Southern Pacific Railroad: Paint Information

Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index

See Central Pacific Railroad: Paint Information

Freight Cars

1883

Cabooses are painted bright red.

The Kern County Californian (Bakersfield, CA), 10 November 1888

1891

Southern Pacific adopts the "setting sun" monogram.

The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA), 4 June 1891

Passenger Equipment

1881

Coaches painted bright yellow with red roofs.

The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 9 August 1881

1883

Passenger cars painted pale green.

Emigrant cars painted the same bright red as cabooses.

The Kern County Californian (Bakersfield, CA), 10 November 1883

1884

Passenger cars are repainted to a "Rich brown similar to the Pullman cars."

The Silver State (Unionville, NV), 1 March 1884

1885

The passenger stock is in first class order, and is nearly all painted in the new standard color, dark brown.

Southern Pacific Company Annual Report, December 31, 1885.

Common Standard

1893

Twenty coaches built by Pullman for the Southern Pacific were painted green with gold leaf scrollwork. The interior was finished in "vermilion wood." The seating was upholstered in fawn color except in the two drawing rooms where it was green frieze.

"Pullman's Masterpiece," Ogden Daily Standard, 3 March 1893

Dupont paint color number 88-4558, CS-1 Dark Olive in Japan, also CS-7 Dark Olive.

See: CS-1 Dark Olive

See: Pullman Color

Locomotives

1891

Locomotives painted a somber black, brass fittings and multiple colors removed or painted over.

August 22, 1891 Oakland Daily Evening Tribune, page 2

1896

Passenger Locomotives: Painted Drop Black with gold striping and lettering. Sand dome and number plate figures in red brass. Number painted in black on headlight glass. Lettering, Numbering and Striping for Passenger Locomotives. June 13, 1896.

Freight Locomotives: Painted drop black with aluminum numbering, no striping. Sand dome and number plate figures in red brass. Number painted in black on headlight glass. SP Loco Painters - Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 92, Number 9, 30 August 1896.

Motor Cars

1913

McKeen Motor Cars painted Cherry in Japan (later called Pacific Lines Red) with gold leaf lettering, numbers painted aluminum.
SP Company Drawing 607-7160 12-17-08, Southern Pacific Painting & Lettering Guide. 2019, SP Historical & Technical Society.

1914

Interior of permanent motorman's compartments are painted CS-15 Enamel Green.
Body and vestibule, including outside Of end doors and window sash Of electric cars: No. 214 Cherry in Japan.
Body and vestibule, including outside Of end doors and window sash Of electric cars: No. 215 Ground for Cherry in Japan.
SP Common Standard 22 Paint Specifications, July 1914.

1920s

At some point in the 1920s the body paint color for motor cars is changed to CS-1 Olive Green and black roof. The trucks of the motors may have been CS-2 Olive Green initially transitioning to black in the 1930s.

Buildings

1885

New signs replacing the old Central Pacific branding on the Ogden Utah depot are painted white with black lettering. The ticket window sign is lettered "Southern Pacific Co. Ticket Office. To all points west."

Ogden Herald, 6 may 1885

Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index