Here is what a member of a C&EI forum wrote about the actual color scheme used on the prototype.
There are at least 3 different "C&EI blue" colors.
#1 is what I think of as "Whippoorwill blue" (although it was used first, I think, on the Cardinal). This is the blue of the blue-orange scheme. I think the HS at one point sold this color that they had custom made by one of the model paint manufacturers. Maybe we could convince them to do another run.
#2 is the dark blue similar or identical to the dark blue used by L&N on the Pine sleepers, and then applied to most of L&N's streamline passenger equipment and many of the heavyweights. I believe (from photos) that this is also the dark blue used on E&F units as well as some passenger cars on the C&EI from the mid-late 50's (although the blue-orange scheme was still seen on some passenger cars and F units- especially Bs- into the mid 60s). This is NOT the blue marketed by Modelflex as "L&N" blue, which is the lighter blue of the L&N gray-blue scheme of the late 60s. I think the Modelflex color might also be correct (it is certainly close) to NC&StL blue.
#3 is Jenks Blue applied to cars and units operated by MP in the late 60s.
Rich
Alton Junction
Thank you for your input. Dark blue. Would that be close to a "WABASH" blue or darker? Like a B&O "Royal Blue" blue?
Hi Mark - sorry, I should have clearly stated that "Red Rock Pass" was an air conditioned heavyweight. Shot was taken by Wilbourne Cox who had retired to Florida. From the early-to-mid 50s he shot a number of heavyweights set out in front of the Orlando depot, including cars lettered for LV and N&W. Hope that helps. Art
artpeterson Hi - in response to your comment about the colors of C&EI heavyweights, I have a picture taken in May 1955 in Orlando of "Red Rock Pass", which was in dark blue with gold lettering and striping. This car was lettered for C&EI and had the "Pullman" name on the letterboard adjacent to either vestibule. Hope this helps, Art
Hi - in response to your comment about the colors of C&EI heavyweights, I have a picture taken in May 1955 in Orlando of "Red Rock Pass", which was in dark blue with gold lettering and striping. This car was lettered for C&EI and had the "Pullman" name on the letterboard adjacent to either vestibule. Hope this helps, Art
That's interesting Art. In 1955 the only train that ran over the C&EI to Florida that might regularly have carried a heavyweight sleeper was the Dixie Flyer. But by then that train and its single sleeper terminated in Jacksonville and didn't run on through Orlando. I don't remember when or even if through sleepers to Florida west coast cities were added to the Dixie Flager. The Flagler might have carried such cars for a short time prior to its discontinuance in 1957 but if it did I'm pretty sure they would have been lightweight streamlined cars like their counterparts on the Southwind and City of Miami.
As I carefully read your message I don't see that you specifically stated whether the "Red Rock Pass" was a light or heavyweight car. Would you take another look at the photo and see if you can tell which it is and if it is a part of a stainless steel ACL consist? A picture is worth a thousand words and if it's a heavyweight then I stand corrected about the C&EI not having any such cars painted in the blue/gold color scheme.
Mark
The Wheels O' Time Museum in Peoria Il. has C&EI heavyweight observation "Danville" they are restoreing. The car shows signs under the bad pulman green color of the origanl color of the car . Bright blue with a yellow stripe above and below the windows. If anyone has any pics of the "Danville" in service please e-mail the info to me. So we can include it in the cars history.
Blue and Orange were the colors of the early EMD engines when the C&EI dieselized its passenger trains shortly after WW2. The very first units received were assigned to the Dixie Flagler replacing the streamlined 4-6-2 that had headed that train since it was inaugurated in 1940. As additional units were received from EMD they were assigned to other trains as well including the Dixie Flyer, Meadowlark, Whipporwill, Hummingbird and Georgian.
I am fairly certain the C&EI never had any heavyweight sleepers painted blue/gold and believe Rapido has taken some "liberties" in modeling C&EI cars in these colors. Around 1950 the L&N placed 22 Pine series lightweight streamlined sleepers in service which were painted dark blue with gold lettering and gray roofs. These cars definitley did run on the C&EI between Chicago and Evansville in the consists of the Hummingbird, Georgian and possibly Dixie Flagler but they were L&N not C&EI cars.
Hi - I can provide two timepoints in the transition between paintschemes for one C&EI locomotive - F3A 1204. As of August 2, 1952 it was in the dark blue and orange scheme the other posters have mentioned previously. The consist that day was the 1204 heading an F3B and an E7A. Both the F3s have a single, straight orange stripe on the sides, while the E7A has narrower orange stripes separated by dark blue with a zig-zag towards the rear of the carbody to give it a lightning stripe.
By November 26, 1957, the 1204 had been repainted in simple dark blue with the road name and logo in yellow on the carbody. An unknown F3B was in tow that day, also in this simple dark blue scheme.
Hope that's of some help! Art
mobilman44 Hi! A good friend and fellow MR picked up a set of C&EI (Chicago & Eastern Illinois) diesels in a striking bright blue and orange paint scheme. Having grown up in Chicagoland in the 50s/60s, I never recall seeing this scheme - always recall the C&EI locos as being "all blue". My question is, when did this scheme come about? Thanks! Mobilman44
Hi!
A good friend and fellow MR picked up a set of C&EI (Chicago & Eastern Illinois) diesels in a striking bright blue and orange paint scheme. Having grown up in Chicagoland in the 50s/60s, I never recall seeing this scheme - always recall the C&EI locos as being "all blue".
My question is, when did this scheme come about?
Thanks!
Mobilman44
The orange and blue diesel scheme were utilized on EMD passenger units around 1948. They were primarily used on its own streamliners, the Whippoorwill and Meadowlark. I'm sure those units were also on the head of the Dixie Flagler as well.
Rapido just released a series of C&EI sleeper cars in HO scale. They are based on the older C&EI heavyweights on the prototype. They are pale blue frames with dull yellow lettering and dingy colored cream roofs.
They are quite a contrast to the bright blue and orange locos.
Did the bright blue and orange locos team up with these old blue and yellow heavyweights on the prototype?
The blue and orange colors may have been the original road power colors at the onset of dieselization. I'm more familiar with various C&EI geeps painted black with white trim stripes and lettering. The solid blue came with C&EI's purchase by MP around 1965-1966.
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter