freight Line==

The original California Fast Freight Line was a pool operation owned jointly by the Chicago & North Western; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; and Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads to direct traffic flowing from New York to California by way of Chicago, Illinois. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific were not co-owners in the pool operation but were parties to the contract to accept CFFL cars without breaking bulk.

This company was organized within a year of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 by Grafton T. Nutter. Nutter was at the time the General Eastern Freight Agent for the C&NW, located in New York, where he worked with the Vanderbilt-associated railroads to organize the CFFL traffic pool to Chicago.

The first California Fast Freight Line was disbanded on 25 February 1888 under general order issued by the four member railroads.<ref>'Fast Freight,' Los Angeles Daily Times 6 March 1888</ref>

==The Second California Fast Freight Line==

The second California Fast Freight Line was organized in 1885 by the Union Pacific in response to the recently completed Denver & Rio Grande/Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Utah Extension that connected Denver, Colorado with Ogden, Utah, allowing traffic from Chicago to bypass the Union Pacific. In addition, Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, opened at the same time as the Utah Extension, bypassed Ogden entirely allowing another through-interchange route outside of Union Pacific's control.

Discussions among the Iowa Pool, a treaty of railroads that controlled all traffic moving through Council Bluffs, to form the new California Fast Freight Line began in 1883, although a corporation was not established until two years later. When the first CFFL disbanded in 1888, the second CFFL was rebranded as the "Union Pacific California Fast Freight Line."<ref>'Fast Freight,' Los Angeles Daily Times 6 March 1888</ref>

Central Pacific at first was included in the new CFFL organization, providing 1,500 freight cars to Union Pacific for the rolling stock pool in February 1885.<ref>'The Fast Freight Line,' Sacramento Daily Record Union 12 February 1885.</ref> However, soon after the Central Pacific withdrew from negotiations and refused to contribute to operating costs, instead directing interchange traffic obtained from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe over the Sunset Route and interchange traffic obtained from the CB&Q over the D&RG to Ogden. It took a whole year to work out a deal that included the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific in the California Fast Freight Line company. <ref>'The Transcontinental Trouble,' Sacramento Daily Record Union 30 April 1886.</ref>

By 1888 the CFFL fleet contained 2,900 freight cars.

==Sources==

California Fast Freight Line

2026-02-08T03:13:04Z

Josh Bernard:

The California Fast Freight Line was a Fast Freight partnership that advertised direct freight service from Chicago to the California Coast.

There were two California Fast Freight Lines which muddies the knowledge of this system. The first was organized in 1870 by the Chicago & North Western Railroad to facilitate through interchange with the Union Pacific and Central Pacific from railroads originating in New York. The second was organized by Union Pacific in 1885 in response to the threat of the Denver & Rio Grande's narrow gauge Utah Extension and Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, both of which would offer alternative routes to California bypassing the UP system. The first CFFL was dissolved in 1889 after a protracted legal battle over the use of the name which Union Pacific won. The second company is the more famous of the two, but they were two completely separate and independent companies with no legal or financial overlap and should not be confused with each other.

==The First California Fast Freight Line==

The original California Fast Freight Line was a pool operation owned jointly by the Chicago & North Western; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; and Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads to direct traffic flowing from New York to California by way of Chicago, Illinois. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific were not co-owners in the pool operation but were parties to the contract to accept CFFL cars without breaking bulk.

This company was organized within a year of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 by Grafton T. Nutter. Nutter was at the time the General Eastern Freight Agent for the C&NW, located in New York, where he worked with the Vanderbilt-associated railroads to organize the CFFL traffic pool to Chicago.

The first California Fast Freight Line was disbanded on 25 February 1888 under general order issued by the four member railroads.<ref>'Fast Freight,' Los Angeles Daily Times 6 March 1888</ref>

==The Second California Fast Freight Line==

The second California Fast Freight Line was organized in 1885 by the Union Pacific in response to the recently completed Denver & Rio Grande/Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Utah Extension that connected Denver, Colorado with Ogden, Utah, allowing traffic from Chicago to bypass the Union Pacific. In addition, Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, opened at the same time as the Utah Extension, bypassed Ogden entirely allowing another through-interchange route outside of Union Pacific's control.

Discussions among the Iowa Pool, a treaty of railroads that controlled all traffic moving through Council Bluffs, to form the new California Fast Freight Line began in 1883, although a corporation was not established until two years later. When the first CFFL disbanded in 1888, the second CFFL was rebranded as the "Union Pacific California Fast Freight Line."<ref>'Fast Freight,' Los Angeles Daily Times 6 March 1888</ref>

While it did accept CFFL cars at Ogden, Central Pacific and Southern Pacific at first refused to participate in the new CFFL, instead directing interchange traffic obtained from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe over the Sunset Route and interchange traffic obtained from the CB&Q over the D&RG to Ogden. It took a whole year to work out a deal that included the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific in the California Fast Freight Line company. <ref>'The Transcontinental Trouble,' Sacramento Daily Record Union 30 April 1886.</ref>

By 1888 the CFFL fleet contained 2,900 freight cars.

==Sources==

California Fast Freight Line

2026-02-08T03:04:39Z

Josh Bernard:

The California Fast Freight Line was a Fast Freight partnership that advertised direct freight service from Chicago to the California Coast.

There were two California Fast Freight Lines which muddies the knowledge of this system. The first was organized in 1870 by the Chicago & North Western Railroad to facilitate through interchange with the Union Pacific and Central Pacific from railroads originating in New York. The second was organized by Union Pacific in 1885 in response to the threat of the Denver & Rio Grande's narrow gauge Utah Extension and Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, both of which would offer alternative routes to California bypassing the UP system. The first CFFL was dissolved in 1889 after a protracted legal battle over the use of the name which Union Pacific won. The second company is the more famous of the two, but they were two completely separate and independent companies with no legal or financial overlap and should not be confused with each other.

==The First California Fast Freight Line==

The original California Fast Freight Line was a pool operation owned jointly by the Chicago & North Western; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; and Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads to direct traffic flowing from New York to California by way of Chicago, Illinois. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific were not co-owners in the pool operation but were parties to the contract to accept CFFL cars without breaking bulk.

This company was organized within a year of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 by Grafton T. Nutter. Nutter was at the time the General Eastern Freight Agent for the C&NW, located in New York, where he worked with the Vanderbilt-associated railroads to organize the CFFL traffic pool to Chicago.

The first California Fast Freight Line was disbanded on 25 February 1888 under general order issued by the four member railroads.<ref>'Fast Freight,' Los Angeles Daily Times 6 March 1888</ref>

==The Second California Fast Freight Line==

The second California Fast Freight Line was organized in 1885 by the Union Pacific in response to the recently completed Denver & Rio Grande/Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Utah Extension that connected Denver, Colorado with Ogden, Utah, allowing traffic from Chicago to bypass the Union Pacific. In addition, Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, opened at the same time as the Utah Extension, bypassed Ogden entirely allowing another through-interchange route outside of Union Pacific's control.

Discussions among the Iowa Pool, a treaty of railroads that controlled all traffic moving through Council Bluffs, to form the new California Fast Freight Line began in 1883, although a corporation was not established until two years later.

While it did accept CFFL cars at Ogden, Central Pacific and Southern Pacific at first refused to participate in the new CFFL, instead directing interchange traffic obtained from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe over the Sunset Route and interchange traffic obtained from the CB&Q over the D&RG to Ogden. It took several years for these railroads to join the CFFL and contribute its own cars to the pool fleet.

By 1888 the CFFL fleet contained 2,900 freight cars.

==Sources==

California Fast Freight Line

2026-02-07T21:12:20Z

Josh Bernard: Created page with "The California Fast Freight Line was a Fast Freight partnership that advertised direct freight service from Chicago to the California Coast. There were two California Fast Freight Lines which muddies the knowledge of this system. The first was organized in 1870 by the Chicago & North Western Railroad to facilitate through interchange with the Union Pacific and Central Pacific from railroads originating in New York. The second was organized by Union Pacific in 1885 in re..."

The California Fast Freight Line was a Fast Freight partnership that advertised direct freight service from Chicago to the California Coast.

There were two California Fast Freight Lines which muddies the knowledge of this system. The first was organized in 1870 by the Chicago & North Western Railroad to facilitate through interchange with the Union Pacific and Central Pacific from railroads originating in New York. The second was organized by Union Pacific in 1885 in response to the threat of the Denver & Rio Grande's narrow gauge Utah Extension and Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, both of which would offer alternative routes to California bypassing the UP system. The first CFFL was dissolved in 1889 after a protracted legal battle over the use of the name which Union Pacific won. The second company is the more famous of the two, but they were two completely separate and independent companies with no legal or financial overlap and should not be confused with each other.

==The First California Fast Freight Line==

The original California Fast Freight Line was a pool operation owned jointly by the Chicago & North Western; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; and Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads to direct traffic flowing from New York to California by way of Chicago, Illinois. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific were not co-owners in the pool operation but were parties to the contract to accept CFFL cars without breaking bulk.

This company was organized within a year of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 by Grafton T. Nutter. Nutter was at the time the General Eastern Freight Agent for the C&NW, located in New York, where he worked with the Vanderbilt-associated railroads to organize the CFFL traffic pool to Chicago.

==The Second California Fast Freight Line==

The second California Fast Freight Line was organized in 1885 by the Union Pacific in response to the recently completed Denver & Rio Grande/Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Utah Extension that connected Denver, Colorado with Ogden, Utah, allowing traffic from Chicago to bypass the Union Pacific. In addition, Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, opened at the same time as the Utah Extension, bypassed Ogden entirely allowing another through-interchange route outside of Union Pacific's control.

Discussions among the Iowa Pool, a treaty of railroads that controlled all traffic moving through Council Bluffs, to form the new California Fast Freight Line began in 1883, although a corporation was not established until two years later.

While it did accept CFFL cars at Ogden, Central Pacific and Southern Pacific at first refused to participate in the new CFFL, instead directing interchange traffic obtained from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe over the Sunset Route and interchange traffic obtained from the CB&Q over the D&RG to Ogden. It took several years for these railroads to join the CFFL and contribute its own cars to the pool fleet.

By 1888 the CFFL fleet contained 2,900 freight cars.

Fast Freight Lines

2026-02-07T20:49:28Z

Josh Bernard: Created page with "Welcome to the PacificNG index for Fast Freight Lines. Fast Freight Lines were the public face of interchange agreements for through-run interchange between railroads before car tracking was a reliable and trusted system. Groups of railroads negotiated contracts for designated routes over which member cars could be transported without "breaking bulk" or transloading freight from one company's car to another at the junction point as was the standard practice at the time...."

Welcome to the PacificNG index for Fast Freight Lines.

Fast Freight Lines were the public face of interchange agreements for through-run interchange between railroads before car tracking was a reliable and trusted system. Groups of railroads negotiated contracts for designated routes over which member cars could be transported without "breaking bulk" or transloading freight from one company's car to another at the junction point as was the standard practice at the time.

Over time as free interchange and car tracking improved the purpose of Fast Freight Lines evolved from avoiding transloading to providing passenger-schedule shipping times to freight customers.

Fast Freight Lines typically had a pool of cars provided by its member railroads. While many narrow gauge railroads joined Fast Freight agreements, the search is still ongoing for evidence that narrow gauge railroads provided their own dedicated cars to the pool.

*Merchant's Despatch

*Red Line

*White Line

*Blue Line

*Green Line

*Yellow Line

*[[California Fast Freight Line]]

Main Page

2026-02-07T20:41:51Z

Josh Bernard: /* Temporary */

__NOTOC__
{{:Curator's Corner}}
<div> 
<span class="paracap">W</span>'''elcome''' to PacificNG.org, dedicated to the history of narrow gauge railroading in western North America and the Pacific Rim. Our goal is to create a central hub for history, imagery, and reference materials relevant to fans of narrow gauge railroading and increasingly early railroads west of the Great Divide.

==Featured Article==

'''[[Arcata & Mad River Railroad]]''' [[File:A&MR map.jpg|left|250px|borderless]]Incorporated July 16, 1881, the 12.9 mile long Arcata and Mad River Railroad provided access to the timber lands along the Mad River between Arcata and Korbel. Prior to the A&MR railroad the Union Plank Walk & Rail Track Company, incorporated December 15, 1854, had provided service along the 2.5 mile long wharf in Arcata. The two companies operated narrow gauge service for a total of 88 years being both the oddest gauge and earliest railroad in California. The A&MR continued on for an additional 50 years as a standard gauge railroad.
<br>

==What's New==

===Newest Pages===
{{Special:NewestPages/-/5}}

===Recently Edited===

===Temporary===
:[[Reference]]

:[[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

:[[Fast Freight Lines]]

==Popular Tags==

:[[Railroads by Gauge]]
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:[[Locomotives by Builder]]
:[[Locomotives by Whyte Classification]]
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:[[:Category:Preserved Locomotives|Preserved Locomotives]]
:[[:Category:Preserved Equipment|Preserved Equipment]]

</div>

Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad Paint Information

2026-01-11T19:14:04Z

Josh Bernard: Created page with "Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index <span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span> ==Passenger Equipment== '''1897''' New coaches are painted dark olive green with gold leaf lettering and striping. The roofs are painted dark red. ''The Florence Daily Herald, Volume 2, Number 95, 8 July 1897.'' Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index"

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1897'''

New coaches are painted dark olive green with gold leaf lettering and striping. The roofs are painted dark red.

''The Florence Daily Herald, Volume 2, Number 95, 8 July 1897.''

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Historic Railroad Paint Color Index

2026-01-11T19:11:45Z

Josh Bernard: /* F */

===Introduction===

This page is a mirror of the document: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jbXGfg9V3cY0awKamkrwM2JlLSQepapDwU9A3Dx43-M/edit 19th Century Railroad Paint Color Research Compendium]. Research was done primarily by Josh Bernhard, Evan Abma, Sam Anderson, Andrew Brandon, and Randy Hees, with contributions from other historians and railroad enthusiasts.

This is a compilation of raw primary source documentation regarding paint and lettering of North American railroads. While the focus is on the 19th Century, 20th century sources are added when found.

Data is arranged alphabetically by railroad name with an individual page for each.

For more information about railroad paint scholarship, paint photography, and the science of color, see [[Historic Paint]].

Street railways and private owner car lines that do not have enough information to warrant their own page can be found under the "Street Railways" and "Private Owner Car Lines" pages.

<div class="horizontaltoc">Jump to letter: [[#A|A]] - [[#B|B]] - [[#C|C]] - [[#D|D]] - [[#E|E]] - [[#F|F]] - [[#G|G]] - [[#H|H]] - [[#I|I]] - [[#J|J]] - [[#K|K]] - [[#L|L]] - [[#M|M]] - [[#N|N]] - [[#O|O]] - [[#P|P]] - [[#Q|Q]] - [[#R|R]] - [[#S|S]] - [[#T|T]] - [[#U|U]] - [[#V|V]] - [[#W|W]] - [[#X|X]] - [[#Y|Y]] - [[#Z|Z]] __NOTOC__</div>

==A==

[[American Railway Express Paint Information|American Railway Express]]

[[Americus Preston & Lumpkin Railroad Paint Information|Americus Preston & Lumpkin Railroad]]

[[Androscoggin Railroad Paint Information|Androscoggin Railroad]]

[[Ann Arbor Railroad Paint Information| Ann Arbor Railroad]]

[[Atchison & Nebraska Railroad: Paint Information|Atchison & Nebraska Railroad]]

[[Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe: Paint Information|Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe]]

[[Atchison & Charlotte Air Line Railroad Pain Information|Atchison & Charlotte Air Line Railroad]]

[[Atlanta & La Grange Railroad: Paint Information|Atlanta & La Grange Railroad]]

[[Atlantic & Great Western: Paint Information|Atlantic & Great Western]]

[[Atlantic & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Atlantic & Gulf Railroad]]

[[Atlantic Coast Line Paint Information|Atlantic Coast Line]]

[[Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio: Paint Information|Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio]]

[[Augusta Gibson & Sandersville Railroad Paint Information| Augusta Gibson & Sandersville Railroad]]

==B==

[[Baltimore & Ohio Paint Information|Baltimore & Ohio]]

[[Bangor & Aroostook Paint Information|Bangor & Aroostook]]

[[Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad Paint Information|Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad]]

[[Bellaire & South Western Railway Paint Information|Bellaire & South Western Railway]]

[[Blue Line Fast Freight: Paint Information|Blue Line Fast Freight]]

[[Boston & Albany Paint Information|Boston & Albany]]

[[Boston Concord & Montreal Paint Information|Boston Concord & Montreal]]

[[Boston Hartford & Erie Paint Information|Boston Hartford & Erie]]

[[Boston & Lowell Railroad Paint Information|Boston & Lowell Railroad]]

[[Boston & Maine Paint Information|Boston & Maine]]

[[Boston & Providence Railroad Paint Information| Boston & Providence Railroad]]

[[Boston & Worcester Railroad Paint Information|Boston & Worcester Railroad]]

[[Boston Concord & Montreal Paint Information|Boston Concord & Montreal]]

[[Boston Hartford & Erie Paint Information|Boston Hartford & Erie]]

[[Boston Revere Beach & Lynn Paint Information|Boston Revere Beach & Lynn]]

[[Brattleboro & Whitehall Railroad Paint Information|Brattleboro & Whitehall Railroad]]

[[Buffalo & Susquehanna Paint Information|Buffalo & Susquehanna]]

[[Buffalo New York & Philadelphia Paint Information|Buffalo New York & Philadelphia]]

[[Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh Paint Information|Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh]]

[[Burlington & Lamoille Railroad Paint Information|Burlington & Lamoille Railroad]]

[[Burlington & Missouri River Paint Information|Burlington & Missouri River]]

[[Butte Anaconda & Pacific Paint Information|Butte Anaconda & Pacific]]

==C==

[[Camden & Amboy Railroad Paint Information|Camden & Amboy Railroad]]

[[Canada Atlantic Railway Paint Information|Canada Atlantic Railway]]

[[Canadian Pacific Railway Paint Information|Canadian Pacific Railway]]

[[Canada Southern Railway Paint Information|Canada Southern Railway]]

[[Carolina Central Railroad Paint Information| Carolina Central Railroad]]

[[Carson & Colorado Railroad Paint Information| Carson & Colorado Railroad]]

[[Cayuga Lake Railroad Paint Information| Cayuga Lake Railroad]]

[[Central Pacific Railroad: Paint Information|Central Pacific Railroad]]

[[Central Railroad of Georgia Paint Information| Central Railroad of Georgia]]

[[Central Railroad of New Jersey Paint Information| Central Railroad of New Jersey]]

[[Central Transportation Company Paint Information| Central Transportation Company]]

[[Central Vermont Railroad Paint Information|Central Vermont Railroad]]

[[Chattaroi Railway Paint Information| Chattaroi Railway]]

[[Cherokee Iron Company Paint Information| Cherokee Iron Company]]

[[Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Paint Information|Chesapeake & Ohio]]

[[Cheshire Railroad Paint Information|Cheshire Railroad]]

[[Chicago & Alton Railroad Paint Information|Chicago & Alton Railroad]]

[[Chicago & Atlantic Railway Paint Information|Chicago & Atlantic Railway]]

[[Chicago & Eastern Illinois Paint Information| Chicago & Eastern Illinois]]

[[Chicago & Lake Huron Railroad Paint Information| Chicago & Lake Huron Railroad]]

[[Chicago & North-Western Railway Paint Information|Chicago & North-Western Railway]]

[[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago Burlington & Quincy]]

[[Chicago Great Western Paint Information| Chicago Great Western Railroad]]

[[Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Paint Information|Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul]]

[[Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Paint Information|Chicago Rock Island & Pacific]]

[[Chicago St. Louis & New Orleans Paint Information| Chicago St. Louis & New Orleans]]

[[Chicago St. Paul & Kansas City Paint Information| Chicago St. Paul & Kansas City]]

[[Chicago St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha Railway| Chicago St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha Railway]]

[[Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railway Paint Information|Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railway]]

[[Cincinnati Indianapolis St. Louis & Chicago Paint Information| Cincinnati Indianapolis St. Louis & Chicago]]

[[Cincinnati Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad Paint Information| Cincinnati Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad]]

[[Cincinnati Southern Railway Paint Information| Cincinnati Southern Railway]]

[[Cincinnati Van Wert & Michigan Paint Information| Cincinnati Van Wert & Michigan]]

[[Cleveland Akron & Columbus Paint Information| Cleveland Akron & Columbus]]

[[Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago & St Louis (Big Four) Paint Information|Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago & St Louis (Big Four)]]

[[Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati & Indianapolis Paint Information|Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati & Indianapolis]]

[[Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Columbus Railroad Paint Information| Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Columbus Railroad]]

[[Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Delaware Paint Information| Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Delaware]]

[[Cleveland Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Paint Information| Cleveland Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling]]

[[Colorado Midland Paint Information|Colorado Midland]]

[[Colorado & Southern Railway Paint Information|Colorado & Southern Railway]]

[[Columbus, Sandusky & Hocking Paint Information| Columbus, Sandusky & Hocking]]

[[Colusa & Lake Railroad Paint Information| Colusa & Lake Railroad]]

[[Concord Railroad Paint Information| Concord Railroad]]

[[Connecticut River Railroad Paint Information| Connecticut River Railroad]]

[[Connecticut Western Railroad Paint Information| Connecticut Western Railroad]]

[[Connotton Valley Railroad Paint Information|Connotton Valley Railroad]]

[[Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Paint Information| Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley]]

[[Cumberland & Pennsylvania Paint Information| Cumberland & Pennsylvania]]

[[Cumberland Valley Railroad Paint Information| Cumberland Valley Railroad]]

==D==

[[Dakota Southern Railroad Paint Information|Dakota Southern Railroad]]

[[Delaware & Hudson Paint Information|Delaware & Hudson]]

[[Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Paint Information|Delaware, Lackawanna & Western]]

[[Delaware Railroad Paint Information|Delaware Railroad]]

[[Delaware Western Railroad Paint Information|Delaware Western Railroad]]

[[Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information|Denver & Rio Grande]]

[[Denver Pacific Railway Paint Information|Denver Pacific Railway]]

[[Denver South Park & Pacific Paint Information|Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad]]

[[Denver, Texas & Fort Worth Railroad Paint Information|Denver, Texas & Fort Worth Railroad]]

[[Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad Paint Information|Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad]]

[[Detroit Lansing & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Detroit Lansing & Northern Railroad]]

[[Detroit Saginaw & Bay City Railroad Paint Information|Detroit Saginaw & Bay City Railroad]]

[[Duluth & Iron Range Railway Paint Information|Duluth & Iron Range Railway]]

[[Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Paint Information|Duluth South Shore & Atlantic]]

[[Dunkirk Warren & Pittsburgh Railway Paint Information|Dunkirk, Warren & Pittsburgh Railway]]

==E==

[[East & West Railway Paint Information|East & West Railway]]

[[East Broad Top Railroad Paint Information|East Broad Top Railroad]]

[[East Tennessee Virginia and Georgia Railroad Paint Information|East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad]]

[[Eastern Railroad Paint Information|Eastern Railroad]]

[[Elmira Cortland & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Elmira Cortland & Northern Railroad]]

[[Erie Paint Information|Erie]]

[[Erie & Wyoming Valley Railroad Paint Information|Erie & Wyoming Valley Railroad]]

[[European & North American Railway Paint Information|European & North American Railway]]

==F==

[[Fairhaven & Southern Railroad Paint Information|Fairhaven & Southern Railroad]]

[[Fitchburg Railroad Paint Information|Fitchburg Railroad]]

[[Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad Paint Information|Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad]]

[[Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad Paint Information|Florence & Cripple Creek]]

[[Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad Paint Information|Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad]]

[[Florida Railway & Navigation Company Paint Information|Florida Railway & Navigation Company]]

[[Fort Madison & North Western Railroad Paint Information|Fort Madison & North Western Railroad]]

[[Fremont Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Paint Information|Fremont Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad]]

==G==

[[Georgia Railroad Paint Information|Georgia Railroad]]

[[Gettysburg Railroad Paint Information|Gettysburg Railroad]]

[[Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Paint Information|Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad]]

[[Grand River Valley Railroad Paint Information|Grand River Valley Railroad]]

[[Grand Trunk Railway Paint Information|Grand Trunk Railway]]

[[Great Northern Paint Information|Great Northern]]

[[Great Western Railway of Canada Paint Information|Great Western Railway of Canada]]

==H==

[[Housatonic Railroad Paint Information|Housatonic Railroad]]

[[Houston & Texas Central Railroad Paint Information|Houston & Texas Central Railroad]]

[[Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|Hudson River Railroad]]

==I==

[[Illinois Central Railroad Paint Information|Illinois Central Railroad]]

[[Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Paint Information|Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad]]

[[Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad Paint Information|Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad]]

[[Indianapolis Bloomington & Western Railway Paint Information|Indianapolis Bloomington & Western Railway]]

[[Indianapolis Decatur & Springfield Railway Paint Information|Indianapolis Decatur & Springfield Railway]]

[[Intercolonial Railway Paint Information|Intercolonial Railway]]

[[International & Great Northern Railway Paint Information|International & Great Northern Railway]]

[[Iowa Eastern Railroad Paint Information|Iowa Eastern Railroad]]

==J==

[[Jackson & Sharp Company Paint Information|Jackson & Sharp Company]]

[[Jackson Lansing & Saginaw Railroad Paint Information|Jackson Lansing & Saginaw Railroad]]

[[Jacksonville Pensacola & Mobile Railroad Paint Information|Jacksonville Pensacola & Mobile Railroad]]

[[Jacksonville Southeastern Railway Paint Information|Jacksonville Southeastern Railway]]

[[Jacksonville Tampa & Key West Railway Paint Information|Jacksonville Tampa & Key West Railway]]

[[Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway Paint Information|Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway]]

[[Jefferson Madison & Indianapolis Railroad Paint Information|Jefferson Madison & Indianapolis Railroad]]

==K==

[[Kansas City Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Kansas City Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad]]

[[Kansas City Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Kansas City Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad]]

[[Kansas Pacific Railway Paint Information|Kansas Pacific Railway]]

[[Kennebec & Wiscasset Railroad Paint Information|Kennebec & Wiscasset Railroad]]

[[Keokuk & Des Moines Railway Paint Information|Keokuk & Des Moines Railway]]

==L==

[[Lake Erie & Western Railway Paint Information|Lake Erie & Western Railway]]

[[Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Paint Information|Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway]]

[[Lake Shore & Tuscarawas Valley Railway Paint Information|Lake Shore & Tuscarawas Valley Railway]]

[[Lawrenceburg & Upper Mississippi Railroad Paint Information|Lawrenceburg & Upper Mississippi Railroad]]

[[Lehigh Valley Railroad: Paint Information|Lehigh Valley Railroad]]

[[Ligonier Valley Railroad Paint Information|Ligonier Valley Railroad]]

[[Long Island Railroad Paint Information|Long Island Railroad]]

[[Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad Paint Information|Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad]]

[[Louisville & Nashville Railroad Paint Information|Louisville & Nashville Railroad]]

[[Louisville Cincinnati & Lexington Railroad Paint Information|Louisville Cincinnati & Lexington Railroad]]

[[Louisville New Albany & Chicago Railway Paint Information|Louisville New Albany & Chicago Railway]]

[[Louisville New Orleans & Texas Railway Paint Information|Louisville New Orleans & Texas Railway]]

==M==

[[Macon & Brunswick Railroad Paint Information|Macon & Brunswick Railroad]]

[[Macon & Western Railroad Paint Information|Macon & Western Railroad]]

[[Maine Central Railroad Paint Information|Maine Central Railroad]]

[[Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad Paint Information|Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad]]

[[Marietta & North Georgia Railway Paint Information|Marietta & North Georgia Railway]]

[[Memphis & Charleston Railroad Paint Information|Memphis & Charleston Railroad]]

[[Merchant's Despatch (MDT) Paint Information|Merchant's Despatch (MDT)]]

[[Meriden & Cromwell Railroad Paint Information|Meriden & Cromwell Railroad]]

[[Michigan Central Railroad Paint Information|Michigan Central Railroad]]

[[Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Paint Information|Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway]]

[[Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western Railway Paint Information|Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western Railway]]

[[Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway Paint Information|Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway]]

[[Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad Paint Information|Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad]]

[[Missouri Iowa & Nebraska Railway Paint Information|Missouri Iowa & Nebraska Railway]]

[[Missouri Kansas & Texas Railway Paint Information|Missouri Kansas & Texas Railway]]

[[Missouri Pacific Railway Paint Information|Missouri Pacific Railway]]

[[Mobile & Ohio Railroad Paint Information|Mobile & Ohio Railroad]]

[[Montgomery & West Point Railroad Paint Information|Montgomery & West Point Railroad]]

[[Morgan's Louisiana & Texas Railroad Paint Information|Morgan's Louisiana & Texas Railroad]]

==N==

[[Nashua Acton & Boston Railroad Paint Information|Nashua Acton & Boston Railroad]]

[[Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad Paint Information|Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad]]

[[Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Paint Information|Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway]]

[[National Despatch Line (National Car Company) Paint Information|National Despatch Line (National Car Company)]]

[[Naugatuck Railroad Paint Information|Naugatuck Railroad]]

[[Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad: Paint Information|Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad]]

[[New Brunswick Railway Paint Information|New Brunswick Railway]]

[[New Jersey & New York Railway Paint Information|New Jersey & New York Railway]]

[[New Jersey Midland Railway Paint Information|New Jersey Midland Railway]]

[[New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company Paint Information|New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company]]

[[New London Northern Railroad Paint Information|New London Northern Railroad]]

[[New Orleans & Mobile Railroad Paint Information|New Orleans & Mobile Railroad]]

[[New Orleans Fort Jackson & Grand Isle Railroad Paint Information|New Orleans Fort Jackson & Grand Isle Railroad]]

[[New York & Harlem Railroad Paint Information|New York & Harlem Railroad]]

[[New York & New England Railroad Paint Information|New York & New England Railroad]]

[[New York Central Railroad Paint Information|New York Central]]

[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]]

[[New York Chicago & St. Louis Paint Information|New York Chicago & St. Louis (Nickle Plate)]]

[[New York New Haven & Hartford Paint Information|New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad]]

[[New York Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad Paint Information|New York Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad]]

[[New York Providence & Boston Railroad (Stonington Line) Paint Information|New York Providence & Boston Railroad (Stonington Line)]]

[[New York West Shore & Buffalo Railway Paint Information|New York West Shore & Buffalo Railway]]

[[New York Woodhaven & Rockaway Railroad Paint Information|New York Woodhaven & Rockaway Railroad]]

[[Nickel Plate Line (Fast Freight) Paint Information|Nickel Plate Line (Fast Freight)]]

[[Norfolk & Western Railroad Paint Information|Norfolk & Western Railroad]]

[[Norfolk Southern Railroad Paint Information|Norfolk Southern Railroad]]

[[Northern & Central Vermont Line (Fast Freight) Paint Information|Northern & Central Vermont Line (Fast Freight)]]

[[Northern Alabama Railway Paint Information|Northern Alabama Railway]]

[[Northern Central Railway Paint Information|Northern Central Railway]]

[[North Eastern Railroad Paint Information|North Eastern Railroad]]

[[North Missouri Railroad Paint Information|North Missouri Railroad]]

[[Northern Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Northern Pacific Railroad]]

==O==

[[Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad Paint Information|Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad]]

[[Ohio & Little Kanawha Railroad Paint Information|Ohio & Little Kanawha Railroad]]

[[Ohio & Mississippi Railway Paint Information|Ohio & Mississippi Railway]]

[[Ohio River Railroad Paint Information|Ohio River Railroad]]

[[Old Colony Railroad Paint Information|Old Colony Railroad]]

[[Oregon Short Line Paint Information|Oregon Short Line]]

==P==

[[Pennsylvania Railroad: Paint Information|Pennsylvania Railroad]]

[[Pere Marquette Railroad Paint Information|Pere Marquette Railroad]]

[[Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Paint Information|Philadelphia & Erie Railroad]]

[[Philadelphia & Reading Paint Information|Philadelphia & Reading]]

[[Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad Paint Information|Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad]]

[[Pittsburgh & Castle Shannon Railroad Paint Information|Pittsburgh & Castle Shannon Railroad]]

[[Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Paint Information|Pittsburgh & Lake Erie]]

[[Pittsburgh Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway (Pan Handle Route) Paint Information|Pittsburgh Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway (Pan Handle Route)]]

[[Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway Paint Information|Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway]]

[[Pittsburgh Shawmut & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Pittsburgh Shawmut & Northern Railroad]]

[[Plant System Paint Information|Plant System]]

[[Portland & Kennebec Railroad Paint Information|Portland & Kennebec Railroad]]

[[Portland & Rochester Railroad Paint Information|Portland & Rochester Railroad]]

[[Private Owner Car Line Paint Information|Private Owner Car Lines]]

[[Providence & Worcester Railroad Paint Information|Providence & Worcester Railroad]]

[[Pullman Paint Information|Pullman]]

==Q==

[[Quebec & Lake St. John Railway Paint Information|Quebec & Lake St. John Railway]]

[[Quebec Montreal Ottawa & Occidental Railway Paint Information|Quebec Montreal Ottawa & Occidental Railway]]

==R==

[[Red Line Fast Freight Paint Information|Red Line Fast Freight]]

[[Redondo Railway Paint Information|Redondo Railway]]

[[Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad Paint Information|Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad]]

[[Richmond & Allegheny Railroad Paint Information|Richmond & Allegheny Railroad]]

[[Richmond & Danville Railroad Paint Information|Richmond & Danville Railroad]]

[[Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad Paint Information|Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad]]

[[Rio Grande Southern: Paint Information| Rio Grande Southern]]

[[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information| Rio Grande Western]]

[[Roanoke & Southern Railway Paint Information|Roanoke & Southern Railway]]

[[Rochester & Syracuse Railroad Paint Information|Rochester & Syracuse Railroad]]

[[Rome Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad Paint Information|Rome Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad]]

[[Rutland Railroad Paint Information|Rutland Railroad]]

==S==

[[Saginaw Tuscola & Huron Railroad Paint Information|Saginaw Tuscola & Huron Railroad]]

[[San Diego, Cuyamaca & Eastern Paint Information|San Diego, Cuyamaca & Eastern]]

[[San Francisco and North Pacific Paint Information|San Francisco & North Pacific Railroad]]

[[San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley Paint Information|San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley Railroad]]

[[San Pedro Los Angeles & Salt Lake Paint Information|San Pedro Los Angeles & Salt Lake]]

[[San Pete Valley Railway Paint Information|San Pete Valley Railway]]

[[Sandusky & Columbus Short Line Railway Paint Information|Sandusky & Columbus Short Line Railway]]

[[Sandy River Railroad Paint Information|Sandy River Railroad]]

[[Savannah & Charleston Railroad Paint Information|Savannah & Charleston Railroad]]

[[Savannah Florida & Western Railway Paint Information|Savannah Florida & Western Railway]]

[[Savannah Griffin & North Alabama Railroad Paint Information|Savannah Griffin & North Alabama Railroad]]

[[Seaboard Air Line Railway Paint Information|Seaboard Air Line Railway]]

[[Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Paint Information|Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway]]

[[Selma Rome & Dalton Railroad Paint Information|Selma Rome & Dalton Railroad]]

[[Shenandoah Valley Railroad Paint Information|Shenandoah Valley Railroad]]

[[Silver Springs Ocala & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Silver Springs Ocala & Gulf Railroad]]

[[South Bound Railroad Paint Information|South Bound Railroad]]

[[South Carolina Railway Paint Information|South Carolina Railway]]

[[South Pacific Coast Railroad Paint Information|South Pacific Coast Railroad]]

[[South Pacific Coast Railway Paint Information|South Pacific Coast Railway]]

[[Southern Central Railroad Paint Information|Southern Central Railroad]]

[[Southern Pacific Railroad: Paint Information| Southern Pacific Railroad]]

[[Southern Railway Paint Information|Southern Railway]]

[[St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad Paint Information|St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad]]

[[St. Lawrence & Ottawa Railway Paint Information|St. Lawrence & Ottawa Railway]]

[[St. Louis & San Francisco Railway Paint Information|St. Louis & San Francisco Railway]]

[[St. Louis & Southeastern Railway Paint Information|St. Louis & Southeastern Railway]]

[[St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Paint Information|St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway]]

[[St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Paint Information|St. Paul & Pacific Railroad]]

[[St. Paul Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Paint Information|St. Paul Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway]]

[[Street Railway Paint Information|Street Railways]]

[[Susquehanna Railroad Paint Information|Susquehanna Railroad]]

==T==

[[Texas Midland Railroad Paint Information|Texas Midland Railroad]]

[[Tiffany Refrigerator Car Paint Information|Tiffany Refrigerator Cars]]

[[Toledo & Central Ohio Railway Paint Information|Toledo & Central Ohio Railway]]

[[Toledo St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad Paint Information|Toledo St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad]]

==U==

[[Uintah Railway Paint Information|Uintah Railway]]

[[U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Supply Depot Paint Information|U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Supply Depot]]

[[Union Oil Company of California Paint Information|Union Oil Company of California]]

[[Union Pacific Rail Road Paint Information|Union Pacific Rail Road]]

[[Union Pacific Railway Paint Information|Union Pacific Railway]]

[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific Railroad]]

[[Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway Paint Information|Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway]]

[[Union Tank Line: Paint Information|Union Tank Line]]

[[Utah Central Railroad: Paint Information|Utah Central Railroad]]

[[Utah & Northern Railway: Paint Information|Utah & Northern Railway]]

[[Utah Railway: Paint Information|Utah Railway]]

[[Utah & Western Railroad: Paint Information|Utah Western Railway]]

[[Utica & Schenectady Railroad Paint Information|Utica & Schenectady Railroad]]

[[Utica Ithaca & Elmira Railroad Paint Information|Utica Ithaca & Elmira Railroad]]

==V==

[[Virginia & Truckee Railroad: Paint Information|Virginia & Truckee Railroad]]

[[Virginia Central Railroad Paint Information|Virginia Central Railroad]]

==W==

[[Wabash Railroad Paint Information|Wabash Railroad]]

[[Wagner Palace Car Company Paint Information|Wagner Palace Car Company]]

[[Washington City Virginia Midland & Great Southern Railway Paint Information|Washington City Virginia Midland & Great Southern Railway]]

[[Washington County Railroad Paint Information|Washington County Railroad]]

[[West Jersey & Atlantic Railroad Paint Information|West Jersey & Atlantic Railroad]]

[[West Shore Railroad Paint Information|West Shore Railroad]]

[[Western & Atlantic Railroad Paint Information|Western & Atlantic Railroad]]

[[Western Maryland Railroad Paint Information|Western Maryland Railroad]]

[[Western Railway of Alabama Paint Information|Western Railway of Alabama]]

[[Western Union Railroad Paint Information|Western Union Railroad]]

[[Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad Paint Information|Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad]]

[[White Line (Fast Freight) Paint Information|White Line (Fast Freight)]]

[[Williams Valley Railroad Paint Information|Williams Valley Railroad]]

[[Williamstown Railroad Paint Information|Williamstown Railroad]]

[[Wilmington Columbia & Augusta Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington Columbia & Augusta Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Northern Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Reading Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Reading Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Weldon Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Weldon Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Western Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Western Railroad]]

[[Windsor & Annapolis Railway Paint Information|Windsor & Annapolis Railway]]

[[Wisconsin Central Paint Information|Wisconsin Central Railroad]]

==X==

==Y==

[[York & Cumberland Railroad Paint Information|York & Cumberland Railroad]]

==Z==

Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information

2026-01-11T19:07:18Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

See [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information]]

==General==

The 1879 Material Inventory lists the following paints stocked at the Denver shops:

*Burnt Umber

*Raw Sienna

*Western Red

*Silver White

*Ivory Black

*Indian Red

*Orange Chrome Yellow

*Scarlet Lake

*Van Dyke Brown

*Rose Lake

*Raw Turkey Umber

*Burnt Sienna

*Prussian Blue

*Golden Ochre

*Tuscan Red

*Dry Burnt Umber

*Dry Raw Sienna

*Dry English Vermillon

*Lamp Black

*Raw Umber

*Chrome Yellow

*Dry Ultramarine Blue

*White Lead in oil

*Dry Red Lead

*Coach Green

*Shellacc

*Chicago Hard Body Drying Varnish

*"Standard Varnish"

*Valentine Medium Coats Finishing Varnish

*Elastic Carriage Varnish

*Japan

*Asphaltum (black paint)

*Venetian Red

*[[Oxide and Metallic Paints|Iron Clad Mineral (brown)]]

*Dry Rose Pink

*Dry Tuscan Red

*Yellow Ochre

*Black Diamond Paint

''Inventory of Tools, Material, Equipment & Other Property of Denver & Rio Grande Railway Trasnferred to Receiver, Aug. 14, 1879 by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Original ledger number 66 from the collection of Jason Sanford.''

