Merchant's Despatch (MDT) Paint Information
Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index
Freight Cars
1871
MDT freight cars are painted drab.
The Evening News (Indianapolis, IN), 9 September 1871
1874
Fruit cars used on the NYC&HRR are painted drab.
The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 7 January 1874
1875
MDT refrigerator cars painted “lead color, having a white and red band running the full length of the car, along the bottom.” The letter “R” is painted in a circle of red on one end of the car.
The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 27 October 1875
1876
MDT cars displayed at the Philadelphia Exposition are painted slate color with a red, white, and blue stripe along the bottom of the side and end sheathing. Ironwork is painted black.
The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 10 May 1876
Another observer seeing the same cars described them as "green."
Railway World Vol. 20, 1 July 1876
1880
MDT cars have brown roofs.
“The Cost of Painting Freight Cars as Affected by their Color,” Railroad Gazette, 10 December 1880
1889
MDT refrigerator cars built by Pullman are painted white with the red, white and blue stripe.
White, The American Railroad Freight Car, 1993
1896
MDT cars are described as painted gray with red, white and blue stripes.
The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, 15 December 1896
1905
A scale model of a refrigerator car built for company use by MDT's car shops is painted white with red, white and blue stripes, a brown roof and black ironwork.
"Refrigerator Car Model 2000.0032.01, Smithsonian National Museum of American History
1934
Refrigerator cars leased to Jacob Dold Refrigerator line (JDPX) are painted with red roof and ends, yellow sides, black lettering, and black ladders and ironwork.
Merchants Despatch Inc. Lettering Diagram: Rochester New York, 3 November 1934
1936
Refrigerator cars leased to Republic Food Products Co. Refrigerator Line (RFPX) are painted with red roof and ends, yellow sides, black lettering, black ladders and ironwork.
Merchants Despatch Inc. Lettering Diagram: Rochester New York, 1 July 1936
1937
Stock cars leased to NELX are painted with Dark Red Oxide on the body, roof and letterboards; Underframe and trucks are Black No.1 Car Cement; Lettering is Snolite No.5 (white).
Merchants Despatch Inc. Lettering Diagram: Rochester New York, 10 February 1937
1938
Refrigerator cars leased to Eastern Refrigerator Despatch (ERDX) are painted with red roof and ends, yellow sides, black lettering, and black ladders and ironwork.
Merchants Despatch Inc. Lettering Diagram: Rochester New York, 31 August 1938