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

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

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

1884

B&O Globe Line fast freight cars painted green and decorated with a large globe.

The Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, MA), 5 September 1884

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 large B. & O. letters with a white globe between them on the car door, or a white band with "Balt. & Ohio" painted in black.

The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, 15 December 1896

1897

Refrigerator cars begin to be painted 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

1901

Boxcars and gondolas begin to be painted red, replacing the "former standard colors."

The West Virginian Argus (Kingwood, WV), 21 March 1901

Cabooses

1900

Cabooses painted brown over the entire body, including running gear, with white lettering.

The Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge, OH), 18 November 1901

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

Passenger car, “Columbus,” painted yellow. This was the first eight-wheeled passenger car.

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 a "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

Passenger 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 painted “in rich olive color, relieved by ornamental stripes and figures of oriental design.”

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m0zkAo2tbIHzWXtAS72VzAz5XEtkJSQc/view?usp=sharing The Sun (Baltimore, MD), 14 September 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 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.