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

Locomotives 47 through 72, 74 through 87, 90, 97, 98, and 102 through 106 are delivered in Baldwin Style 98 painted Olive Green, including the cab, with color (imitation gold) striping and lettering. The boiler jackets are American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 46, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Class 60N (later C-16) locomotives, Baldwin class 10-24 1/2 E, are delivered in Style 103, black and color. Body color is black, main striping and lettering are in imitation gold (yellow) with red pinstriping.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 197, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1881'''

Locomotives 150 through 165 are delivered in Baldwin Style 69 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 239, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 23, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 412 through 416 are delivered in Baldwin style 103 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 22, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Locomotives 166 through 177 are delivered in Baldwin Style 125 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 pp 165, 261, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1886'''

Locomotives 507 through 511 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the locomotive but no stripes on the tender. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 555 through 574 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 14 p 42-43, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1889'''

Locomotives 575 through 581 are delivered painted black with no striping. The lettering is "Lemon Yellow." The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 206, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 512 through 514 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the cab but not the tender, cylinders or wheels. The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 209, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1890'''

Locomotives 515 through 538 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 582 through 629 and 805 through 826 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 16 p 108-110, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1903'''

Standard gauge steam locomotives lettered in aluminum leaf on the cab, domes and tender sides. Rear of switch engine tenders and road engine tenders with rear-mounted air tanks and toolboxes lettered in white lead. All small lettering such as "KEEP OFF," tender capacity, and repair/maintenance dates is in white lead.

''D.&R.G. Standard Painting and Lettering - Standard Gauge Locomotives, 1903''

Narrow gauge locomotives 450-464 are delivered in Baldwin Style 261 painted black with gold leaf striping and lettering. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. The eccentric rods and straps are painted bright red.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 25 p 217, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1912'''

Baldwin builder specifications for the 280S-class (K-59) standard gauge 2-8-2s indicate that the locomotives were painted black with no striping. Lettering was "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color i.e. orange".

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1200-1213; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

Standard gauge K-59 class steam locomotives number 1200 through 1213 are lettered in "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color." Headlight number plates in black glass with clear numbers. "KEEP OFF" stencils are in white lead.

''Lettering Freight Locomotives Class, D&RG. July 1912. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908-1916'''

Engineer Arthur "Art" Campbell, assigned to D&RG 768, carried "Plumbago" paint on the locomotive to paint the smokebox and stack with every time the train ran on time. Mr. Campbell's fireman described the color as silver that "would shine fit to knock your eye out." Note this was not standard and only applies to number 768.

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

'''1913'''

Standard gauge 262/261S (P-44) Class steam locomotives were painted black with no striping and lettered with "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color" (orange).

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1001-1006; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

'''1924'''

A telegram sent to the Rio Grande Southern from the D&RGW offices reads as follows:

<blockquote> "TELEGRAM—THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD SYSTEM - 1/20/24. RRBZ. If the yellow locomotive lettering paint comes, which I wired ADB to send you, have Randow use it on re-lettering the D&RGW engines coming from Montrose. If it doesn’t come, go ahead and use what you have. RCM."</blockquote>

'''1926'''

A letter addressed to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado lists the following paints for narrow gauge locomotives:

<blockquote>"Alamosa, Colorado - January 23 1926 - Following is a list of paints and what they are used for furnished by my painter foreman and I want you to specify from this list the paints that you order in the future: 1. [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Stay-Brite for front ends]]. 2. Long's Black Paint for headlights, hand rails, domes, and exterior of cabs and tenders. 3. Russian Black Jacket Enamel for jackets. 4. Cab Green for interior of cabs. 5. Aluminum leaf for lettering cabs and tender. 6. Underpining Black Paint for pilots and all running gear of engines, underneath running board, tender frames, and trucks. 7. White Lead for all stenciling. 8. TOCO Finishing Varnish for varnishing exterior of cabs and tenders... If your requisitions do not show the paint or enamel as described in this list, same will be held up or returned to you for proper description."</blockquote>

[https://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,277935,278267#msg-278267| Earl Knoob] of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad found an original can of Staybrite Front End Paint which he described as "basic metallic medium gray."

'''1937'''

D&RGW Standard Practice outlines that locomotives are to be painted with [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Staybrite Front End Paint]] on the smokebox and firebox, Locomotive Black Enamel on cylinders, pilots, and running gear, "Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green)" on the boiler jacket, Black Duco on the cab exterior and tender, aluminum paint on the cylinder heads, number plate bead, tire rims, and edge of running board, and "Cab Green, Medium" on the cab interior.

''D&RGWRR Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders, 1 November 1937.''

The subject of Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green) is highly controversial in D&RGW history circles; very few locomotives apparently actually received it, with most being on the standard gauge portions of the company.

'''1941'''

Du Pont Duco "Gold" (ochre yellow) is used on the first fifteen diesel road switchers. This is the first documented use of yellow-orange paint for lettering diesel locomotives, and while often confused with the later "aspen gold," is a different paint mix and different shade.

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1946'''

Du Pont Dulux "Imitation Gold" is introduced to replace Duco "Gold". Dulux "Imitation Gold" is described as brighter and more yellow than the previous Duco "Gold."

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1949'''

"Aspen Gold" is introduced for the first time on the "Aspen Leaf" scheme on the noses of Alco PA diesel locomotives. This is Du Pont Duco 254-6479/EMD number 8173994. "Aspen Gold" is a later railfan name and was not the name of the paint color itself within the industry; Du Pont and D&RGW documents simply called it "orange."

D&RGW class C-16 number 268 is painted in the "Bumblebee" scheme for the Chicago Railroad Fair. This was an attempt to adapt the "Aspen Leaf" scheme of the new PA diesel locomotives to a faux 19th century setting. Paint colors used are:

*Du Pont Duco 6479 deck 620 shade "Orange Lacquer"

*Aluminum (frame and wheels)

*Black (stripes, letters, numbers)

*Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel

''"Timetable: Cripple Creek & Tin Cup R.R.," Chicago, Ill: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, 1949.''

'''1951'''

ALCO PA-1 A unit noses are painted "Non-Skid Flat Green."

''D&RGWRR Locomotive Painting: PA-1, Superseding all drawings prior to 9 July 1951.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1871'''

Cabooses painted "Brilliant Red" with black ironwork. Floors, platforms and steps painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Window sashes painted Tuscan Red. Lettering was done in imitation gold (yellow).

''[https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/equipment-data-sheet-no-1-web-optimized-2.pdf| Colorado Railroad Museum restoration report for D&RG caboose 49]''

'''1890'''

New standard gauge side-door cabooses are painted white.

''The Herald Democrat, 16 October 1890.''

A photograph of one of these cars is depicted in the 1895 Car-Builder's Dictionary.

'''1896'''

Ironwork painted Hanion Bros. & Co. "Anti-Rust" or "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal, August 1896''

'''1904'''
[[image:Paint PrincesMineral DRG Camp Car Cisco Utah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Example of faded Prince's Mineral Red on a 34-foot Denver & Rio Grande camp car located in Cisco, Utah.]]
[[image:VT-paintshop-roofcolors-PrincesMineral-VenetianRed-DarkBrown.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Original sample of Prince's Mineral from the Stephen Drew Collection.]]

AC&F built 5500 series narrow gauge stock cars painted Princes Mineral Brown with [[Asphaltum]] hardware and trucks.

Four-wheel cabooses painted Permanent Red. Wood roofs are also painted Permanent Red; tin roofs are painted Princes' Metallic Brown. Floor, platforms, and running board painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Interior walls painted light green. Ceilings painted Light Blue. Window sashes Tuscan Red. Ironwork is black. Lettered in white lead.

''Standard Lettering and Instructions, Narrow Gauge 4-Wheel Caboose, Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Card 3023 File C-373, Approved 18 May 1904.''

Interiors of four-wheel cabooses painted Pea Green with black trim.

''"Denver & Rio Grande: Cabooses No. 0513 to 0567 Incl.," Folio drawing 1904.''

'''1907'''

Standard gauge boxcars painted Prince's Metallic Brown on roof and body. Roofwalks are unpainted. Trucks and ironwork in black metallic. Lettering in white lead.

''Lettering Box D&RG. 20 April 1907. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908'''

31000-series standard gauge refrigerator cars painted Acme Chrome Yellow Refrigerator Color on sides, Princes' Metallic Brown on ends and roof, with black lettering.

''Lettering Refrigerator Car D&RG. 1908. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1912'''

The interiors of standard gauge construction cars are painted "light green."

''Denver & Rio Grande System: Construction Car 0776, Standard Gauge. Folio Sheet.''

'''1916'''

Cabooses repainted from "Brilliant Red" to Prince's Mineral Brown.

<blockquote>"Denver & Rio Grande Railway Burnham, May 24, 1916 - Gentleman: Effective on receipt of these instructions, we will discontinue the use of brilliant red on caboose cars and paint such cars the same as other freight equipment. Acknowledge receipt and advise if understood. Respectfully, J. F. Enright"</blockquote>

'''1920'''

[[DRG Freight Car Red|Freight Car Red]] introduced. Exact date of switch from Prince's Mineral is currently unknown.

Jackson Thode identified D&RGW Freight Car Red as Kohler-McLister KM-91 Box Car Red.

'''1937'''

Stock Cars switch from Freight Car Red to Black.

''Telegram from Alamosa to train masters in Durango, Gunnison and Montrose instructing them to not load any red stock cars in their territory, but to send them to Alamosa to be painted black.''

'''1939'''

Standard gauge maintenance bunk cars 63500 through 64199 are painted gray with black trucks, aluminum roofs and cream interiors.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p270.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. Standard Plan: Std. Gage Sleeper Car for B&B, Fence, Paint, Signal, Etc. Gangs." 1 August 1939.']'

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1871'''

Narrow-gauge passenger cars painted a “brown or cinnamon color,” relieved with gilt.

''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=7IRbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false| The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette (St. Joseph, MO), 17 August 1871]''

Passenger cars build by Jackson & Sharp are painted "rich dark green" on the interior with gold leaf relief and woodwork in walnut and Hungarian ash.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_44/page/n827/mode/1up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 22 July 1871 p817.]''

'''1876'''

Passenger cars "El Moro" and "La Veta," built by Billmeyer & Smalls, are painted in a "finely toned wine color" with yellow striping. The Buntin Patent seats are upholstered in crimson and green plush velvet with silver plated armrests. Metal wall fixtures are likewise silver plated. Interior woodwork is black walnut, bird's eye maple and cherry mouldings with gold leaf trim.

It is noted that the Billmeyer & Smalls artists that painted these cars are called Messrs. Watt.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n1073/mode/2up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 26 August 1876 p1080.]''

'''1878'''

Parlor cars painted “chocolate color,” striped and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WizuhXCLftk67hDMOEk2mPgGX1YfAWjP/view?usp=sharing| The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 21 June 1878]''

'''1888'''

Pullman sleeper and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are painted red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

New standard gauge passenger equipment built at the Burnham shops and by Pullman are painted red with gold leaf trim.

''"The Standard Gauge," The Rocky Mountain News 14 March 1888.''

'''1889'''

The Pullman sleepers and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are repainted to "olive" with gold leaf lettering during rebuilds at Burnham.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

'''1890'''

Standard gauge passenger cars are painted Tuscan red with gold leaf lettering and striping. The lettering is drop shadowed in two-tone "light color" (likely the light blue found on Pay Car F, former chair car 25 at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad). Corner and door posts are painted black with gold pinstriping. Roof chamfer is black.

''"Lettering and Stripes for Standard Gauge Baggage & Express Cars," D&RG card 3685 C-373, 5 April 1890, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1904'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted with Sherwin Williams Pullman Color (New) (Pullman olive green). Narrow gauge cars continue to be painted Tuscan Red.

'''1908'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted in Pullman color. Chamfers, crown mouldings, window nosings, door sills and ironwork all painted black. Lettered in gold leaf. Roof painted Prince's Metallic Brown. Window sashes finished mahogany. Trucks painted "Pullman Shade" and striped with yellow. Signal hose and gas valve painted Vermilion.

Baggage compartment interiors painted light green on the walls, Prince's Mineral Brown on the floors, and white on the ceiling.

''Denver & Rio Grande painting instructions, 1908, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1912'''

Gold striping on narrow gauge passenger cars is discontinued. Imitation gold lettering is replaced with real gold leaf, since leaf lasted longer than paint.

''Letter from J.F. Enright, 22 October 1912, quoted in Chappell, Gordon, '''[https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0305_p0319.pdf| Narrow Gauge over Cumbres,]''' New Mexico Geological Society: 1971.''

'''1918'''

Narrow gauge passenger cars painted standard Pullman Green instead of tuscan red as a cost saving measure.

<blockquote>"September 6 1918 - We have in the past, painted our narrow gauge equipment a Tuscan red, but as economy will result from the use of the Pullman color, as we figure about 3 months longer service and $1.25 per car less cost for material, wish you would arrange hereafter as narrow gauge equipment passes through the shop, to adopt the Pullman color as our standard. -W.W. Leman."</blockquote>

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

Lineside buildings were painted oxide brown (Prince's Metallic).

'''1890'''

The roofs of the snowsheds on Marshall Pass are painted with "fireproof paint."

''The Tomahawk (Denver, Colorado) 4 September 1890.''

'''1915'''

Lineside structures repainted to buff (Kolher-McLister 6-C-14 Jersey Cream) siding with brown (Kolher McLister 6-C-47 Brown) trim.

'''1942'''

Water columns are painted black on the bases and aluminum "or substitute" the rest of the way up.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p266.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "D.&R.G.W.R.R.Co. Standard Painting of Water Columns," 23 January 1942.]''

'''1945'''

Lineside structures repainted to cream siding with light green trim.

''Historical Overview of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Osier, Colorado, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad June 2010.''

Steel bridges are painted silver.

''Painting data, bridge 579.23 near Woodside, Utah''

[[image:Paint-DRGW-GilullyUtah-Phone-Booth-Sampled-May-2021-Yellow-Silver.jpg|400px|Paint samples from a D&RGW phone booth at the site of the Gilully Utah station]]

'''1946'''

Bridge 570.50 is painted two coats Aluminum paint

'''1963'''

Bridges at MP 544.94 and 566.93 Desert Siding are sand blasted, primed with Dupont Zinc Chromate, and painted with Rust-O-Leum Aluminum.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe: Paint Information

2026-01-11T19:05:17Z

Josh Bernard: /* Cabooses */

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

New locomotives ordered from Baldwin in this year are painted Style 49, "Black and Color" (black body with yellow lettering and striping with red pinstriping; the yellow is not the Baldwin standard imitation gold, but a color provided by the railroad). Boiler jacket is unpainted American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Engine Specifications Vol.10 P.83, 1880.''

'''1886'''

New locomotives ordered from Baldwin in this year are painted black, no striping. Boiler jacket is unpainted planished iron with iron bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Engine Specifications Vol.13 P.140, 1886.''

'''1893'''

New locomotives ordered from Baldwin in this year are painted black, no striping. Boiler jacket is unpainted planished iron with iron bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Engine Specifications Vol.19 P.67, 1893.''

'''1898'''

New locomotives ordered from Baldwin in this year are painted black, no striping. The boiler jackets are now steel instead of planished iron and painted black to match the rest of the locomotive. The rods are painted "steel gray."

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Engine Specifications Vol.22 P.10, 1898.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1881'''

Stock cars painted with "Winters Mineral Paint."

[[File:The_National_Car_Builder,_November_1881,_pg._170.jpg|400px]]

''[https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286055950005961?lang=en The National Car Builder, November 1881, pg. 170]''

'''1884'''

Fruit cars painted yellow.

[[File:The_Denver_Tribune_(Denver,_CO),_7_April_1884.jpg|400px]]

''The Denver Tribune (Denver, CO), 7 April 1884''

Boxcars and stock cars are painted brown. An unspecified AT&SF fast freight line has boxcars painted yellow.

[[File:Tulare_Advance_Register_(Tulare,_CA),_7_November_1884.jpg|400px]]

''Tulare Advance Register (Tulare, CA), 7 November 1884''

AT&SF Atlantic & Pacific fast freight boxcars bear a large cross of red and green on their doors.

[[File:The_Topeka_Daily_Capital_(Topeka,_KS),_24_September_1884.jpg|400px]]

''The Topeka Daily Capital (Topeka, KS), 24 September 1884''

'''1886'''

Refrigerator cars painted a “brilliant yellow with dark green doors.”

[[File:The_Daily_Tombstone_(Tombstone,_AZ),_13_February_1886.jpg|400px]]

''The Daily Tombstone (Tombstone, AZ), 13 February 1886''

'''1890'''

Freight cars repainted to yellow.

[[File:The_Albuquerque_Morning_Democrat_(Albuquerque,_NM),_25_February_1890.jpg|400px]]

''The Albuquerque Morning Democrat (Albuquerque, NM), 25 February 1890''

'''1896'''

Ventilated and refrigerator cars painted white.

'''1897'''

Ventilated and refrigerator cars repainted from white to yellow with black lettering and trim.

[[File:Topeka_State_Journal_(Topeka,_KS),_14_December_1897.jpg|400px]]

''Topeka State Journal (Topeka, KS), 14 December 1897''

'''1899'''

Boxcars are mineral red.

[[File:The_Globe-Republican_(Dodge_City,_KS),_11_May_1899.jpg|400px]]

''The Globe-Republican (Dodge City, KS), 11 May 1899''

==Cabooses==

'''1876'''

Cabooses built by the St. Charles Car Company painted red.

[[File:The_Daily_Commonwealth_(Topeka,_KS),_25_July_1876.jpg|400px]]

''The Daily Commonwealth (Topeka, KS), 25 July 1876''

'''1878'''

New eight wheel cabooses are painted yellow.

''Colorado Daily Chieftain, Volume 7, Number 1823, 2 April 1878.''

'''1881'''

Way cars painted buff [just inside?], lettered in Tuscan red shaded with drab. Battens striped dark grey, deck painted two coats lead and one of engine vermilion. Roof painted with two coats of asbestos paint; platforms and steps given two coats of mineral paint. All outside ironwork, except trucks, painted lampblack.

[[File:The_National_Car_Builder,_November_1881,_pg._139.jpg|400px]]

''[https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286056090005961?lang=en The National Car Builder, November 1881, pg. 139]''

'''1897'''

New way car standard of lettering adopted.

[[File:The_Nickerson_Argosy_(Nickerson,_KS),_25_February_1897.jpg|400px]]

''The Nickerson Argosy (Nickerson, KS), 25 February 1897''

'''1899'''

Way cars repainted from yellow to mineral red.

[[File:The_Globe-Republican_(Dodge_City,_KS),_11_May_1899.jpg|400px]]

''The Globe-Republican (Dodge City, KS), 11 May 1899''

[[File:The_Wellington_Journal_(Wellington,_KS),_1_July_1899.jpg|400px]]

''The Wellington Journal (Wellington, KS), 1 July 1899''

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1859'''

First AT&SF coaches painted yellow.

''The Globe-Republican (Dodge City, KS), 15 February 1900 (see 1900 for excerpt)''

'''1879'''

Baggage cars painted bright yellow and "handsomely ornamented."

[[File:The_Atchison_Daily_Patriot_(Atchison,_KS),_24_January_1879.jpg|400px]]

''The Atchison Daily Patriot (Atchison, KS), 24 January 1879''

A day coach built by Ohio Falls Car Manufacturing Company was painted on the exterior "similar to the Pullman cars" with red, blue and gold ceiling liners inside.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=CCF18790501.2.134&srpos=54&e=--1859---1910--en-20--41--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-railroad+painted-------0------| The Colorado Weekly Chieftain 1 May 1879]''

'''1881'''

Baggage car roofs painted with Asbestos paint, trucks painted drab with striping, ceilings "zinc with Demar varnish", and interior walls imitation grained oak.

[[File:The_National_Car_Builder,_January_1881,_pg._6.jpg|400px]]

''[https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286056090005961?lang=en The National Car Builder, January 1881, pg6]''

'''1882'''

Passenger cars painted light yellow.

[[File:The_Harrisburg_Daily_Patriot_(Harrisburg,_PA),_27_March_1882.jpg|400px]]

''The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 27 March 1882''

'''1886'''

Passenger cars painted Canary color.

[[File:The_National_Car_Builder,_December_1886,_pg._155.jpg|400px]]

''[https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286087860005961?lang=en The National Car Builder, December 1886, pg155]''

'''1890'''

Passenger cars begin to be repainted from yellow to maroon (Tuscan red).

[[File:Mesilla_Valley_Democrat_(Las_Cruces,_NM),_15_July_1890.jpg|400px]]

''Mesilla Valley Democrat (Las Cruces, NM), 15 July 1890''

'''1891'''

Passenger cars painted Tuscan red.

[[File:The_National_Car_and_Locomotive_Builder,_June_1891,_pg._84.jpg|400px]]

''[https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286055230005961?lang=en The National Car and Locomotive Builder, June 1891, pg. 84]''

'''1900'''

Passenger cars begin to be painted Pullman brown.

[[File:El_Paso_Daily_Herald_(El_Paso,_TX),_9_February_1900_1.jpg|400px]]

[[File:El_Paso_Daily_Herald_(El_Paso,_TX),_9_February_1900_2.jpg|400px]]

''El Paso Daily Herald (El Paso, TX), 9 February 1900''

[[File:The_Globe-Republican_(Dodge_City,_KS),_15_February_1900.jpg|400px]]

''The Globe-Republican (Dodge City, KS), 15 February 1900''

[[File:The_Daily_Citizen_(Albuquerque,_NM),_14_May_1900.jpg|400px]]

''The Daily Citizen (Albuquerque, NM), 14 May 1900''

==Structures==

'''1915'''

National Paint Works No. 400 Carbon Black is used on bridges.

[[https://archive.org/details/reviewoftechnica00chee/page/46/| Cheeseman, Frank P. The Review of Technical Paint. New York: Cheeseman & Elliot, 1915.]]

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Colorado Midland Paint Information

2026-01-11T19:03:15Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

==Locomotives==

'''1896'''

New locomotives 127 through 131 built by Baldwin were delivered in Brunswick Green with no striping and planished iron jackets.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 20 p 166 DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1901'''

Baldwin 2-6-0 No. 205 was painted "Brewster Green" on its test runs in May 1901. The newspapers noted that this color turned dingy in the tunnels before it reached Leadville.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=THD19010522-01.2.65&srpos=18&e=--1859---1910--en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-midland+railroad+painted-------0------| "Grand Mogul's Flying Trip," The Herald Democrat 22 May 1901.]''

==Freight Cars==

'''1886'''

New cabooses are painted dark brown and lettered in white, including the horseshoe herald.

''Colorado Daily Chieftain, 14 December 1886.''

==Passenger Equipment==

Paint samples from coach 257 located at Bull Hill Colorado and combine 11 located at Victor Colorado indicate that the second class cars at one point were painted yellow ochre.

'''1887'''

Pullman sleeper "Utah," leased to the Colorado Midland, is painted maroon with gilt lettering and striping. The interior ceiling is painted sky blue and the seating is upholstered in the same color.

''"A Beautiful New Car," The Silver Standard (Silver Plume Colorado) 19 November 1887.''

==Structures==

'''1905'''

The water tank at Basalt is painted bright red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=BSJ19050819.2.47&srpos=80&e=--1859---1910--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA-railroad+painted-------0------| "Railroad Rumbles," Basalt Journal 19 August 1905.]''

Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information

2026-01-02T23:22:48Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]] / [[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information]]

<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

2-8-0 Locomotives 219 through 233 are delivered in Baldwin style 109 Olive Green and "color" (imitation gold) lettering and striping. Boiler jackets are American Iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 200, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Union Pacific No.9, a 4-4-0 built at the Omaha shops, has wheels painted bright red. The cab is described as "ornamented very attractively, and the locomotive has a profusion of bright and beautiful brass decorative work."

''"A New Engine for the Dummy Line," Daily Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa), 19th April 1882.

'''1885'''

Locomotives 505 and 545 through 554 are delivered in black with no striping. Boiler jackets are planished iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 12 p 262, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1887'''

Locomotives are painted with the following process (see 1887 Standard Color List for interpretation):

Ironwork:

*No.2 or No.31 priming
*No.30 Intermediate coats
*No. 81 Rough stuff
*No. 29 Finishing coats
*No.67 (asphaltum) Smoke stack, ash pan, etc.

Woodwork:

*No.30 Priming and intermediate coats
*No.29 Finishing, outside
*No.34 Finishing, inside
*No.6 Lettering and numbers

'''1890'''

Locomotives are painted under the following specifications:

<blockquote>''Priming-''Tank, sand box, steam domes, drivers, truck wheels, cylinder and steam chest covers, engine frame, smoke stack and all wrought-irons to be primed with a paint composed of 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77; 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint, standard color NO. 95; 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp-black, standard color No.65; thinned with priming oil, composed of one gallon, best boiled linseed oil; one qt. turpentine; 1/2 pt. best Japan, and well rubbed out under the brush.</blockquote>
<blockquote>All wood-work, except inside of sash, to be primed with a paint composed of 4 pounds white lead, standard color No.30; 2 pounds Prince's Metallic, standard color No.97; made quite thin with priming oil composed of 2 gals. raw linseed oil, 1 pt. coach Japan, 1. qt. turpentine, mixed.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Surfacing-''All nail holes, etc., to be filled with hard drying lead putty, and tank, drivers, all rough irons, and all wood except inside of cab, to be brought to a level surface with a paste filler composed of 5 pounds white lead, standard color No.30; 1 pound Prince's metallic, standard color No.97; 4 pounds whiting, ground thick in coach Japan, and applied with a broad stiff knife, leaving none on the surface.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Second Coat-''Tank, outside of cab, sand box, domes, drivers, engine truck, wheels, cylinder and steam chest covers and pilot, to be second coated with a mixture of 5 pounds white lead, standard color No.30; 5 pounds ivory black, standard color No. 29; thinned with turpentine.</blockquote>
<blockquote>LETTERING.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Letters and numbers for Freight Engines-'' To have two coats of standard color No.8, as per pounce patterns furnished.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Letters and numbers for Passenger Engines-'' All letters and numbers on cab, sand box, and front end to be in gold, standard colors No.30 and 32. Numbers on tank to be two coats of standard color No.6.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Rods-''To be finished the same as the drivers.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Sash-''To have double thick glass, outside of sash to have two coats of ground color and grained light mahogany or beywood inside to be filled and finished on the natural wood.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Inside of Cab-''To have two coats of green, standard color No. 34, thinned with turpentine.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Tender Frame-''To be coated inside before floor is laid, and all joints put together with mineral paint, standard color No.98.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Inside of Tank, etc.-'' Water space and coal space, top and bottom of tank, outside of boiler under the lagging, and inside of wrought-iron plates on fender frame, to have a good coat of color, composed of 10 pounds red lead, standard color No.77; 10 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint, standard color No.95; thinned with boiled linseed oil, and thoroughly coated, especially the water space.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Finishing-'' Tank, outside of cab, sash, sand box, domes, drivers, engine truck wheels, steam chest and cylinder covers and number plate, to be finished with two coats of engine finishing varnish.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Inside of Cab and Sash-'' To be finished with two coats of coach rubbing varnish, and boiler plates, seat boxes, etc. to be painted the color of black walnut, mixed with coach rubbing varnish.
Engine frame, smoke-stack, trucks, all irons, chains, injector, air pump castings, to be finished with two coats of ivory black No.29, thinned with engine finishing varnish.</blockquote>
<blockquote>''Cab Roof. -'' Floor of tender and cab, and top and bottom of running boards, to have two coats of standard color NO.98; also the cab roof to have one coat of the same under tin.</blockquote>
<blockquote>-G.W. Cushing, Sup't M.P. & Mach'y.</blockquote>

''Specification No.768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders, Union Pacific Railway Company, Office Sup't Motive Power and Machinery, January 1890.''

'''1891'''

General Master Mechanic Middleton issued "stringent orders" forbidding engine stacks from being painted red. Red stacks were not a railroad standard but were a very popular practice among engineers, so it is not known which Union Pacific locomotives had red stacks and for how long.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 23 January 1891''

'''1895'''

Union Pacific begins lettering freight locomotives with aluminum leaf and passenger engines with gold leaf.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 4 September 1895''

''Rawlins Republican, 13 September 1895''

'''1903'''

Steam locomotives and tenders are lettered using aluminum leaf. Cab roofs are CS-13 Carbon Black. Window sashes are painted CS-4 Maroon. The rest of the locomotive, including the channels of the rods, are painted CS-7 Black Varnish.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 26 October 1926.''

'''1905'''

Number plate figures were polished aluminum.

''Drawing CA-4492 "Union Pacific System Common Standard Number Plate," 28 January 1905.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1876'''

Rawlin's Metallic Paint Company advertises that Union Pacific and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company both use their product.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n552/mode/1up?q=paint| American Railroad Journal 29 April 1876 p543.]''

'''1883'''

Union Pacific specifies a light green color for refrigerator cars of all types and patents with a darker green fascia and mineral red roofs, underframe and trucks. Lettering in black. This paint scheme would have applied to all of Union Pacific's subsidiary railroads, including the Denver South Park & Pacific.

''Sherwin-Williams Union Pacific Paint Catalog, collection of Randy Hees''

''See also [http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/Denver-NNGC-Notes-Tiffany-Reefer-Colors-again-UP-Standard-Reefer-Green-td9330.html| C&SNG Discussion Forum]''

'''1887'''

Box, stock and outfit cars are painted with standard colors No.2 or No.31 on the body and trucks, No.63 for trim, lettering and numbers and No.66 for the lettering panels.

No.2 is "Perfect Method Freight Car Color," a half-and-half mix of English Venetian red and Prince's Metallic. No.31 is "Freight Car Color," Rawlins' Mineral Red.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardFreightCarColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

Refrigerator cars are painted with standard colors No.24 on the body and roof; No.25 for trim; No.2 or No.31 on underframe and trucks, No.63 for lettering on trucks and No.66 for lettering and numbering.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardRefrigeratorColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1893'''

Rawlins Red paint is the standard freight car color.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2017270211/1893-07-13/ed-1/seq-7/|The Alliance-Independent (Lincoln, Nebraska), 13 July 1893.]''

'''1896'''

Iron and other metal parts on rolling stock painted with Hanion Brothers & Co. "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal August 1896''

'''1903'''

Automobile cars, boxcars and stock cars, are painted CS-11 "Metallic."

Refrigerator car sides are painted CS-8 Refrigerator Yellow with CS-11 "Metallic" ends. Metal roofs, metal underframes, trucks and grab irons are painted CS-13 Carbon Black; wood roofs are painted CS-11 "Metallic."

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 26 October 1926.''

'''1904'''

Defect card holders on freight cars are painted CS-17 lamp black, regardless of color of carbody, with white lettering spelling "DEFECT CARDS."

''Drawing C-420 "Common Standard Defect Card Board," May 1904, revised 21 October 1913.''

'''1950'''

Steel boxcars and automobile cars are painted C.S. 22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on sides, roofs, underframes, all runningboards, trucks, and interior surfaces. The interior is then painted from floor line upwards two feet with C.S.22 No. 167 Light Black Car Cement. Lettering, including stenciling on trucks, is in C.S.22 No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste. Auto loader stenciling is done in black enamel on a white background. B-50-40 and B-50-41 class boxcars receive C.S.22 No.168 Medium Black Car Cement on roofs, ends, and underframe.

Wood boxcars and automobile cars are painted C.S. 22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on all exterior wood surfaces, roofs, all runningboards, underframes and trucks.

Open gondolas and flatcars are painted C.S. 22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on all exterior surfaces, underframe, trucks. Interiors and decking are given two coats Chromate primer on steel surfaces and C.S.22 No.40 Wood Primer on wood surfaces. When repainted, the interior surfaces and decks do not get re-primed or repainted. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste. Class G-50-13 gondolas receive C.S.222 No.168 medium black car cement on ends and underframe.

Red stock cars are painted C.S.22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint on all surfaces including runningboards, underframes and trucks. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste.

Yellow stock cars are painted C.S.22 No.35 Yellow Freight Car Paint on all exterior side surfaces and C.S.22 No.26 Aluminum on steel ends, roofs, and runningboards, both metal and wood. Underframe and trucks are painted C.S.22 No.34 Black Freight Car Paint. Journal box lids on roller bearing-equipped cars are painted C.S.22 No.35 Armour Yellow Freight Car Paint. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.187 Red Stencil Paste; stenciling on trucks is in No.186 Armour Yellow Stencil Paste.

Covered hoppers are painted C.S.22 No.42 harbor Mist Gray Freight Car Paint on all exterior surfaces including trucks and runningboards. Lettering is in C.S.22 No.188 Black Stencil Paste.

Tank cars are painted C.S.22 No.34 Black Freight Car Paint on all surfaces including trucks and runningboards.

Sand is applied to painted wood runningboards before paint dries.

''Standard Practice for Painting, Repainting and Stenciling Freight Train Cars and Work Equipment Cars. Omaha, Nebraska: 29 April 1950.''

'''1960'''

The roofs of classes CH-70-4, CH-70-5, CH-70-7, CH-70-8, CH-70-9, and CH-70-12 covered hoppers, even those painted aluminum, are primed with No.37 Red Zinc Chromate primer and painted with A.C. Horn Company's Battleship Gray Tread-Sure or Truscon Lboratory's Saf-T-Dek No.700 Gray.

''Correspondence, D.S. Neuhart to R.J. Dunn, C.T. Armstrong, R.F. Weiss, H.L. Crane, F.D. Acord, J.E. Pickett, Omaha, Nebraska, 11 January 1960.''

'''1963'''

Due to a surplus of DuPont #83-508 white enamel at the Ablina and Omaha stores, the use of yellow lettering on boxcars is discontinued and replaced with white lettering.

''Correspondence D.S. Neuhart to W.C. Haber, Omaha, Nebraska, 7 December 1963.''

40 and 50 foot boxcars and auto cars are painted in Red Synthetic Freight Car paint with white lettering. The use of the "Be Specific - Ship Union Pacific" herald is replaced with a 60-inch shield herald applied as a Scotchcal decal and the "Ship and Travel the Automated Railway" slogan.

Insulated boxcars are painted orange with black lettering.

''Correspondence D.S. Neuhart to R.F. Weiss, H.L. Crane, J.A. Schellhorn, J.E. Pickett and R.C. Cochran, Omaha, Nebraska, 18 December 1963.''

==Cabooses==

'''1886'''

Before September 9th cabooses are painted Standard Paint Color No. 20 "Outside Caboose Color." After September 9th cabooses are painted Standard Paint Color No. 32 "Outside Caboose Color."

Inside walls are painted Standard Paint Color No. 21, slate green color. Lettering and numbers are shaded with the same color until December 4th. After December 4th lettering shading is Standard Paint Color No.89.

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1887'''

A majority of the Union Pacific cabooses have donned a bright yellow coat. The remainder will be given a similar coat as soon as possible.

Cheyenne Daily Leader, September 24, 1887.

Cabooses are painted on the outside with standard paint colors No.30 for priming; No.32 for finishing coats, No.21 for trim, No.22 for lettering and numbers shaded with No.89, No.3 on the trucks, No.29 on the hand rails, truss rods and ironwork on the trucks, No.63 for truck striping, No.2 or No.31 for the roof and underframe, and No.26 for the signal balls.

The interior is painted with standard colors No.21 on the walls, No.23 on the ceiling and No.33 on the floor.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardCabooseColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1901'''

The work of painting cabooses the standard color of red is progressing rapidly and many cabooses are now seen on the road of this color.

Cheyenne Daily Leader Wednesday, October 30, 1901.

'''1903'''

Cabooses are painted CS-11 Metallic (brown) with CS-13 Carbon Black on trucks and iron work.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 26 October 1926.''

'''1907'''

Fusee boxes in class CA-1 and CA-2 cabooses are painted Signal Red with "FUSEES," "MATCHES," "TORPEDOS" and "UP" lettered in black.

''Drawing C-1325 "Common Standard Fusee & Torpedo Box," December 1907.''

'''1950'''

Cabooses are painted C.S.22 No.35 Armour Yellow Freight Car Paint on sides, ends, doors, and step risers. Platforms and step treads are painted C.S.22 NO.4 maroon paint. Platform railings, hand brakes, ladders, and handholds (except on cupolas) are painted C.S.22 No.29 Striping Red Enamel. Roofs, all runningboards and cupola handholds are painted C.S.22 No.33 Red Freight Car Paint (except mulehide roofs, which are unpainted). Underframes and trucks are painted C.S.22 No.34 Black Freight Car Paint. Walls, ceilings and interior walls of cupolas painted C.S.22 No.31 Light Green Flat Paint. Interior wainscotting is painted up to four feet from floor in C.S.22 No.30 Dark Green Flat Paint. Interior floors and cupola platforms painted C.S.22 No.4 Maroon Paint.

''Standard Practice for Painting, Repainting and Stenciling Freight Train Cars and Work Equipment Cars. Omaha, Nebraska: 29 April 1950.''

'''1959'''

Caboose interiors are changed from flat to semi-gloss paint. Interior walls are painted CS-22 No.30 "Dark Green Interior Semi-Gloss Paint" and CS-22 No.31 "Light Green Interior Semi-Gloss Paint."

''Correspondence, D.S. Neuhart to G.T. Wickstrom, Omaha, Nebraska, 5 October 1959.''

'''1960'''

Cabooses 25402 and 25441 assigned to pool service with the CB&Q are painted aluminum on the sides, ends and cupola; red on the roof; underframe and appliances in black freight car paint; and all lettering in red stencil paint.

