Orange W.P.

[sarges]

Was looking through some old books the other day and i saw a pic. of-i assume G.P.38 photo caption gave no info-painted solid orange with small w.p. lettering.How many w.p. units were painted this solid orange,and why?Cheaper i'm guessing!     mick

[SSW9389]

WP GP35 #3003 was the only low nose unit painted in solid orange. This was an experimental paint scheme. Other F units and GP7s, GP9s and switchers wore solid orange paint for some time.

 

Was looking through some old books the other day and i saw a pic. of-i assume G.P.38 photo caption gave no info-painted solid orange with small w.p. lettering.How many w.p. units were painted this solid orange,and why?Cheaper i'm guessing!     mick

[Alco83]

Wasn't this scheme tried during the Pearlman era?

[SSW9389]

"Most paint jobs from early 1966 through the end of the 1960s were essentially solid orange; the WP wanted to eliminate the aluminum lacquer which deteriorated rapidly because there was no primer that could be used over the lacquer." from D-Day on the Western Pacific by Virgil Staff p. 203.

Alfred E. Perlman started with the WP on December 1, 1970. He was the one that started the dark green with orange paint.  

Wasn't this scheme tried during the Pearlman era?

[Alco83]

Thanks, SSW.  I knew that Perlman was responsible for a more solid color scheme but couldn't remember which colors were dominant (looking it up now I guess he introduced the solid green with orange lettering and trim). 

[wjstix]

Wouldn't the primer be under the lacquer...first the primer coat, then the aluminum paint over it??

[SSW9389]

Stix I think the quote from the Staff book is in relation to repaints. Specifically repainting with out stripping the unit first. The idea was to eliminate the aluminum paint entirely because you could not paint over it in its poor condition. The solid orange paint would allow spot painting. That's my take on that previous quote. WP was known for some shabby paint jobs during these years, especially on freight and switcher units.

 

Wouldn't the primer be under the lacquer...first the primer coat, then the aluminum paint over it??

[arkansasrailfan]

Look in last month's Trains, it talks about Pearlman, and what he did(In a article)