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PRR Light Mikado color scheme

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  • Member since
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PRR Light Mikado color scheme
Posted by monon46135 on Thursday, September 1, 2011 8:48 AM

What was the color of the cab roof and windows of the Pennsylvania Light Mikado locomotives? Photos of prototypes are generally in black and white making it impossible to determine the color of the cab roof. Some have suggested that the color should be a version of oxide red similar to the tender deck color. Recent models on the market  (BLI, Paragon, 9631, Light Mikado) have the cab all black with the tender sporting the red deck.

  • Member since
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Posted by steamfreightboy on Thursday, September 1, 2011 10:11 AM

I don't have an answer, but a good place to check would be kc.pennsyrr.com. They have plenty of info and documents on the PRR and you might be able to find an answer there.

sfb

"It's your layout, only you have to like it." Lin's Junction
  • Member since
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  • From: Northfield Center TWP, OH
  • 2,538 posts
Posted by dti406 on Thursday, September 1, 2011 11:54 AM

Cab Roofs were painted with three coats of paint, the first was pure red oxide, the second was 75% red oxide and 25% black, the third was 50% red oxide and 50% black. 

Window shashes were an orange/red color.  Also the coal space was painted in red oxide along with the cistern top.  Frames for the locmotive and tender were black along with the tender truck frames.

The boiler, cab, pilot, pilot truck and trailing truck were painted DGLE along with the tender sides and ends.  The drivers could be painted either DGLE or black depending on the shop. Pilot truck wheels and trailing truck wheels were painted black.

Smokebox and exposed firebox were painted with graphite and oil.

Rick

Rule 1: This is my railroad.

Rule 2: I make the rules.

Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!

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Posted by locoi1sa on Friday, September 2, 2011 4:43 PM

  If my memory serves me correctly the Pennsy did not have any USRA light Mikes. They took delivery of a few heavy mikes but unloaded them quickly after govt. control. They were ex-GR&I with radial stay fire box and hodges trailing trucks. There was a total of 5 numbered 9627 to 9631. 

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr9627s.jpg

  They did like the USRA 2-10-2 and kept them on the roster on lines west for a long time. They even grafted a Belpair boiler on them.

        Pete

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Northfield Center TWP, OH
  • 2,538 posts
Posted by dti406 on Saturday, September 3, 2011 3:06 PM

The GR&I got light mikes and the PRR kept them, mostly only used on the southern end of the GR&I tracks and based out of Pendleton, OH.

They also received 32 more light mikes but shipped them out to the MP after the war.

 

RickMy 2 Cents

Rule 1: This is my railroad.

Rule 2: I make the rules.

Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 8 posts
Posted by John Craig on Sunday, April 22, 2012 4:30 PM

They also worked branches in western Indiana. There are for example photos of them in-service in Rockville, Ind.

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  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Monday, April 23, 2012 4:55 PM

BTW, "DGLE" is Dark Green Locomotive Enamel.

Stix
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Monday, April 23, 2012 7:25 PM

There was some talk awhile back about the cab roofs on the PRRT&HS discussion forum. The consensus was that some roundhouses did not paint the roofs separate colors. Weather it was a rush job or some cab roof repair some ended up DGLE just like the locomotives. And some of the old timers seem to recall that some roofs had the black rubber membrane on it. Here are some color shots of class I1sa.

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr4308.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr4253.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr85.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr4272s.jpg  Best roof shot.

Granted these shots are taken very near the end of their careers. If the roofs were FCC (Freight car color) then I think they would stand out more than they do.

         Pete

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

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