I looked thru all my 'C&NW in color' books, and couldn't find a color pic of the Mankato depot. However, it appears many C&NW brick depots had their windows/trim painted tuscan red, the same color used on (apparently many) C&NW wood buildings (and freight cars). In a pic I found of the Winona brick depot, the windows are about the same color as the brick.
BTW technically Mankato was an Omaha (C.St.P.M.& O. Ry.) station, the C&NW leased 50% of it.
Did you try the CNW Historical site?
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Just off the top of my head, I've seen C&NW stations that were painted in the railroad's yellow and green, but I've seen ones that were light gray with dark gray trim too. Could be wrong, but I think the two-tone gray was earlier, and the yellow and green came after WW2.
I am in the process of scratch building a model of the Mankato Minnesota Chicago and Northwestern depot. The era being modeled is late 50s. I am having a hard time finding photos from the 50s (black and white or color) that show what the trim would have been painted. I have early photos (1900-1920) that show the trim to be a dark color, and a colorized post card that shows the trim all dark green. I also have photos from the late 70s that show the trim painted like it is today, dark green and white.
does anyone have a photo or remember what the trim would have been painted in the 50s?
here is my depot progress.