Lehigh Valley Railroad: Paint Information

Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index

Locomotives

1896

Steam locomotives are painted black, including the boiler jackets.

"For this purpose, as our locomotives are painted black throughout, I have found the following mixture the best of any so far tried [for boiler jackets]: One-half pound dry lampblack, well burned, and finely ground, in one pint of boiled linseed oil, thinned with 1 1/2 quarts rubbing varnish, one-half pint turpentine, and one-fourth pint japan gold-size." -Respectfully submitted, Thomas H. Soley, Lehigh Valley Railroad.

"Mr. Soley's Paper," Railroad Car Journal Vol.VI October 1896 No.10 p245.

Freight Cars

1892

LV coal and hopper cars known to be painted black.

The Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, NY) 19 September 1892

1896

LV boxcars are red. On one side of the boxcars is painted a white staff with a red pennant, on which is painted a black diamond. Within the diamond is painted “L. V.” in white.

Passenger Cars

1876

LV passenger cars painted “an ugly green color.”

The Springfield Republican (Springfield, MA), 15 February 1876

1882

LV passenger cars painted a “light olive color,” with gold and black striping, and “the only ornaments being the name of the road and the number of the car.”

The Daily Republican (Wilmington, DE), 16 May 1882

The National Car Builder, July 1882, pg. 73

1885

LV passenger cars start to be painted red.

The Wilkes-Barre Record (Wilkes-Barre, PA), 31 December 1885

1886

LV “standard color” for passenger cars is Tuscan red, with lettering and striping the “same as heretofore.”

The Hazelton Sentinel (Hazelton, PA), 5 January 1886

1892

LV starts to paint passenger cars in “the Reading’s” brown, with gold trimmings.

The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA), 28 June 1892

1892

LV starts to paint passenger cars in “the Reading’s” olive green.

The Wilkes-Barre Record (Wilkes-Barre, PA), 12 October 1892

1896

Passenger cars of the LV “Black Diamond Express” painted a “glossy coal.”

“It is an elegant train of four cars all of the Pullman make, and all elegantly upholstered. The color outside is a glossy coal, in keeping with its name.”

Geneva Advertiser Tuesday, May 19, 1896

“The single train was really made up of what will be three trains, a total of 12 cars. Each train has a cafe and baggage car combined, two day coaches and a parlor car. On the baggage portion of the combination car is painted ‘Black Diamond Express’ in gilt letters with a green wreath and the well known Lehigh Valley flag.”

Elmira Daily Gazette and Free Press May 7, 1896

“The exterior is painted the Lehigh standard, the only variation being on the forward car on which appears also the heraldry of the ‘L.V.’ enclosed in a wreath, and the words ‘Black Diamond Express’ in aluminum leaf.”

Ithaca Daily Journal Thursday, May 14, 1896

“The exterior of the train is painted according to the quiet Lehigh Valley standard. Inside is to be found not only repose for the body and conveniences of all sorts, but the eye Is pleased and the brain soothed by the most artistic combinations of colors and mural decorations, hanging and upholstery. There is not a trace of gaudiness to be seen; everything is rich and quiet, and therefore enduringly effective.”

Illustrated Buffalo Express Sunday, May 17, 1896

Structures

1915

National Paint Works No. 400 Carbon Black is used on most bridges. National Paint Works No.300 Suspended Red Lead is tested on some bridges.

[Cheeseman, Frank P. The Review of Technical Paint. New York: Cheeseman & Elliot, 1915.]

Paint Standards

Physical paint samples of Lehigh Valley Railroad colors adpoted May 22, 1894.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania collection.

1. Body Color Passenger Equipment Cars
2. Roof Color Passenger Equipment Cars
3. Truck Color Platform Color Passenger Equipment Cars
4. Floor Color Passenger Equipment Colors
5. Outside Sash Color Passenger Equipment Cars
6. Body Striping & Letter Color Pass. Equipment Cars Engines; Cabooses Painted Red.
7. Truck Striping Color. Pass. Equipment Cars Lettering Heater and Refrigerator Cars Body Color of Locomotive & Tender
8. Color For Iron Seats Pass. Equipment. Cars Color for Cabs Inside. Color for Shop Machinery.
9. Color For All Iron Work on all Equipment- Packerton Car Black.
10. Body Color For Tiff, & Wickes. Refrigerator Inside Walls Bagg, Express & Caboose
11. Body Color For Eastman Heaters.
12. Body Color Truck Color. Box & Beer Stock Derrick Tool Service Cabooses Boilers Cab Roofs Inside of tanks Trucks for Above cars and cabooses.
13. Trimming for inside of cabooses; base of baggage & express
14. Inside ceiling. bagg. express & caboose.
15. Caboose color 1st and 2nd coat.
16. Caboose. color final coat flags on house cars.
17. Letter color for. all cars painted with 12 and 9 Painting inside of headlights
18. Color for steam pipes on locomotives and cars when covered.

Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index