Steam & Excursion > Cab Windows - what color?

OK, so callem_out raised a question that warrents some further investigation.  (Well, it really doesn't, but being self quatantined I've got way too much time on my hands)
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,4983242

What colors WERE used to paint the window sashes and frames of cab windows? 

Since color film was invented I can remember seeing Reds (Firetruck, Vermillion, Barn, Brown), Natural (Varnish), Green (Bright, Forest, Irish), and Black (Painted that way, or very dirty).

What was done before that?  Was it always standard across a railroads roster?  Who decided?  (Home Office?  Shop Supt?  Engineer?  Union?)  Did this change with the shopworkers strike of 1926?  (There's a definte lack of color photo documentation prior to that).

What about other colors - blue?  violet?  orange? white?  buff?  

-LD

I would suspect that it depended on the specific railroad, the era, i.e. late 19th century, early 20th century, and/or mid 20th century, and lastly the type of locomotive.

Not to mention white as a very common color. And the shame of posting the roof ventilator to confuse as West coast guys!

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> [Snip] And the shame of posting the roof ventilator to
> confuse as West coast guys!
>
> Out

Huh?

-LD

N&W Mallets were painted red when freshly shopped.   Nice!

Lima-Hamilton's last 10 Berkshires #770-779 constructed for the NKP in 1949 had varnished, natural wood window frames in their cabs. Be safe.
John B. Corns -- a.k.a. misterwandle

I'm sorry, I called a vacuum brake muffler a roof ventilator, how callous of me.

Out 

All I remember around here is black on the outside and green on the inside.

L&N- Some black, others red. 
C&O- yellow.
ICRR- black
ACL- white
Southern- red.
N&W- orange, not red.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/20 21:22 by Panamerican99.

I have a video about the restoration of the Santa Fe 3751, and the cab windows were ash, with a clear stain.

Yes, based on what I've seen, it depended on the road. For example some assume all steam loco cab roofs were red--not so.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Don- As I recall, when we painted N&W 2156 we did them in kind of a Tuscan red because we had it on hand in the NMOT maintenance shack. No historical basis but it was paint and shiny. We were on a timeline to get the engine out the gate for it's multi-year display at St. Louis Union Station on track 10.

MWPerkins

Posted from Android