''Correspondence D.S. Neuhart to R.C. Cochran, Omaha, Nebraska, 22 November 1960.''

'''1963'''

The interiors of all cabooses are changed from semi-gloss to full gloss. Interior walls are painted CS-22 No.30 Dark Green and No.32 Light Green.
Union Pacific's paint supplier at this time is American-Marietta, Charles R. Long Division.

''Correspondence H.C. Haber to R.J. Murphy, Omaha, Nebraska, 15 March 1963.''

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1866'''

Director's car "Omaha" was painted a rich wine color.

''Fort Wayne Daily Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 30 May 1866''

'''1868'''

First and Second Class passenger cars and the paymaster's car are painted a wine color.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022046/1868-01-22/ed-1/seq-3/ The Gold Hill Daily News (Gold Hill, NV), 22 January 1868].''

'''1870'''

Passenger cars painted "Quaker Drab."

''[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015021737674?urlappend=%3Bseq=85 Railroad Gazette, 22 October 1870, pg. 73].''

'''1871'''

Passenger cars uniformly painted a “rich brown, set off with gold trimmings.”

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1opz5LIKthcdbryiglClJCK2JwdVlhPGY/view?usp=sharing The Watchman (Montpelier, VT), 19 July 1871]''

'''1878'''

Passenger cars painted a “deep wine color,” lettered and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EgGtBBX7sx33oPijlP89mBjKKtjIa4VS/view?usp=sharing The Omaha Daily Bee (Omaha, NE), 8 March 1878]''

'''1880'''

Emigrant sleepers are painted yellow on the exterior with the interior being polished unpainted wood.

''Georgetown Courier 27 May 1880.''

'''1883'''

Buffet car, “Monterey,” painted chocolate brown, relieved with gold trimming.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FA8_jXMwgcNcYTzvfQmd_tyFJ5fwvwNn/view?usp=sharing San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA), 22 December 1883]''

'''1887'''

Coaches and Emigrant Cars are painted with standard colors No.30 for priming; No.1 for exterior finishing; No.4 (ground) and No.5 (finish) together on belt rails and patches; No.6 for ornamentation; No.82 and No.80 for lettering; No.7 and No.8 for lettering shading; No.11 for faux mahogany graining on window sashes; No.2 or No.31 on roof and underframe; No.3 on the trucks and platforms; No.29 on hand rails, trussrods and truck iron; and No.63 for truck striping.

The interior is painted standard colors No.19 on hat racks and seats and No.33 on the floor.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardPassengerEquipmentColors.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

Pullman sleepers are painted with standard colors No.30 for priming, No.1 for exterior finishing; No.4 (ground) and No.5 (finish) together on exterior bands; No.29 on band centers, panels, hand rails, truss roads and truck iron; No.82 and No.80 for lettering, figuring and ornamentation; No.7 and No.8 for shading the lettering; No.11 for the faux mahogany grain on the window sashes; No.2 or No.31 on roof and underframe; No.3 on trucks and platforms and No.63 for striping and lettering on trucks.

The interior of Pullman sleepers is painted with standard color No.33 on the floor.

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

'''1894'''

Passenger coaches painted light yellow.

'''1895'''

Passenger cars repainted to Van Dyke Brown.

''The Kansas City Journal (Kansas City, MO), 28 October 1895''

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6qg03ht/12825282| "First Car Finished," The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 May 1899"]''

'''1902'''

The car fleet used on Overland Limited trains, jointly owned by UP, SP, and C&NW, is painted Pullman Standard color.

''Railway Age 4 April 1902.''

'''1903'''

Passenger cars are painted CS-1 Dark Olive on the bodies, vestibules, and windows; CS-2 Olive Enamel on the trucks, platforms, steps and battery boxes; heater pipes and signal lines painted CS-4 Maroon; buffer faces, diaphragm face plates, handrails and grab irons, and wheels are CS-7 Black Varnish and roofs are painted CS-13 Carbon Black.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 20 January 1923.''

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

The Ogden Utah depot (shared with the Central Pacific) introduced time boards to be placed on the platforms next to each train indicating when it would depart. These were painted red with yellow lettering.

''Ogden Herald, 14 July 1881''

The recently completed Union Pacific (Echo & Park City Railway) depot in Park City Utah was painted Lead color.

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6dz1fq2/10579899| Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 3 March 1881]''

'''1887'''

Station signs are painted with white lettering on a black background. Mileage markers on station signs are painted with white lettering on a red background.

[[image:UP-1887-StandardDepotSigns.jpg|center|500px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Illustration from the 1887 standards book.]]

'''1889'''

Western Union Company replaced the two pole lines on Union Pacific right-of-way between Omaha and Ogden with a single pole line. The poles were painted white.

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6sf42vp/10797338| Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 19 March 1883.]''

'''1890'''

Machinery used in repair, car and machine shops on the Union Pacific is painted gray. Documentation as to when this practice was implemented has not been found yet.

''[https://books.google.com/books?id=92s9AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PP14&ots=Xr0UVA6bd2&dq=pullman%20freight%20car%20paint%20diagrams&pg=RA4-PA62#v=onepage&q=painted&f=false| Railway Master Mechanic, May 1891 p62.]''

'''1891'''

The interior of the Logan, Utah depot was finished in oiled natural wood. The roof was painted mineral brown.

''[https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6v421v1/10822667| Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 13 March 1891]''

Machinery in all Union Pacific machine shops is painted green with brown facings and yellow pinstriping to create a "panel appearance." Wheels and gears are painted red. Cheyenne was the first location to receive these new colors.

''[https://books.google.com/books?id=92s9AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PP14&ots=Xr0UVA6bd2&dq=pullman%20freight%20car%20paint%20diagrams&pg=RA4-PA62#v=onepage&q=painted&f=false| Railway Master Mechanic, May 1891 p62.]''

Machinery at the Salt Lake shops is painted green with "dark wine" and yellow striping in relief.

The interior of the Salt Lake City roundhouse is whitewashed. The doors are painted Venetian Red with black posts.

''"Rumbles of the Railroads," Salt Lake Daily Tribune 13 May 1891.''

'''1901'''

The depot and freight house in Park City Utah are repainted in a "red, red color."

''Park Record, Park City, 23 November 1901''

[[image:Paint SPLASL UP CommonStandards Windowframe Bunkhouse LynndylUtah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Visualization of every Union Pacific common standard color on the window frame of an SPLA&SL bunkhouse at Lynndyl, Utah.]]

'''1910'''

Railroad buildings adopt Common Standard 22 specifications: CS 201 Colonial Yellow exterior walls, CS 202 Light Brown trim, CS 210 and CS 211 Slate Color for roofs. Interiors are painted CS 203 Cream from the wainscotting to the ceiling, CS 202 Light Brown on wainscotting, and CS 213 Gray Floor Paint on porches and other floors exposed to weather.

On buildings where smoke discoloration is a noticeable problem, building exteriors are painted CS 11-A Dark Brown with black window sashes.

Plain wood seats in depots are painted CS-4 Maroon.

''Union Pacific Specification CS-22: Paint - Numerical List of Paints and their Uses. Adopted December 1903, revised 20 January 1923.''

'''1946'''

Two-tone gray scheme with white trim is adopted for depots.

'''1956'''

Building exteriors are painted white with light green windows, trim and lower walls.

'''1968'''

Remaining wooden buildings are painted white with black windows.

==1887 Standard Color List==

*No.1 - Outside finishing color for passenger and sleeping cars. Used for all passenger equipment, including Pullman sleepers.
*No.2 - Perfect method freight car color. This paint is composed of one-half English Venetian red and one-half Prince's metallic in boiled oil
*No.3 - Standard truck and platform color. Used on all passenger car equipment.
*No.4 - Ground color for scarlet lake, on belt rails and patches on passenger cars and sleepers. This paint is Indian red, used on all passenger car equipment
*No.5 - Scarlet lake for belt rails and patches on passenger cars and sleepers. Used on all passenger car equipment.
*No.6 - Lettering color for emigrant sleepers, ornaments on coaches and lettering for locomotives. This paint is used on all passenger car equipment and for lettering and numbering on locomotives.
*No.7 - Light shading color for lettering on all passenger car equipment. Used for all passenger car equipment.
*No.8 - Dark shading color for lettering all passenger car equipment.
*No.9 - Ground color for maple graining.
*No.10 - Maple graining.
*No.11 - Ground color for mahogany graining.
*No.12 - Mahogany graining
*No.13 - Ground color for walnut graining.
*No.14 - Walnut graining.
*No.15 - Ground color for light oak graining.
*No.16 - Light oak graining.
*No.17 - Ground color for French walnut graining.
*No.18 - French walnut graining.
*No.19 - Hat rack and seat color. Used for all passenger car equipment.
*No.20 - Outside caboose color. Abandoned September 9th, 1886. (See No.32)
*No.21 - Inside wall caboose color and outside trimming, shading of letters and numbers. This color abandoned as shading color for letters and figures December 4th, 1886. (See No.89.) [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a dark slate green.]
*No.22 - Caboose lettering color.
*No.23 - Ceiling color, emigrant, sleepers, cabooses, mail, express and baggage. [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a gray.]
*No.24 - Refrigerator car body color. [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a green.]
*No.25 - Refrigerator car trimming color. [Sample on page 10 indicates that this is a dark green.]
*No.26 - Caboose signal ball color.
*No.27 - Black walnut stain.
*No.28 - Whitewood shellacked and varnished.
*No.29 - Ivory drop black "R," in japan.
*No.30 - White lead.
*No.31 - Freight car color. This paint is Rawlins' Mineral Red.
*No.32 - Outside caboose color. This color to be used in place of No.20. Was adopted as the standard September 9th, 1886.
*No.33 - Floor color for coaches, emigrant, mail, baggage and express cars.
*No.34 - Locomotive cab, inside, baggage wagon and warehouse truck color. Chrome green, extra choach.
*No.35 - Raw Turkey Umber, in oil.
*No.36 - Raw Turkey Umber, in japan.
*No.37 - Burnt Turkey Umber, in oil.
*No.38 - Burnt Turkey Umber, in japan.
*No.39 - Raw Italian Sienna, in oil.
*No.40 - Raw Italian Sienna, in japan.
*No.41 - Burnt Italian Sienna, in oil.
*No.42 - Burnt Italian Sienna, in japan.
*No.43 - Vandyke Brown, in oil.
*No.44 - Vandyke Brown, in japan.
*No.45 - Golden Ochre, in oil.
*No.46 - Golden Ochre, in japan.
*No.47 - English Tuscan Red, in oil.
*No.48 - English Tuscan Red, in japan.
*No.49 - Chrome yellow, in oil, dark.
*No.50 - Old standard depot outside body color. [Sample on page 12 indicates that this is a light oxide red.]
*No.51 - Old standard depot outside sash color. [Sample on page 12 indicates that this is a dark green.]
*No.52 - Old standard depot outside window casing color. [Sample on page 13 indicates that this is a brown.]
*No.53 - Old standard depot outside body color, shingle gables. [Sample on page 13 indicates that this is a green.]
*No.54 - New standard outside body color for depots, hotels, tenement and section houses.
*No.55 - New standard outside trimming color for depots, hotels, tenement and section houses.
*No.56 - New standard outside trimming color for depots, hotels, tenement and section houses.
*No.57 - New standard inside color for depots and hotels.
*No.58 - New standard inside color for depots and hotels.
*No.59 - New standard inside color for depots and hotels.
*No.60 - New standard inside body color for tenement and section houses.
*No.61 - New standard inside trimming color for tenement and section houses.
*No.62 - New standard inside trimming color for tenement and section houses.
*No.63 - Outside white for freight car trimmings.
*No.64 - Prussian Blue, in oil.
*No.65 - S.-W. Co. refined lamp black, dry.
*No.66 - Lamp black, in oil and japan.
*No.67 Main smoke stack paint. This is a cheap black used for locomotive front ends, ash pans, etc. and for water tank spouts and steam heating pipes. [p.33 indicates that this is an asphaltum paint sold as a liquid in barrels.]
*No.68 - Chrome Yellow, medium, in oil.
*No.69 - Chrome Yellow, light, in oil.
*No.70 - Ivory Drop Black, in distemper.
*No.71 - Raw Turkey Umber, in distemper.
*No.72 - Burnt Turkey Umber, in distemper.
*No.73 - Raw Italian Sienna, in distemper.
*No.74 - Burnt Italian Sienna, in distemper.
*No.75 - Vandyke Brown, in distemper.
*No.76 - Ultramarine Blue, dry.
*No.77 - English Red Lead, dry.
*No.78 - English Vermilion, dry.
*No.79 - Black Smalts, dry.
*No.80 - Hastings' XX Gold Leaf.
*No.81 - Noble & Hoare's English Filling or Rough Stuff, dry.
*No.82 - Noble & Hoare's Gold Size.
*No.83 - Gold Lining Bronze, dry.
*No.84 - Burnt Turkey Umber, dry.
*No.85 - Raw Turkey Umber, dry.
*No.86 - Burnt Italian Sienna, dry.
*No.87 - Raw Italian Sienna, dry.
*No.88 - White Lead, dry.
*No.89 - Caboose shading color, letters and figures. This color to be used in place of No. 21 for shading of letters and figures.
*No.90 - Chrome Green, in oil, dark.
*No.91 - Chrome green, in oil, medium.
*No.92 - Chrome Green, in oil, light.
*No.93 - Lamp Black, in oil.

''"List of Standard Paints," Union Pacific Railway Standard Paints and Colors 1887 pp5-8.''

==1890 Standard Color List==

*No.6 - Imitation gold
*No.8 - Yellow
*No.29 - Ivory Black
*No.30 - White lead
*No.32 - when mixed with No.30 makes "gold"
*No.34 - Green
*No.65 - Eddie's Lamp-black
*No.77 - English Red Lead
*No.95 - Johnson's Magnetic Paint
*No.97 - Prince's Metallic Paint
*No.98 - Mineral Paint

==1903 Common Standard CS-22 Color List==

*No.1 - Dark Olive
*No.2 - Olive Enamel
*No.4 - Maroon
*NO.5 - Burnt Sienna in Japan
*No.7 - Black varnish
*No.8 - Refrigerator Yellow
*No.9 - Drab Enamel
*No.10 - Pearl Gray
*No.11 - Metallic
*No.11A - Dark Brown
*No.12 - White Lead
*No.12B - Semaphore White Enamel
*No.12C - White
*No.13 - Carbon Black
*No.14 - Drop Black
*No.15 - Green Enamel
*No.16 - Aluminum Leaf
*No.17 - Lamp Black
*No.18 - Gold Leaf
*No.20 - Red Lead
*No.23 - Postal Car Brown
*No.24 - Hard Wood Filler
*No.26 - Aluminum Paint
*No.27 - Copper Bronze Paint
*No.28 - Light Cream Flat Enamel
*No.28A - Light Cream Gloss
*No.29 - White Enamel Flat
*No.29A - White Enamel Gloss
*No.30 - Dark Green Flat
*No.31 - Light Green Flat
*No.201 - Colonial Yellow
*No.202 - Light Brown
*No.203 - Cream
*No.205 - Semaphore Vermilion
*No.205A - Vermilion
*No.206 - Semaphore Yellow
*No.210 - Slate Color
*No.211 - Slate Color Stain
*No.213 - Gray Floor Paint
*No.214 - Asphalt Roof Coating
*No.215 - White Interior Cold Water Paint
*No.216 - Semaphore Black
*No.217 - Semaphore Green
*No.218 - Semaphore Blue
*No.218A - Blue
*No.219 - Gold Bronze

==1927 Revisions to CS-22 Color List==

*No.8 - Refrigerator Light Orange Paint
*No.8A - Refrigerator Light Orange Enamel
*No.8B - Refrigerator Yellow (for repairs on old cars)

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]] / [[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information]]

Locomotive Front End Paints

2025-12-17T22:12:02Z

Josh Bernard: /* Standard Practice Front End Paints */

[[Historic_Paint|Historic Paint Index]] / Locomotive Front End Paints

==Introduction==

The locomotive crew was responsible for the maintenance of the locomotive, particularly the front end, as it was simultaneously the most visible part of the machine and the quickest to become dirty. Many railroads included clauses in their labor agreements outlining the duties of engine crews in this regard; for example, article 8 of the 1891 agreement between the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman reads "The company will furnish a man to clean all flues, fire and ash pans at terminal points, but firemen will keep their front ends and stacks well painted, and their engines in good order." In the period that engineers were assigned to specific locomotives, a good amount of liberty was permitted in carrying out this task. The smokebox region of the locomotive is difficult to research for this reason, as it rarely followed the company's standardized paint instructions, and often must be researched on a case-by-case basis.

Using the Denver & Rio Grande as an example, a number of smokebox paint variations appear in photographs. D&RG 87 and 100 (narrow gauge 4-4-0s) both had dark smokeboxes with bright smokebox doors. D&RG 170 (narrow gauge 4-6-0) had a large star painted across the smokebox front. Other locomotives' smokeboxes were a solid color, but varied between very dark gloss and a lighter graphite appearance.

Arthur "Art" Campbell, an engineer in Utah on the Rio Grande Western and the D&RG, carried a can of plumbago paint in the toolbox of D&RG 768 (standard gauge 4-6-0) which he used on the smokebox and stack every time that he made an on-time arrival at terminal stations. His fireman Gilbert Gould described its appearance between 1908-1916 as silver which "would shine fit to knock your eye out."

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

While many commercial options were available for locomotive front ends, many railroad shops mixed their own paint or used naturally occurring petroleums like Ozokerite. In 1932 ''Railway Age'' recommended that railroads salvage journal oil from hotboxed axle bearings for mixing front end paints.

''Bon, I.C. "Scrap Handling and Reclamation," Railway Age 25 June 1932.''

==Manufacturers of Locomotive Front End Paint==

*Charles R. Long Jr. Co. (Staybrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint): Louisville, KY.

*Frazer Specialty Co. (Frazer Locomotive Joint and Boiler Front Cement): Detroit MI.

*Frost Paint & Oil Company (Kapak): Minneapolis MN. Described as "jet black and glossy."

*National Paint Works (Cheeseman & Elliot): Factories at Williamsport PA and Brooklyn, New York

*Pittsburgh Plate

*Sherwin-Williams

==Plumbago Paint==

Plumbago is an archaic name for graphite or black lead; plumbago paints were manufactured using graphite as a base. It was available in many shades ranging from black to a bright pewter, and pigmented to produce tuscan and olive green. It was introduced around 1870, the earliest mention available being an 1870 catalog from the Plumbago Paint Company; the ''Paint, Oil & Drug Review'' described it as follows in 1897:

<blockquote>Graphite is nothing more or less than plumbago or black lead; it is the metal from which pencils and stove polish is made. There are many different grades, and those suitable for pencils and stove polish may not serve the purpose of the paint maker.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Graphite paint is distinctively an American product. It was the American habit of 'nosing around after something new' that turned this metal in the direction of the paint factory, and it was American chemical skill and constructive genius that devised processes and built machinery by which the metal could be converted into a finished article and placed on the market. It has been producted in this country for about twenty years, and increased quantities are consumed as the years speed by, and of late a considerable amount of the paint has been exported, mainly into England. The paint differs from the general line of paints in that is not intended for any and every purpose, the contention being that it has no equal for application to iron and tin exposed to the weather. There is now little or no doubt as to its being a practical paint from every point of view within the scope of its legitimate field; the stages of trial and experiment have been passed. The chief drawback to its wider use is found in its higher cost, which, if experts may be believed, is more than made up by its longevity as a decorator and preservative.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Aside from durability, the cardinal point in favor of graphite paint, it is urged that it covers more surface than ordinary paint, and that it is easier to apply. Its covering power is explained by the statement that graphite is about one-third the weight of white lead, and one-half that of mineral paint. It is estimated that one gallon of graphite paint ready for the brush will cover 700 square feet of surface, one coat, and this is said to be a low estimate. One objection to this paint for roof work is its slippery nature, making it unsafe for persons to walk on flat roofs painted with it. There may be others, but they are unknown to the writer.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Prof. J. Spenrath, Director of the Industrial School at Aixla-Chapelle, France, has made a large number of experiment on the subject of protective paints, and gives it as his opinion that graphite, of all pigments, is the least affected by chemical influences, and is therefore apparently the most suitable for the fullest protection of all iron and other metal surfaces liable to rust.</blockquote>

''"Graphite, or Plumbago, as a Paint Material," Paint, Oil and Drug Review vol.24 no.3 21 July 1897.''

==Staybrite Front End Paint==

Staybrite or Stabrite Front End Paint was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky, by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company, part of Charles Long Jr.'s conglomerate of railroad supply companies. Charles R. Long Jr. Co. also produced Lo-Kost Front End Paint, locomotive black varnish, and the Lovico brand of railroad equipment paints.

Charles R. Long Jr. was a native of Louisville, beginning his career as secretary and treasurer of the Stratler Brothers Tobacco Company from 1890 to 1896. He left the Stratler Bros. to establish his own paint manufacturing company in 1896 and co-founded railroad supply manufacturer Harry Vissering & Company in 1909.

''"Charels R. Long, Jr. Buys Interests of Harry Vissering," Railway Mechanical Engineer May 1925.''

Stabrite Front End Paint was first advertised in 1901. In 1905 application for trademark status was made. In 1918 the Ira D. Washburn Company also filed for a Stabrite trademark, and the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences determined that neither company was entitled to exclusive use of the names Stabrite nor Lo-Kost as "a monopoly cannot be acquired in the use of words which are merely descriptive of the character, properties, qualities or composition of an article." The ruling was that the trademark granted to the Charles R. Long Jr. Company was not the name itself, but the design of the company's herald which incorporated the name as an element. In 1919 the Howard L. Fisher Company also attempted to apply for a Stabrite trademark and being denied sued the Charles R. Long Jr. Co and lost. Appeals to the patent office decision carried through 1922 with every court upholding the Commissioner of Patents' decision. This ended the use of the Stabrite/Staybrite and Lo-Kost names. Both Stabrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint are last mentioned by name in the trade press in 1925. As Stabrite could no longer be registered, after abandonment by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company the name was used by various non-railroad companies to represent a brand of paint preserver, a furniture wax, a gun grease, fluorescent lighting, and stainless steel sheeting.

''"Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents," The Trade-Mark Reporter July 1918.''

''"In Re: The Application of Chas. R. Long, Jr., Co." The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1922.''

''"Postum Cereal Co., Inc. v. California Fig Nut Co. (142 Ms. Dee. 420)", The Trade-Mark Reporter October 1923.''

''"No-D-Ka Dentirrice Co. v. S. S. Kresce Co.," The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1928.''

Charles died in Battle Creek, Michigan, on 12 August 1932. The Charles R. Long, Jr., Company shifted its focus to railroad enamels and supplied the Pullman Company with paint for its passenger car products. It was purchased by the American-Marietta Company in 1947, joining the Marietta Paint & Color Co., Sewall Paint & Varnish Co., Ottowa Paint Works, and Schorn Paint Mfg. Co. as A-M subsidiaries.

Earl Knoob's description of original Staybrite paint from the Denver & Rio Grande Western, discovered during his tenure with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:

<blockquote>"Aluminum paint was used on the smokeboxes until the late 1980's when I started mixing up 'graphite colored' paint using high temp flat black and the same high temp aluminum to get a metallic gray. My thought is that it looks good, was historic in appearance and it weathered much more gracefully than basic aluminum. The first time engine coughed up a wad of sooty water, it trashed the paint job. In doing my research for the color, I found the D&RGW paint spec which showed the smokeboxes painted 'Staybrite front end polish.' Well, looking through the paint car one day I found a 10 gallon bucket labeled "Staybrite Front End Paint".

"Wow! It was basic metallic medium gray. That's what I based it on."
</blockquote>

==Red Paint on Locomotive Front Ends==

Crimson red paint was a non-standard practice among railroad crews in decorating their locomotives that emerged in the 1880s and, with few exceptions, was quickly banned by railroad companies due to the confusion red paint could cause in the railroad sphere. Based on contemporary descriptions, the red stack fad originated on New England railroads but spread briefly to a few railroads in the Rocky Mountains before being officially banned. The red paint was usually applied around the top cap of the stack. As a matter of personalization, the knowledge of the existence of red stacks usually comes from eyewitness accounts or general orders banning its use rather than official railroad documentation.

*[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]] locomotives had red stack caps.

''"Spikes and Ties," The Rocky Mountain News 31 March 1880.''

*Housatonic Railroad turned out three locomotives with red stacks in 1881.

“The H. R. R. Co’s. big engine, ‘A B Mygatt’ ‘looks ever so much better’ since it came out of the shop with the red stack.”

''Connecticut Western News 9 February 1881.''

“Two new heavy passenger locomotives, with the red straight stack, are to be put on the Housatonic R. R. about May 1st.”

''Connecticut Western News 20 April 1881.''

* Maine Central ordered new locomotives with red stacks and paper wheels in 1884.

''Sun-Journal 2 April 1884.''

*The Chicago Great Western used red on their locomotive stacks so prolifically in the late 1880s that the company became known as the "Red Smokestack Road."

"Back in the latter part of the 80s the president of the Chicago Great Western put his color fancies into operation and all the engine smokestacks were painted red."

''Topeka State Journal 21 December 1909.''

*New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad banned red paint on stacks in 1886, and those locomotives that did receive red were repainted over 1887.

"It is reported that the New York, New Haven & Hartford road will do away with the familiar bright red smoke stacks upon its locomotives. The reason given is that the engineers are taught, as one of the rudimentary principles in their dangerous calling, that red always indicates danger, and that with red stacks a common sight, they in time become indifferent to the warning given by this color."

''The Boston Globe 3 December 1886 p3.''

"The red paint on the engine, particularly that on the smoke-stack, was confusing to the engineers. It is now thought to be desirable that whenever an engineer sees anything red in front of him he should bring his train to a stop as soon as possible. Yet it would be silly for him to stop because another engine was passing innocently on another track. And fault cannot now always be found if the engineer on a close call in a dim light mistook a red danger signal for the red stack of a locomotive and thus cased a serious disaster. If the red smoke stacks are done away with these mistakes cannot occur."

''"Red Stacks Must Go," The Journal (Meridan, Connecticut) 29 November 1886.''

“Of the 180 locomotives of the Consolidated road (New York, New Haven & Hartford RR) only about fifty of them retain the red smoke stack."

''The Journal 20 July 1887.''

*[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific's]] General Master Mechanic Middleton forbade the use of red on locomotive stacks in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 23 January 1891.''

*Some [[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago, Burlington & Quincy]] locomotives operating in Denver Colorado had red stacks, including the entire barrel rather than just the cap, in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 30 January 1891.''

*Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway 30 received a red stack and drivers in October 1886. [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information|Rio Grande Western Railway]] 35 and 51 both received red stacks in January 1891. In 1894 however, newly-appointed Director of Motive Power Lamplugh of the RGW issued a general order forbidding the use of red paint on stacks and numberplates saying that "too frequent use of the color impairs its value as a signal."

''Salt Lake Tribune 26 September 1894.''

==Standard Practice Front End Paints==

'''Union Pacific'''

*1887: No.29 ivory drop black is used on the smokebox and No. 30 "Asphaltum" is used on locomotive stacks.

*1890: Specification NO. 768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders instructs that the stack is primed with a paint mixed from 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77, 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint standard color No.95, 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp Black standard color No.65 thinned with priming oil. No instruction is provided for painting the smokebox or the final coat for the stack.

'''Canadian Pacific'''

*1896: The smokebox and firebox inside the cab are painted while hot with one coat of linseed oil mixed with a small amount of lampblack.

<blockquote>"The smokebox, or extension front, and the face plate inside the cab, we give one coat of linseed oil with a little lampblack in it. This is not done until the engine is in steam and those parts are heated. It makes a thin coating and does not scale or blister. The drivers like it, and they rub it over every little while with an oil waste and get a sort of polish on it." - Thomas Jones, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Jones' Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p247.''

'''Denver & Rio Grande Western'''

*1926: Stay-brite paint is used on the front ends. Reiterated in ''D&RGW Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders'' dated 1 November 1937; reiterated in letter 6, group L-57, dated 8 January 1945 which states that smokebox and firebox are to be painted with Staybrite Front End Paint.

''Letter to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado, 23 January 1926''

Some locomotives received aluminum paint on the front ends towards the end of narrow gauge operations, but no documentation has yet surfaced to indicate when this began or which locomotives received it.

'''M.L.P.B.&M.R.R.'''

*1896: Smokeboxes are painted with one gallon of engine black finish mixed with two gallons linseed oil.

<blockquote>This, which at first would seem to be more expensive, is, in fact, cheaper than the ordinary stack black, wears better, gives better satisfaction, and is less liable to crack or peel." -Albert P. Dane</blockquote>

''Mr. Dane's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p250.''

'''Northern Pacific'''

*1896: Smokeboxes, doors, and stacks are painted with graphite paint mixed with linseed oil. This was then finished with a mix of lamp black and linseed oil rubbed with a sponge or rag.

<blockquote>"For the extension front, which I take to mean the smoke arch and door, and the stack in many instances included, I have found a good article which could be used after the metal had been well cleaned from rust, scale and grease, was to apply a well rubbed out coat (that is a thin coat) of graphite paint, mixed with raw linseed oil, not thin when mixed, but mixed to a fair consistency and then applied thin by brushing out, this of course may not make a perfect black finish, but the black finish can be produced later after the front has been heated or the graphite paint has become dry by the occasional application of a little lamp black and linseed oil rubbed over with waste or a sponge, and then well wiped off will in time produce an excellent appearing front." - A.J. Bishop, Master Painter, Como Shops, Northern Pacific Road, St. Paul.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Bishop's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p249.''

==Non-standard Front End Paints==

Ozokerite is a naturally occurring petroleum or mineral wax. It was not officially described in the United States until approximately 1885, when Jacob Wallace found it being used by the citizens of Pleasant Valley Junction, Utah, as chewing gum. Wallace described the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway engine crews stationed at the roundhouse at Pleasant Valley Junction using Ozokerite to polish their locomotives; large chunks of the solid material were pried out of outcroppings where it surfaced, and rubbed across the hot surfaces of the locomotive, which melted a thin layer over the metal then burned away the volatiles leaving a glossy brown-black finish. Soon after Wallace' identification commercial mining began in the vicinity of Pleasant Valley Junction, producing 1,500 tons annually by 1889.

''"Ozokerite," Harper's Weekly 16 February 1889 p132.''

''"Mineral Wax," Scientific American Supplement 10 August 1889 p11339.''

Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information

2025-12-17T21:05:38Z

Josh Bernard: /* Locomotives */

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

See [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information]]

==General==

The 1879 Material Inventory lists the following paints stocked at the Denver shops:

*Burnt Umber

*Raw Sienna

*Western Red

*Silver White

*Ivory Black

*Indian Red

*Orange Chrome Yellow

*Scarlet Lake

*Van Dyke Brown

*Rose Lake

*Raw Turkey Umber

*Burnt Sienna

*Prussian Blue

*Golden Ochre

*Tuscan Red

*Dry Burnt Umber

*Dry Raw Sienna

*Dry English Vermillon

*Lamp Black

*Raw Umber

*Chrome Yellow

*Dry Ultramarine Blue

*White Lead in oil

*Dry Red Lead

*Coach Green

*Shellacc

*Chicago Hard Body Drying Varnish

*"Standard Varnish"

*Valentine Medium Coats Finishing Varnish

*Elastic Carriage Varnish

*Japan

*Asphaltum (black paint)

*Venetian Red

*[[Oxide and Metallic Paints|Iron Clad Mineral (brown)]]

*Dry Rose Pink

*Dry Tuscan Red

*Yellow Ochre

*Black Diamond Paint

''Inventory of Tools, Material, Equipment & Other Property of Denver & Rio Grande Railway Trasnferred to Receiver, Aug. 14, 1879 by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Original ledger number 66 from the collection of Jason Sanford.''

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

Locomotives 47 through 72, 74 through 87, 90, 97, 98, and 102 through 106 are delivered in Baldwin Style 98 painted Olive Green, including the cab, with color (imitation gold) striping and lettering. The boiler jackets are American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 46, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Class 60N (later C-16) locomotives, Baldwin class 10-24 1/2 E, are delivered in Style 103, black and color. Body color is black, main striping and lettering are in imitation gold (yellow) with red pinstriping.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 197, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1881'''

Locomotives 150 through 165 are delivered in Baldwin Style 69 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 239, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 23, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 412 through 416 are delivered in Baldwin style 103 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 22, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Locomotives 166 through 177 are delivered in Baldwin Style 125 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 pp 165, 261, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1886'''

Locomotives 507 through 511 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the locomotive but no stripes on the tender. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 555 through 574 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 14 p 42-43, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1889'''

Locomotives 575 through 581 are delivered painted black with no striping. The lettering is "Lemon Yellow." The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 206, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 512 through 514 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the cab but not the tender, cylinders or wheels. The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 209, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1890'''

Locomotives 515 through 538 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 582 through 629 and 805 through 826 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 16 p 108-110, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1903'''

Standard gauge steam locomotives lettered in aluminum leaf on the cab, domes and tender sides. Rear of switch engine tenders and road engine tenders with rear-mounted air tanks and toolboxes lettered in white lead. All small lettering such as "KEEP OFF," tender capacity, and repair/maintenance dates is in white lead.

''D.&R.G. Standard Painting and Lettering - Standard Gauge Locomotives, 1903''

Narrow gauge locomotives 450-464 are delivered in Baldwin Style 261 painted black with gold leaf striping and lettering. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. The eccentric rods and straps are painted bright red.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 25 p 217, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1912'''

Baldwin builder specifications for the 280S-class (K-59) standard gauge 2-8-2s indicate that the locomotives were painted black with no striping. Lettering was "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color i.e. orange".

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1200-1213; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

Standard gauge K-59 class steam locomotives number 1200 through 1213 are lettered in "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color." Headlight number plates in black glass with clear numbers. "KEEP OFF" stencils are in white lead.

''Lettering Freight Locomotives Class, D&RG. July 1912. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908-1916'''

Engineer Arthur "Art" Campbell, assigned to D&RG 768, carried "Plumbago" paint on the locomotive to paint the smokebox and stack with every time the train ran on time. Mr. Campbell's fireman described the color as silver that "would shine fit to knock your eye out." Note this was not standard and only applies to number 768.

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

'''1913'''

Standard gauge 262/261S (P-44) Class steam locomotives were painted black with no striping and lettered with "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color" (orange).

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1001-1006; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

'''1924'''

A telegram sent to the Rio Grande Southern from the D&RGW offices reads as follows:

<blockquote> "TELEGRAM—THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD SYSTEM - 1/20/24. RRBZ. If the yellow locomotive lettering paint comes, which I wired ADB to send you, have Randow use it on re-lettering the D&RGW engines coming from Montrose. If it doesn’t come, go ahead and use what you have. RCM."</blockquote>

'''1926'''

A letter addressed to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado lists the following paints for narrow gauge locomotives:

<blockquote>"Alamosa, Colorado - January 23 1926 - Following is a list of paints and what they are used for furnished by my painter foreman and I want you to specify from this list the paints that you order in the future: 1. [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Stay-Brite for front ends]]. 2. Long's Black Paint for headlights, hand rails, domes, and exterior of cabs and tenders. 3. Russian Black Jacket Enamel for jackets. 4. Cab Green for interior of cabs. 5. Aluminum leaf for lettering cabs and tender. 6. Underpining Black Paint for pilots and all running gear of engines, underneath running board, tender frames, and trucks. 7. White Lead for all stenciling. 8. TOCO Finishing Varnish for varnishing exterior of cabs and tenders... If your requisitions do not show the paint or enamel as described in this list, same will be held up or returned to you for proper description."</blockquote>

[https://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,277935,278267#msg-278267| Earl Knoob] of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad found an original can of Staybrite Front End Paint which he described as "basic metallic medium gray."

'''1937'''

D&RGW Standard Practice outlines that locomotives are to be painted with [[Locomotive_Front_End_Paints|Staybrite Front End Paint]] on the smokebox and firebox, Locomotive Black Enamel on cylinders, pilots, and running gear, "Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green)" on the boiler jacket, Black Duco on the cab exterior and tender, aluminum paint on the cylinder heads, number plate bead, tire rims, and edge of running board, and "Cab Green, Medium" on the cab interior.

''D&RGWRR Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders, 1 November 1937.''

The subject of Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green) is highly controversial in D&RGW history circles; very few locomotives apparently actually received it, with most being on the standard gauge portions of the company.

'''1941'''

Du Pont Duco "Gold" (ochre yellow) is used on the first fifteen diesel road switchers. This is the first documented use of yellow-orange paint for lettering diesel locomotives, and while often confused with the later "aspen gold," is a different paint mix and different shade.

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1946'''

Du Pont Dulux "Imitation Gold" is introduced to replace Duco "Gold". Dulux "Imitation Gold" is described as brighter and more yellow than the previous Duco "Gold."

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1949'''

"Aspen Gold" is introduced for the first time on the "Aspen Leaf" scheme on the noses of Alco PA diesel locomotives. This is Du Pont Duco 254-6479/EMD number 8173994. "Aspen Gold" is a later railfan name and was not the name of the paint color itself within the industry; Du Pont and D&RGW documents simply called it "orange."

D&RGW class C-16 number 268 is painted in the "Bumblebee" scheme for the Chicago Railroad Fair. This was an attempt to adapt the "Aspen Leaf" scheme of the new PA diesel locomotives to a faux 19th century setting. Paint colors used are:

*Du Pont Duco 6479 deck 620 shade "Orange Lacquer"

*Aluminum (frame and wheels)

*Black (stripes, letters, numbers)

*Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel

''"Timetable: Cripple Creek & Tin Cup R.R.," Chicago, Ill: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, 1949.''

'''1951'''

ALCO PA-1 A unit noses are painted "Non-Skid Flat Green."

''D&RGWRR Locomotive Painting: PA-1, Superseding all drawings prior to 9 July 1951.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1871'''

Cabooses painted "Brilliant Red" with black ironwork. Floors, platforms and steps painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Window sashes painted Tuscan Red. Lettering was done in imitation gold (yellow).

''[https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/equipment-data-sheet-no-1-web-optimized-2.pdf| Colorado Railroad Museum restoration report for D&RG caboose 49]''

'''1895'''

A side-door standard gauge caboose painted yellow with dark lettering is depicted in the Car-Builder's Dictionary.

'''1896'''

Ironwork painted Hanion Bros. & Co. "Anti-Rust" or "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal, August 1896''

'''1904'''
[[image:Paint PrincesMineral DRG Camp Car Cisco Utah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Example of faded Prince's Mineral Red on a 34-foot Denver & Rio Grande camp car located in Cisco, Utah.]]
[[image:VT-paintshop-roofcolors-PrincesMineral-VenetianRed-DarkBrown.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Original sample of Prince's Mineral from the Stephen Drew Collection.]]

AC&F built 5500 series narrow gauge stock cars painted Princes Mineral Brown with [[Asphaltum]] hardware and trucks.

