Baltimore & Ohio Paint Information
Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index
Freight Cars
1851
B&O used “Blake’s Patent Ohio Fire-Proof Paint” since 1850. The testimonials indicate that “Black” and “Chocolate color” paints were used, but do not explicitly state that the paint was used on cars.
The American Railroad Journal, 11 February 1854, pg. 96
Blake’s Ohio Fire-Proof Paint, patented in 1848, was prepared from a “peculiar clay found in Sharon County, Ohio.”
The most commonly referenced colours of Blake’s paints are a dark chocolate colour and a dark slate colour that was nearly black.
There are two sources that describe the chemical composition of Blake’s paint. The first, from 1851, lists the paint pigment as being 54% silica, 24.2% alumina (aluminium oxide), 12.05% protoxide of iron (FeO2, iron peroxide), 2.31% lime, 2.42% magnesia (magnesium oxide), 1.5% carbon, 0.11% sulfur, 5% water, and 0.41% “loss.” In 1852, the chemical composition was listed as 48.15% silica, 21% alumina (aluminium oxide), and 18.3% oxide of iron (FeO, iron monoxide).
The Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil, 1855, pg. 236
The American Farmer’s Magazine, 1852, pg. 257
The Alexandria Gazette and Virginia Advertiser (Alexandria, VA), 10 May 1849
1853
B&O paint shop used “Ross’ Colchester Purple Metallic Paint” on cars (but not on wood parts). Ross’ paint was based in Truro, NS.
The Gazette (Montreal, QC), 13 July 1857
1874
B&O freight cars begin to be painted dark brown. Old Continental Line and Continental Line paint schemes to be removed.
The Sun (Baltimore, MD), 14 July 1874
1880
B&O refrigerator cars painted bright yellow with black edges. The cars also had a red diamond painted on each side, containing the letter “R” painted in black.
The National Car Builder, September 1881, pg. 144
1890
B&O fast freight boxcars painted green and marked with a “white shield.”
The Republican (Oakland, MD), 26 September 1890
B&O Southwestern coal cars painted brown.
The Evening Capital (Annapolis, MD), 30 December 1890
1892
Double-hopper gondola cars painted mineral brown with asphaltum ironwork and underframes, lettered in white lead.
The National Car and Locomotive Builder, September 1892, pg. 137
1893
Lumber cars painted mineral brown, with ironwork and underframes painted either asphaltum or "smoke-stack black."
Railroad Car Journal, February 1893, pg. 93
1896
Boxcars have either a white globe and large B&O reporting marks, or a white band with "Balt. & Ohio" painted on black.
The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, 15 December 1896
1897
Refrigerator cars are repainted white with black lettering.
The Boston Herald (Boston, MA), 28 September 1897
1900
Steel coal cars painted light brown.
The Sun (Baltimore, MD), 30 January 1900
Cabooses painted brown over the entire body, including running gear, with white lettering.
The Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge, OH), 18 November 1901
1901
Boxcars and gondolas are repainted red, replacing the "former standard colors."
The West Virginian Argus (Kingwood, WV), 21 March 1901
Cabooses repainted scarlet with brown trim, black ironwork and running gear, and white lettering.
The Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge, OH), 18 November 1901
Passenger Equipment
1830
The B&O's first eight-wheel passenger car "Columbus" was painted yellow.
Ross Winans vs. the Eastern Railroad Company, 1854, pg. 472
1856
Passenger cars painted vermillion red with blue and white striping. Running gear and ironwork painted black.
The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 17 September 1856
The American Commercial Advertiser (Baltimore, MD), 17 November 1856
1870
Coaches painted orange.
The Wheeling Daily Register (Wheeling, WV), 18 January 1870
Sleeping cars built by Jackson & Sharp painted green and gold.
Wilmington Daily Council (Wilmington, DE), 12 August 1870
1871
Passenger car colors are standardized.
Public Ledger (Memphis, TN), 23 August 1871
1873
Passenger cars painted "delicate yellow" with red, green and brown striping.
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), 29 March 1873
Postal cars painted yellow with gold striping and ornamented corners.
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), 2 July 1873
1876
Coaches are repainted to Wine color.
The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 18 December 1876
The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (Wheeling, WV), 20 December 1876
1879
Passenger cars painted a dark brown, described by newspapers as black, plum and olive in addition to brown.
The West Virginia Argus (Kingwood, WV), 25 January 1879
Columbus Evening Dispatch (Columbus, OH), 12 February 1879
The Wheeling Register (Wheeling, WV), 21 March 1879
1880
New sleeping cars built by Barney & Smith painted brown and gold.
The Cleveland Leader (Cleveland, OH), 16 October 1880
Passenger cars painted "rich olive color" with gilt-panel striping and ornamental figures.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RauDyzhaZnDiwrpEjfw2eR7n57yZcn1M/view?usp=sharing%7C The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), 1 November 1880]
1881
The standard color for passenger coaches described as "chocolate."
The Sun (Baltimore, MD), 26 February 1881
1882
Passenger cars painted "chocolate" with "plain striping."
The National Car Builder, January 1882, pg. 10
Sleeping cars painted the same as coaches (chocolate with gold striping) but with black letterboards.
The National Car Builder, June 1882, pg. 62
Five new postal cars built in the Mount Clare shops painted white with ultramarine borders and gold lettering. Trucks and underframe painted black and light brown.
The National Car Builder, August 1882, pg. 89
1890
"Royal Blue Line" passenger cars painted dark blue.
The Evening Journal (Wilmington, DE), 30 August 1890
1891
Passenger cars painted "dark brown, the standard color."
The Morning Herald (Baltimore, OH), 10 July 1891
1892
"Royal Blue Line" cars repainted into the "Standard Pullman color, an olive brown."
The National Car and Locomotive Builder, January 1892, pg. 18
1893
Passenger cars painted dark wine.
The Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, PA), 24 February 1893
In spite of what was reported in 1892, "Royal Blue Line" cars are still dark blue.
The National Car and Locomotive Builder, June 1893, pg. 98
1895
Postal cars repainted to the standard colors with silver lettering.
The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, MN), 9 October 1895
1896
All passenger cars repainted "Royal Blue" with gold striping and black roofs. The platforms and trucks painted salmon shade. Repainting was gradual and still underway in April 1873.
The Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD), 6 May 1896
Wheeling Register (Wheeling, WV), 8 May 1896
The Mansfield Daily Shield (Mansfield, OH), 3 April 1897
1901
Coaches painted a "brownish, black or drab color."