Lehigh Valley Railroad: Paint Information

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 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YT6N-t9dNqsVLpXPJJTY6N9CvobuDH1x/view?usp=sharing

The National Car Builder, July 1882, pg. 73 https://catalog.lindahall.org/discovery/delivery/01LINDAHALL_INST:LHL/1286056230005961?lang=en

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 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZL_n1NqVEABefefW8xuRFDD0U5MFi6Vs/view?usp=sharing

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.” Geneva Advertiser Tuesday, May 19, 1896 http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/xmisc/lvrr01.txt “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.”

Elmira Daily Gazette and Free Press May 7, 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.”

Ithaca Daily Journal Thursday, May 14, 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.”

Illustrated Buffalo Express Sunday, May 17, 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.”