Four-wheel cabooses painted Permanent Red. Wood roofs are also painted Permanent Red; tin roofs are painted Princes' Metallic Brown. Floor, platforms, and running board painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Interior walls painted light green. Ceilings painted Light Blue. Window sashes Tuscan Red. Ironwork is black. Lettered in white lead.

''Standard Lettering and Instructions, Narrow Gauge 4-Wheel Caboose, Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Card 3023 File C-373, Approved 18 May 1904.''

Interiors of four-wheel cabooses painted Pea Green with black trim.

''"Denver & Rio Grande: Cabooses No. 0513 to 0567 Incl.," Folio drawing 1904.''

'''1907'''

Standard gauge boxcars painted Prince's Metallic Brown on roof and body. Roofwalks are unpainted. Trucks and ironwork in black metallic. Lettering in white lead.

''Lettering Box D&RG. 20 April 1907. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908'''

31000-series standard gauge refrigerator cars painted Acme Chrome Yellow Refrigerator Color on sides, Princes' Metallic Brown on ends and roof, with black lettering.

''Lettering Refrigerator Car D&RG. 1908. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1912'''

The interiors of standard gauge construction cars are painted "light green."

''Denver & Rio Grande System: Construction Car 0776, Standard Gauge. Folio Sheet.''

'''1916'''

Cabooses repainted from "Brilliant Red" to Prince's Mineral Brown.

<blockquote>"Denver & Rio Grande Railway Burnham, May 24, 1916 - Gentleman: Effective on receipt of these instructions, we will discontinue the use of brilliant red on caboose cars and paint such cars the same as other freight equipment. Acknowledge receipt and advise if understood. Respectfully, J. F. Enright"</blockquote>

'''1920'''

[[DRG Freight Car Red|Freight Car Red]] introduced. Exact date of switch from Prince's Mineral is currently unknown.

Jackson Thode identified D&RGW Freight Car Red as Kohler-McLister KM-91 Box Car Red.

'''1937'''

Stock Cars switch from Freight Car Red to Black.

''Telegram from Alamosa to train masters in Durango, Gunnison and Montrose instructing them to not load any red stock cars in their territory, but to send them to Alamosa to be painted black.''

'''1939'''

Standard gauge maintenance bunk cars 63500 through 64199 are painted gray with black trucks, aluminum roofs and cream interiors.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p270.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. Standard Plan: Std. Gage Sleeper Car for B&B, Fence, Paint, Signal, Etc. Gangs." 1 August 1939.']'

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1871'''

Narrow-gauge passenger cars painted a “brown or cinnamon color,” relieved with gilt.

''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=7IRbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false| The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette (St. Joseph, MO), 17 August 1871]''

Passenger cars build by Jackson & Sharp are painted "rich dark green" on the interior with gold leaf relief and woodwork in walnut and Hungarian ash.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_44/page/n827/mode/1up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 22 July 1871 p817.]''

'''1876'''

Passenger cars "El Moro" and "La Veta," built by Billmeyer & Smalls, are painted in a "finely toned wine color" with yellow striping. The Buntin Patent seats are upholstered in crimson and green plush velvet with silver plated armrests. Metal wall fixtures are likewise silver plated. Interior woodwork is black walnut, bird's eye maple and cherry mouldings with gold leaf trim.

It is noted that the Billmeyer & Smalls artists that painted these cars are called Messrs. Watt.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n1073/mode/2up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 26 August 1876 p1080.]''

'''1878'''

Parlor cars painted “chocolate color,” striped and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WizuhXCLftk67hDMOEk2mPgGX1YfAWjP/view?usp=sharing| The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 21 June 1878]''

'''1888'''

Pullman sleeper and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are painted red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

New standard gauge passenger equipment built at the Burnham shops and by Pullman are painted red with gold leaf trim.

''"The Standard Gauge," The Rocky Mountain News 14 March 1888.''

'''1889'''

The Pullman sleepers and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are repainted to "olive" with gold leaf lettering during rebuilds at Burnham.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

'''1890'''

Standard gauge passenger cars are painted Tuscan red with gold leaf lettering and striping. The lettering is drop shadowed in two-tone "light color" (likely the light blue found on Pay Car F, former chair car 25 at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad). Corner and door posts are painted black with gold pinstriping. Roof chamfer is black.

''"Lettering and Stripes for Standard Gauge Baggage & Express Cars," D&RG card 3685 C-373, 5 April 1890, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1904'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted with Sherwin Williams Pullman Color (New) (Pullman olive green). Narrow gauge cars continue to be painted Tuscan Red.

'''1908'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted in Pullman color. Chamfers, crown mouldings, window nosings, door sills and ironwork all painted black. Lettered in gold leaf. Roof painted Prince's Metallic Brown. Window sashes finished mahogany. Trucks painted "Pullman Shade" and striped with yellow. Signal hose and gas valve painted Vermilion.

Baggage compartment interiors painted light green on the walls, Prince's Mineral Brown on the floors, and white on the ceiling.

''Denver & Rio Grande painting instructions, 1908, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1912'''

Gold striping on narrow gauge passenger cars is discontinued. Imitation gold lettering is replaced with real gold leaf, since leaf lasted longer than paint.

''Letter from J.F. Enright, 22 October 1912, quoted in Chappell, Gordon, '''[https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0305_p0319.pdf| Narrow Gauge over Cumbres,]''' New Mexico Geological Society: 1971.''

'''1918'''

Narrow gauge passenger cars painted standard Pullman Green instead of tuscan red as a cost saving measure.

<blockquote>"September 6 1918 - We have in the past, painted our narrow gauge equipment a Tuscan red, but as economy will result from the use of the Pullman color, as we figure about 3 months longer service and $1.25 per car less cost for material, wish you would arrange hereafter as narrow gauge equipment passes through the shop, to adopt the Pullman color as our standard. -W.W. Leman."</blockquote>

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

Lineside buildings were painted oxide brown (Prince's Metallic).

'''1890'''

The roofs of the snowsheds on Marshall Pass are painted with "fireproof paint."

''The Tomahawk (Denver, Colorado) 4 September 1890.''

'''1915'''

Lineside structures repainted to buff (Kolher-McLister 6-C-14 Jersey Cream) siding with brown (Kolher McLister 6-C-47 Brown) trim.

'''1942'''

Water columns are painted black on the bases and aluminum "or substitute" the rest of the way up.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p266.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "D.&R.G.W.R.R.Co. Standard Painting of Water Columns," 23 January 1942.]''

'''1945'''

Lineside structures repainted to cream siding with light green trim.

''Historical Overview of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Osier, Colorado, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad June 2010.''

Steel bridges are painted silver.

''Painting data, bridge 579.23 near Woodside, Utah''

[[image:Paint-DRGW-GilullyUtah-Phone-Booth-Sampled-May-2021-Yellow-Silver.jpg|400px|Paint samples from a D&RGW phone booth at the site of the Gilully Utah station]]

'''1946'''

Bridge 570.50 is painted two coats Aluminum paint

'''1963'''

Bridges at MP 544.94 and 566.93 Desert Siding are sand blasted, primed with Dupont Zinc Chromate, and painted with Rust-O-Leum Aluminum.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Locomotive Front End Paints

2025-12-17T20:42:12Z

Josh Bernard: /* Standard Practice Front End Paints */

[[Historic_Paint|Historic Paint Index]] / Locomotive Front End Paints

==Introduction==

The locomotive crew was responsible for the maintenance of the locomotive, particularly the front end, as it was simultaneously the most visible part of the machine and the quickest to become dirty. Many railroads included clauses in their labor agreements outlining the duties of engine crews in this regard; for example, article 8 of the 1891 agreement between the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman reads "The company will furnish a man to clean all flues, fire and ash pans at terminal points, but firemen will keep their front ends and stacks well painted, and their engines in good order." In the period that engineers were assigned to specific locomotives, a good amount of liberty was permitted in carrying out this task. The smokebox region of the locomotive is difficult to research for this reason, as it rarely followed the company's standardized paint instructions, and often must be researched on a case-by-case basis.

Using the Denver & Rio Grande as an example, a number of smokebox paint variations appear in photographs. D&RG 87 and 100 (narrow gauge 4-4-0s) both had dark smokeboxes with bright smokebox doors. D&RG 170 (narrow gauge 4-6-0) had a large star painted across the smokebox front. Other locomotives' smokeboxes were a solid color, but varied between very dark gloss and a lighter graphite appearance.

Arthur "Art" Campbell, an engineer in Utah on the Rio Grande Western and the D&RG, carried a can of plumbago paint in the toolbox of D&RG 768 (standard gauge 4-6-0) which he used on the smokebox and stack every time that he made an on-time arrival at terminal stations. His fireman Gilbert Gould described its appearance between 1908-1916 as silver which "would shine fit to knock your eye out."

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

While many commercial options were available for locomotive front ends, many railroad shops mixed their own paint or used naturally occurring petroleums like Ozokerite. In 1932 ''Railway Age'' recommended that railroads salvage journal oil from hotboxed axle bearings for mixing front end paints.

''Bon, I.C. "Scrap Handling and Reclamation," Railway Age 25 June 1932.''

==Manufacturers of Locomotive Front End Paint==

*Charles R. Long Jr. Co. (Staybrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint): Louisville, KY.

*Frazer Specialty Co. (Frazer Locomotive Joint and Boiler Front Cement): Detroit MI.

*Frost Paint & Oil Company (Kapak): Minneapolis MN. Described as "jet black and glossy."

*National Paint Works (Cheeseman & Elliot): Factories at Williamsport PA and Brooklyn, New York

*Pittsburgh Plate

*Sherwin-Williams

==Plumbago Paint==

Plumbago is an archaic name for graphite or black lead; plumbago paints were manufactured using graphite as a base. It was available in many shades ranging from black to a bright pewter, and pigmented to produce tuscan and olive green. It was introduced around 1870, the earliest mention available being an 1870 catalog from the Plumbago Paint Company; the ''Paint, Oil & Drug Review'' described it as follows in 1897:

<blockquote>Graphite is nothing more or less than plumbago or black lead; it is the metal from which pencils and stove polish is made. There are many different grades, and those suitable for pencils and stove polish may not serve the purpose of the paint maker.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Graphite paint is distinctively an American product. It was the American habit of 'nosing around after something new' that turned this metal in the direction of the paint factory, and it was American chemical skill and constructive genius that devised processes and built machinery by which the metal could be converted into a finished article and placed on the market. It has been producted in this country for about twenty years, and increased quantities are consumed as the years speed by, and of late a considerable amount of the paint has been exported, mainly into England. The paint differs from the general line of paints in that is not intended for any and every purpose, the contention being that it has no equal for application to iron and tin exposed to the weather. There is now little or no doubt as to its being a practical paint from every point of view within the scope of its legitimate field; the stages of trial and experiment have been passed. The chief drawback to its wider use is found in its higher cost, which, if experts may be believed, is more than made up by its longevity as a decorator and preservative.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Aside from durability, the cardinal point in favor of graphite paint, it is urged that it covers more surface than ordinary paint, and that it is easier to apply. Its covering power is explained by the statement that graphite is about one-third the weight of white lead, and one-half that of mineral paint. It is estimated that one gallon of graphite paint ready for the brush will cover 700 square feet of surface, one coat, and this is said to be a low estimate. One objection to this paint for roof work is its slippery nature, making it unsafe for persons to walk on flat roofs painted with it. There may be others, but they are unknown to the writer.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Prof. J. Spenrath, Director of the Industrial School at Aixla-Chapelle, France, has made a large number of experiment on the subject of protective paints, and gives it as his opinion that graphite, of all pigments, is the least affected by chemical influences, and is therefore apparently the most suitable for the fullest protection of all iron and other metal surfaces liable to rust.</blockquote>

''"Graphite, or Plumbago, as a Paint Material," Paint, Oil and Drug Review vol.24 no.3 21 July 1897.''

==Staybrite Front End Paint==

Staybrite or Stabrite Front End Paint was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky, by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company, part of Charles Long Jr.'s conglomerate of railroad supply companies. Charles R. Long Jr. Co. also produced Lo-Kost Front End Paint, locomotive black varnish, and the Lovico brand of railroad equipment paints.

Charles R. Long Jr. was a native of Louisville, beginning his career as secretary and treasurer of the Stratler Brothers Tobacco Company from 1890 to 1896. He left the Stratler Bros. to establish his own paint manufacturing company in 1896 and co-founded railroad supply manufacturer Harry Vissering & Company in 1909.

''"Charels R. Long, Jr. Buys Interests of Harry Vissering," Railway Mechanical Engineer May 1925.''

Stabrite Front End Paint was first advertised in 1901. In 1905 application for trademark status was made. In 1918 the Ira D. Washburn Company also filed for a Stabrite trademark, and the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences determined that neither company was entitled to exclusive use of the names Stabrite nor Lo-Kost as "a monopoly cannot be acquired in the use of words which are merely descriptive of the character, properties, qualities or composition of an article." The ruling was that the trademark granted to the Charles R. Long Jr. Company was not the name itself, but the design of the company's herald which incorporated the name as an element. In 1919 the Howard L. Fisher Company also attempted to apply for a Stabrite trademark and being denied sued the Charles R. Long Jr. Co and lost. Appeals to the patent office decision carried through 1922 with every court upholding the Commissioner of Patents' decision. This ended the use of the Stabrite/Staybrite and Lo-Kost names. Both Stabrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint are last mentioned by name in the trade press in 1925. As Stabrite could no longer be registered, after abandonment by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company the name was used by various non-railroad companies to represent a brand of paint preserver, a furniture wax, a gun grease, fluorescent lighting, and stainless steel sheeting.

''"Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents," The Trade-Mark Reporter July 1918.''

''"In Re: The Application of Chas. R. Long, Jr., Co." The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1922.''

''"Postum Cereal Co., Inc. v. California Fig Nut Co. (142 Ms. Dee. 420)", The Trade-Mark Reporter October 1923.''

''"No-D-Ka Dentirrice Co. v. S. S. Kresce Co.," The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1928.''

Charles died in Battle Creek, Michigan, on 12 August 1932. The Charles R. Long, Jr., Company shifted its focus to railroad enamels and supplied the Pullman Company with paint for its passenger car products. It was purchased by the American-Marietta Company in 1947, joining the Marietta Paint & Color Co., Sewall Paint & Varnish Co., Ottowa Paint Works, and Schorn Paint Mfg. Co. as A-M subsidiaries.

Earl Knoob's description of original Staybrite paint from the Denver & Rio Grande Western, discovered during his tenure with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:

<blockquote>"Aluminum paint was used on the smokeboxes until the late 1980's when I started mixing up 'graphite colored' paint using high temp flat black and the same high temp aluminum to get a metallic gray. My thought is that it looks good, was historic in appearance and it weathered much more gracefully than basic aluminum. The first time engine coughed up a wad of sooty water, it trashed the paint job. In doing my research for the color, I found the D&RGW paint spec which showed the smokeboxes painted 'Staybrite front end polish.' Well, looking through the paint car one day I found a 10 gallon bucket labeled "Staybrite Front End Paint".

"Wow! It was basic metallic medium gray. That's what I based it on."
</blockquote>

==Red Paint on Locomotive Front Ends==

Crimson red paint was a non-standard practice among railroad crews in decorating their locomotives that emerged in the 1880s and, with few exceptions, was quickly banned by railroad companies due to the confusion red paint could cause in the railroad sphere. Based on contemporary descriptions, the red stack fad originated on New England railroads but spread briefly to a few railroads in the Rocky Mountains before being officially banned. The red paint was usually applied around the top cap of the stack. As a matter of personalization, the knowledge of the existence of red stacks usually comes from eyewitness accounts or general orders banning its use rather than official railroad documentation.

*[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]] locomotives had red stack caps.

''"Spikes and Ties," The Rocky Mountain News 31 March 1880.''

*Housatonic Railroad turned out three locomotives with red stacks in 1881.

“The H. R. R. Co’s. big engine, ‘A B Mygatt’ ‘looks ever so much better’ since it came out of the shop with the red stack.”

''Connecticut Western News 9 February 1881.''

“Two new heavy passenger locomotives, with the red straight stack, are to be put on the Housatonic R. R. about May 1st.”

''Connecticut Western News 20 April 1881.''

* Maine Central ordered new locomotives with red stacks and paper wheels in 1884.

''Sun-Journal 2 April 1884.''

*The Chicago Great Western used red on their locomotive stacks so prolifically in the late 1880s that the company became known as the "Red Smokestack Road."

"Back in the latter part of the 80s the president of the Chicago Great Western put his color fancies into operation and all the engine smokestacks were painted red."

''Topeka State Journal 21 December 1909.''

*New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad banned red paint on stacks in 1886, and those locomotives that did receive red were repainted over 1887.

"It is reported that the New York, New Haven & Hartford road will do away with the familiar bright red smoke stacks upon its locomotives. The reason given is that the engineers are taught, as one of the rudimentary principles in their dangerous calling, that red always indicates danger, and that with red stacks a common sight, they in time become indifferent to the warning given by this color."

''The Boston Globe 3 December 1886 p3.''

"The red paint on the engine, particularly that on the smoke-stack, was confusing to the engineers. It is now thought to be desirable that whenever an engineer sees anything red in front of him he should bring his train to a stop as soon as possible. Yet it would be silly for him to stop because another engine was passing innocently on another track. And fault cannot now always be found if the engineer on a close call in a dim light mistook a red danger signal for the red stack of a locomotive and thus cased a serious disaster. If the red smoke stacks are done away with these mistakes cannot occur."

''"Red Stacks Must Go," The Journal (Meridan, Connecticut) 29 November 1886.''

“Of the 180 locomotives of the Consolidated road (New York, New Haven & Hartford RR) only about fifty of them retain the red smoke stack."

''The Journal 20 July 1887.''

*[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific's]] General Master Mechanic Middleton forbade the use of red on locomotive stacks in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 23 January 1891.''

*Some [[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago, Burlington & Quincy]] locomotives operating in Denver Colorado had red stacks, including the entire barrel rather than just the cap, in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 30 January 1891.''

*Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway 30 received a red stack and drivers in October 1886. [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information|Rio Grande Western Railway]] 35 and 51 both received red stacks in January 1891. In 1894 however, newly-appointed Director of Motive Power Lamplugh of the RGW issued a general order forbidding the use of red paint on stacks and numberplates saying that "too frequent use of the color impairs its value as a signal."

''Salt Lake Tribune 26 September 1894.''

==Standard Practice Front End Paints==

'''Union Pacific'''

*1887: No.29 ivory drop black is used on the smokebox and No. 30 "Asphaltum" is used on locomotive stacks.

*1890: Specification NO. 768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders instructs that the stack is primed with a paint mixed from 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77, 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint standard color No.95, 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp Black standard color No.65 thinned with priming oil. No instruction is provided for painting the smokebox or the final coat for the stack.

'''Canadian Pacific'''

*1896: The smokebox and firebox inside the cab are painted while hot with one coat of linseed oil mixed with a small amount of lampblack.

<blockquote>"The smokebox, or extension front, and the face plate inside the cab, we give one coat of linseed oil with a little lampblack in it. This is not done until the engine is in steam and those parts are heated. It makes a thin coating and does not scale or blister. The drivers like it, and they rub it over every little while with an oil waste and get a sort of polish on it." - Thomas Jones, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Jones' Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p247.''

'''Denver & Rio Grande Western'''

*1926: Stay-brite paint is used on the front ends. Reiterated in ''D&RGW Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders'' dated 1 November 1937; reiterated in letter 6, group L-57, dated 8 January 1945 which states that smokebox and firebox are to be painted with Staybrite Front End Paint.

''Letter to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado, 23 January 1926''

Some locomotives received aluminum paint on the front ends in the 1950s, but no documentation has yet surfaced to indicate when this began or which locomotives received it.

'''M.L.P.B.&M.R.R.'''

*1896: Smokeboxes are painted with one gallon of engine black finish mixed with two gallons linseed oil.

<blockquote>This, which at first would seem to be more expensive, is, in fact, cheaper than the ordinary stack black, wears better, gives better satisfaction, and is less liable to crack or peel." -Albert P. Dane</blockquote>

''Mr. Dane's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p250.''

'''Northern Pacific'''

*1896: Smokeboxes, doors, and stacks are painted with graphite paint mixed with linseed oil. This was then finished with a mix of lamp black and linseed oil rubbed with a sponge or rag.

<blockquote>"For the extension front, which I take to mean the smoke arch and door, and the stack in many instances included, I have found a good article which could be used after the metal had been well cleaned from rust, scale and grease, was to apply a well rubbed out coat (that is a thin coat) of graphite paint, mixed with raw linseed oil, not thin when mixed, but mixed to a fair consistency and then applied thin by brushing out, this of course may not make a perfect black finish, but the black finish can be produced later after the front has been heated or the graphite paint has become dry by the occasional application of a little lamp black and linseed oil rubbed over with waste or a sponge, and then well wiped off will in time produce an excellent appearing front." - A.J. Bishop, Master Painter, Como Shops, Northern Pacific Road, St. Paul.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Bishop's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p249.''

==Non-standard Front End Paints==

Ozokerite is a naturally occurring petroleum or mineral wax. It was not officially described in the United States until approximately 1885, when Jacob Wallace found it being used by the citizens of Pleasant Valley Junction, Utah, as chewing gum. Wallace described the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway engine crews stationed at the roundhouse at Pleasant Valley Junction using Ozokerite to polish their locomotives; large chunks of the solid material were pried out of outcroppings where it surfaced, and rubbed across the hot surfaces of the locomotive, which melted a thin layer over the metal then burned away the volatiles leaving a glossy brown-black finish. Soon after Wallace' identification commercial mining began in the vicinity of Pleasant Valley Junction, producing 1,500 tons annually by 1889.

''"Ozokerite," Harper's Weekly 16 February 1889 p132.''

''"Mineral Wax," Scientific American Supplement 10 August 1889 p11339.''

Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information

2025-12-08T00:36:11Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

See [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information]]

==General==

The 1879 Material Inventory lists the following paints stocked at the Denver shops:

*Burnt Umber

*Raw Sienna

*Western Red

*Silver White

*Ivory Black

*Indian Red

*Orange Chrome Yellow

*Scarlet Lake

*Van Dyke Brown

*Rose Lake

*Raw Turkey Umber

*Burnt Sienna

*Prussian Blue

*Golden Ochre

*Tuscan Red

*Dry Burnt Umber

*Dry Raw Sienna

*Dry English Vermillon

*Lamp Black

*Raw Umber

*Chrome Yellow

*Dry Ultramarine Blue

*White Lead in oil

*Dry Red Lead

*Coach Green

*Shellacc

*Chicago Hard Body Drying Varnish

*"Standard Varnish"

*Valentine Medium Coats Finishing Varnish

*Elastic Carriage Varnish

*Japan

*Asphaltum (black paint)

*Venetian Red

*[[Oxide and Metallic Paints|Iron Clad Mineral (brown)]]

*Dry Rose Pink

*Dry Tuscan Red

*Yellow Ochre

*Black Diamond Paint

''Inventory of Tools, Material, Equipment & Other Property of Denver & Rio Grande Railway Trasnferred to Receiver, Aug. 14, 1879 by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Original ledger number 66 from the collection of Jason Sanford.''

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

Locomotives 47 through 72, 74 through 87, 90, 97, 98, and 102 through 106 are delivered in Baldwin Style 98 painted Olive Green, including the cab, with color (imitation gold) striping and lettering. The boiler jackets are American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 46, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Class 60N (later C-16) locomotives, Baldwin class 10-24 1/2 E, are delivered in Style 103, black and color. Body color is black, main striping and lettering are in imitation gold (yellow) with red pinstriping.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 197, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1881'''

Locomotives 150 through 165 are delivered in Baldwin Style 69 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 239, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 23, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 412 through 416 are delivered in Baldwin style 103 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 22, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Locomotives 166 through 177 are delivered in Baldwin Style 125 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 pp 165, 261, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1886'''

Locomotives 507 through 511 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the locomotive but no stripes on the tender. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 555 through 574 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 14 p 42-43, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1889'''

Locomotives 575 through 581 are delivered painted black with no striping. The lettering is "Lemon Yellow." The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 206, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 512 through 514 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the cab but not the tender, cylinders or wheels. The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 209, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1890'''

Locomotives 515 through 538 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 582 through 629 and 805 through 826 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 16 p 108-110, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1903'''

Standard gauge steam locomotives lettered in aluminum leaf on the cab, domes and tender sides. Rear of switch engine tenders and road engine tenders with rear-mounted air tanks and toolboxes lettered in white lead. All small lettering such as "KEEP OFF," tender capacity, and repair/maintenance dates is in white lead.

''D.&R.G. Standard Painting and Lettering - Standard Gauge Locomotives, 1903''

Narrow gauge locomotives 450-464 are delivered in Baldwin Style 261 painted black with gold leaf striping and lettering. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. The eccentric rods and straps are painted bright red.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 25 p 217, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1912'''

Baldwin builder specifications for the 280S-class (K-59) standard gauge 2-8-2s indicate that the locomotives were painted black with no striping. Lettering was "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color i.e. orange".

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1200-1213; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

Standard gauge K-59 class steam locomotives number 1200 through 1213 are lettered in "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color." Headlight number plates in black glass with clear numbers. "KEEP OFF" stencils are in white lead.

''Lettering Freight Locomotives Class, D&RG. July 1912. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908-1916'''

Engineer Arthur "Art" Campbell, assigned to D&RG 768, carried "Plumbago" paint on the locomotive to paint the smokebox and stack with every time the train ran on time. Mr. Campbell's fireman described the color as silver that "would shine fit to knock your eye out." Note this was not standard and only applies to number 768.

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

'''1913'''

Standard gauge 262/261S (P-44) Class steam locomotives were painted black with no striping and lettered with "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color" (orange).

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1001-1006; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

'''1924'''

A telegram sent to the Rio Grande Southern from the D&RGW offices reads as follows:

<blockquote> "TELEGRAM—THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD SYSTEM - 1/20/24. RRBZ. If the yellow locomotive lettering paint comes, which I wired ADB to send you, have Randow use it on re-lettering the D&RGW engines coming from Montrose. If it doesn’t come, go ahead and use what you have. RCM."</blockquote>

'''1926'''

A letter addressed to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado lists the following paints for narrow gauge locomotives:

<blockquote>"Alamosa, Colorado - January 23 1926 - Following is a list of paints and what they are used for furnished by my painter foreman and I want you to specify from this list the paints that you order in the future: 1. Stay-Brite for front ends. 2. Long's Black Paint for headlights, hand rails, domes, and exterior of cabs and tenders. 3. Russian Black Jacket Enamel for jackets. 4. Cab Green for interior of cabs. 5. Aluminum leaf for lettering cabs and tender. 6. Underpining Black Paint for pilots and all running gear of engines, underneath running board, tender frames, and trucks. 7. White Lead for all stenciling. 8. TOCO Finishing Varnish for varnishing exterior of cabs and tenders... If your requisitions do not show the paint or enamel as described in this list, same will be held up or returned to you for proper description."</blockquote>

[https://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,277935,278267#msg-278267| Earl Knoob] of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad found an original can of Staybrite Front End Paint which he described as "basic metallic medium gray."

'''1937'''

D&RGW Standard Practice outlines that locomotives are to be painted with Staybrite Front End Paint on the smokebox and firebox, Locomotive Black Enamel on cylinders, pilots, and running gear, "Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green)" on the boiler jacket, Black Duco on the cab exterior and tender, aluminum paint on the cylinder heads, number plate bead, tire rims, and edge of running board, and "Cab Green, Medium" on the cab interior.

''D&RGWRR Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders, 1 November 1937.''

The subject of Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green) is highly controversial in D&RGW history circles; very few locomotives apparently actually received it, with most being on the standard gauge portions of the company.

'''1941'''

Du Pont Duco "Gold" (ochre yellow) is used on the first fifteen diesel road switchers. This is the first documented use of yellow-orange paint for lettering diesel locomotives, and while often confused with the later "aspen gold," is a different paint mix and different shade.

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1946'''

Du Pont Dulux "Imitation Gold" is introduced to replace Duco "Gold". Dulux "Imitation Gold" is described as brighter and more yellow than the previous Duco "Gold."

''"Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive Paint Schemes," Utahrails.net''

'''1949'''

"Aspen Gold" is introduced for the first time on the "Aspen Leaf" scheme on the noses of Alco PA diesel locomotives. This is Du Pont Duco 254-6479/EMD number 8173994. "Aspen Gold" is a later railfan name and was not the name of the paint color itself within the industry; Du Pont and D&RGW documents simply called it "orange."

D&RGW class C-16 number 268 is painted in the "Bumblebee" scheme for the Chicago Railroad Fair. This was an attempt to adapt the "Aspen Leaf" scheme of the new PA diesel locomotives to a faux 19th century setting. Paint colors used are:

*Du Pont Duco 6479 deck 620 shade "Orange Lacquer"

*Aluminum (frame and wheels)

*Black (stripes, letters, numbers)

*Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel

''"Timetable: Cripple Creek & Tin Cup R.R.," Chicago, Ill: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, 1949.''

'''1951'''

ALCO PA-1 A unit noses are painted "Non-Skid Flat Green."

''D&RGWRR Locomotive Painting: PA-1, Superseding all drawings prior to 9 July 1951.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1871'''

Cabooses painted "Brilliant Red" with black ironwork. Floors, platforms and steps painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Window sashes painted Tuscan Red. Lettering was done in imitation gold (yellow).

''[https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/equipment-data-sheet-no-1-web-optimized-2.pdf| Colorado Railroad Museum restoration report for D&RG caboose 49]''

'''1895'''

A side-door standard gauge caboose painted yellow with dark lettering is depicted in the Car-Builder's Dictionary.

'''1896'''

Ironwork painted Hanion Bros. & Co. "Anti-Rust" or "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal, August 1896''

'''1904'''
[[image:Paint PrincesMineral DRG Camp Car Cisco Utah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Example of faded Prince's Mineral Red on a 34-foot Denver & Rio Grande camp car located in Cisco, Utah.]]
[[image:VT-paintshop-roofcolors-PrincesMineral-VenetianRed-DarkBrown.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Original sample of Prince's Mineral from the Stephen Drew Collection.]]

AC&F built 5500 series narrow gauge stock cars painted Princes Mineral Brown with [[Asphaltum]] hardware and trucks.

Four-wheel cabooses painted Permanent Red. Wood roofs are also painted Permanent Red; tin roofs are painted Princes' Metallic Brown. Floor, platforms, and running board painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Interior walls painted light green. Ceilings painted Light Blue. Window sashes Tuscan Red. Ironwork is black. Lettered in white lead.

''Standard Lettering and Instructions, Narrow Gauge 4-Wheel Caboose, Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Card 3023 File C-373, Approved 18 May 1904.''

Interiors of four-wheel cabooses painted Pea Green with black trim.

''"Denver & Rio Grande: Cabooses No. 0513 to 0567 Incl.," Folio drawing 1904.''

'''1907'''

Standard gauge boxcars painted Prince's Metallic Brown on roof and body. Roofwalks are unpainted. Trucks and ironwork in black metallic. Lettering in white lead.

''Lettering Box D&RG. 20 April 1907. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908'''

31000-series standard gauge refrigerator cars painted Acme Chrome Yellow Refrigerator Color on sides, Princes' Metallic Brown on ends and roof, with black lettering.

''Lettering Refrigerator Car D&RG. 1908. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1912'''

The interiors of standard gauge construction cars are painted "light green."

''Denver & Rio Grande System: Construction Car 0776, Standard Gauge. Folio Sheet.''

'''1916'''

Cabooses repainted from "Brilliant Red" to Prince's Mineral Brown.

<blockquote>"Denver & Rio Grande Railway Burnham, May 24, 1916 - Gentleman: Effective on receipt of these instructions, we will discontinue the use of brilliant red on caboose cars and paint such cars the same as other freight equipment. Acknowledge receipt and advise if understood. Respectfully, J. F. Enright"</blockquote>

'''1920'''

[[DRG Freight Car Red|Freight Car Red]] introduced. Exact date of switch from Prince's Mineral is currently unknown.

Jackson Thode identified D&RGW Freight Car Red as Kohler-McLister KM-91 Box Car Red.

'''1937'''

Stock Cars switch from Freight Car Red to Black.

''Telegram from Alamosa to train masters in Durango, Gunnison and Montrose instructing them to not load any red stock cars in their territory, but to send them to Alamosa to be painted black.''

'''1939'''

Standard gauge maintenance bunk cars 63500 through 64199 are painted gray with black trucks, aluminum roofs and cream interiors.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p270.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. Standard Plan: Std. Gage Sleeper Car for B&B, Fence, Paint, Signal, Etc. Gangs." 1 August 1939.']'

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1871'''

Narrow-gauge passenger cars painted a “brown or cinnamon color,” relieved with gilt.

''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=7IRbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false| The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette (St. Joseph, MO), 17 August 1871]''

Passenger cars build by Jackson & Sharp are painted "rich dark green" on the interior with gold leaf relief and woodwork in walnut and Hungarian ash.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_44/page/n827/mode/1up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 22 July 1871 p817.]''

'''1876'''

Passenger cars "El Moro" and "La Veta," built by Billmeyer & Smalls, are painted in a "finely toned wine color" with yellow striping. The Buntin Patent seats are upholstered in crimson and green plush velvet with silver plated armrests. Metal wall fixtures are likewise silver plated. Interior woodwork is black walnut, bird's eye maple and cherry mouldings with gold leaf trim.

It is noted that the Billmeyer & Smalls artists that painted these cars are called Messrs. Watt.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n1073/mode/2up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 26 August 1876 p1080.]''

'''1878'''

Parlor cars painted “chocolate color,” striped and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WizuhXCLftk67hDMOEk2mPgGX1YfAWjP/view?usp=sharing| The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 21 June 1878]''

'''1888'''

Pullman sleeper and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are painted red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

New standard gauge passenger equipment built at the Burnham shops and by Pullman are painted red with gold leaf trim.

''"The Standard Gauge," The Rocky Mountain News 14 March 1888.''

'''1889'''

The Pullman sleepers and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are repainted to "olive" with gold leaf lettering during rebuilds at Burnham.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

'''1890'''

Standard gauge passenger cars are painted Tuscan red with gold leaf lettering and striping. The lettering is drop shadowed in two-tone "light color" (likely the light blue found on Pay Car F, former chair car 25 at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad). Corner and door posts are painted black with gold pinstriping. Roof chamfer is black.

''"Lettering and Stripes for Standard Gauge Baggage & Express Cars," D&RG card 3685 C-373, 5 April 1890, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1904'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted with Sherwin Williams Pullman Color (New) (Pullman olive green). Narrow gauge cars continue to be painted Tuscan Red.

'''1908'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted in Pullman color. Chamfers, crown mouldings, window nosings, door sills and ironwork all painted black. Lettered in gold leaf. Roof painted Prince's Metallic Brown. Window sashes finished mahogany. Trucks painted "Pullman Shade" and striped with yellow. Signal hose and gas valve painted Vermilion.

Baggage compartment interiors painted light green on the walls, Prince's Mineral Brown on the floors, and white on the ceiling.

''Denver & Rio Grande painting instructions, 1908, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1912'''

Gold striping on narrow gauge passenger cars is discontinued. Imitation gold lettering is replaced with real gold leaf, since leaf lasted longer than paint.

''Letter from J.F. Enright, 22 October 1912, quoted in Chappell, Gordon, '''[https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0305_p0319.pdf| Narrow Gauge over Cumbres,]''' New Mexico Geological Society: 1971.''

'''1918'''

Narrow gauge passenger cars painted standard Pullman Green instead of tuscan red as a cost saving measure.

<blockquote>"September 6 1918 - We have in the past, painted our narrow gauge equipment a Tuscan red, but as economy will result from the use of the Pullman color, as we figure about 3 months longer service and $1.25 per car less cost for material, wish you would arrange hereafter as narrow gauge equipment passes through the shop, to adopt the Pullman color as our standard. -W.W. Leman."</blockquote>

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

Lineside buildings were painted oxide brown (Prince's Metallic).

'''1890'''

The roofs of the snowsheds on Marshall Pass are painted with "fireproof paint."

''The Tomahawk (Denver, Colorado) 4 September 1890.''

'''1915'''

Lineside structures repainted to buff (Kolher-McLister 6-C-14 Jersey Cream) siding with brown (Kolher McLister 6-C-47 Brown) trim.

'''1942'''

Water columns are painted black on the bases and aluminum "or substitute" the rest of the way up.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p266.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "D.&R.G.W.R.R.Co. Standard Painting of Water Columns," 23 January 1942.]''

'''1945'''

Lineside structures repainted to cream siding with light green trim.

''Historical Overview of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Osier, Colorado, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad June 2010.''

Steel bridges are painted silver.

''Painting data, bridge 579.23 near Woodside, Utah''

[[image:Paint-DRGW-GilullyUtah-Phone-Booth-Sampled-May-2021-Yellow-Silver.jpg|400px|Paint samples from a D&RGW phone booth at the site of the Gilully Utah station]]

'''1946'''

Bridge 570.50 is painted two coats Aluminum paint

'''1963'''

Bridges at MP 544.94 and 566.93 Desert Siding are sand blasted, primed with Dupont Zinc Chromate, and painted with Rust-O-Leum Aluminum.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information

2025-12-08T00:25:30Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

See [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information]]

==General==

The 1879 Material Inventory lists the following paints stocked at the Denver shops:

*Burnt Umber

*Raw Sienna

*Western Red

*Silver White

*Ivory Black

*Indian Red

*Orange Chrome Yellow

*Scarlet Lake

*Van Dyke Brown

*Rose Lake

*Raw Turkey Umber

*Burnt Sienna

*Prussian Blue

*Golden Ochre

*Tuscan Red

*Dry Burnt Umber

*Dry Raw Sienna

*Dry English Vermillon

*Lamp Black

*Raw Umber

*Chrome Yellow

*Dry Ultramarine Blue

*White Lead in oil

*Dry Red Lead

*Coach Green

*Shellacc

*Chicago Hard Body Drying Varnish

*"Standard Varnish"

*Valentine Medium Coats Finishing Varnish

*Elastic Carriage Varnish

*Japan

*Asphaltum (black paint)

*Venetian Red

*[[Oxide and Metallic Paints|Iron Clad Mineral (brown)]]

*Dry Rose Pink

*Dry Tuscan Red

*Yellow Ochre

*Black Diamond Paint

''Inventory of Tools, Material, Equipment & Other Property of Denver & Rio Grande Railway Trasnferred to Receiver, Aug. 14, 1879 by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Original ledger number 66 from the collection of Jason Sanford.''

