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 1888

1884

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

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

Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index