Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Paint Information

Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index

General

1880

Listed as a user of “Iron Clad” metallic paints starting in May of 1880 (this does not necessarily mean it was used on cars).

The National Car Builder, May 1880, pg. 2

Passenger Equipment

1871

Passenger coaches painted golden ochre, striped in red and blue, with the borders of the panelling being “defined by a line of black, broader than the striping of the body.” Car numbers painted within an “oval tablet, painted in crimson” on each side of the car bodies, the number occupying “the centre of a wreath of gilt scroll work” inside of the oval. Window sashes painted “in imitation of rose wood.” Trucks painted “in a color several shades darker than the coach,” relieved by striping in blue and yellow. Corners of the car and doorposts are rounded uprights, ending at the top with a “carved corbel, the latter grained in imitation of rose wood.” The car lettering is “Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway.”

The Goodhue County Republican (Red Wing, MN), 30 November 1871

1880

Sleeping cars painted buff, striped and ornamented in eastlake designs.

The Daily Republican (Wilmington, DE), 22 June 1880

1881

Passenger cars painted a “dark orange color with gilt ornamentation.”

The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Harrisburg, PA), 6 June 1881

CM&StP considered changing the paint used on passenger cars from ochre to “some darker color.”

The National Car Builder, November 1881, pg 130

1883

Parlor car, “Aberdeen,” and dining car both painted maroon.

The National Car Builder, July 1883, p.80

1890

Sleeping, dining, and parlor cars painted “Pullman color.”

Passenger, baggage, and “other cars” painted yellow.

The National Car and Locomotive Builder, October 1890, pg. 147

1898

Passenger cars running “The Pioneer Limited” painted “a deep rich yellow in different shades, and finished in gold.”

Manitoba Morning Free Press (Winnipeg, MB), 17 May 1898

The interior of the Pioneer Limited's buffet-smoking cars are finished in St. Jago majogany with venetian red ceilings that fade to peach at the highest point and decorated with gold leaf striping. Seats are in green plush.

The interior of the Pioneer Limited's sleeping cars are finished in vermillion wood with robin's egg blue ceilings and decorated with gold leaf striping.

Company Scrapbook vol. 4: 1897-1898

1900

The standard color of the CM&StP is "rich orange chrome."

Parlor cars "Wyocena" and "Sparta" built by Barney & Smith are painted orange chrome with gold ornamentation. The interior walls are mahogany. The upholstery is old red plush and draperies are rich green.

Railway Age 29 June 1900 p638.

Structures

Reference / Historic Railroad Paint Color Index

1915

National Paint Works No. 400 Carbon Black is used on bridges.

[Cheeseman, Frank P. The Review of Technical Paint. New York: Cheeseman & Elliot, 1915.]