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

Locomotives 47 through 72, 74 through 87, 90, 97, 98, and 102 through 106 are delivered in Baldwin Style 98 painted Olive Green, including the cab, with color (imitation gold) striping and lettering. The boiler jackets are American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 46, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Class 60N (later C-16) locomotives, Baldwin class 10-24 1/2 E, are delivered in Style 103, black and color. Body color is black, main striping and lettering are in imitation gold (yellow) with red pinstriping.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 197, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1881'''

Locomotives 150 through 165 are delivered in Baldwin Style 69 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 239, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 23, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 412 through 416 are delivered in Baldwin style 103 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 22, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Locomotives 166 through 177 are delivered in Baldwin Style 125 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 pp 165, 261, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1886'''

Locomotives 507 through 511 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the locomotive but no stripes on the tender. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 555 through 574 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 14 p 42-43, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1889'''

Locomotives 575 through 581 are delivered painted black with no striping. The lettering is "Lemon Yellow." The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 206, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 512 through 514 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the cab but not the tender, cylinders or wheels. The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 209, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1890'''

Locomotives 515 through 538 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 582 through 629 and 805 through 826 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 16 p 108-110, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1903'''

Standard gauge steam locomotives lettered in aluminum leaf on the cab, domes and tender sides. Rear of switch engine tenders and road engine tenders with rear-mounted air tanks and toolboxes lettered in white lead. All small lettering such as "KEEP OFF," tender capacity, and repair/maintenance dates is in white lead.

''D.&R.G. Standard Painting and Lettering - Standard Gauge Locomotives, 1903''

Narrow gauge locomotives 450-464 are delivered in Baldwin Style 261 painted black with gold leaf striping and lettering. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. The eccentric rods and straps are painted bright red.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 25 p 217, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1912'''

Baldwin builder specifications for the 280S-class (K-59) standard gauge 2-8-2s indicate that the locomotives were painted black with no striping. Lettering was "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color i.e. orange".

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1200-1213; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

Standard gauge K-59 class steam locomotives number 1200 through 1213 are lettered in "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color." Headlight number plates in black glass with clear numbers. "KEEP OFF" stencils are in white lead.

''Lettering Freight Locomotives Class, D&RG. July 1912. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908-1916'''

Engineer Arthur "Art" Campbell, assigned to D&RG 768, carried "Plumbago" paint on the locomotive to paint the smokebox and stack with every time the train ran on time. Mr. Campbell's fireman described the color as silver that "would shine fit to knock your eye out." Note this was not standard and only applies to number 768.

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

'''1913'''

Standard gauge 262/261S (P-44) Class steam locomotives were painted black with no striping and lettered with "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color" (orange).

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1001-1006; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

'''1924'''

A telegram sent to the Rio Grande Southern from the D&RGW offices reads as follows:

<blockquote> "TELEGRAM—THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD SYSTEM - 1/20/24. RRBZ. If the yellow locomotive lettering paint comes, which I wired ADB to send you, have Randow use it on re-lettering the D&RGW engines coming from Montrose. If it doesn’t come, go ahead and use what you have. RCM."</blockquote>

'''1926'''

A letter addressed to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado lists the following paints for narrow gauge locomotives:

<blockquote>"Alamosa, Colorado - January 23 1926 - Following is a list of paints and what they are used for furnished by my painter foreman and I want you to specify from this list the paints that you order in the future: 1. Stay-Brite for front ends. 2. Long's Black Paint for headlights, hand rails, domes, and exterior of cabs and tenders. 3. Russian Black Jacket Enamel for jackets. 4. Cab Green for interior of cabs. 5. Aluminum leaf for lettering cabs and tender. 6. Underpining Black Paint for pilots and all running gear of engines, underneath running board, tender frames, and trucks. 7. White Lead for all stenciling. 8. TOCO Finishing Varnish for varnishing exterior of cabs and tenders... If your requisitions do not show the paint or enamel as described in this list, same will be held up or returned to you for proper description."</blockquote>

[https://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,277935,278267#msg-278267| Earl Knoob] of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad found an original can of Staybrite Front End Paint which he described as "basic metallic medium gray."

'''1937'''

D&RGW Standard Practice outlines that locomotives are to be painted with Staybrite Front End Paint on the smokebox and firebox, Locomotive Black Enamel on cylinders, pilots, and running gear, "Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green)" on the boiler jacket, Black Duco on the cab exterior and tender, aluminum paint on the cylinder heads, number plate bead, tire rims, and edge of running board, and "Cab Green, Medium" on the cab interior.

''D&RGWRR Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders, 1 November 1937.''

The subject of Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green) is highly controversial in D&RGW history circles; very few locomotives apparently actually received it, with most being on the standard gauge portions of the company.

'''1949'''

"Aspen Gold" is introduced for the first time on the "Aspen Leaf" scheme on the noses of Alco PA diesel locomotives. This is Du Pont Duco 254-6479/EMD number 8173994. "Aspen Gold" is a later railfan name and was not the name of the paint color itself within the industry; Du Pont and D&RGW documents simply called it "orange."

D&RGW class C-16 number 268 is painted in the "Bumblebee" scheme for the Chicago Railroad Fair. This was an attempt to adapt the "Aspen Leaf" scheme of the new PA diesel locomotives to a faux 19th century setting. Paint colors used are:

*Du Pont Duco 6479 deck 620 shade "Orange Lacquer"

*Aluminum (frame and wheels)

*Black (stripes, letters, numbers)

*Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel

''"Timetable: Cripple Creek & Tin Cup R.R.," Chicago, Ill: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, 1949.''

'''1951'''

ALCO PA-1 A unit noses are painted "Non-Skid Flat Green."

''D&RGWRR Locomotive Painting: PA-1, Superseding all drawings prior to 9 July 1951.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1871'''

Cabooses painted "Brilliant Red" with black ironwork. Floors, platforms and steps painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Window sashes painted Tuscan Red. Lettering was done in imitation gold (yellow).

''[https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/equipment-data-sheet-no-1-web-optimized-2.pdf| Colorado Railroad Museum restoration report for D&RG caboose 49]''

'''1895'''

A side-door standard gauge caboose painted yellow with dark lettering is depicted in the Car-Builder's Dictionary.

'''1896'''

Ironwork painted Hanion Bros. & Co. "Anti-Rust" or "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal, August 1896''

'''1904'''
[[image:Paint PrincesMineral DRG Camp Car Cisco Utah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Example of faded Prince's Mineral Red on a 34-foot Denver & Rio Grande camp car located in Cisco, Utah.]]
[[image:VT-paintshop-roofcolors-PrincesMineral-VenetianRed-DarkBrown.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Original sample of Prince's Mineral from the Stephen Drew Collection.]]

AC&F built 5500 series narrow gauge stock cars painted Princes Mineral Brown with [[Asphaltum]] hardware and trucks.

Four-wheel cabooses painted Permanent Red. Wood roofs are also painted Permanent Red; tin roofs are painted Princes' Metallic Brown. Floor, platforms, and running board painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Interior walls painted light green. Ceilings painted Light Blue. Window sashes Tuscan Red. Ironwork is black. Lettered in white lead.

''Standard Lettering and Instructions, Narrow Gauge 4-Wheel Caboose, Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Card 3023 File C-373, Approved 18 May 1904.''

Interiors of four-wheel cabooses painted Pea Green with black trim.

''"Denver & Rio Grande: Cabooses No. 0513 to 0567 Incl.," Folio drawing 1904.''

'''1907'''

Standard gauge boxcars painted Prince's Metallic Brown on roof and body. Roofwalks are unpainted. Trucks and ironwork in black metallic. Lettering in white lead.

''Lettering Box D&RG. 20 April 1907. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908'''

31000-series standard gauge refrigerator cars painted Acme Chrome Yellow Refrigerator Color on sides, Princes' Metallic Brown on ends and roof, with black lettering.

''Lettering Refrigerator Car D&RG. 1908. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1912'''

The interiors of standard gauge construction cars are painted "light green."

''Denver & Rio Grande System: Construction Car 0776, Standard Gauge. Folio Sheet.''

'''1916'''

Cabooses repainted from "Brilliant Red" to Prince's Mineral Brown.

<blockquote>"Denver & Rio Grande Railway Burnham, May 24, 1916 - Gentleman: Effective on receipt of these instructions, we will discontinue the use of brilliant red on caboose cars and paint such cars the same as other freight equipment. Acknowledge receipt and advise if understood. Respectfully, J. F. Enright"</blockquote>

'''1920'''

[[DRG Freight Car Red|Freight Car Red]] introduced. Exact date of switch from Prince's Mineral is currently unknown.

Jackson Thode identified D&RGW Freight Car Red as Kohler-McLister KM-91 Box Car Red.

'''1937'''

Stock Cars switch from Freight Car Red to Black.

''Telegram from Alamosa to train masters in Durango, Gunnison and Montrose instructing them to not load any red stock cars in their territory, but to send them to Alamosa to be painted black.''

'''1939'''

Standard gauge maintenance bunk cars 63500 through 64199 are painted gray with black trucks, aluminum roofs and cream interiors.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p270.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. Standard Plan: Std. Gage Sleeper Car for B&B, Fence, Paint, Signal, Etc. Gangs." 1 August 1939.']'

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1871'''

Narrow-gauge passenger cars painted a “brown or cinnamon color,” relieved with gilt.

''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=7IRbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false| The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette (St. Joseph, MO), 17 August 1871]''

Passenger cars build by Jackson & Sharp are painted "rich dark green" on the interior with gold leaf relief and woodwork in walnut and Hungarian ash.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_44/page/n827/mode/1up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 22 July 1871 p817.]''

'''1876'''

Passenger cars "El Moro" and "La Veta," built by Billmeyer & Smalls, are painted in a "finely toned wine color" with yellow striping. The Buntin Patent seats are upholstered in crimson and green plush velvet with silver plated armrests. Metal wall fixtures are likewise silver plated. Interior woodwork is black walnut, bird's eye maple and cherry mouldings with gold leaf trim.

It is noted that the Billmeyer & Smalls artists that painted these cars are called Messrs. Watt.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n1073/mode/2up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 26 August 1876 p1080.]''

'''1878'''

Parlor cars painted “chocolate color,” striped and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WizuhXCLftk67hDMOEk2mPgGX1YfAWjP/view?usp=sharing| The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 21 June 1878]''

'''1888'''

Pullman sleeper and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are painted red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

New standard gauge passenger equipment built at the Burnham shops and by Pullman are painted red with gold leaf trim.

''"The Standard Gauge," The Rocky Mountain News 14 March 1888.''

'''1889'''

The Pullman sleepers and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are repainted to "olive" with gold leaf lettering during rebuilds at Burnham.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

'''1890'''

Standard gauge passenger cars are painted Tuscan red with gold leaf lettering and striping. The lettering is drop shadowed in two-tone "light color" (likely the light blue found on Pay Car F, former chair car 25 at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad). Corner and door posts are painted black with gold pinstriping. Roof chamfer is black.

''"Lettering and Stripes for Standard Gauge Baggage & Express Cars," D&RG card 3685 C-373, 5 April 1890, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1904'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted with Sherwin Williams Pullman Color (New) (Pullman olive green). Narrow gauge cars continue to be painted Tuscan Red.

'''1908'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted in Pullman color. Chamfers, crown mouldings, window nosings, door sills and ironwork all painted black. Lettered in gold leaf. Roof painted Prince's Metallic Brown. Window sashes finished mahogany. Trucks painted "Pullman Shade" and striped with yellow. Signal hose and gas valve painted Vermilion.

Baggage compartment interiors painted light green on the walls, Prince's Mineral Brown on the floors, and white on the ceiling.

''Denver & Rio Grande painting instructions, 1908, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1912'''

Gold striping on narrow gauge passenger cars is discontinued. Imitation gold lettering is replaced with real gold leaf, since leaf lasted longer than paint.

''Letter from J.F. Enright, 22 October 1912, quoted in Chappell, Gordon, '''[https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0305_p0319.pdf| Narrow Gauge over Cumbres,]''' New Mexico Geological Society: 1971.''

'''1918'''

Narrow gauge passenger cars painted standard Pullman Green instead of tuscan red as a cost saving measure.

<blockquote>"September 6 1918 - We have in the past, painted our narrow gauge equipment a Tuscan red, but as economy will result from the use of the Pullman color, as we figure about 3 months longer service and $1.25 per car less cost for material, wish you would arrange hereafter as narrow gauge equipment passes through the shop, to adopt the Pullman color as our standard. -W.W. Leman."</blockquote>

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

Lineside buildings were painted oxide brown (Prince's Metallic).

'''1890'''

The roofs of the snowsheds on Marshall Pass are painted with "fireproof paint."

''The Tomahawk (Denver, Colorado) 4 September 1890.''

'''1915'''

Lineside structures repainted to buff (Kolher-McLister 6-C-14 Jersey Cream) siding with brown (Kolher McLister 6-C-47 Brown) trim.

'''1942'''

Water columns are painted black on the bases and aluminum "or substitute" the rest of the way up.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p266.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "D.&R.G.W.R.R.Co. Standard Painting of Water Columns," 23 January 1942.]''

'''1945'''

Lineside structures repainted to cream siding with light green trim.

''Historical Overview of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Osier, Colorado, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad June 2010.''

Steel bridges are painted silver.

''Painting data, bridge 579.23 near Woodside, Utah''

[[image:Paint-DRGW-GilullyUtah-Phone-Booth-Sampled-May-2021-Yellow-Silver.jpg|400px|Paint samples from a D&RGW phone booth at the site of the Gilully Utah station]]

'''1946'''

Bridge 570.50 is painted two coats Aluminum paint

'''1963'''

Bridges at MP 544.94 and 566.93 Desert Siding are sand blasted, primed with Dupont Zinc Chromate, and painted with Rust-O-Leum Aluminum.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information

2025-12-08T00:18:01Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

See [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information]]

==General==

The 1879 Material Inventory lists the following paints stocked at the Denver shops:

*Burnt Umber

*Raw Sienna

*Western Red

*Silver White

*Ivory Black

*Indian Red

*Orange Chrome Yellow

*Scarlet Lake

*Van Dyke Brown

*Rose Lake

*Raw Turkey Umber

*Burnt Sienna

*Prussian Blue

*Golden Ochre

*Tuscan Red

*Dry Burnt Umber

*Dry Raw Sienna

*Dry English Vermillon

*Lamp Black

*Raw Umber

*Chrome Yellow

*Dry Ultramarine Blue

*White Lead in oil

*Dry Red Lead

*Coach Green

*Shellacc

*Chicago Hard Body Drying Varnish

*"Standard Varnish"

*Valentine Medium Coats Finishing Varnish

*Elastic Carriage Varnish

*Japan

*Asphaltum (black paint)

*Venetian Red

*[[Oxide and Metallic Paints|Iron Clad Mineral (brown)]]

*Dry Rose Pink

*Dry Tuscan Red

*Yellow Ochre

*Black Diamond Paint

''Inventory of Tools, Material, Equipment & Other Property of Denver & Rio Grande Railway Trasnferred to Receiver, Aug. 14, 1879 by Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Original ledger number 66 from the collection of Jason Sanford.''

==Locomotives==

'''1880'''

Locomotives 47 through 72, 74 through 87, 90, 97, 98, and 102 through 106 are delivered in Baldwin Style 98 painted Olive Green, including the cab, with color (imitation gold) striping and lettering. The boiler jackets are American iron with brass bands.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 46, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Class 60N (later C-16) locomotives, Baldwin class 10-24 1/2 E, are delivered in Style 103, black and color. Body color is black, main striping and lettering are in imitation gold (yellow) with red pinstriping.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 197, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1881'''

Locomotives 150 through 165 are delivered in Baldwin Style 69 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 10 p 239, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 23, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 412 through 416 are delivered in Baldwin style 103 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are American Iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 p 22, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1882'''

Locomotives 166 through 177 are delivered in Baldwin Style 125 painted black with Color (imitation gold) lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. Steam and check piping is called out as copper.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 11 pp 165, 261, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1886'''

Locomotives 507 through 511 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the locomotive but no stripes on the tender. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 555 through 574 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 14 p 42-43, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1889'''

Locomotives 575 through 581 are delivered painted black with no striping. The lettering is "Lemon Yellow." The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 206, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

Locomotives 512 through 514 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 black with gold leaf lettering and stripes on the cab but not the tender, cylinders or wheels. The boiler jacket and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 15 p 209, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1890'''

Locomotives 515 through 538 are delivered in Baldwin Style 198 painted black with gold leaf lettering and stripes. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

Locomotives 582 through 629 and 805 through 826 are delivered painted black with no striping. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 16 p 108-110, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1903'''

Standard gauge steam locomotives lettered in aluminum leaf on the cab, domes and tender sides. Rear of switch engine tenders and road engine tenders with rear-mounted air tanks and toolboxes lettered in white lead. All small lettering such as "KEEP OFF," tender capacity, and repair/maintenance dates is in white lead.

''D.&R.G. Standard Painting and Lettering - Standard Gauge Locomotives, 1903''

Narrow gauge locomotives 450-464 are delivered in Baldwin Style 261 painted black with gold leaf striping and lettering. The boiler jackets and bands are planished iron. The eccentric rods and straps are painted bright red.

''Baldwin Locomotive Works engine specifications, 1869-1938 vol 25 p 217, DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University''

'''1912'''

Baldwin builder specifications for the 280S-class (K-59) standard gauge 2-8-2s indicate that the locomotives were painted black with no striping. Lettering was "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color i.e. orange".

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1200-1213; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

Standard gauge K-59 class steam locomotives number 1200 through 1213 are lettered in "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color." Headlight number plates in black glass with clear numbers. "KEEP OFF" stencils are in white lead.

''Lettering Freight Locomotives Class, D&RG. July 1912. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908-1916'''

Engineer Arthur "Art" Campbell, assigned to D&RG 768, carried "Plumbago" paint on the locomotive to paint the smokebox and stack with every time the train ran on time. Mr. Campbell's fireman described the color as silver that "would shine fit to knock your eye out." Note this was not standard and only applies to number 768.

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

'''1913'''

Standard gauge 262/261S (P-44) Class steam locomotives were painted black with no striping and lettered with "Sherwin-Williams Co. D&RG Standard Loco. Lettering Color" (orange).

''Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification Sheet, D&RGW 1001-1006; D&RG Print Sheet 642 drawer 7''

'''1924'''

A telegram sent to the Rio Grande Southern from the D&RGW offices reads as follows:

<blockquote> "TELEGRAM—THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN RAILROAD SYSTEM - 1/20/24. RRBZ. If the yellow locomotive lettering paint comes, which I wired ADB to send you, have Randow use it on re-lettering the D&RGW engines coming from Montrose. If it doesn’t come, go ahead and use what you have. RCM."</blockquote>

'''1926'''

A letter addressed to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado lists the following paints for narrow gauge locomotives:

<blockquote>"Alamosa, Colorado - January 23 1926 - Following is a list of paints and what they are used for furnished by my painter foreman and I want you to specify from this list the paints that you order in the future: 1. Stay-Brite for front ends. 2. Long's Black Paint for headlights, hand rails, domes, and exterior of cabs and tenders. 3. Russian Black Jacket Enamel for jackets. 4. Cab Green for interior of cabs. 5. Aluminum leaf for lettering cabs and tender. 6. Underpining Black Paint for pilots and all running gear of engines, underneath running board, tender frames, and trucks. 7. White Lead for all stenciling. 8. TOCO Finishing Varnish for varnishing exterior of cabs and tenders... If your requisitions do not show the paint or enamel as described in this list, same will be held up or returned to you for proper description."</blockquote>

[https://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,277935,278267#msg-278267| Earl Knoob] of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad found an original can of Staybrite Front End Paint which he described as "basic metallic medium gray."

'''1937'''

D&RGW Standard Practice outlines that locomotives are to be painted with Staybrite Front End Paint on the smokebox and firebox, Locomotive Black Enamel on cylinders, pilots, and running gear, "Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green)" on the boiler jacket, Black Duco on the cab exterior and tender, aluminum paint on the cylinder heads, number plate bead, tire rims, and edge of running board, and "Cab Green, Medium" on the cab interior.

''D&RGWRR Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders, 1 November 1937.''

The subject of Jacket Enamel (Dark Olive Green) is highly controversial in D&RGW history circles; very few locomotives apparently actually received it, with most being on the standard gauge portions of the company.

'''1949'''

D&RGW class C-16 number 268 is painted in the "Bumblebee" scheme for the Chicago Railroad Fair. Paint colors used are:

*Du Pont Duco 6479 deck 620 shade "Orange Lacquer"

*Aluminum (frame and wheels)

*Black (stripes, letters, numbers)

*Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel

''"Timetable: Cripple Creek & Tin Cup R.R.," Chicago, Ill: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, 1949.''

'''1951'''

ALCO PA-1 A unit noses are painted "Non-Skid Flat Green."

''D&RGWRR Locomotive Painting: PA-1, Superseding all drawings prior to 9 July 1951.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1871'''

Cabooses painted "Brilliant Red" with black ironwork. Floors, platforms and steps painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Window sashes painted Tuscan Red. Lettering was done in imitation gold (yellow).

''[https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/equipment-data-sheet-no-1-web-optimized-2.pdf| Colorado Railroad Museum restoration report for D&RG caboose 49]''

'''1895'''

A side-door standard gauge caboose painted yellow with dark lettering is depicted in the Car-Builder's Dictionary.

'''1896'''

Ironwork painted Hanion Bros. & Co. "Anti-Rust" or "Antoxide" paint (black).

''Railroad Car Journal, August 1896''

'''1904'''
[[image:Paint PrincesMineral DRG Camp Car Cisco Utah.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Example of faded Prince's Mineral Red on a 34-foot Denver & Rio Grande camp car located in Cisco, Utah.]]
[[image:VT-paintshop-roofcolors-PrincesMineral-VenetianRed-DarkBrown.jpg|right|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Original sample of Prince's Mineral from the Stephen Drew Collection.]]

AC&F built 5500 series narrow gauge stock cars painted Princes Mineral Brown with [[Asphaltum]] hardware and trucks.

Four-wheel cabooses painted Permanent Red. Wood roofs are also painted Permanent Red; tin roofs are painted Princes' Metallic Brown. Floor, platforms, and running board painted Prince's Mineral Brown. Interior walls painted light green. Ceilings painted Light Blue. Window sashes Tuscan Red. Ironwork is black. Lettered in white lead.

''Standard Lettering and Instructions, Narrow Gauge 4-Wheel Caboose, Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Card 3023 File C-373, Approved 18 May 1904.''

Interiors of four-wheel cabooses painted Pea Green with black trim.

''"Denver & Rio Grande: Cabooses No. 0513 to 0567 Incl.," Folio drawing 1904.''

'''1907'''

Standard gauge boxcars painted Prince's Metallic Brown on roof and body. Roofwalks are unpainted. Trucks and ironwork in black metallic. Lettering in white lead.

''Lettering Box D&RG. 20 April 1907. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1908'''

31000-series standard gauge refrigerator cars painted Acme Chrome Yellow Refrigerator Color on sides, Princes' Metallic Brown on ends and roof, with black lettering.

''Lettering Refrigerator Car D&RG. 1908. Denver Public Library Collection.''

'''1912'''

The interiors of standard gauge construction cars are painted "light green."

''Denver & Rio Grande System: Construction Car 0776, Standard Gauge. Folio Sheet.''

'''1916'''

Cabooses repainted from "Brilliant Red" to Prince's Mineral Brown.

<blockquote>"Denver & Rio Grande Railway Burnham, May 24, 1916 - Gentleman: Effective on receipt of these instructions, we will discontinue the use of brilliant red on caboose cars and paint such cars the same as other freight equipment. Acknowledge receipt and advise if understood. Respectfully, J. F. Enright"</blockquote>

'''1920'''

[[DRG Freight Car Red|Freight Car Red]] introduced. Exact date of switch from Prince's Mineral is currently unknown.

Jackson Thode identified D&RGW Freight Car Red as Kohler-McLister KM-91 Box Car Red.

'''1937'''

Stock Cars switch from Freight Car Red to Black.

''Telegram from Alamosa to train masters in Durango, Gunnison and Montrose instructing them to not load any red stock cars in their territory, but to send them to Alamosa to be painted black.''

'''1939'''

Standard gauge maintenance bunk cars 63500 through 64199 are painted gray with black trucks, aluminum roofs and cream interiors.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p270.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "Denver & Rio Grande Western R.R. Co. Standard Plan: Std. Gage Sleeper Car for B&B, Fence, Paint, Signal, Etc. Gangs." 1 August 1939.']'

==Passenger Equipment==

'''1871'''

Narrow-gauge passenger cars painted a “brown or cinnamon color,” relieved with gilt.

''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=7IRbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false| The St. Joseph Weekly Gazette (St. Joseph, MO), 17 August 1871]''

Passenger cars build by Jackson & Sharp are painted "rich dark green" on the interior with gold leaf relief and woodwork in walnut and Hungarian ash.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_44/page/n827/mode/1up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 22 July 1871 p817.]''

'''1876'''

Passenger cars "El Moro" and "La Veta," built by Billmeyer & Smalls, are painted in a "finely toned wine color" with yellow striping. The Buntin Patent seats are upholstered in crimson and green plush velvet with silver plated armrests. Metal wall fixtures are likewise silver plated. Interior woodwork is black walnut, bird's eye maple and cherry mouldings with gold leaf trim.

It is noted that the Billmeyer & Smalls artists that painted these cars are called Messrs. Watt.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_49/page/n1073/mode/2up?q=painted| American Railroad Journal 26 August 1876 p1080.]''

'''1878'''

Parlor cars painted “chocolate color,” striped and ornamented in gold.

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WizuhXCLftk67hDMOEk2mPgGX1YfAWjP/view?usp=sharing| The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 21 June 1878]''

'''1888'''

Pullman sleeper and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are painted red.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

New standard gauge passenger equipment built at the Burnham shops and by Pullman are painted red with gold leaf trim.

''"The Standard Gauge," The Rocky Mountain News 14 March 1888.''

'''1889'''

The Pullman sleepers and buffet cars in D&RG and D&RGW service are repainted to "olive" with gold leaf lettering during rebuilds at Burnham.

''[https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=RMD18890827-01.2.89&srpos=70&e=--1880---1890--en-20--61--img-txIN%7ctxCO%7ctxTA--------0------|"Personal and General," The Rocky Mountain News 27 August 1889]''

'''1890'''

Standard gauge passenger cars are painted Tuscan red with gold leaf lettering and striping. The lettering is drop shadowed in two-tone "light color" (likely the light blue found on Pay Car F, former chair car 25 at the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad). Corner and door posts are painted black with gold pinstriping. Roof chamfer is black.

''"Lettering and Stripes for Standard Gauge Baggage & Express Cars," D&RG card 3685 C-373, 5 April 1890, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1904'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted with Sherwin Williams Pullman Color (New) (Pullman olive green). Narrow gauge cars continue to be painted Tuscan Red.

'''1908'''

Standard gauge passenger cars painted in Pullman color. Chamfers, crown mouldings, window nosings, door sills and ironwork all painted black. Lettered in gold leaf. Roof painted Prince's Metallic Brown. Window sashes finished mahogany. Trucks painted "Pullman Shade" and striped with yellow. Signal hose and gas valve painted Vermilion.

Baggage compartment interiors painted light green on the walls, Prince's Mineral Brown on the floors, and white on the ceiling.

''Denver & Rio Grande painting instructions, 1908, Denver Public Library Collection''

'''1912'''

Gold striping on narrow gauge passenger cars is discontinued. Imitation gold lettering is replaced with real gold leaf, since leaf lasted longer than paint.

''Letter from J.F. Enright, 22 October 1912, quoted in Chappell, Gordon, '''[https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/22/22_p0305_p0319.pdf| Narrow Gauge over Cumbres,]''' New Mexico Geological Society: 1971.''

'''1918'''

Narrow gauge passenger cars painted standard Pullman Green instead of tuscan red as a cost saving measure.

<blockquote>"September 6 1918 - We have in the past, painted our narrow gauge equipment a Tuscan red, but as economy will result from the use of the Pullman color, as we figure about 3 months longer service and $1.25 per car less cost for material, wish you would arrange hereafter as narrow gauge equipment passes through the shop, to adopt the Pullman color as our standard. -W.W. Leman."</blockquote>

==Buildings==

'''1881'''

Lineside buildings were painted oxide brown (Prince's Metallic).

'''1890'''

The roofs of the snowsheds on Marshall Pass are painted with "fireproof paint."

''The Tomahawk (Denver, Colorado) 4 September 1890.''

'''1915'''

Lineside structures repainted to buff (Kolher-McLister 6-C-14 Jersey Cream) siding with brown (Kolher McLister 6-C-47 Brown) trim.

'''1942'''

Water columns are painted black on the bases and aluminum "or substitute" the rest of the way up.

''[https://www.drgw.net/gallery/v/DRGWStandardPlans/drgw_standardplans_p266.png.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1| "D.&R.G.W.R.R.Co. Standard Painting of Water Columns," 23 January 1942.]''

'''1945'''

Lineside structures repainted to cream siding with light green trim.

''Historical Overview of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad: Osier, Colorado, Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad June 2010.''

Steel bridges are painted silver.

''Painting data, bridge 579.23 near Woodside, Utah''

[[image:Paint-DRGW-GilullyUtah-Phone-Booth-Sampled-May-2021-Yellow-Silver.jpg|400px|Paint samples from a D&RGW phone booth at the site of the Gilully Utah station]]

'''1946'''

Bridge 570.50 is painted two coats Aluminum paint

'''1963'''

Bridges at MP 544.94 and 566.93 Desert Siding are sand blasted, primed with Dupont Zinc Chromate, and painted with Rust-O-Leum Aluminum.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Locomotive Front End Paints

2025-11-27T16:04:30Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Historic_Paint|Historic Paint Index]] / Locomotive Front End Paints

==Introduction==

The locomotive crew was responsible for the maintenance of the locomotive, particularly the front end, as it was simultaneously the most visible part of the machine and the quickest to become dirty. Many railroads included clauses in their labor agreements outlining the duties of engine crews in this regard; for example, article 8 of the 1891 agreement between the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman reads "The company will furnish a man to clean all flues, fire and ash pans at terminal points, but firemen will keep their front ends and stacks well painted, and their engines in good order." In the period that engineers were assigned to specific locomotives, a good amount of liberty was permitted in carrying out this task. The smokebox region of the locomotive is difficult to research for this reason, as it rarely followed the company's standardized paint instructions, and often must be researched on a case-by-case basis.

Using the Denver & Rio Grande as an example, a number of smokebox paint variations appear in photographs. D&RG 87 and 100 (narrow gauge 4-4-0s) both had dark smokeboxes with bright smokebox doors. D&RG 170 (narrow gauge 4-6-0) had a large star painted across the smokebox front. Other locomotives' smokeboxes were a solid color, but varied between very dark gloss and a lighter graphite appearance.

Arthur "Art" Campbell, an engineer in Utah on the Rio Grande Western and the D&RG, carried a can of plumbago paint in the toolbox of D&RG 768 (standard gauge 4-6-0) which he used on the smokebox and stack every time that he made an on-time arrival at terminal stations. His fireman Gilbert Gould described its appearance between 1908-1916 as silver which "would shine fit to knock your eye out."

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

While many commercial options were available for locomotive front ends, many railroad shops mixed their own paint or used naturally occurring petroleums like Ozokerite. In 1932 ''Railway Age'' recommended that railroads salvage journal oil from hotboxed axle bearings for mixing front end paints.

''Bon, I.C. "Scrap Handling and Reclamation," Railway Age 25 June 1932.''

==Manufacturers of Locomotive Front End Paint==

*Charles R. Long Jr. Co. (Staybrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint): Louisville, KY.

*Frazer Specialty Co. (Frazer Locomotive Joint and Boiler Front Cement): Detroit MI.

*Frost Paint & Oil Company (Kapak): Minneapolis MN. Described as "jet black and glossy."

*National Paint Works (Cheeseman & Elliot): Factories at Williamsport PA and Brooklyn, New York

*Pittsburgh Plate

*Sherwin-Williams

==Plumbago Paint==

Plumbago is an archaic name for graphite or black lead; plumbago paints were manufactured using graphite as a base. It was available in many shades ranging from black to a bright pewter, and pigmented to produce tuscan and olive green. It was introduced around 1870, the earliest mention available being an 1870 catalog from the Plumbago Paint Company; the ''Paint, Oil & Drug Review'' described it as follows in 1897:

<blockquote>Graphite is nothing more or less than plumbago or black lead; it is the metal from which pencils and stove polish is made. There are many different grades, and those suitable for pencils and stove polish may not serve the purpose of the paint maker.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Graphite paint is distinctively an American product. It was the American habit of 'nosing around after something new' that turned this metal in the direction of the paint factory, and it was American chemical skill and constructive genius that devised processes and built machinery by which the metal could be converted into a finished article and placed on the market. It has been producted in this country for about twenty years, and increased quantities are consumed as the years speed by, and of late a considerable amount of the paint has been exported, mainly into England. The paint differs from the general line of paints in that is not intended for any and every purpose, the contention being that it has no equal for application to iron and tin exposed to the weather. There is now little or no doubt as to its being a practical paint from every point of view within the scope of its legitimate field; the stages of trial and experiment have been passed. The chief drawback to its wider use is found in its higher cost, which, if experts may be believed, is more than made up by its longevity as a decorator and preservative.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Aside from durability, the cardinal point in favor of graphite paint, it is urged that it covers more surface than ordinary paint, and that it is easier to apply. Its covering power is explained by the statement that graphite is about one-third the weight of white lead, and one-half that of mineral paint. It is estimated that one gallon of graphite paint ready for the brush will cover 700 square feet of surface, one coat, and this is said to be a low estimate. One objection to this paint for roof work is its slippery nature, making it unsafe for persons to walk on flat roofs painted with it. There may be others, but they are unknown to the writer.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Prof. J. Spenrath, Director of the Industrial School at Aixla-Chapelle, France, has made a large number of experiment on the subject of protective paints, and gives it as his opinion that graphite, of all pigments, is the least affected by chemical influences, and is therefore apparently the most suitable for the fullest protection of all iron and other metal surfaces liable to rust.</blockquote>

''"Graphite, or Plumbago, as a Paint Material," Paint, Oil and Drug Review vol.24 no.3 21 July 1897.''

==Staybrite Front End Paint==

Staybrite or Stabrite Front End Paint was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky, by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company, part of Charles Long Jr.'s conglomerate of railroad supply companies. Charles R. Long Jr. Co. also produced Lo-Kost Front End Paint, locomotive black varnish, and the Lovico brand of railroad equipment paints.

Charles R. Long Jr. was a native of Louisville, beginning his career as secretary and treasurer of the Stratler Brothers Tobacco Company from 1890 to 1896. He left the Stratler Bros. to establish his own paint manufacturing company in 1896 and co-founded railroad supply manufacturer Harry Vissering & Company in 1909.

''"Charels R. Long, Jr. Buys Interests of Harry Vissering," Railway Mechanical Engineer May 1925.''

Stabrite Front End Paint was first advertised in 1901. In 1905 application for trademark status was made. In 1918 the Ira D. Washburn Company also filed for a Stabrite trademark, and the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences determined that neither company was entitled to exclusive use of the names Stabrite nor Lo-Kost as "a monopoly cannot be acquired in the use of words which are merely descriptive of the character, properties, qualities or composition of an article." The ruling was that the trademark granted to the Charles R. Long Jr. Company was not the name itself, but the design of the company's herald which incorporated the name as an element. In 1919 the Howard L. Fisher Company also attempted to apply for a Stabrite trademark and being denied sued the Charles R. Long Jr. Co and lost. Appeals to the patent office decision carried through 1922 with every court upholding the Commissioner of Patents' decision. This ended the use of the Stabrite/Staybrite and Lo-Kost names. Both Stabrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint are last mentioned by name in the trade press in 1925. As Stabrite could no longer be registered, after abandonment by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company the name was used by various non-railroad companies to represent a brand of paint preserver, a furniture wax, a gun grease, fluorescent lighting, and stainless steel sheeting.

''"Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents," The Trade-Mark Reporter July 1918.''

''"In Re: The Application of Chas. R. Long, Jr., Co." The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1922.''

''"Postum Cereal Co., Inc. v. California Fig Nut Co. (142 Ms. Dee. 420)", The Trade-Mark Reporter October 1923.''

''"No-D-Ka Dentirrice Co. v. S. S. Kresce Co.," The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1928.''

Charles died in Battle Creek, Michigan, on 12 August 1932. The Charles R. Long, Jr., Company shifted its focus to railroad enamels and supplied the Pullman Company with paint for its passenger car products. It was purchased by the American-Marietta Company in 1947, joining the Marietta Paint & Color Co., Sewall Paint & Varnish Co., Ottowa Paint Works, and Schorn Paint Mfg. Co. as A-M subsidiaries.

Earl Knoob's description of original Staybrite paint from the Denver & Rio Grande Western, discovered during his tenure with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:

<blockquote>"Aluminum paint was used on the smokeboxes until the late 1980's when I started mixing up 'graphite colored' paint using high temp flat black and the same high temp aluminum to get a metallic gray. My thought is that it looks good, was historic in appearance and it weathered much more gracefully than basic aluminum. The first time engine coughed up a wad of sooty water, it trashed the paint job. In doing my research for the color, I found the D&RGW paint spec which showed the smokeboxes painted 'Staybrite front end polish.' Well, looking through the paint car one day I found a 10 gallon bucket labeled "Staybrite Front End Paint".

"Wow! It was basic metallic medium gray. That's what I based it on."
</blockquote>

==Red Paint on Locomotive Front Ends==

Crimson red paint was a non-standard practice among railroad crews in decorating their locomotives that emerged in the 1880s and, with few exceptions, was quickly banned by railroad companies due to the confusion red paint could cause in the railroad sphere. Based on contemporary descriptions, the red stack fad originated on New England railroads but spread briefly to a few railroads in the Rocky Mountains before being officially banned. The red paint was usually applied around the top cap of the stack. As a matter of personalization, the knowledge of the existence of red stacks usually comes from eyewitness accounts or general orders banning its use rather than official railroad documentation.

*[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]] locomotives had red stack caps.

''"Spikes and Ties," The Rocky Mountain News 31 March 1880.''

*Housatonic Railroad turned out three locomotives with red stacks in 1881.

“The H. R. R. Co’s. big engine, ‘A B Mygatt’ ‘looks ever so much better’ since it came out of the shop with the red stack.”

''Connecticut Western News 9 February 1881.''

“Two new heavy passenger locomotives, with the red straight stack, are to be put on the Housatonic R. R. about May 1st.”

''Connecticut Western News 20 April 1881.''

* Maine Central ordered new locomotives with red stacks and paper wheels in 1884.

''Sun-Journal 2 April 1884.''

*The Chicago Great Western used red on their locomotive stacks so prolifically in the late 1880s that the company became known as the "Red Smokestack Road."

"Back in the latter part of the 80s the president of the Chicago Great Western put his color fancies into operation and all the engine smokestacks were painted red."

''Topeka State Journal 21 December 1909.''

*New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad banned red paint on stacks in 1886, and those locomotives that did receive red were repainted over 1887.

"It is reported that the New York, New Haven & Hartford road will do away with the familiar bright red smoke stacks upon its locomotives. The reason given is that the engineers are taught, as one of the rudimentary principles in their dangerous calling, that red always indicates danger, and that with red stacks a common sight, they in time become indifferent to the warning given by this color."

''The Boston Globe 3 December 1886 p3.''

