Mikado Markings?

[Anonymous]

I'm building a scale 71/4" live steam Mikado. and hope to finish with some colour markings.
All the full size photos that I have seen are black (presumably war time paint), or they are old Black & White photos.
I did see a nice green/red marking on a small model Southern Railways Mikado advert but a very small photo lacking detail.
Can anyone tell me if any full size Mikado Locos were ever painted in anything other than black?

[M636C]

Virtually all American steam locomotives were black from about 1890 until the end of steam, with very few exceptions. The exceptions were almost always passenger locomotives, usually Pacific (4-6-2) Mountain (4-8-2) or 4-8-4 types.

The Mikado you saw a photo of was almost certainly Southern Railway USRA light Mikado no 4501 which was painted green in the 1960s for special passenger train operation. Those colours were used on similar looking Pacifics and Mountains during steam days, but not on freight locomotives.

However 4501 was really painted that way and lasted quite a few years in operation in those colours. It was dark green, with gold lining and lettering, with a graphite smokebox and a red-brown cab roof.

M636C

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, you exactly describe the small photo that I have taken from the LGB Train website leagacystation .com.
Do you, or any other members, have a larger photo showing more detail?
Thanks again ,
Jack.

[jimrice4449]

Great Northern painted all of their engines with "Glacier Green" boiler and cylinder jackets until around WWII. Many kept their green paint until the end. The exact shade of green was up to local shops but Scalecoat model RR paint has a "GN Glacier Green". Technically PRR painted all of their steam engines w/ "engine green enamel" but you had to be nose to nose w/ it in bright sunlight to tell it from black.

[Anonymous]

Thanks again - Your comments most helpful.
Jack.

[Anonymous]

Try the Southern Railway Historical Society Web site. They have a photo section that might be helpful. As far as I know, 4501 is stored at Chattanooga.

[West Coast S]

Southern Pacific was a prolific user of special paint in the 20's and 30's, examples such as dove grey, blue green, royal blue, and various green shades could be observed applied to every wheel araignment from 0-6-0's to the massive MT class Mountains, special paint disapeared except for a few 0-6-0's employed in passenger switching by the mid 30's.

The Southern 4501 is the what could have been scheme, no Southern Mikados or freight power ever wore Virginia Green while in regular service. 4501 recieved Virginia Green as a tribute to the great PS Pacific's, only was was saved and it was impossible to obtain for restoration..


Dave