"The red paint on the engine, particularly that on the smoke-stack, was confusing to the engineers. It is now thought to be desirable that whenever an engineer sees anything red in front of him he should bring his train to a stop as soon as possible. Yet it would be silly for him to stop because another engine was passing innocently on another track. And fault cannot now always be found if the engineer on a close call in a dim light mistook a red danger signal for the red stack of a locomotive and thus cased a serious disaster. If the red smoke stacks are done away with these mistakes cannot occur."

''"Red Stacks Must Go," The Journal (Meridan, Connecticut) 29 November 1886.''

“Of the 180 locomotives of the Consolidated road (New York, New Haven & Hartford RR) only about fifty of them retain the red smoke stack."

''The Journal 20 July 1887.''

*[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific's]] General Master Mechanic Middleton forbade the use of red on locomotive stacks in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 23 January 1891.''

*Some [[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago, Burlington & Quincy]] locomotives operating in Denver Colorado had red stacks, including the entire barrel rather than just the cap, in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 30 January 1891.''

*Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway 30 received a red stack and drivers in October 1886. [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information|Rio Grande Western Railway]] 35 and 51 both received red stacks in January 1891. In 1894 however, newly-appointed Director of Motive Power Lamplugh of the RGW issued a general order forbidding the use of red paint on stacks and numberplates saying that "too frequent use of the color impairs its value as a signal."

''Salt Lake Tribune 26 September 1894.''

==Standard Practice Front End Paints==

'''Union Pacific'''

*1887: No.29 ivory drop black is used on the smokebox and No. 30 "Asphaltum" is used on locomotive stacks.

*1890: Specification NO. 768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders instructs that the stack is primed with a paint mixed from 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77, 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint standard color No.95, 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp Black standard color No.65 thinned with priming oil. No instruction is provided for painting the smokebox or the final coat for the stack.

'''Canadian Pacific'''

*1896: The smokebox and firebox inside the cab are painted while hot with one coat of linseed oil mixed with a small amount of lampblack.

<blockquote>"The smokebox, or extension front, and the face plate inside the cab, we give one coat of linseed oil with a little lampblack in it. This is not done until the engine is in steam and those parts are heated. It makes a thin coating and does not scale or blister. The drivers like it, and they rub it over every little while with an oil waste and get a sort of polish on it." - Thomas Jones, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Jones' Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p247.''

'''Denver & Rio Grande Western'''

*1926: Stay-brite paint is used on the front ends. Reiterated in ''D&RGW Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders'' dated 1 November 1937.

''Letter to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado, 23 January 1926''

'''M.L.P.B.&M.R.R.'''

*1896: Smokeboxes are painted with one gallon of engine black finish mixed with two gallons linseed oil.

<blockquote>This, which at first would seem to be more expensive, is, in fact, cheaper than the ordinary stack black, wears better, gives better satisfaction, and is less liable to crack or peel." -Albert P. Dane</blockquote>

''Mr. Dane's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p250.''

'''Northern Pacific'''

*1896: Smokeboxes, doors, and stacks are painted with graphite paint mixed with linseed oil. This was then finished with a mix of lamp black and linseed oil rubbed with a sponge or rag.

<blockquote>"For the extension front, which I take to mean the smoke arch and door, and the stack in many instances included, I have found a good article which could be used after the metal had been well cleaned from rust, scale and grease, was to apply a well rubbed out coat (that is a thin coat) of graphite paint, mixed with raw linseed oil, not thin when mixed, but mixed to a fair consistency and then applied thin by brushing out, this of course may not make a perfect black finish, but the black finish can be produced later after the front has been heated or the graphite paint has become dry by the occasional application of a little lamp black and linseed oil rubbed over with waste or a sponge, and then well wiped off will in time produce an excellent appearing front." - A.J. Bishop, Master Painter, Como Shops, Northern Pacific Road, St. Paul.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Bishop's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p249.''

==Non-standard Front End Paints==

Ozokerite is a naturally occurring petroleum or mineral wax. It was not officially described in the United States until approximately 1885, when Jacob Wallace found it being used by the citizens of Pleasant Valley Junction, Utah, as chewing gum. Wallace described the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway engine crews stationed at the roundhouse at Pleasant Valley Junction using Ozokerite to polish their locomotives; large chunks of the solid material were pried out of outcroppings where it surfaced, and rubbed across the hot surfaces of the locomotive, which melted a thin layer over the metal then burned away the volatiles leaving a glossy brown-black finish. Soon after Wallace' identification commercial mining began in the vicinity of Pleasant Valley Junction, producing 1,500 tons annually by 1889.

''"Ozokerite," Harper's Weekly 16 February 1889 p132.''

''"Mineral Wax," Scientific American Supplement 10 August 1889 p11339.''

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-21T22:21:34Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Freight Cars by Builder]] > [[Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)]]

==Introduction==

The Silver Brothers Iron Works was a small foundry and machine shop in Salt Lake City that specialized in mining and agricultural equipment. While the majority of its railcars were for underground mine service, the company also produced narrow gauge rolling stock, including side dump cars, for construction contractors. There is evidence that Silver Brothers built the cars used by the [[Sutro Tunnel Company]]. In later years the company moved to Ogden, Utah and was renamed the Ogden Iron Works, producing the same product line but expanding into sugarbeet machinery, soon dominating the market for sugarbeet cutters and piling machines.

While unknown today, the Silver family was highly influential in the North American iron trade, operating or involved with iron works, foundries, and machine shops in New York, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Canada. Silver Brothers also was the original manufacturer of the Silver Permanent Railway Tie, a cast-steel and concrete-filled track tie intended to replace wood as the United States faced a timber crisis as commercially viable tree stands on public lands began to run out in the early 20th century.

[[image:SilverBrothersDumpCar_ThePacificMiner.jpg|center|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Advertisement for the Silver Brothers Iron Works contractors dump car]]

==History==

'''Timeline'''

*1853

William J. Silver is hired as a draftsman at the Stothert & Pitts Newark Foundry, Bath, England.

*1855

William J. Silver and wife emigrate to the United States. He finds employment at the William M. Storm Novelty Iron Works in New York.

*1858

William J. Silver opens an engineering consulting office at St. John Street, New York City.

*1859

The Silver Family moves to Utah in an overland wagon train. William J. Silver begins patternmaking for the L.D.S. Church Machine Shop in the Sugarhouse Ward of Salt Lake City.

*1860

William J. Silver and John Forbes, also formerly employed by the L.D.S. Church Machine Shop, build a small slab shed and establish their own machine shop.

*1862

Dissolves the partnership with John Forbes. Rents a small machine shop in John Taylor's nail factory.

*1865

William J. Silver purchases his own city lot and builds a dugout house and a 12 foot by 12 foot board and batten shed. The Silver Machine Shop is established.

*1868

William J. Silver installs the public clock at the Salt Lake City Hall. He builds his first steam engine in September for Smith Brothers., who were building the State Road (now State Street / US-89). This is the first steam engine built in Utah. In November he builds a second steam engine for the steamship Kate Connor sailing the Great Salt Lake from Corinne, Utah.

*1869

Built a brass furnace and begins making brass castings to order. Six to eight men, depending on the work, are employed at the Silver Iron Works.

*1872

William J. Silver is hired as master mechanic of the Utah Northern Railroad (36" gauge). He is in charge of installing the machinery in the Utah Northern shops.

*1878

A new foundry and machine shop is built with an iron frame and brick walls. William J. Silver is manufacturing steam pumps for mines as well as operating steam equipment for the Salt Lake City Water Works, the Salt Lake Fire Department, John W. Young, and various railroads in the region. He also teaches classes in mine drawing and calculations and machinist drawing.

*1885

Due to federal anti-polygamy raids, William J. Silver takes the narrow gauge Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway to Denver, Colorado where he obtains employment at the F.M. Davis Machine Shop as a pattern maker. He deeds his own machine shop to his sons John and Joseph, who take over operations.

*1898

Silver Brothers Iron Works is formally incorporated with John Silver as president, Hyrum Silver as vice-president, and Joseph Silver as secretary.

''"Manufacturers," American Machinist 14 April 1898.''

*1900

Silver Brothers Iron Works expands with a new boiler shop and an addition to the foundry building.

''"Manufacturing," The Iron Age 25 January 1900.''

*1903

The company purchases land to build a new machine shop and foundry.

''"Industrial Notes," The Engineering and Mining Journal 21 February 1903.''

*1906

John Silver leaves Utah for Alberta, Canada and establishes his own iron works there. Joseph A. Silver and his son James W. Silver purchase the ownership shares of John and Hyrum.

Work begins on a new modern factory.

''"Industrials," The Engineering and Mining Journal 24 March 1906 p580.''

The financing for the new factory was unfortunately left to Beresford Hope, a con man who presented himself as a representative of the fictional British American Securities, Limited, offering to raise funds on commission for various Utah industries. In July 1906, taking his commission fees, he fled Utah for Boston. The amount needed and never procured by the Silver Brothers Iron Works was $150,000.

''"Swindle of Big Proportions," The Newark Daily Advocate 9 July 1906.''

Sturtevant Company generators are installed to supply the facility with electricity.

''"General Industrial Notes," The Iron Trade Review 13 December 1906.''

*1909

Silver Brothers Iron Works introduces the first mine car with self-oiling wheels.

''"Miscellaneous," The Iron Age 15 July 1909.''

*1911

Silver Brothers Iron Works establishes an iron industry catalog library.

''"Catalogues Wanted," The Iron Age 26 January 1911.''

*1912

$30,000 is spent on new machinery for the steel casting plant which uses Bessemer furnaces.

''"New Construction," The Iron Trade Review 18 April 1912 p875.''

Silver Brothers maintains the shay locomotives owned by the Copper Belt Railroad.

*1915

The Silver Brothers Iron Works is taken over by the Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company.

''"Western States," The Iron Trade Review 2 December 1915 p1105.''

*1916

James W. Silver leaves the Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company and moves to Ogden to found the Ogden Iron Works, using the patents and patterns still owned by his family. He continues to produce the Silver Brothers branded mining and railroad equipment.

'''Notable Individuals'''

*William J. Silver

Founder of the Silver Iron Works and father of John, Hyrum, and Joseph (Silver Brothers). Emigrated from England. His first invention was a capstan winch for shipyards, patented while he lived in London in 1852. Trained as a draftsman at the Stothert & Pitts Newark Foundry in Bath, England. Built the first point switch documented to have been used by United States railroads, installed on a street railroad in Salt Lake City.

*John A. Silver

President. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Left the family company to start his own foundry in Alberta, Canada.

*Hyrum A. Silver

Vice-president. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.

*Joseph A. Silver

Secretary, 1898-1906; president, after 1906. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Started his career as a machinist at the Ontario Mine in Park City, Utah, at age 16.

*James W. Silver

Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906. Founded the Ogden Iron Works.

==Products==

'''Rail equipment'''

*Silver Brothers Contractor's Dump Cars

*Coal dump cars in 36" and 42" gauge

*The Mudite Machine, a 36" gauge or larger underground locomotive powered with either batteries or overhead catenary with a mixing tank and sprayer for applying anti-dust slurry over the walls of mine rooms and tunnels.

'''Non-Rail Equipment'''

*Stationary and portable steam engines

*Steam operated water pumps

*Boilers

*Ornamental wrought and cast iron fencing

*Smelter furnaces

*Mine cages

*Mine incline cable tramway systems

*Ore buckets

*Conveyor belt rollers

*Flour mill rollers

*Sugarbeet cutters

*Sugarbeet pilers

*Gasoline engine steam rollers

*Steam Shovels

*Steam dredges

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-08T03:18:24Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Freight Cars by Builder]] > [[Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)]]

==Introduction==

The Silver Brothers Iron Works was a small foundry and machine shop in Salt Lake City that specialized in mining and agricultural equipment. While the majority of its railcars were for underground mine service, the company also produced narrow gauge rolling stock, including side dump cars, for construction contractors. In later years the company moved to Ogden, Utah and was renamed the Ogden Iron Works, producing the same product line but expanding into sugarbeet machinery, soon dominating the market for sugarbeet cutters and piling machines.

While unknown today, the Silver family was highly influential in the North American iron trade, operating or involved with iron works, foundries, and machine shops in New York, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Canada. Silver Brothers also was the original manufacturer of the Silver Permanent Railway Tie, a cast-steel and concrete-filled track tie intended to replace wood as the United States faced a timber crisis as commercially viable tree stands on public lands began to run out in the early 20th century.

[[image:SilverBrothersDumpCar_ThePacificMiner.jpg|center|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Advertisement for the Silver Brothers Iron Works contractors dump car]]

==History==

'''Timeline'''

*1853

William J. Silver is hired as a draftsman at the Stothert & Pitts Newark Foundry, Bath, England.

*1855

William J. Silver and wife emigrate to the United States. He finds employment at the William M. Storm Novelty Iron Works in New York.

*1858

William J. Silver opens an engineering consulting office at St. John Street, New York City.

*1859

The Silver Family moves to Utah in an overland wagon train. William J. Silver begins patternmaking for the L.D.S. Church Machine Shop in the Sugarhouse Ward of Salt Lake City.

*1860

William J. Silver and John Forbes, also formerly employed by the L.D.S. Church Machine Shop, build a small slab shed and establish their own machine shop.

*1862

Dissolves the partnership with John Forbes. Rents a small machine shop in John Taylor's nail factory.

*1865

William J. Silver purchases his own city lot and builds a dugout house and a 12 foot by 12 foot board and batten shed. The Silver Machine Shop is established.

*1868

William J. Silver installs the public clock at the Salt Lake City Hall. He builds his first steam engine in September for Smith Brothers., who were building the State Road (now State Street / US-89). This is the first steam engine built in Utah. In November he builds a second steam engine for the steamship Kate Connor sailing the Great Salt Lake from Corinne, Utah.

*1869

Built a brass furnace and begins making brass castings to order. Six to eight men, depending on the work, are employed at the Silver Iron Works.

*1872

William J. Silver is hired as master mechanic of the Utah Northern Railroad (36" gauge). He is in charge of installing the machinery in the Utah Northern shops.

*1878

A new foundry and machine shop is built with an iron frame and brick walls. William J. Silver is manufacturing steam pumps for mines as well as operating steam equipment for the Salt Lake City Water Works, the Salt Lake Fire Department, John W. Young, and various railroads in the region. He also teaches classes in mine drawing and calculations and machinist drawing.

*1885

Due to federal anti-polygamy raids, William J. Silver takes the narrow gauge Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway to Denver, Colorado where he obtains employment at the F.M. Davis Machine Shop as a pattern maker. He deeds his own machine shop to his sons John and Joseph, who take over operations.

*1898

Silver Brothers Iron Works is formally incorporated with John Silver as president, Hyrum Silver as vice-president, and Joseph Silver as secretary.

''"Manufacturers," American Machinist 14 April 1898.''

*1900

Silver Brothers Iron Works expands with a new boiler shop and an addition to the foundry building.

''"Manufacturing," The Iron Age 25 January 1900.''

*1903

The company purchases land to build a new machine shop and foundry.

''"Industrial Notes," The Engineering and Mining Journal 21 February 1903.''

*1906

John Silver leaves Utah for Alberta, Canada and establishes his own iron works there. Joseph A. Silver and his son James W. Silver purchase the ownership shares of John and Hyrum.

Work begins on a new modern factory.

''"Industrials," The Engineering and Mining Journal 24 March 1906 p580.''

The financing for the new factory was unfortunately left to Beresford Hope, a con man who presented himself as a representative of the fictional British American Securities, Limited, offering to raise funds on commission for various Utah industries. In July 1906, taking his commission fees, he fled Utah for Boston. The amount needed and never procured by the Silver Brothers Iron Works was $150,000.

''"Swindle of Big Proportions," The Newark Daily Advocate 9 July 1906.''

Sturtevant Company generators are installed to supply the facility with electricity.

''"General Industrial Notes," The Iron Trade Review 13 December 1906.''

*1909

Silver Brothers Iron Works introduces the first mine car with self-oiling wheels.

''"Miscellaneous," The Iron Age 15 July 1909.''

*1911

Silver Brothers Iron Works establishes an iron industry catalog library.

''"Catalogues Wanted," The Iron Age 26 January 1911.''

*1912

$30,000 is spent on new machinery for the steel casting plant which uses Bessemer furnaces.

''"New Construction," The Iron Trade Review 18 April 1912 p875.''

Silver Brothers maintains the shay locomotives owned by the Copper Belt Railroad.

*1915

The Silver Brothers Iron Works is taken over by the Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company.

''"Western States," The Iron Trade Review 2 December 1915 p1105.''

*1916

James W. Silver leaves the Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company and moves to Ogden to found the Ogden Iron Works, using the patents and patterns still owned by his family. He continues to produce the Silver Brothers branded mining and railroad equipment.

'''Notable Individuals'''

*William J. Silver

Founder of the Silver Iron Works and father of John, Hyrum, and Joseph (Silver Brothers). Emigrated from England. His first invention was a capstan winch for shipyards, patented while he lived in London in 1852. Trained as a draftsman at the Stothert & Pitts Newark Foundry in Bath, England. Built the first point switch documented to have been used by United States railroads, installed on a street railroad in Salt Lake City.

*John A. Silver

President. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Left the family company to start his own foundry in Alberta, Canada.

*Hyrum A. Silver

Vice-president. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.

*Joseph A. Silver

Secretary, 1898-1906; president, after 1906. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Started his career as a machinist at the Ontario Mine in Park City, Utah, at age 16.

*James W. Silver

Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906. Founded the Ogden Iron Works.

==Products==

'''Rail equipment'''

*Silver Brothers Contractor's Dump Cars

*Coal dump cars in 36" and 42" gauge

*The Mudite Machine, a 36" gauge or larger underground locomotive powered with either batteries or overhead catenary with a mixing tank and sprayer for applying anti-dust slurry over the walls of mine rooms and tunnels.

'''Non-Rail Equipment'''

*Stationary and portable steam engines

*Steam operated water pumps

*Boilers

*Ornamental wrought and cast iron fencing

*Smelter furnaces

*Mine cages

*Mine incline cable tramway systems

*Ore buckets

*Conveyor belt rollers

*Flour mill rollers

*Sugarbeet cutters

*Sugarbeet pilers

*Gasoline engine steam rollers

*Steam Shovels

*Steam dredges

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-08T02:47:14Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Freight Cars by Builder]] > [[Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)]]

==Introduction==

The Silver Brothers Iron Works was a small foundry and machine shop in Salt Lake City that specialized in mining and agricultural equipment. While the majority of its railcars were for underground mine service, the company also produced narrow gauge rolling stock, including side dump cars, for construction contractors. In later years the company moved to Ogden, Utah and was renamed the Ogden Iron Works, producing the same product line but expanding into sugarbeet machinery, soon dominating the market for sugarbeet cutters and piling machines.

While unknown today, the Silver family was highly influential in the North American iron trade, operating or involved with iron works, foundries, and machine shops in New York, Denver, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Canada. Silver Brothers also was the original manufacturer of the Silver Permanent Railway Tie, a cast-steel and concrete-filled track tie intended to replace wood as the United States faced a timber crisis as commercially viable tree stands on public lands began to run out in the early 20th century.

[[image:SilverBrothersDumpCar_ThePacificMiner.jpg|center|400px|Thumb|upright=1.1|Advertisement for the Silver Brothers Iron Works contractors dump car]]

==History==

'''Timeline'''

*1853

William J. Silver is hired as a draftsman at the Stothert & Pitts Newark Foundry, Bath, England.

*1855

William J. Silver and wife emigrate to the United States. He finds employment at the William M. Storm Novelty Iron Works in New York.

*1858

William J. Silver opens an engineering consulting office at St. John Street, New York City.

*1859

The Silver Family moves to Utah in an overland wagon train. William J. Silver begins patternmaking for the L.D.S. Church Machine Shop in the Sugarhouse Ward of Salt Lake City.

*1860

William J. Silver and John Forbes, also formerly employed by the L.D.S. Church Machine Shop, build a small slab shed and establish their own machine shop.

*1862

Dissolves the partnership with John Forbes. Rents a small machine shop in John Taylor's nail factory.

*1865

William J. Silver purchases his own city lot and builds a dugout house and a 12 foot by 12 foot board and batten shed. The Silver Machine Shop is established.

*1868

William J. Silver installs the public clock at the Salt Lake City Hall. He builds his first steam engine in September for Smith Brothers., who were building the State Road (now State Street / US-89). This is the first steam engine built in Utah. In November he builds a second steam engine for the steamship Kate Connor sailing the Great Salt Lake from Corinne, Utah.

*1869

Built a brass furnace and begins making brass castings to order. Six to eight men, depending on the work, are employed at the Silver Iron Works.

*1872

William J. Silver is hired as master mechanic of the Utah Northern Railroad (36" gauge). He is in charge of installing the machinery in the Utah Northern shops.

*1878

A new foundry and machine shop is built with an iron frame and brick walls. William J. Silver is manufacturing steam pumps for mines as well as operating steam equipment for the Salt Lake City Water Works, the Salt Lake Fire Department, John W. Young, and various railroads in the region. He also teaches classes in mine drawing and calculations and machinist drawing.

*1885

Due to federal anti-polygamy raids, William J. Silver takes the narrow gauge Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway to Denver, Colorado where he obtains employment at the F.M. Davis Machine Shop as a pattern maker. He deeds his own machine shop to his sons John and Joseph, who take over operations.

*1898

Silver Brothers Iron Works is formally incorporated with John Silver as president, Hyrum Silver as vice-president, and Joseph Silver as secretary.

''"Manufacturers," American Machinist 14 April 1898.''

*1900

Silver Brothers Iron Works expands with a new boiler shop and an addition to the foundry building.

''"Manufacturing," The Iron Age 25 January 1900.''

*1903

The company purchases land to build a new machine shop and foundry.

''"Industrial Notes," The Engineering and Mining Journal 21 February 1903.''

*1906

John Silver leaves Utah for Alberta, Canada and establishes his own iron works there. Joseph A. Silver and his son James W. Silver purchase the ownership shares of John and Hyrum.

Work begins on a new modern factory.

''"Industrials," The Engineering and Mining Journal 24 March 1906 p580.''

The financing for the new factory was unfortunately left to Beresford Hope, a con man who presented himself as a representative of the fictional British American Securities, Limited, offering to raise funds on commission for various Utah industries. In July 1906, taking his commission fees, he fled Utah for Boston. The amount needed and never procured by the Silver Brothers Iron Works was $150,000.

''"Swindle of Big Proportions," The Newark Daily Advocate 9 July 1906.''

Sturtevant Company generators are installed to supply the facility with electricity.

''"General Industrial Notes," The Iron Trade Review 13 December 1906.''

*1909

Silver Brothers Iron Works introduces the first mine car with self-oiling wheels.

''"Miscellaneous," The Iron Age 15 July 1909.''

*1911

Silver Brothers Iron Works establishes an iron industry catalog library.

''"Catalogues Wanted," The Iron Age 26 January 1911.''

*1912

$30,000 is spent on new machinery for the steel casting plant.

''"New Construction," The Iron Trade Review 18 April 1912 p875.''

*1915

The Silver Brothers Iron Works is taken over by the Salt Lake Iron & Steel Company.

''"Western States," The Iron Trade Review 2 December 1915 p1105.''

'''Notable Individuals'''

*William J. Silver

Founder of the Silver Iron Works and father of John, Hyrum, and Joseph (Silver Brothers). Emigrated from England. His first invention was a capstan winch for shipyards, patented while he lived in London in 1852. Trained as a draftsman at the Stothert & Pitts Newark Foundry in Bath, England. Built the first point switch documented to have been used by United States railroads, installed on a street railroad in Salt Lake City.

*John A. Silver

President. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Left the family company to start his own foundry in Alberta, Canada.

*Hyrum A. Silver

Vice-president. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works.

*Joseph A. Silver

Secretary, 1898-1906; president, after 1906. One of the three brothers that made up Silver Brothers Iron Works. Started his career as a machinist at the Ontario Mine in Park City, Utah, at age 16.

*James W. Silver

Son of Joseph A. Silver, purchased the ownership shares of his uncles John and Hyrum in 1906.

==Products==

'''Rail equipment'''

*Silver Brothers Contractor's Dump Cars

*Coal dump cars in 36" and 42" gauge

*The Mudite Machine, a 36" gauge or larger underground locomotive powered with either batteries or overhead catenary with a mixing tank and sprayer for applying anti-dust slurry over the walls of mine rooms and tunnels.

'''Non-Rail Equipment'''

*Stationary and portable steam engines

*Steam operated water pumps

*Boilers

*Ornamental wrought and cast iron fencing

*Smelter furnaces

*Mine cages

*Mine incline cable tramway systems

*Ore buckets

*Conveyor belt rollers

*Flour mill rollers

*Sugarbeet cutters

*Sugarbeet pilers

*Gasoline engine steam rollers

*Steam Shovels

*Steam dredges

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-08T01:58:57Z

Josh Bernard: /* Products */

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-08T01:56:09Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T23:15:55Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T23:12:10Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T23:07:14Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T22:57:03Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T22:37:49Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T22:18:11Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T22:05:52Z

Josh Bernard:

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T21:47:06Z

Josh Bernard:

File:SilverBrothersDumpCar ThePacificMiner.jpg

2025-11-07T21:42:34Z

Josh Bernard: Narrow gauge side dump car produced by the Silver Brothers Iron Works of Salt Lake City.

== Summary ==
Narrow gauge side dump car produced by the Silver Brothers Iron Works of Salt Lake City.

Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)

2025-11-07T19:38:16Z

Josh Bernard: Created page

Freight Cars by Builder

2025-11-07T19:32:05Z

Josh Bernard:

Kilby Locomotive & Machine Works (Anniston Alabama)

Peacock Iron Works (Selma Alabama)

[[Salt Lake Foundry & Machine Shop]]

[[Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works)]]

[[York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)]]

Freight Cars by Builder

2025-11-07T19:31:50Z

Josh Bernard: Added Silver Bros Iron Works

Kilby Locomotive & Machine Works (Anniston Alabama)

Peacock Iron Works (Selma Alabama)

[[Salt Lake Foundry & Machine Shop]]

[[Silver Brothers Iron Works (Ogden Iron Works]]

[[York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)]]

Locomotive Front End Paints

2025-03-07T22:52:26Z

Josh Bernard: /* Red Paint on Locomotive Front Ends */

[[Historic_Paint|Historic Paint Index]] / Locomotive Front End Paints

==Introduction==

The locomotive crew was responsible for the maintenance of the locomotive, particularly the front end, as it was simultaneously the most visible part of the machine and the quickest to become dirty. Many railroads included clauses in their labor agreements outlining the duties of engine crews in this regard; for example, article 8 of the 1891 agreement between the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman reads "The company will furnish a man to clean all flues, fire and ash pans at terminal points, but firemen will keep their front ends and stacks well painted, and their engines in good order." In the period that engineers were assigned to specific locomotives, a good amount of liberty was permitted in carrying out this task. The smokebox region of the locomotive is difficult to research for this reason, as it rarely followed the company's standardized paint instructions, and often must be researched on a case-by-case basis.

Using the Denver & Rio Grande as an example, a number of smokebox paint variations appear in photographs. D&RG 87 and 100 (narrow gauge 4-4-0s) both had dark smokeboxes with bright smokebox doors. D&RG 170 (narrow gauge 4-6-0) had a large star painted across the smokebox front. Other locomotives' smokeboxes were a solid color, but varied between very dark gloss and a lighter graphite appearance.

Arthur "Art" Campbell, an engineer in Utah on the Rio Grande Western and the D&RG, carried a can of plumbago paint in the toolbox of D&RG 768 (standard gauge 4-6-0) which he used on the smokebox and stack every time that he made an on-time arrival at terminal stations. His fireman Gilbert Gould described its appearance between 1908-1916 as silver which "would shine fit to knock your eye out."

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

While many commercial options were available for locomotive front ends, many railroad shops mixed their own paint. In 1932 ''Railway Age'' recommended that railroads salvage journal oil from hotboxed axle bearings for mixing front end paints.

''Bon, I.C. "Scrap Handling and Reclamation," Railway Age 25 June 1932.''

==Manufacturers of Locomotive Front End Paint==

*Charles R. Long Jr. Co. (Staybrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint): Louisville, KY.

*Frazer Specialty Co. (Frazer Locomotive Joint and Boiler Front Cement): Detroit MI.

*Frost Paint & Oil Company (Kapak): Minneapolis MN. Described as "jet black and glossy."

*National Paint Works (Cheeseman & Elliot): Factories at Williamsport PA and Brooklyn, New York

*Pittsburgh Plate

*Sherwin-Williams

==Plumbago Paint==

Plumbago is an archaic name for graphite or black lead; plumbago paints were manufactured using graphite as a base. It was available in many shades ranging from black to a bright pewter, and pigmented to produce tuscan and olive green. It was introduced around 1870, the earliest mention available being an 1870 catalog from the Plumbago Paint Company; the ''Paint, Oil & Drug Review'' described it as follows in 1897:

<blockquote>Graphite is nothing more or less than plumbago or black lead; it is the metal from which pencils and stove polish is made. There are many different grades, and those suitable for pencils and stove polish may not serve the purpose of the paint maker.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Graphite paint is distinctively an American product. It was the American habit of 'nosing around after something new' that turned this metal in the direction of the paint factory, and it was American chemical skill and constructive genius that devised processes and built machinery by which the metal could be converted into a finished article and placed on the market. It has been producted in this country for about twenty years, and increased quantities are consumed as the years speed by, and of late a considerable amount of the paint has been exported, mainly into England. The paint differs from the general line of paints in that is not intended for any and every purpose, the contention being that it has no equal for application to iron and tin exposed to the weather. There is now little or no doubt as to its being a practical paint from every point of view within the scope of its legitimate field; the stages of trial and experiment have been passed. The chief drawback to its wider use is found in its higher cost, which, if experts may be believed, is more than made up by its longevity as a decorator and preservative.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Aside from durability, the cardinal point in favor of graphite paint, it is urged that it covers more surface than ordinary paint, and that it is easier to apply. Its covering power is explained by the statement that graphite is about one-third the weight of white lead, and one-half that of mineral paint. It is estimated that one gallon of graphite paint ready for the brush will cover 700 square feet of surface, one coat, and this is said to be a low estimate. One objection to this paint for roof work is its slippery nature, making it unsafe for persons to walk on flat roofs painted with it. There may be others, but they are unknown to the writer.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Prof. J. Spenrath, Director of the Industrial School at Aixla-Chapelle, France, has made a large number of experiment on the subject of protective paints, and gives it as his opinion that graphite, of all pigments, is the least affected by chemical influences, and is therefore apparently the most suitable for the fullest protection of all iron and other metal surfaces liable to rust.</blockquote>

''"Graphite, or Plumbago, as a Paint Material," Paint, Oil and Drug Review vol.24 no.3 21 July 1897.''

==Staybrite Front End Paint==

Staybrite or Stabrite Front End Paint was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky, by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company, part of Charles Long Jr.'s conglomerate of railroad supply companies. Charles R. Long Jr. Co. also produced Lo-Kost Front End Paint, locomotive black varnish, and the Lovico brand of railroad equipment paints.

Charles R. Long Jr. was a native of Louisville, beginning his career as secretary and treasurer of the Stratler Brothers Tobacco Company from 1890 to 1896. He left the Stratler Bros. to establish his own paint manufacturing company in 1896 and co-founded railroad supply manufacturer Harry Vissering & Company in 1909.

''"Charels R. Long, Jr. Buys Interests of Harry Vissering," Railway Mechanical Engineer May 1925.''

Stabrite Front End Paint was first advertised in 1901. In 1905 application for trademark status was made. In 1918 the Ira D. Washburn Company also filed for a Stabrite trademark, and the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences determined that neither company was entitled to exclusive use of the names Stabrite nor Lo-Kost as "a monopoly cannot be acquired in the use of words which are merely descriptive of the character, properties, qualities or composition of an article." The ruling was that the trademark granted to the Charles R. Long Jr. Company was not the name itself, but the design of the company's herald which incorporated the name as an element. In 1919 the Howard L. Fisher Company also attempted to apply for a Stabrite trademark and being denied sued the Charles R. Long Jr. Co and lost. Appeals to the patent office decision carried through 1922 with every court upholding the Commissioner of Patents' decision. This ended the use of the Stabrite/Staybrite and Lo-Kost names. Both Stabrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint are last mentioned by name in the trade press in 1925. As Stabrite could no longer be registered, after abandonment by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company the name was used by various non-railroad companies to represent a brand of paint preserver, a furniture wax, a gun grease, fluorescent lighting, and stainless steel sheeting.

''"Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents," The Trade-Mark Reporter July 1918.''

''"In Re: The Application of Chas. R. Long, Jr., Co." The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1922.''

''"Postum Cereal Co., Inc. v. California Fig Nut Co. (142 Ms. Dee. 420)", The Trade-Mark Reporter October 1923.''

''"No-D-Ka Dentirrice Co. v. S. S. Kresce Co.," The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1928.''

Charles died in Battle Creek, Michigan, on 12 August 1932. The Charles R. Long, Jr., Company shifted its focus to railroad enamels and supplied the Pullman Company with paint for its passenger car products. It was purchased by the American-Marietta Company in 1947, joining the Marietta Paint & Color Co., Sewall Paint & Varnish Co., Ottowa Paint Works, and Schorn Paint Mfg. Co. as A-M subsidiaries.

Earl Knoob's description of original Staybrite paint from the Denver & Rio Grande Western, discovered during his tenure with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:

<blockquote>"Aluminum paint was used on the smokeboxes until the late 1980's when I started mixing up 'graphite colored' paint using high temp flat black and the same high temp aluminum to get a metallic gray. My thought is that it looks good, was historic in appearance and it weathered much more gracefully than basic aluminum. The first time engine coughed up a wad of sooty water, it trashed the paint job. In doing my research for the color, I found the D&RGW paint spec which showed the smokeboxes painted 'Staybrite front end polish.' Well, looking through the paint car one day I found a 10 gallon bucket labeled "Staybrite Front End Paint".

"Wow! It was basic metallic medium gray. That's what I based it on."
</blockquote>

==Red Paint on Locomotive Front Ends==

Crimson red paint was a non-standard practice among railroad crews in decorating their locomotives that emerged in the 1880s and, with few exceptions, was quickly banned by railroad companies due to the confusion red paint could cause in the railroad sphere. Based on contemporary descriptions, the red stack fad originated on New England railroads but spread briefly to a few railroads in the Rocky Mountains before being officially banned. The red paint was usually applied around the top cap of the stack. As a matter of personalization, the knowledge of the existence of red stacks usually comes from eyewitness accounts or general orders banning its use rather than official railroad documentation.

*[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]] locomotives had red stack caps.

''"Spikes and Ties," The Rocky Mountain News 31 March 1880.''

*Housatonic Railroad turned out three locomotives with red stacks in 1881.

“The H. R. R. Co’s. big engine, ‘A B Mygatt’ ‘looks ever so much better’ since it came out of the shop with the red stack.”

''Connecticut Western News 9 February 1881.''

“Two new heavy passenger locomotives, with the red straight stack, are to be put on the Housatonic R. R. about May 1st.”

''Connecticut Western News 20 April 1881.''

* Maine Central ordered new locomotives with red stacks and paper wheels in 1884.

''Sun-Journal 2 April 1884.''

*The Chicago Great Western used red on their locomotive stacks so prolifically in the late 1880s that the company became known as the "Red Smokestack Road."

"Back in the latter part of the 80s the president of the Chicago Great Western put his color fancies into operation and all the engine smokestacks were painted red."

''Topeka State Journal 21 December 1909.''

*New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad banned red paint on stacks in 1886, and those locomotives that did receive red were repainted over 1887.

"It is reported that the New York, New Haven & Hartford road will do away with the familiar bright red smoke stacks upon its locomotives. The reason given is that the engineers are taught, as one of the rudimentary principles in their dangerous calling, that red always indicates danger, and that with red stacks a common sight, they in time become indifferent to the warning given by this color."

''The Boston Globe 3 December 1886 p3.''

"The red paint on the engine, particularly that on the smoke-stack, was confusing to the engineers. It is now thought to be desirable that whenever an engineer sees anything red in front of him he should bring his train to a stop as soon as possible. Yet it would be silly for him to stop because another engine was passing innocently on another track. And fault cannot now always be found if the engineer on a close call in a dim light mistook a red danger signal for the red stack of a locomotive and thus cased a serious disaster. If the red smoke stacks are done away with these mistakes cannot occur."

''"Red Stacks Must Go," The Journal (Meridan, Connecticut) 29 November 1886.''

“Of the 180 locomotives of the Consolidated road (New York, New Haven & Hartford RR) only about fifty of them retain the red smoke stack."

''The Journal 20 July 1887.''

*[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific's]] General Master Mechanic Middleton forbade the use of red on locomotive stacks in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 23 January 1891.''

*Some [[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago, Burlington & Quincy]] locomotives operating in Denver Colorado had red stacks, including the entire barrel rather than just the cap, in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 30 January 1891.''

*Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway 30 received a red stack and drivers in October 1886. [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information|Rio Grande Western Railway]] 35 and 51 both received red stacks in January 1891. In 1894 however, newly-appointed Director of Motive Power Lamplugh of the RGW issued a general order forbidding the use of red paint on stacks and numberplates saying that "too frequent use of the color impairs its value as a signal."

''Salt Lake Tribune 26 September 1894.''

==Standard Practice Front End Paints==

'''Union Pacific'''

*1887: No.29 ivory drop black is used on the smokebox and No. 30 "Asphaltum" is used on locomotive stacks.

*1890: Specification NO. 768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders instructs that the stack is primed with a paint mixed from 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77, 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint standard color No.95, 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp Black standard color No.65 thinned with priming oil. No instruction is provided for painting the smokebox or the final coat for the stack.

'''Canadian Pacific'''

*1896: The smokebox and firebox inside the cab are painted while hot with one coat of linseed oil mixed with a small amount of lampblack.

<blockquote>"The smokebox, or extension front, and the face plate inside the cab, we give one coat of linseed oil with a little lampblack in it. This is not done until the engine is in steam and those parts are heated. It makes a thin coating and does not scale or blister. The drivers like it, and they rub it over every little while with an oil waste and get a sort of polish on it." - Thomas Jones, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Jones' Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p247.''

'''Denver & Rio Grande Western'''

*1926: Stay-brite paint is used on the front ends. Reiterated in ''D&RGW Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders'' dated 1 November 1937.

''Letter to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado, 23 January 1926''

'''M.L.P.B.&M.R.R.'''

*1896: Smokeboxes are painted with one gallon of engine black finish mixed with two gallons linseed oil.

<blockquote>This, which at first would seem to be more expensive, is, in fact, cheaper than the ordinary stack black, wears better, gives better satisfaction, and is less liable to crack or peel." -Albert P. Dane</blockquote>

''Mr. Dane's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p250.''

'''Northern Pacific'''

*1896: Smokeboxes, doors, and stacks are painted with graphite paint mixed with linseed oil. This was then finished with a mix of lamp black and linseed oil rubbed with a sponge or rag.

<blockquote>"For the extension front, which I take to mean the smoke arch and door, and the stack in many instances included, I have found a good article which could be used after the metal had been well cleaned from rust, scale and grease, was to apply a well rubbed out coat (that is a thin coat) of graphite paint, mixed with raw linseed oil, not thin when mixed, but mixed to a fair consistency and then applied thin by brushing out, this of course may not make a perfect black finish, but the black finish can be produced later after the front has been heated or the graphite paint has become dry by the occasional application of a little lamp black and linseed oil rubbed over with waste or a sponge, and then well wiped off will in time produce an excellent appearing front." - A.J. Bishop, Master Painter, Como Shops, Northern Pacific Road, St. Paul.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Bishop's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p249.''

Locomotive Front End Paints

2025-03-07T22:45:31Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Historic_Paint|Historic Paint Index]] / Locomotive Front End Paints

==Introduction==

The locomotive crew was responsible for the maintenance of the locomotive, particularly the front end, as it was simultaneously the most visible part of the machine and the quickest to become dirty. Many railroads included clauses in their labor agreements outlining the duties of engine crews in this regard; for example, article 8 of the 1891 agreement between the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman reads "The company will furnish a man to clean all flues, fire and ash pans at terminal points, but firemen will keep their front ends and stacks well painted, and their engines in good order." In the period that engineers were assigned to specific locomotives, a good amount of liberty was permitted in carrying out this task. The smokebox region of the locomotive is difficult to research for this reason, as it rarely followed the company's standardized paint instructions, and often must be researched on a case-by-case basis.

Using the Denver & Rio Grande as an example, a number of smokebox paint variations appear in photographs. D&RG 87 and 100 (narrow gauge 4-4-0s) both had dark smokeboxes with bright smokebox doors. D&RG 170 (narrow gauge 4-6-0) had a large star painted across the smokebox front. Other locomotives' smokeboxes were a solid color, but varied between very dark gloss and a lighter graphite appearance.

Arthur "Art" Campbell, an engineer in Utah on the Rio Grande Western and the D&RG, carried a can of plumbago paint in the toolbox of D&RG 768 (standard gauge 4-6-0) which he used on the smokebox and stack every time that he made an on-time arrival at terminal stations. His fireman Gilbert Gould described its appearance between 1908-1916 as silver which "would shine fit to knock your eye out."

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

While many commercial options were available for locomotive front ends, many railroad shops mixed their own paint. In 1932 ''Railway Age'' recommended that railroads salvage journal oil from hotboxed axle bearings for mixing front end paints.

''Bon, I.C. "Scrap Handling and Reclamation," Railway Age 25 June 1932.''

==Manufacturers of Locomotive Front End Paint==

*Charles R. Long Jr. Co. (Staybrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint): Louisville, KY.

*Frazer Specialty Co. (Frazer Locomotive Joint and Boiler Front Cement): Detroit MI.

*Frost Paint & Oil Company (Kapak): Minneapolis MN. Described as "jet black and glossy."

*National Paint Works (Cheeseman & Elliot): Factories at Williamsport PA and Brooklyn, New York

*Pittsburgh Plate

*Sherwin-Williams

==Plumbago Paint==

Plumbago is an archaic name for graphite or black lead; plumbago paints were manufactured using graphite as a base. It was available in many shades ranging from black to a bright pewter, and pigmented to produce tuscan and olive green. It was introduced around 1870, the earliest mention available being an 1870 catalog from the Plumbago Paint Company; the ''Paint, Oil & Drug Review'' described it as follows in 1897:

<blockquote>Graphite is nothing more or less than plumbago or black lead; it is the metal from which pencils and stove polish is made. There are many different grades, and those suitable for pencils and stove polish may not serve the purpose of the paint maker.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Graphite paint is distinctively an American product. It was the American habit of 'nosing around after something new' that turned this metal in the direction of the paint factory, and it was American chemical skill and constructive genius that devised processes and built machinery by which the metal could be converted into a finished article and placed on the market. It has been producted in this country for about twenty years, and increased quantities are consumed as the years speed by, and of late a considerable amount of the paint has been exported, mainly into England. The paint differs from the general line of paints in that is not intended for any and every purpose, the contention being that it has no equal for application to iron and tin exposed to the weather. There is now little or no doubt as to its being a practical paint from every point of view within the scope of its legitimate field; the stages of trial and experiment have been passed. The chief drawback to its wider use is found in its higher cost, which, if experts may be believed, is more than made up by its longevity as a decorator and preservative.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Aside from durability, the cardinal point in favor of graphite paint, it is urged that it covers more surface than ordinary paint, and that it is easier to apply. Its covering power is explained by the statement that graphite is about one-third the weight of white lead, and one-half that of mineral paint. It is estimated that one gallon of graphite paint ready for the brush will cover 700 square feet of surface, one coat, and this is said to be a low estimate. One objection to this paint for roof work is its slippery nature, making it unsafe for persons to walk on flat roofs painted with it. There may be others, but they are unknown to the writer.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Prof. J. Spenrath, Director of the Industrial School at Aixla-Chapelle, France, has made a large number of experiment on the subject of protective paints, and gives it as his opinion that graphite, of all pigments, is the least affected by chemical influences, and is therefore apparently the most suitable for the fullest protection of all iron and other metal surfaces liable to rust.</blockquote>

''"Graphite, or Plumbago, as a Paint Material," Paint, Oil and Drug Review vol.24 no.3 21 July 1897.''

==Staybrite Front End Paint==

Staybrite or Stabrite Front End Paint was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky, by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company, part of Charles Long Jr.'s conglomerate of railroad supply companies. Charles R. Long Jr. Co. also produced Lo-Kost Front End Paint, locomotive black varnish, and the Lovico brand of railroad equipment paints.

Charles R. Long Jr. was a native of Louisville, beginning his career as secretary and treasurer of the Stratler Brothers Tobacco Company from 1890 to 1896. He left the Stratler Bros. to establish his own paint manufacturing company in 1896 and co-founded railroad supply manufacturer Harry Vissering & Company in 1909.

''"Charels R. Long, Jr. Buys Interests of Harry Vissering," Railway Mechanical Engineer May 1925.''

Stabrite Front End Paint was first advertised in 1901. In 1905 application for trademark status was made. In 1918 the Ira D. Washburn Company also filed for a Stabrite trademark, and the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences determined that neither company was entitled to exclusive use of the names Stabrite nor Lo-Kost as "a monopoly cannot be acquired in the use of words which are merely descriptive of the character, properties, qualities or composition of an article." The ruling was that the trademark granted to the Charles R. Long Jr. Company was not the name itself, but the design of the company's herald which incorporated the name as an element. In 1919 the Howard L. Fisher Company also attempted to apply for a Stabrite trademark and being denied sued the Charles R. Long Jr. Co and lost. Appeals to the patent office decision carried through 1922 with every court upholding the Commissioner of Patents' decision. This ended the use of the Stabrite/Staybrite and Lo-Kost names. Both Stabrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint are last mentioned by name in the trade press in 1925. As Stabrite could no longer be registered, after abandonment by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company the name was used by various non-railroad companies to represent a brand of paint preserver, a furniture wax, a gun grease, fluorescent lighting, and stainless steel sheeting.

''"Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents," The Trade-Mark Reporter July 1918.''

''"In Re: The Application of Chas. R. Long, Jr., Co." The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1922.''

''"Postum Cereal Co., Inc. v. California Fig Nut Co. (142 Ms. Dee. 420)", The Trade-Mark Reporter October 1923.''

''"No-D-Ka Dentirrice Co. v. S. S. Kresce Co.," The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1928.''

Charles died in Battle Creek, Michigan, on 12 August 1932. The Charles R. Long, Jr., Company shifted its focus to railroad enamels and supplied the Pullman Company with paint for its passenger car products. It was purchased by the American-Marietta Company in 1947, joining the Marietta Paint & Color Co., Sewall Paint & Varnish Co., Ottowa Paint Works, and Schorn Paint Mfg. Co. as A-M subsidiaries.

Earl Knoob's description of original Staybrite paint from the Denver & Rio Grande Western, discovered during his tenure with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:

<blockquote>"Aluminum paint was used on the smokeboxes until the late 1980's when I started mixing up 'graphite colored' paint using high temp flat black and the same high temp aluminum to get a metallic gray. My thought is that it looks good, was historic in appearance and it weathered much more gracefully than basic aluminum. The first time engine coughed up a wad of sooty water, it trashed the paint job. In doing my research for the color, I found the D&RGW paint spec which showed the smokeboxes painted 'Staybrite front end polish.' Well, looking through the paint car one day I found a 10 gallon bucket labeled "Staybrite Front End Paint".

"Wow! It was basic metallic medium gray. That's what I based it on."
</blockquote>

==Red Paint on Locomotive Front Ends==

Crimson red paint was a non-standard practice among railroad crews in decorating their locomotives that emerged in the 1880s and, with few exceptions, was quickly banned by railroad companies due to the confusion red paint could cause in the railroad sphere. Based on contemporary descriptions, red stacks originated on New England railroads but spread briefly to a few railroads in the Rocky Mountains. It was usually applied around the top cap of the stack. As a matter of personalization, the knowledge of the existence of red stacks usually comes from eyewitness accounts or general orders banning its use rather than official railroad documentation.

*[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]] locomotives had red stack caps.

''"Spikes and Ties," The Rocky Mountain News 31 March 1880.''

*Housatonic Railroad turned out three locomotives with red stacks in 1881.

“The H. R. R. Co’s. big engine, ‘A B Mygatt’ ‘looks ever so much better’ since it came out of the shop with the red stack.”

''Connecticut Western News 9 February 1881.''

“Two new heavy passenger locomotives, with the red straight stack, are to be put on the Housatonic R. R. about May 1st.”

''Connecticut Western News 20 April 1881.''

*The Chicago Great Western used red on their locomotive stacks so prolifically in the 1880s that the company became known as the "Red Smokestack Road."

"Back in the latter part of the 80s the president of the Chicago Great Western put his color fancies into operation and all the engine smokestacks were painted red."

''Topeka State Journal 21 December 1909.''

*New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad banned red paint on stacks in 1886.

"It is reported that the New York, New Haven & Hartford road wil do away with the familiar bright red smoke stacks upon its locomotives. The reason given is that the engineers are taught, as one of the rudimentary principles in their dangerous calling, that red always indicates danger, and that with red stacks a common sight, they in time become indifferent to the warning given by this color."

''The Boston Globe 3 December 1886 p3.''

*The Consolidated Road banned red paint on stacks in 1886.

"The red paint on the engine, particularly that on the smoke-stack, was confusing to the engineers. It is now thought to be desirable that whenever an engineer sees anything red in front of him he should bring his train to a stop as soon as possible. Yet it would be silly for him to stop because another engine was passing innocently on another track. And fault cannot now always be found if the engineer on a close call in a dim light mistook a red danger signal for the red stack of a locomotive and thus cased a serious disaster. If the red smoke stacks are done away with these mistakes cannot occur."

''"Red Stacks Must Go," The Journal (Meridan, Connecticut) 29 November 1886.''

*[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific's]] General Master Mechanic Middleton forbade the use of red on locomotive stacks in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 23 January 1891.''

*Some [[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago, Burlington & Quincy]] locomotives operating in Denver Colorado had red stacks, including the entire barrel rather than just the cap, in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 30 January 1891.''

*Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway 30 received a red stack and drivers in October 1886. [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information|Rio Grande Western Railway]] 35 and 51 both received red stacks in January 1891. In 1894 however, newly-appointed Director of Motive Power Lamplugh of the RGW issued a general order forbidding the use of red paint on stacks and numberplates saying that "too frequent use of the color impairs its value as a signal."

''Salt Lake Tribune 26 September 1894.''

==Standard Practice Front End Paints==

'''Union Pacific'''

*1887: No.29 ivory drop black is used on the smokebox and No. 30 "Asphaltum" is used on locomotive stacks.

*1890: Specification NO. 768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders instructs that the stack is primed with a paint mixed from 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77, 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint standard color No.95, 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp Black standard color No.65 thinned with priming oil. No instruction is provided for painting the smokebox or the final coat for the stack.

'''Canadian Pacific'''

*1896: The smokebox and firebox inside the cab are painted while hot with one coat of linseed oil mixed with a small amount of lampblack.

<blockquote>"The smokebox, or extension front, and the face plate inside the cab, we give one coat of linseed oil with a little lampblack in it. This is not done until the engine is in steam and those parts are heated. It makes a thin coating and does not scale or blister. The drivers like it, and they rub it over every little while with an oil waste and get a sort of polish on it." - Thomas Jones, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Jones' Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p247.''

'''Denver & Rio Grande Western'''

*1926: Stay-brite paint is used on the front ends. Reiterated in ''D&RGW Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders'' dated 1 November 1937.

''Letter to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado, 23 January 1926''

'''M.L.P.B.&M.R.R.'''

*1896: Smokeboxes are painted with one gallon of engine black finish mixed with two gallons linseed oil.

<blockquote>This, which at first would seem to be more expensive, is, in fact, cheaper than the ordinary stack black, wears better, gives better satisfaction, and is less liable to crack or peel." -Albert P. Dane</blockquote>

''Mr. Dane's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p250.''

'''Northern Pacific'''

*1896: Smokeboxes, doors, and stacks are painted with graphite paint mixed with linseed oil. This was then finished with a mix of lamp black and linseed oil rubbed with a sponge or rag.

<blockquote>"For the extension front, which I take to mean the smoke arch and door, and the stack in many instances included, I have found a good article which could be used after the metal had been well cleaned from rust, scale and grease, was to apply a well rubbed out coat (that is a thin coat) of graphite paint, mixed with raw linseed oil, not thin when mixed, but mixed to a fair consistency and then applied thin by brushing out, this of course may not make a perfect black finish, but the black finish can be produced later after the front has been heated or the graphite paint has become dry by the occasional application of a little lamp black and linseed oil rubbed over with waste or a sponge, and then well wiped off will in time produce an excellent appearing front." - A.J. Bishop, Master Painter, Como Shops, Northern Pacific Road, St. Paul.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Bishop's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p249.''

Locomotive Front End Paints

2025-03-07T22:36:30Z

Josh Bernard: Added further references to red stacks.

[[Historic_Paint|Historic Paint Index]] / Locomotive Front End Paints

==Introduction==

The locomotive crew was responsible for the maintenance of the locomotive, particularly the front end, as it was simultaneously the most visible part of the machine and the quickest to become dirty. Many railroads included clauses in their labor agreements outlining the duties of engine crews in this regard; for example, article 8 of the 1891 agreement between the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman reads "The company will furnish a man to clean all flues, fire and ash pans at terminal points, but firemen will keep their front ends and stacks well painted, and their engines in good order." In the period that engineers were assigned to specific locomotives, a good amount of liberty was permitted in carrying out this task. The smokebox region of the locomotive is difficult to research for this reason, as it rarely followed the company's standardized paint instructions, and often must be researched on a case-by-case basis.

Using the Denver & Rio Grande as an example, a number of smokebox paint variations appear in photographs. D&RG 87 and 100 (narrow gauge 4-4-0s) both had dark smokeboxes with bright smokebox doors. D&RG 170 (narrow gauge 4-6-0) had a large star painted across the smokebox front. Other locomotives' smokeboxes were a solid color, but varied between very dark gloss and a lighter graphite appearance.

Arthur "Art" Campbell, an engineer in Utah on the Rio Grande Western and the D&RG, carried a can of plumbago paint in the toolbox of D&RG 768 (standard gauge 4-6-0) which he used on the smokebox and stack every time that he made an on-time arrival at terminal stations. His fireman Gilbert Gould described its appearance between 1908-1916 as silver which "would shine fit to knock your eye out."

''Gould, William John Gilbert. "My Life on the Mountain Railroads." Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1995.''

While many commercial options were available for locomotive front ends, many railroad shops mixed their own paint. In 1932 ''Railway Age'' recommended that railroads salvage journal oil from hotboxed axle bearings for mixing front end paints.

''Bon, I.C. "Scrap Handling and Reclamation," Railway Age 25 June 1932.''

==Manufacturers of Locomotive Front End Paint==

*Charles R. Long Jr. Co. (Staybrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint): Louisville, KY.

*Frazer Specialty Co. (Frazer Locomotive Joint and Boiler Front Cement): Detroit MI.

*Frost Paint & Oil Company (Kapak): Minneapolis MN. Described as "jet black and glossy."

*National Paint Works (Cheeseman & Elliot): Factories at Williamsport PA and Brooklyn, New York

*Pittsburgh Plate

*Sherwin-Williams

==Plumbago Paint==

Plumbago is an archaic name for graphite or black lead; plumbago paints were manufactured using graphite as a base. It was available in many shades ranging from black to a bright pewter, and pigmented to produce tuscan and olive green. It was introduced around 1870, the earliest mention available being an 1870 catalog from the Plumbago Paint Company; the ''Paint, Oil & Drug Review'' described it as follows in 1897:

<blockquote>Graphite is nothing more or less than plumbago or black lead; it is the metal from which pencils and stove polish is made. There are many different grades, and those suitable for pencils and stove polish may not serve the purpose of the paint maker.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Graphite paint is distinctively an American product. It was the American habit of 'nosing around after something new' that turned this metal in the direction of the paint factory, and it was American chemical skill and constructive genius that devised processes and built machinery by which the metal could be converted into a finished article and placed on the market. It has been producted in this country for about twenty years, and increased quantities are consumed as the years speed by, and of late a considerable amount of the paint has been exported, mainly into England. The paint differs from the general line of paints in that is not intended for any and every purpose, the contention being that it has no equal for application to iron and tin exposed to the weather. There is now little or no doubt as to its being a practical paint from every point of view within the scope of its legitimate field; the stages of trial and experiment have been passed. The chief drawback to its wider use is found in its higher cost, which, if experts may be believed, is more than made up by its longevity as a decorator and preservative.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Aside from durability, the cardinal point in favor of graphite paint, it is urged that it covers more surface than ordinary paint, and that it is easier to apply. Its covering power is explained by the statement that graphite is about one-third the weight of white lead, and one-half that of mineral paint. It is estimated that one gallon of graphite paint ready for the brush will cover 700 square feet of surface, one coat, and this is said to be a low estimate. One objection to this paint for roof work is its slippery nature, making it unsafe for persons to walk on flat roofs painted with it. There may be others, but they are unknown to the writer.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Prof. J. Spenrath, Director of the Industrial School at Aixla-Chapelle, France, has made a large number of experiment on the subject of protective paints, and gives it as his opinion that graphite, of all pigments, is the least affected by chemical influences, and is therefore apparently the most suitable for the fullest protection of all iron and other metal surfaces liable to rust.</blockquote>

''"Graphite, or Plumbago, as a Paint Material," Paint, Oil and Drug Review vol.24 no.3 21 July 1897.''

==Staybrite Front End Paint==

Staybrite or Stabrite Front End Paint was manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky, by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company, part of Charles Long Jr.'s conglomerate of railroad supply companies. Charles R. Long Jr. Co. also produced Lo-Kost Front End Paint, locomotive black varnish, and the Lovico brand of railroad equipment paints.

Charles R. Long Jr. was a native of Louisville, beginning his career as secretary and treasurer of the Stratler Brothers Tobacco Company from 1890 to 1896. He left the Stratler Bros. to establish his own paint manufacturing company in 1896 and co-founded railroad supply manufacturer Harry Vissering & Company in 1909.

''"Charels R. Long, Jr. Buys Interests of Harry Vissering," Railway Mechanical Engineer May 1925.''

Stabrite Front End Paint was first advertised in 1901. In 1905 application for trademark status was made. In 1918 the Ira D. Washburn Company also filed for a Stabrite trademark, and the Examiner of Trade-Mark Interferences determined that neither company was entitled to exclusive use of the names Stabrite nor Lo-Kost as "a monopoly cannot be acquired in the use of words which are merely descriptive of the character, properties, qualities or composition of an article." The ruling was that the trademark granted to the Charles R. Long Jr. Company was not the name itself, but the design of the company's herald which incorporated the name as an element. In 1919 the Howard L. Fisher Company also attempted to apply for a Stabrite trademark and being denied sued the Charles R. Long Jr. Co and lost. Appeals to the patent office decision carried through 1922 with every court upholding the Commissioner of Patents' decision. This ended the use of the Stabrite/Staybrite and Lo-Kost names. Both Stabrite Front End Paint and Lo-Kost Front End Paint are last mentioned by name in the trade press in 1925. As Stabrite could no longer be registered, after abandonment by the Charles R. Long Jr. Company the name was used by various non-railroad companies to represent a brand of paint preserver, a furniture wax, a gun grease, fluorescent lighting, and stainless steel sheeting.

''"Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents," The Trade-Mark Reporter July 1918.''

''"In Re: The Application of Chas. R. Long, Jr., Co." The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1922.''

''"Postum Cereal Co., Inc. v. California Fig Nut Co. (142 Ms. Dee. 420)", The Trade-Mark Reporter October 1923.''

''"No-D-Ka Dentirrice Co. v. S. S. Kresce Co.," The Trade-Mark Reporter May 1928.''

Charles died in Battle Creek, Michigan, on 12 August 1932. The Charles R. Long, Jr., Company shifted its focus to railroad enamels and supplied the Pullman Company with paint for its passenger car products. It was purchased by the American-Marietta Company in 1947, joining the Marietta Paint & Color Co., Sewall Paint & Varnish Co., Ottowa Paint Works, and Schorn Paint Mfg. Co. as A-M subsidiaries.

Earl Knoob's description of original Staybrite paint from the Denver & Rio Grande Western, discovered during his tenure with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad:

<blockquote>"Aluminum paint was used on the smokeboxes until the late 1980's when I started mixing up 'graphite colored' paint using high temp flat black and the same high temp aluminum to get a metallic gray. My thought is that it looks good, was historic in appearance and it weathered much more gracefully than basic aluminum. The first time engine coughed up a wad of sooty water, it trashed the paint job. In doing my research for the color, I found the D&RGW paint spec which showed the smokeboxes painted 'Staybrite front end polish.' Well, looking through the paint car one day I found a 10 gallon bucket labeled "Staybrite Front End Paint".

"Wow! It was basic metallic medium gray. That's what I based it on."
</blockquote>

==Red Paint on Locomotive Front Ends==

Crimson red paint was a non-standard practice among railroad crews in decorating their locomotives that emerged in the 1880s and, with few exceptions, was quickly banned by railroad companies due to the confusion red paint could cause in the railroad sphere. It was usually applied around the top cap of the stack. As a matter of personalization, the knowledge of the existence of red stacks usually comes from eyewitness accounts or general orders banning its use rather than official railroad documentation.

*[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]] locomotives had red stack caps.

''"Spikes and Ties," The Rocky Mountain News 31 March 1880.''

*The Chicago Great Western used red on their locomotive stacks so prolifically in the 1880s that the company became known as the "Red Smokestack Road."

*New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad banned red paint on stacks in 1886.

"It is reported that the New York, New Haven & Hartford road wil do away with the familiar bright red smoke stacks upon its locomotives. The reason given is that the engineers are taught, as one of the rudimentary principles in their dangerous calling, that red always indicates danger, and that with red stacks a common sight, they in time become indifferent to the warning given by this color."

''The Boston Globe 3 December 1886 p3.''

*The Consolidated Road banned red paint on stacks in 1886.

"The red paint on the engine, particularly that on the smoke-stack, was confusing to the engineers. It is now thought to be desirable that whenever an engineer sees anything red in front of him he should bring his train to a stop as soon as possible. Yet it would be silly for him to stop because another engine was passing innocently on another track. And fault cannot now always be found if the engineer on a close call in a dim light mistook a red danger signal for the red stack of a locomotive and thus cased a serious disaster. If the red smoke stacks are done away with these mistakes cannot occur."

''"Red Stacks Must Go," The Journal (Meridan, Connecticut) 29 November 1886.''

*[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific's]] General Master Mechanic Middleton forbade the use of red on locomotive stacks in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 23 January 1891.''

*Some [[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago, Burlington & Quincy]] locomotives operating in Denver Colorado had red stacks, including the entire barrel rather than just the cap, in 1891.

''Salt Lake Daily Tribune 30 January 1891.''

*Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway 30 received a red stack and drivers in October 1886. [[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information|Rio Grande Western Railway]] 35 and 51 both received red stacks in January 1891. In 1894 however, newly-appointed Director of Motive Power Lamplugh of the RGW issued a general order forbidding the use of red paint on stacks and numberplates saying that "too frequent use of the color impairs its value as a signal."

''Salt Lake Tribune 26 September 1894.''

==Standard Practice Front End Paints==

'''Union Pacific'''

*1887: No.29 ivory drop black is used on the smokebox and No. 30 "Asphaltum" is used on locomotive stacks.

*1890: Specification NO. 768: Painting Locomotive Engines and Tenders instructs that the stack is primed with a paint mixed from 10 pounds English red lead standard color No.77, 3 pounds Johnson's magnetic paint standard color No.95, 1/4 pound Eddie's Lamp Black standard color No.65 thinned with priming oil. No instruction is provided for painting the smokebox or the final coat for the stack.

'''Canadian Pacific'''

*1896: The smokebox and firebox inside the cab are painted while hot with one coat of linseed oil mixed with a small amount of lampblack.

<blockquote>"The smokebox, or extension front, and the face plate inside the cab, we give one coat of linseed oil with a little lampblack in it. This is not done until the engine is in steam and those parts are heated. It makes a thin coating and does not scale or blister. The drivers like it, and they rub it over every little while with an oil waste and get a sort of polish on it." - Thomas Jones, Canadian Pacific Railway, Montreal.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Jones' Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p247.''

'''Denver & Rio Grande Western'''

*1926: Stay-brite paint is used on the front ends. Reiterated in ''D&RGW Standard Practice: Painting Locomotives and Tenders'' dated 1 November 1937.

''Letter to shop foremen at Alamosa Colorado, 23 January 1926''

'''M.L.P.B.&M.R.R.'''

*1896: Smokeboxes are painted with one gallon of engine black finish mixed with two gallons linseed oil.

<blockquote>This, which at first would seem to be more expensive, is, in fact, cheaper than the ordinary stack black, wears better, gives better satisfaction, and is less liable to crack or peel." -Albert P. Dane</blockquote>

''Mr. Dane's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p250.''

'''Northern Pacific'''

*1896: Smokeboxes, doors, and stacks are painted with graphite paint mixed with linseed oil. This was then finished with a mix of lamp black and linseed oil rubbed with a sponge or rag.

<blockquote>"For the extension front, which I take to mean the smoke arch and door, and the stack in many instances included, I have found a good article which could be used after the metal had been well cleaned from rust, scale and grease, was to apply a well rubbed out coat (that is a thin coat) of graphite paint, mixed with raw linseed oil, not thin when mixed, but mixed to a fair consistency and then applied thin by brushing out, this of course may not make a perfect black finish, but the black finish can be produced later after the front has been heated or the graphite paint has become dry by the occasional application of a little lamp black and linseed oil rubbed over with waste or a sponge, and then well wiped off will in time produce an excellent appearing front." - A.J. Bishop, Master Painter, Como Shops, Northern Pacific Road, St. Paul.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Bishop's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p249.''

Pennsylvania Railroad: Paint Information

2025-01-15T18:08:12Z

Josh Bernard: /* Locomotives */

==Locomotives==

'''1895'''

Steam locomotive jackets of Russia or Planished iron, once weathered to poor condition, are painted an imitation Russia Iron color.

<blockquote>The formula we used for some years in treating a jacket when in this condition was about the same as the one reported by Mr. Josenbans in his advance paper, namely, keg lead, lampblack, and Prussia Blue, mixed with four parts of rubbing varnish, two parts of turpentine and one part of C.M. japan. We applied two coats of this mixture and one coat of rubbing varnish. This gave us a color in imitation of Russian iron. -Respectfully submitted, C.W. Mason, Pennsylvania Railroad.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Mason's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p245.''

W.J. Josenhans' recipe was 13 pounds keg lead, 3/4 gallon coach japan, 1/2 gallon rubbing varnish, 1/4 gallon turpentine, 1 pound lamp black and 1/4 pound Prussian blue.

''Painting Locomotive Jackets," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.8 August 1896 p201.''

'''1896'''

Steam Locomotives are painted dark Brunswick green.

<blockquote>"It is now our practice to paint all jackets, the standard color of our locomotives, which is a dark Brunswick Green, and we think it an improvement in the appearance of the locomotive."</blockquote>

Steam Locomotive boiler jackets of planished or Russian iron, once weathered to poor condition, are painted dark green instead of the former imitation Russia Iron color.

<blockquote>"Our present method for painting planished or Russian iron jackets, when in the condition referred to, is as follows: 1. Coat of primer. 2. Coat of dark green locomotive finish. 3. Coat of rubbing varnish." -C.W. Mason, Pennsylvania Railroad.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Mason's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p245.''

In 1896 the Pennsylvania Railroad performed an experiment by issuing differing painting standards to ten locomotive shops on their system. They did not identify the shops by name.

*Shop No.8 was issued the most expensive standard, painting both freight and passenger locomotives identically with elaborate striping except that passenger locomotives were lettered in gold leaf and freight locomotives lettered in imitation gold (yellow paint).

*Shop No.9 was issued the cheapest standard. Passenger locomotives were "plainly, but neatly" striped and lettered with gold leaf on the tender cistern but no striping on the tender frame, trucks or pilot wheels. Freight locomotives were not striped at all and lettered in imitation gold (yellow paint.)

''"Mr. Little's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 pp247-248.''

'''1902'''

Steam locomotive tenders in passenger service are lettered in gold and painted with "chocolate" bands at the top and bottom of the tank sides and gold striping accompanied by a white pinstripe.

Steam locomotive tenders in freight service are lettered in "Standard Buff" (light yellow) and all striping is omitted.

Recipe for Standard Buff:

*50 lbs. white lead in oil

*1 1/2 lbs. Chrome Yellow in oil

*4 lbs. Japan Dryer

*1 Gallon turpentine

''Pennsylvania R.R. Co. Tenders. Lettering & Striping. Altoona, PA, 24 July 1902. Drawing no. 17969.''

'''1903'''

Reporting marks for Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives used east of Pittsburgh and Erie are changed from "P.R.R." to "Pennsylvania."

''Pennsylvania R.R. Co. Tenders. Lettering & Striping. Altoona, PA, 24 July 1902. Drawing no. 17969. Amended 17 February 1903.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1852'''

Blake's Patent Ohio Fire-Proof Paint used by the railroad since 1848.

''The American Railroad Journal, 11 February 1854, p96.''

'''1874'''

“Maryland & Delaware” freight express cars painted a “brownish color,” with “Maryland & Delaware” lettered in red and white. Painted on the car sides is also a “red diamond,” denoting the cars’ “exclusive use for this line.”

''Wilmington Daily Commercial (Wilmington, DE), 23 September 1874''

'''1875'''

Thirty PRR boxcars and sixty coal cars are repainted for the Hoosac Tunnel through line. They are painted “coffee brown” with white lettering.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_48/page/n502/mode/1up?q=colored| American Railroad Journal 17 April 1875 p508.]''

'''1888'''

Third draft of official paint specifications gives the freight car color recipe as paint pigment 50% sesquioxide of iron (Fe2O3, red iron oxide), 45% hydrated gypsum (as a binder), and 5% carbonate of lime (calcium carbonate; to facilitate drying).

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p224.''

'''1890'''

Coal cars painted jet black.

''The Southern Herald, 14 March 1890''

'''1891'''

Boxcars painted "regulation dark red," with some new boxcars painted yellow.

''Harrisburg Telegraph, 8 December 1891''

Cabin cars (cabooses) are painted scarlet lead chromate (Chrome Red or American Vermilion)

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p222.''

'''1896'''

Union Line cars have a logo with a white background and red star (see lettering diagram below).

Anchor Line cars have an anchor logo painted white and outlined on the sides.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020358/1896-12-15/ed-1/seq-3/| The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, 15 December 1896]''

'''1903'''

Cabin cars (cabooses) are painted an experimental red that is "richer and deeper" than the scarlet lead chromate.

''The Evening Journal (Wilmington, DE), 9 June 1903''

===Union Line===

[[File:Prr-union-line-4-crop.png|300px|left|thumb|Union Line lettering diagram detail showing the herald. Source Unknown.]]

===Passenger Cars===

'''1858'''

PRR emigrant cars are painted green.

''The Daily Pennsylvanian (Philadelphia, PA), 20 May 1858''

'''1866'''

Passenger cars painted "a beautiful red color."

''The Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA), 20 April 1866''

The director's car is painted lake red with the coat of arms of Pennsylvania on the sides rendered with "bright colors of gold, red and blue."

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xK5VTG8QigEsV2J1vkX9nKAbc6RsiZZ9/view?usp=sharing| The Daily Patriot and Union (Harrisburg, PA), 24 January 1866]''

'''1872'''

PRR begins painting its passenger cars dark red to counter the effects of bituminous coal smoke blackening lighter colored cars.

''The Trenton State Gazette (Trenton, NJ), 29 May 1872''

'''1876'''

Postal cars are painted white.

''The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 8 February 1876''

'''1880'''

Passenger cars painted Tuscan Red, described as a "rich maroon color." Ornamentation and lettering was done in gold with black outlines. The cars are largely "devoid of either ornament or stripe."

''The National Car Builder, May 1880, pg. 73''
''The National Car Builder, August 1880, pg. 142''

New passenger cars built at the Altoona shops for New York Division service are painted rich maroon. The interiors are finished in light oak colors decorated in the Queen Anne style. Seats are upholstered in blue in half of the cars and green in the other half.

''American Railroad Journal 21 May 1880 pg. 562''

'''1881'''

New summer observation cars were painted "light stone color."

''The Latrobe Advance (Latrobe, PA), 15 June 1881''

'''1883'''

Postal cars are painted white.

''The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, IN), 25 April 1883''

'''1885'''

Postal cars painted yellow with a large American eagle emblem on the sides.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrus, OH), 6 August 1886''

'''1886'''

Postal cars painted the standard passenger car color, Tuscan red. A monogram replaced the eagle herald.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrus, OH), 6 August 1886''

'''1888'''

Parlor cars painted brown.

''The New York Tribune (New York, NY), 26 August 1888''

'''? to 1889'''

Postal cars are painted yellow with a large American eagle emblem on the sides.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrys, OH), 6 August 1886''

'''1889'''

Postal cars are repainted Tuscan red with a monogram in place of the eagle emblem.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrys, OH), 6 August 1889''

'''1890'''

Passenger car paint specification adopted as Tuscan red paint pigment: 80% sesquioxide of iron (Fe2O3, red iron oxide), 15% “organic coloring matter,” and 5% carbonate of lime (calcium carbonate; to facilitate drying).

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p251.''

'''1891'''

Tuscan Red paint recipe given as Indian Red pigment brightened with "organic coloring matter" (chatemuc or wood lake).

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p252.''

Pullman cars on the PRR are painted Tuscan Red.

''The Richmond Item (Richmond, IN), 4 September 1891''

'''1893'''

All passenger cars on the PRR and its leased lines are painted red.

''The Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, PA), 24 February 1893''

'''1897'''

Passenger cars used on U.S. President William McKinley's inauguration train were painted Venetian Red. The locomotive was also painted red for the occasion.

''The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 25 February 1897''

'''1897'''

Sleeping cars built by Pullman for the Pennsylvania Limited are painted cream above the belt rail and bottle green below the belt rail with gold leaf ornamentation. The belt rail itself is Roman Gold. The roofs are black and the trucks are painted bold red and bottle green.

''"A Sumptuous Train," The Pittsburg Bulletin, 13 November 1897.''

'''1898'''

A new limited train between New York and Chicago is instituted. Cars painted dark green ornamented with a Greek border in gold leaf below the belt rail. Above the belt rail, including the letter boards and corner posts, is painted cream, ornamented with gold leaf and “topped with a narrow line of green.” Window frams of Mahogany.

''Locomotive Engineering, February 1898''
''New York Daily Tribune (New York, NY), 14 January 1898''

Cars for the Congressional Limited train between Washington, D.C. and New York City were painted the "national colors" (red, white and blue).

''The Akron Beacon (Akron, OH), 10 May 1898''

'''1901'''

Parlor cars built by Pullman for Philadelphia to New York service are painted Tuscan with gold leaf lettering.

''Railway Age, 2 August 1901''

==Road and Non-Rail Equipment==

'''1928'''

Commercial trucks are painted "Passenger Car Color" (PRR Tuscan) on the body, "Passenger Car Truck Color" (Green) on the underframe and lettered in Yellow. Fenders may be either black or tuscan. "Pennsylvania Railroad" is painted on the bed and the home shop or station name on the cab door and maximum loaded weight on the frame below the cab.

''The Pennsylvania Railroad Commercial Trucks Lettering & Painting, Drawing 86923, Altoona PA 22 November 1928.''

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Pennsylvania Railroad: Paint Information

2025-01-15T17:12:11Z

Josh Bernard: /* Locomotives */

==Locomotives==

'''1895'''

Steam locomotive jackets of Russia or Planished iron, once weathered to poor condition, are painted an imitation Russia Iron color.

<blockquote>The formula we used for some years in treating a jacket when in this condition was about the same as the one reported by Mr. Josenbans in his advance paper, namely, keg lead, lampblack, and Prussia Blue, mixed with four parts of rubbing varnish, two parts of turpentine and one part of C.M. japan. We applied two coats of this mixture and one coat of rubbing varnish. This gave us a color in imitation of Russian iron. -Respectfully submitted, C.W. Mason, Pennsylvania Railroad.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Mason's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p245.''

W.J. Josenhans' recipe was 13 pounds keg lead, 3/4 gallon coach japan, 1/2 gallon rubbing varnish, 1/4 gallon turpentine, 1 pound lamp black and 1/4 pound Prussian blue.

''Painting Locomotive Jackets," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.8 August 1896 p201.''

'''1896'''

Steam Locomotives are painted dark Brunswick green.

<blockquote>"It is now our practice to paint all jackets, the standard color of our locomotives, which is a dark Brunswick Green, and we think it an improvement in the appearance of the locomotive."</blockquote>

Steam Locomotive boiler jackets of planished or Russian iron, once weathered to poor condition, are painted dark green instead of the former imitation Russia Iron color.

<blockquote>"Our present method for painting planished or Russian iron jackets, when in the condition referred to, is as follows: 1. Coat of primer. 2. Coat of dark green locomotive finish. 3. Coat of rubbing varnish." -C.W. Mason, Pennsylvania Railroad.</blockquote>

''"Mr. Mason's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 p245.''

In 1896 the Pennsylvania Railroad performed an experiment by issuing differing painting standards to ten locomotive shops on their system. They did not identify the shops by name.

*Shop No.8 was issued the most expensive standard, painting both freight and passenger locomotives identically with elaborate striping except that passenger locomotives were lettered in gold leaf and freight locomotives lettered in imitation gold (yellow paint).

*Shop No.9 was issued the cheapest standard. Passenger locomotives were "plainly, but neatly" striped and lettered with gold leaf on the tender cistern but no striping on the tender frame, trucks or pilot wheels. Freight locomotives were not striped at all and lettered in imitation gold (yellow paint.)

''"Mr. Little's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI No.10 October 1896 pp247-248.''

'''1902'''

Steam locomotive tenders are painted with "Chocolate" bands at the top and bottom of the tank sides and gold striping accompanied by a white pinstripe.

''Pennsylvania R.R. Co. Tenders. Lettering & Striping. Altoona, PA, 24 July 1902. Drawing no. 17969.''

'''1903'''

Reporting marks for Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives used east of Pittsburgh and Erie are changed from "P.R.R." to "Pennsylvania."

''Pennsylvania R.R. Co. Tenders. Lettering & Striping. Altoona, PA, 24 July 1902. Drawing no. 17969. Amended 17 February 1903.''

==Freight Cars==

'''1852'''

Blake's Patent Ohio Fire-Proof Paint used by the railroad since 1848.

''The American Railroad Journal, 11 February 1854, p96.''

'''1874'''

“Maryland & Delaware” freight express cars painted a “brownish color,” with “Maryland & Delaware” lettered in red and white. Painted on the car sides is also a “red diamond,” denoting the cars’ “exclusive use for this line.”

''Wilmington Daily Commercial (Wilmington, DE), 23 September 1874''

'''1875'''

Thirty PRR boxcars and sixty coal cars are repainted for the Hoosac Tunnel through line. They are painted “coffee brown” with white lettering.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_48/page/n502/mode/1up?q=colored| American Railroad Journal 17 April 1875 p508.]''

'''1888'''

Third draft of official paint specifications gives the freight car color recipe as paint pigment 50% sesquioxide of iron (Fe2O3, red iron oxide), 45% hydrated gypsum (as a binder), and 5% carbonate of lime (calcium carbonate; to facilitate drying).

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p224.''

'''1890'''

Coal cars painted jet black.

''The Southern Herald, 14 March 1890''

'''1891'''

Boxcars painted "regulation dark red," with some new boxcars painted yellow.

''Harrisburg Telegraph, 8 December 1891''

Cabin cars (cabooses) are painted scarlet lead chromate (Chrome Red or American Vermilion)

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p222.''

'''1896'''

Union Line cars have a logo with a white background and red star (see lettering diagram below).

Anchor Line cars have an anchor logo painted white and outlined on the sides.

''[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020358/1896-12-15/ed-1/seq-3/| The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, 15 December 1896]''

'''1903'''

Cabin cars (cabooses) are painted an experimental red that is "richer and deeper" than the scarlet lead chromate.

''The Evening Journal (Wilmington, DE), 9 June 1903''

===Union Line===

[[File:Prr-union-line-4-crop.png|300px|left|thumb|Union Line lettering diagram detail showing the herald. Source Unknown.]]

===Passenger Cars===

'''1858'''

PRR emigrant cars are painted green.

''The Daily Pennsylvanian (Philadelphia, PA), 20 May 1858''

'''1866'''

Passenger cars painted "a beautiful red color."

''The Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA), 20 April 1866''

The director's car is painted lake red with the coat of arms of Pennsylvania on the sides rendered with "bright colors of gold, red and blue."

''[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xK5VTG8QigEsV2J1vkX9nKAbc6RsiZZ9/view?usp=sharing| The Daily Patriot and Union (Harrisburg, PA), 24 January 1866]''

'''1872'''

PRR begins painting its passenger cars dark red to counter the effects of bituminous coal smoke blackening lighter colored cars.

''The Trenton State Gazette (Trenton, NJ), 29 May 1872''

'''1876'''

Postal cars are painted white.

''The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 8 February 1876''

'''1880'''

Passenger cars painted Tuscan Red, described as a "rich maroon color." Ornamentation and lettering was done in gold with black outlines. The cars are largely "devoid of either ornament or stripe."

''The National Car Builder, May 1880, pg. 73''
''The National Car Builder, August 1880, pg. 142''

New passenger cars built at the Altoona shops for New York Division service are painted rich maroon. The interiors are finished in light oak colors decorated in the Queen Anne style. Seats are upholstered in blue in half of the cars and green in the other half.

''American Railroad Journal 21 May 1880 pg. 562''

'''1881'''

New summer observation cars were painted "light stone color."

''The Latrobe Advance (Latrobe, PA), 15 June 1881''

'''1883'''

Postal cars are painted white.

''The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, IN), 25 April 1883''

'''1885'''

Postal cars painted yellow with a large American eagle emblem on the sides.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrus, OH), 6 August 1886''

'''1886'''

Postal cars painted the standard passenger car color, Tuscan red. A monogram replaced the eagle herald.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrus, OH), 6 August 1886''

'''1888'''

Parlor cars painted brown.

''The New York Tribune (New York, NY), 26 August 1888''

'''? to 1889'''

Postal cars are painted yellow with a large American eagle emblem on the sides.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrys, OH), 6 August 1886''

'''1889'''

Postal cars are repainted Tuscan red with a monogram in place of the eagle emblem.

''The Crawford County Forum (Bucyrys, OH), 6 August 1889''

'''1890'''

Passenger car paint specification adopted as Tuscan red paint pigment: 80% sesquioxide of iron (Fe2O3, red iron oxide), 15% “organic coloring matter,” and 5% carbonate of lime (calcium carbonate; to facilitate drying).

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p251.''

'''1891'''

Tuscan Red paint recipe given as Indian Red pigment brightened with "organic coloring matter" (chatemuc or wood lake).

''The Railroad and Engineering Journal, May 1891, p252.''

Pullman cars on the PRR are painted Tuscan Red.

''The Richmond Item (Richmond, IN), 4 September 1891''

'''1893'''

All passenger cars on the PRR and its leased lines are painted red.

''The Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, PA), 24 February 1893''

'''1897'''

Passenger cars used on U.S. President William McKinley's inauguration train were painted Venetian Red. The locomotive was also painted red for the occasion.

''The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 25 February 1897''

'''1897'''

Sleeping cars built by Pullman for the Pennsylvania Limited are painted cream above the belt rail and bottle green below the belt rail with gold leaf ornamentation. The belt rail itself is Roman Gold. The roofs are black and the trucks are painted bold red and bottle green.

''"A Sumptuous Train," The Pittsburg Bulletin, 13 November 1897.''

'''1898'''

A new limited train between New York and Chicago is instituted. Cars painted dark green ornamented with a Greek border in gold leaf below the belt rail. Above the belt rail, including the letter boards and corner posts, is painted cream, ornamented with gold leaf and “topped with a narrow line of green.” Window frams of Mahogany.

''Locomotive Engineering, February 1898''
''New York Daily Tribune (New York, NY), 14 January 1898''

Cars for the Congressional Limited train between Washington, D.C. and New York City were painted the "national colors" (red, white and blue).

''The Akron Beacon (Akron, OH), 10 May 1898''

'''1901'''

Parlor cars built by Pullman for Philadelphia to New York service are painted Tuscan with gold leaf lettering.

''Railway Age, 2 August 1901''

==Road and Non-Rail Equipment==

'''1928'''

Commercial trucks are painted "Passenger Car Color" (PRR Tuscan) on the body, "Passenger Car Truck Color" (Green) on the underframe and lettered in Yellow. Fenders may be either black or tuscan. "Pennsylvania Railroad" is painted on the bed and the home shop or station name on the cab door and maximum loaded weight on the frame below the cab.

''The Pennsylvania Railroad Commercial Trucks Lettering & Painting, Drawing 86923, Altoona PA 22 November 1928.''

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Street Railway Paint Information

2025-01-13T20:57:22Z

Josh Bernard:

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]] / Street Railway Paint Information
<span style="float:right;">__TOC__</span>

This page is a compilation of paint information for street railways in North America that otherwise do not have enough documentation to warrant their own page.

==Botanical Gardens Railway Company of Rio de Janeiro==

Horse cars ordered by Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil from the John Stephenson Company are painted yellow and dark green with landscapes painted in the body panels except the center which bears the coat of arms of Brazil. The seats are upholstered in dark blue leather and the interior finished in ash, cherry, basswood and maple.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_51/page/n641/mode/2up?q=painted|American Railroad Journal 8 June 1878 p633]''

==City Railway (Sacramento California)==

'''1888'''

New cars for the K Street line are painted bright green.

''"City Railway," Sacramento Daily Union 29 June 1888''

==Denver & Swansea==

'''1874'''

Baldwin builder's records for Denver & Swansea dummy engine "Governor Gilpin" lists the paint as follows:

Cab: Like Street Car - Ash, painted. Painting: Yellow street car style for cab. Painting for tank: Wine No.7. General finish: Plain - M. No.7.

"In general appearance she looks like a yellow steam horse, named 'Gov. Gilpin' and marked 'Denver and Swansea."

''Denver Daily Times 23 August 1874.''

"Its color is a pale gold, relieved by lines of blue, black and red."

''Rocky Mountain News 28 August 1874.''

==Market Street Railway (Sacramento California)==

'''1868'''

Market Street cars are painted blue.

''"Railroads and Stages," Daily Alta California 12 July 1868''

==Middlesex Horse Railroad Company==

'''1868'''

Six new two-horse cars built by Stevenson & Co. are painted red and white.

''[https://archive.org/details/5088829_41/page/n441/mode/1up?q=painted%7C| American Railroad Journal 2 May 1868 p433.]''

==New York City Brooklyn Streetcar Line==

'''1894'''

A combination postal-smoker car is painted white with gold lettering and red trim.

''"The Postal Car," Colorado Daily Chieftain 11 September 1894.''

==New York City Third Avenue Cable Line==

'''1895'''

Postal cars built for the Third Avenue Cable Line are painted white with gold leaf trim.

''"Street Railway Postal Car," National Car & Locomotive Builder November 1895''

==Northwestern Elevated Road (Chicago)==

'''1900'''

Elevated cars built by Pullman are painted the Pullman Standard body color.

''[https://archive.org/details/scrapbooks18651969pull/page/n205/mode/2up?| Pullman Company Scrapbook Vol.6: 1900, p153.]''

==Ogden City Railway==

Baldwin steam dummies built for the Ogden City Railway of Ogden, Utah, are delivered in Carmine Red with gold leaf. The body is painted in Motor Style 20 and the tank is Motor Style 84.

[[Reference]] / [[Historic Railroad Paint Color Index]]

Historic Railroad Paint Color Index

2025-01-08T01:18:06Z

Josh Bernard:

===Introduction===

This page is a mirror of the document: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jbXGfg9V3cY0awKamkrwM2JlLSQepapDwU9A3Dx43-M/edit 19th Century Railroad Paint Color Research Compendium]. Research was done primarily by Josh Bernhard, Evan Abma, Sam Anderson, Andrew Brandon, and Randy Hees, with contributions from other historians and railroad enthusiasts.

This is a compilation of raw primary source documentation regarding paint and lettering of North American railroads. While the focus is on the 19th Century, 20th century sources are added when found.

Data is arranged alphabetically by railroad name with an individual page for each.

For more information about railroad paint scholarship, paint photography, and the science of color, see [[Historic Paint]].

Street railways and private owner car lines that do not have enough information to warrant their own page can be found under the "Street Railways" and "Private Owner Car Lines" pages.

<div class="horizontaltoc">Jump to letter: [[#A|A]] - [[#B|B]] - [[#C|C]] - [[#D|D]] - [[#E|E]] - [[#F|F]] - [[#G|G]] - [[#H|H]] - [[#I|I]] - [[#J|J]] - [[#K|K]] - [[#L|L]] - [[#M|M]] - [[#N|N]] - [[#O|O]] - [[#P|P]] - [[#Q|Q]] - [[#R|R]] - [[#S|S]] - [[#T|T]] - [[#U|U]] - [[#V|V]] - [[#W|W]] - [[#X|X]] - [[#Y|Y]] - [[#Z|Z]] __NOTOC__</div>

==A==

[[American Railway Express Paint Information|American Railway Express]]

[[Americus Preston & Lumpkin Railroad Paint Information|Americus Preston & Lumpkin Railroad]]

[[Androscoggin Railroad Paint Information|Androscoggin Railroad]]

[[Ann Arbor Railroad Paint Information| Ann Arbor Railroad]]

[[Atchison & Nebraska Railroad: Paint Information|Atchison & Nebraska Railroad]]

[[Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe: Paint Information|Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe]]

[[Atchison & Charlotte Air Line Railroad Pain Information|Atchison & Charlotte Air Line Railroad]]

[[Atlanta & La Grange Railroad: Paint Information|Atlanta & La Grange Railroad]]

[[Atlantic & Great Western: Paint Information|Atlantic & Great Western]]

[[Atlantic & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Atlantic & Gulf Railroad]]

[[Atlantic Coast Line Paint Information|Atlantic Coast Line]]

[[Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio: Paint Information|Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio]]

[[Augusta Gibson & Sandersville Railroad Paint Information| Augusta Gibson & Sandersville Railroad]]

==B==

[[Baltimore & Ohio Paint Information|Baltimore & Ohio]]

[[Bangor & Aroostook Paint Information|Bangor & Aroostook]]

[[Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad Paint Information|Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad]]

[[Bellaire & South Western Railway Paint Information|Bellaire & South Western Railway]]

[[Blue Line Fast Freight: Paint Information|Blue Line Fast Freight]]

[[Boston & Albany Paint Information|Boston & Albany]]

[[Boston Concord & Montreal Paint Information|Boston Concord & Montreal]]

[[Boston Hartford & Erie Paint Information|Boston Hartford & Erie]]

[[Boston & Lowell Railroad Paint Information|Boston & Lowell Railroad]]

[[Boston & Maine Paint Information|Boston & Maine]]

[[Boston & Providence Railroad Paint Information| Boston & Providence Railroad]]

[[Boston & Worcester Railroad Paint Information|Boston & Worcester Railroad]]

[[Boston Concord & Montreal Paint Information|Boston Concord & Montreal]]

[[Boston Hartford & Erie Paint Information|Boston Hartford & Erie]]

[[Boston Revere Beach & Lynn Paint Information|Boston Revere Beach & Lynn]]

[[Brattleboro & Whitehall Railroad Paint Information|Brattleboro & Whitehall Railroad]]

[[Buffalo & Susquehanna Paint Information|Buffalo & Susquehanna]]

[[Buffalo New York & Philadelphia Paint Information|Buffalo New York & Philadelphia]]

[[Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh Paint Information|Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburgh]]

[[Burlington & Lamoille Railroad Paint Information|Burlington & Lamoille Railroad]]

[[Burlington & Missouri River Paint Information|Burlington & Missouri River]]

[[Butte Anaconda & Pacific Paint Information|Butte Anaconda & Pacific]]

==C==

[[Camden & Amboy Railroad Paint Information|Camden & Amboy Railroad]]

[[Canada Atlantic Railway Paint Information|Canada Atlantic Railway]]

[[Canadian Pacific Railway Paint Information|Canadian Pacific Railway]]

[[Canada Southern Railway Paint Information|Canada Southern Railway]]

[[Carolina Central Railroad Paint Information| Carolina Central Railroad]]

[[Carson & Colorado Railroad Paint Information| Carson & Colorado Railroad]]

[[Cayuga Lake Railroad Paint Information| Cayuga Lake Railroad]]

[[Central Pacific Railroad: Paint Information|Central Pacific Railroad]]

[[Central Railroad of Georgia Paint Information| Central Railroad of Georgia]]

[[Central Railroad of New Jersey Paint Information| Central Railroad of New Jersey]]

[[Central Transportation Company Paint Information| Central Transportation Company]]

[[Central Vermont Railroad Paint Information|Central Vermont Railroad]]

[[Chattaroi Railway Paint Information| Chattaroi Railway]]

[[Cherokee Iron Company Paint Information| Cherokee Iron Company]]

[[Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Paint Information|Chesapeake & Ohio]]

[[Cheshire Railroad Paint Information|Cheshire Railroad]]

[[Chicago & Alton Railroad Paint Information|Chicago & Alton Railroad]]

[[Chicago & Atlantic Railway Paint Information|Chicago & Atlantic Railway]]

[[Chicago & Eastern Illinois Paint Information| Chicago & Eastern Illinois]]

[[Chicago & Lake Huron Railroad Paint Information| Chicago & Lake Huron Railroad]]

[[Chicago & North-Western Railway Paint Information|Chicago & North-Western Railway]]

[[Chicago Burlington & Quincy Paint Information|Chicago Burlington & Quincy]]

[[Chicago Great Western Paint Information| Chicago Great Western Railroad]]

[[Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Paint Information|Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul]]

[[Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Paint Information|Chicago Rock Island & Pacific]]

[[Chicago St. Louis & New Orleans Paint Information| Chicago St. Louis & New Orleans]]

[[Chicago St. Paul & Kansas City Paint Information| Chicago St. Paul & Kansas City]]

[[Chicago St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha Railway| Chicago St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha Railway]]

[[Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railway Paint Information|Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railway]]

[[Cincinnati Indianapolis St. Louis & Chicago Paint Information| Cincinnati Indianapolis St. Louis & Chicago]]

[[Cincinnati Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad Paint Information| Cincinnati Richmond & Fort Wayne Railroad]]

[[Cincinnati Southern Railway Paint Information| Cincinnati Southern Railway]]

[[Cincinnati Van Wert & Michigan Paint Information| Cincinnati Van Wert & Michigan]]

[[Cleveland Akron & Columbus Paint Information| Cleveland Akron & Columbus]]

[[Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago & St Louis (Big Four) Paint Information|Cleveland Cincinnati Chicago & St Louis (Big Four)]]

[[Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati & Indianapolis Paint Information|Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati & Indianapolis]]

[[Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Columbus Railroad Paint Information| Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Columbus Railroad]]

[[Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Delaware Paint Information| Cleveland Mt. Vernon & Delaware]]

[[Cleveland Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Paint Information| Cleveland Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling]]

[[Colorado Midland Paint Information|Colorado Midland]]

[[Colorado & Southern Railway Paint Information|Colorado & Southern Railway]]

[[Columbus, Sandusky & Hocking Paint Information| Columbus, Sandusky & Hocking]]

[[Colusa & Lake Railroad Paint Information| Colusa & Lake Railroad]]

[[Concord Railroad Paint Information| Concord Railroad]]

[[Connecticut River Railroad Paint Information| Connecticut River Railroad]]

[[Connecticut Western Railroad Paint Information| Connecticut Western Railroad]]

[[Connotton Valley Railroad Paint Information|Connotton Valley Railroad]]

[[Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Paint Information| Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley]]

[[Cumberland & Pennsylvania Paint Information| Cumberland & Pennsylvania]]

[[Cumberland Valley Railroad Paint Information| Cumberland Valley Railroad]]

==D==

[[Dakota Southern Railroad Paint Information|Dakota Southern Railroad]]

[[Delaware & Hudson Paint Information|Delaware & Hudson]]

[[Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Paint Information|Delaware, Lackawanna & Western]]

[[Delaware Railroad Paint Information|Delaware Railroad]]

[[Delaware Western Railroad Paint Information|Delaware Western Railroad]]

[[Denver & Rio Grande: Paint Information|Denver & Rio Grande]]

[[Denver Pacific Railway Paint Information|Denver Pacific Railway]]

[[Denver South Park & Pacific Paint Information|Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad]]

[[Denver, Texas & Fort Worth Railroad Paint Information|Denver, Texas & Fort Worth Railroad]]

[[Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad Paint Information|Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad]]

[[Detroit Lansing & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Detroit Lansing & Northern Railroad]]

[[Detroit Saginaw & Bay City Railroad Paint Information|Detroit Saginaw & Bay City Railroad]]

[[Duluth & Iron Range Railway Paint Information|Duluth & Iron Range Railway]]

[[Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Paint Information|Duluth South Shore & Atlantic]]

[[Dunkirk Warren & Pittsburgh Railway Paint Information|Dunkirk, Warren & Pittsburgh Railway]]

==E==

[[East & West Railway Paint Information|East & West Railway]]

[[East Broad Top Railroad Paint Information|East Broad Top Railroad]]

[[East Tennessee Virginia and Georgia Railroad Paint Information|East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad]]

[[Eastern Railroad Paint Information|Eastern Railroad]]

[[Elmira Cortland & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Elmira Cortland & Northern Railroad]]

[[Erie Paint Information|Erie]]

[[Erie & Wyoming Valley Railroad Paint Information|Erie & Wyoming Valley Railroad]]

[[European & North American Railway Paint Information|European & North American Railway]]

==F==

[[Fairhaven & Southern Railroad Paint Information|Fairhaven & Southern Railroad]]

[[Fitchburg Railroad Paint Information|Fitchburg Railroad]]

[[Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad Paint Information|Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad]]

[[Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad Paint Information|Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad]]

[[Florida Railway & Navigation Company Paint Information|Florida Railway & Navigation Company]]

[[Fort Madison & North Western Railroad Paint Information|Fort Madison & North Western Railroad]]

[[Fremont Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Paint Information|Fremont Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad]]

==G==

[[Georgia Railroad Paint Information|Georgia Railroad]]

[[Gettysburg Railroad Paint Information|Gettysburg Railroad]]

[[Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Paint Information|Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad]]

[[Grand River Valley Railroad Paint Information|Grand River Valley Railroad]]

[[Grand Trunk Railway Paint Information|Grand Trunk Railway]]

[[Great Northern Paint Information|Great Northern]]

[[Great Western Railway of Canada Paint Information|Great Western Railway of Canada]]

==H==

[[Housatonic Railroad Paint Information|Housatonic Railroad]]

[[Houston & Texas Central Railroad Paint Information|Houston & Texas Central Railroad]]

[[Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|Hudson River Railroad]]

==I==

[[Illinois Central Railroad Paint Information|Illinois Central Railroad]]

[[Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Paint Information|Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad]]

[[Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad Paint Information|Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad]]

[[Indianapolis Bloomington & Western Railway Paint Information|Indianapolis Bloomington & Western Railway]]

[[Indianapolis Decatur & Springfield Railway Paint Information|Indianapolis Decatur & Springfield Railway]]

[[Intercolonial Railway Paint Information|Intercolonial Railway]]

[[International & Great Northern Railway Paint Information|International & Great Northern Railway]]

[[Iowa Eastern Railroad Paint Information|Iowa Eastern Railroad]]

==J==

[[Jackson & Sharp Company Paint Information|Jackson & Sharp Company]]

[[Jackson Lansing & Saginaw Railroad Paint Information|Jackson Lansing & Saginaw Railroad]]

[[Jacksonville Pensacola & Mobile Railroad Paint Information|Jacksonville Pensacola & Mobile Railroad]]

[[Jacksonville Southeastern Railway Paint Information|Jacksonville Southeastern Railway]]

[[Jacksonville Tampa & Key West Railway Paint Information|Jacksonville Tampa & Key West Railway]]

[[Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway Paint Information|Jamestown & Lake Erie Railway]]

[[Jefferson Madison & Indianapolis Railroad Paint Information|Jefferson Madison & Indianapolis Railroad]]

==K==

[[Kansas City Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Kansas City Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad]]

[[Kansas City Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Kansas City Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad]]

[[Kansas Pacific Railway Paint Information|Kansas Pacific Railway]]

[[Kennebec & Wiscasset Railroad Paint Information|Kennebec & Wiscasset Railroad]]

[[Keokuk & Des Moines Railway Paint Information|Keokuk & Des Moines Railway]]

==L==

[[Lake Erie & Western Railway Paint Information|Lake Erie & Western Railway]]

[[Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Paint Information|Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway]]

[[Lake Shore & Tuscarawas Valley Railway Paint Information|Lake Shore & Tuscarawas Valley Railway]]

[[Lawrenceburg & Upper Mississippi Railroad Paint Information|Lawrenceburg & Upper Mississippi Railroad]]

[[Lehigh Valley Railroad: Paint Information|Lehigh Valley Railroad]]

[[Ligonier Valley Railroad Paint Information|Ligonier Valley Railroad]]

[[Long Island Railroad Paint Information|Long Island Railroad]]

[[Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad Paint Information|Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad]]

[[Louisville & Nashville Railroad Paint Information|Louisville & Nashville Railroad]]

[[Louisville Cincinnati & Lexington Railroad Paint Information|Louisville Cincinnati & Lexington Railroad]]

[[Louisville New Albany & Chicago Railway Paint Information|Louisville New Albany & Chicago Railway]]

[[Louisville New Orleans & Texas Railway Paint Information|Louisville New Orleans & Texas Railway]]

==M==

[[Macon & Brunswick Railroad Paint Information|Macon & Brunswick Railroad]]

[[Macon & Western Railroad Paint Information|Macon & Western Railroad]]

[[Maine Central Railroad Paint Information|Maine Central Railroad]]

[[Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad Paint Information|Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad]]

[[Marietta & North Georgia Railway Paint Information|Marietta & North Georgia Railway]]

[[Memphis & Charleston Railroad Paint Information|Memphis & Charleston Railroad]]

[[Merchant's Despatch (MDT) Paint Information|Merchant's Despatch (MDT)]]

[[Meriden & Cromwell Railroad Paint Information|Meriden & Cromwell Railroad]]

[[Michigan Central Railroad Paint Information|Michigan Central Railroad]]

[[Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Paint Information|Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway]]

[[Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western Railway Paint Information|Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western Railway]]

[[Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway Paint Information|Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway]]

[[Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad Paint Information|Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad]]

[[Missouri Iowa & Nebraska Railway Paint Information|Missouri Iowa & Nebraska Railway]]

[[Missouri Kansas & Texas Railway Paint Information|Missouri Kansas & Texas Railway]]

[[Missouri Pacific Railway Paint Information|Missouri Pacific Railway]]

[[Mobile & Ohio Railroad Paint Information|Mobile & Ohio Railroad]]

[[Montgomery & West Point Railroad Paint Information|Montgomery & West Point Railroad]]

[[Morgan's Louisiana & Texas Railroad Paint Information|Morgan's Louisiana & Texas Railroad]]

==N==

[[Nashua Acton & Boston Railroad Paint Information|Nashua Acton & Boston Railroad]]

[[Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad Paint Information|Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad]]

[[Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Paint Information|Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway]]

[[National Despatch Line (National Car Company) Paint Information|National Despatch Line (National Car Company)]]

[[Naugatuck Railroad Paint Information|Naugatuck Railroad]]

[[Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad: Paint Information|Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad]]

[[New Brunswick Railway Paint Information|New Brunswick Railway]]

[[New Jersey & New York Railway Paint Information|New Jersey & New York Railway]]

[[New Jersey Midland Railway Paint Information|New Jersey Midland Railway]]

[[New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company Paint Information|New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company]]

[[New London Northern Railroad Paint Information|New London Northern Railroad]]

[[New Orleans & Mobile Railroad Paint Information|New Orleans & Mobile Railroad]]

[[New Orleans Fort Jackson & Grand Isle Railroad Paint Information|New Orleans Fort Jackson & Grand Isle Railroad]]

[[New York & Harlem Railroad Paint Information|New York & Harlem Railroad]]

[[New York & New England Railroad Paint Information|New York & New England Railroad]]

[[New York Central Railroad Paint Information|New York Central]]

[[New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Paint Information|New York Central & Hudson River Railroad]]

[[New York Chicago & St. Louis Paint Information|New York Chicago & St. Louis (Nickle Plate)]]

[[New York New Haven & Hartford Paint Information|New York New Haven & Hartford Railroad]]

[[New York Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad Paint Information|New York Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad]]

[[New York Providence & Boston Railroad (Stonington Line) Paint Information|New York Providence & Boston Railroad (Stonington Line)]]

[[New York West Shore & Buffalo Railway Paint Information|New York West Shore & Buffalo Railway]]

[[New York Woodhaven & Rockaway Railroad Paint Information|New York Woodhaven & Rockaway Railroad]]

[[Nickel Plate Line (Fast Freight) Paint Information|Nickel Plate Line (Fast Freight)]]

[[Norfolk & Western Railroad Paint Information|Norfolk & Western Railroad]]

[[Norfolk Southern Railroad Paint Information|Norfolk Southern Railroad]]

[[Northern & Central Vermont Line (Fast Freight) Paint Information|Northern & Central Vermont Line (Fast Freight)]]

[[Northern Alabama Railway Paint Information|Northern Alabama Railway]]

[[Northern Central Railway Paint Information|Northern Central Railway]]

[[North Eastern Railroad Paint Information|North Eastern Railroad]]

[[North Missouri Railroad Paint Information|North Missouri Railroad]]

[[Northern Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Northern Pacific Railroad]]

==O==

[[Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad Paint Information|Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad]]

[[Ohio & Little Kanawha Railroad Paint Information|Ohio & Little Kanawha Railroad]]

[[Ohio & Mississippi Railway Paint Information|Ohio & Mississippi Railway]]

[[Ohio River Railroad Paint Information|Ohio River Railroad]]

[[Old Colony Railroad Paint Information|Old Colony Railroad]]

[[Oregon Short Line Paint Information|Oregon Short Line]]

==P==

[[Pennsylvania Railroad: Paint Information|Pennsylvania Railroad]]

[[Pere Marquette Railroad Paint Information|Pere Marquette Railroad]]

[[Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Paint Information|Philadelphia & Erie Railroad]]

[[Philadelphia & Reading Paint Information|Philadelphia & Reading]]

[[Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad Paint Information|Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad]]

[[Pittsburgh & Castle Shannon Railroad Paint Information|Pittsburgh & Castle Shannon Railroad]]

[[Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Paint Information|Pittsburgh & Lake Erie]]

[[Pittsburgh Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway (Pan Handle Route) Paint Information|Pittsburgh Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway (Pan Handle Route)]]

[[Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway Paint Information|Pittsburgh Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway]]

[[Pittsburgh Shawmut & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Pittsburgh Shawmut & Northern Railroad]]

[[Plant System Paint Information|Plant System]]

[[Portland & Kennebec Railroad Paint Information|Portland & Kennebec Railroad]]

[[Portland & Rochester Railroad Paint Information|Portland & Rochester Railroad]]

[[Private Owner Car Line Paint Information|Private Owner Car Lines]]

[[Providence & Worcester Railroad Paint Information|Providence & Worcester Railroad]]

[[Pullman Paint Information|Pullman]]

==Q==

[[Quebec & Lake St. John Railway Paint Information|Quebec & Lake St. John Railway]]

[[Quebec Montreal Ottawa & Occidental Railway Paint Information|Quebec Montreal Ottawa & Occidental Railway]]

==R==

[[Red Line Fast Freight Paint Information|Red Line Fast Freight]]

[[Redondo Railway Paint Information|Redondo Railway]]

[[Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad Paint Information|Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad]]

[[Richmond & Allegheny Railroad Paint Information|Richmond & Allegheny Railroad]]

[[Richmond & Danville Railroad Paint Information|Richmond & Danville Railroad]]

[[Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad Paint Information|Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad]]

[[Rio Grande Southern: Paint Information| Rio Grande Southern]]

[[Rio Grande Western Railway: Paint Information| Rio Grande Western]]

[[Roanoke & Southern Railway Paint Information|Roanoke & Southern Railway]]

[[Rochester & Syracuse Railroad Paint Information|Rochester & Syracuse Railroad]]

[[Rome Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad Paint Information|Rome Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad]]

[[Rutland Railroad Paint Information|Rutland Railroad]]

==S==

[[Saginaw Tuscola & Huron Railroad Paint Information|Saginaw Tuscola & Huron Railroad]]

[[San Diego, Cuyamaca & Eastern Paint Information|San Diego, Cuyamaca & Eastern]]

[[San Francisco and North Pacific Paint Information|San Francisco & North Pacific Railroad]]

[[San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley Paint Information|San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley Railroad]]

[[San Pedro Los Angeles & Salt Lake Paint Information|San Pedro Los Angeles & Salt Lake]]

[[San Pete Valley Railway Paint Information|San Pete Valley Railway]]

[[Sandusky & Columbus Short Line Railway Paint Information|Sandusky & Columbus Short Line Railway]]

[[Sandy River Railroad Paint Information|Sandy River Railroad]]

[[Savannah & Charleston Railroad Paint Information|Savannah & Charleston Railroad]]

[[Savannah Florida & Western Railway Paint Information|Savannah Florida & Western Railway]]

[[Savannah Griffin & North Alabama Railroad Paint Information|Savannah Griffin & North Alabama Railroad]]

[[Seaboard Air Line Railway Paint Information|Seaboard Air Line Railway]]

[[Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Paint Information|Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway]]

[[Selma Rome & Dalton Railroad Paint Information|Selma Rome & Dalton Railroad]]

[[Shenandoah Valley Railroad Paint Information|Shenandoah Valley Railroad]]

[[Silver Springs Ocala & Gulf Railroad Paint Information|Silver Springs Ocala & Gulf Railroad]]

[[South Bound Railroad Paint Information|South Bound Railroad]]

[[South Carolina Railway Paint Information|South Carolina Railway]]

[[South Pacific Coast Railroad Paint Information|South Pacific Coast Railroad]]

[[South Pacific Coast Railway Paint Information|South Pacific Coast Railway]]

[[Southern Central Railroad Paint Information|Southern Central Railroad]]

[[Southern Pacific Railroad: Paint Information| Southern Pacific Railroad]]

[[Southern Railway Paint Information|Southern Railway]]

[[St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad Paint Information|St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad]]

[[St. Lawrence & Ottawa Railway Paint Information|St. Lawrence & Ottawa Railway]]

[[St. Louis & San Francisco Railway Paint Information|St. Louis & San Francisco Railway]]

[[St. Louis & Southeastern Railway Paint Information|St. Louis & Southeastern Railway]]

[[St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Paint Information|St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway]]

[[St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Paint Information|St. Paul & Pacific Railroad]]

[[St. Paul Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Paint Information|St. Paul Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway]]

[[Street Railway Paint Information|Street Railways]]

[[Susquehanna Railroad Paint Information|Susquehanna Railroad]]

==T==

[[Texas Midland Railroad Paint Information|Texas Midland Railroad]]

[[Tiffany Refrigerator Car Paint Information|Tiffany Refrigerator Cars]]

[[Toledo & Central Ohio Railway Paint Information|Toledo & Central Ohio Railway]]

[[Toledo St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad Paint Information|Toledo St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad]]

==U==

[[Uintah Railway Paint Information|Uintah Railway]]

[[U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Supply Depot Paint Information|U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Supply Depot]]

[[Union Oil Company of California Paint Information|Union Oil Company of California]]

[[Union Pacific Rail Road Paint Information|Union Pacific Rail Road]]

[[Union Pacific Railway Paint Information|Union Pacific Railway]]

[[Union Pacific Railroad Paint Information|Union Pacific Railroad]]

[[Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway Paint Information|Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf Railway]]

[[Union Tank Line: Paint Information|Union Tank Line]]

[[Utah Central Railroad: Paint Information|Utah Central Railroad]]

[[Utah & Northern Railway: Paint Information|Utah & Northern Railway]]

[[Utah Railway: Paint Information|Utah Railway]]

[[Utah & Western Railroad: Paint Information|Utah Western Railway]]

[[Utica & Schenectady Railroad Paint Information|Utica & Schenectady Railroad]]

[[Utica Ithaca & Elmira Railroad Paint Information|Utica Ithaca & Elmira Railroad]]

==V==

[[Virginia & Truckee Railroad: Paint Information|Virginia & Truckee Railroad]]

[[Virginia Central Railroad Paint Information|Virginia Central Railroad]]

==W==

[[Wabash Railroad Paint Information|Wabash Railroad]]

[[Wagner Palace Car Company Paint Information|Wagner Palace Car Company]]

[[Washington City Virginia Midland & Great Southern Railway Paint Information|Washington City Virginia Midland & Great Southern Railway]]

[[Washington County Railroad Paint Information|Washington County Railroad]]

[[West Jersey & Atlantic Railroad Paint Information|West Jersey & Atlantic Railroad]]

[[West Shore Railroad Paint Information|West Shore Railroad]]

[[Western & Atlantic Railroad Paint Information|Western & Atlantic Railroad]]

[[Western Maryland Railroad Paint Information|Western Maryland Railroad]]

[[Western Railway of Alabama Paint Information|Western Railway of Alabama]]

[[Western Union Railroad Paint Information|Western Union Railroad]]

[[Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad Paint Information|Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad]]

[[White Line (Fast Freight) Paint Information|White Line (Fast Freight)]]

[[Williams Valley Railroad Paint Information|Williams Valley Railroad]]

[[Williamstown Railroad Paint Information|Williamstown Railroad]]

[[Wilmington Columbia & Augusta Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington Columbia & Augusta Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Northern Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Northern Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Reading Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Reading Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Weldon Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Weldon Railroad]]

[[Wilmington & Western Railroad Paint Information|Wilmington & Western Railroad]]

[[Windsor & Annapolis Railway Paint Information|Windsor & Annapolis Railway]]

[[Wisconsin Central Paint Information|Wisconsin Central Railroad]]

==X==

==Y==

[[York & Cumberland Railroad Paint Information|York & Cumberland Railroad]]

==Z==

Industrial Railroads of Utah

2024-12-06T17:56:12Z

Josh Bernard: /* Industrial Railroads. */

==Industrial Railroads.==

<div class="roadlist"><span class="mapicon">[[file:png_map_notavailable_150px.png|100px]]</span>
<span class="rltitle">[[Interstate Brick Company|Interstate Brick.]]</span><br />
'''[[:Category:24in Gauge Railroads|24in Gauge]].''' Known locally as the Trolley, this two-foot-gauge railroad was built to serve the clay pits and kilns of the Interstate Brick Company in Salt Lake City. Originally operating with mules, it was electrified in 1912.
<span class="rlbottom">1700 East Salt Lake City to Interstate Brick plant, Salt Lake County. 1898 - 1945</span>
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<h4 style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;margin-top:40px;width:120px;">No Listings.</h4>

Mining Railroads of Utah

2024-12-06T17:43:32Z

Josh Bernard: /* Mining Railroads. */ Changed Crescent Tramway gauge to 30 inches.

==Mining Railroads.==

<div class="roadlist"><span class="mapicon">[[file:png_map_notavailable_150px.png|100px]]</span>
<span class="rltitle">[[Alta Scenic Railway|Alta Scenic Railway.]]</span><br />
'''[[:Category:36in Gauge Railroads|36in Gauge]].''' <br />

<span class="rlbottom">Wasatch to Alta, Salt Lake County. 1925.</span>
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<div class="roadlist"><span class="mapicon">[[file:png_map_notavailable_150px.png|100px]]</span>
<span class="rltitle">[[Crescent Tram|Crescent Tram.]]</span><br />
'''[[:Category:30in Gauge Railroads|30in Gauge]].'''
<br />

<span class="rlbottom">Park City (Mill Site) to Crescent Mine, Summit County. 1884 - 1900</span>
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<div class="roadlist"><span class="mapicon">[[file:png_map_notavailable_150px.png|100px]]</span>
<span class="rltitle">[[Eureka Hill Railway|Eureka Hill Railway.]]</span><br />
'''[[:Category:36in Gauge Railroads|36in Gauge]].''' Constructed to serve the mines and Tintic smelter around Silver City held by Jesse Knight. Trains pulled by Shay locomotives operated up grades as steep as 5% bringing ore down the mountain to the smelter. The operation was profitable most of its life until the mines began to close in 1917. By 1928 the line filed for abandonment but remained in place until 1937.
<span class="rlbottom">American Fork to Deer Creek, Utah County. 1872 - 1878</span>
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<div class="roadlist"><span class="mapicon">[[file:png_map_notavailable_150px.png|100px]]</span>
<span class="rltitle">[[Little Cottonwood Transportation Company|Little Cottonwood Transportation Company.]]</span><br />
'''[[:Category:36in Gauge Railroads|36in Gauge]].''' <br />

<span class="rlbottom">1916 - 1925.</span>
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