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Question about PRR T1 Duplex paint colors

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  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Question about PRR T1 Duplex paint colors
Posted by Wolf359 on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 2:09 PM

I am building a Bowser PRR T1 Duplex kit, (you've probably seen the ongoing saga of technical issues and questions on the General Discussion section with it) I know the main locomotive and tender color is Brunswick Green, but I was wondering if anyone can tell me what the correct colors are for the tender deck and coal bunker. I've looked at photos of other T1 models, and they all have different shades of red on the tender deck.

Thank you.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,321 posts
Posted by selector on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 7:13 PM

I can't say with any certainty, but the Pennsy had red GG1 locomotives painted Tuscan Red.  Their freight cars were sometimes 'freight car red', somewhat akin to "iron oxide red", which is what I believe the tender deck's color was.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,229 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 8:31 PM

Hi,

I will send you a PM and if you give me an email address I can send you a write-up on painting PRR locomotives.

* [edit] Well, I don't see any way to send you a PM so you can send one to me if you wish. I have it in a Dropbox location, too. You can get it there.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/50nmpegwlofr2e3/PRR_Paint_1929.pdf?dl=0

 

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,326 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 10:31 AM

That is a wonderful reference but of course is over a decade early for any T1.

To my knowledge all of the 'production' engines were DGLE with 'imitation gold' striping and lettering (there is some controversy about what is and isn't "Dulux Gold" and the correct formulations for model paint) which should be at least similar to the 'buff' used on the BP-20s. [EDIT: upon further consultation the 'buff' would not have been used until after 1952, by which time I think no T1s were being repainted, and the imitation gold is from 1948 or that period.  So gold leaf is likely correct for all T1s as built, and probably for those modified to remove the 'porthole' shroud later.]

I believe the T1Trust repository has a full set of painting diagrams and notes for at least the variant represented by the Bowser kit shell.  That might include notes on the contemporary 'mixes' of iron-oxide freight car color and black for the deck, bunker, etc.

I have seen some mutterings that some of the cab interiors were gray, but I never thought of them as other than the 'standard' PRR cab-interior green as mentioned in Ed's document.

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,474 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 5:11 PM
Tender deck id Oxide red primer as are all PRR engines. Running gear is black and remainder is Dark green locomotive enamel (almost black). Striping is gold leaf. The inside of the stack is red oxide primer also. See Ball's book "The PRR in the 40s and 50s" for a picture showing the interior of the stack
  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Posted by Wolf359 on Thursday, February 1, 2018 10:31 PM

Thank you everyone for the information. It will be very helpful if I can ever get the stinkin' thing running.Bang HeadSuper Angry (see my latest post in the general discussion section)

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Texas, USA
  • 33 posts
Posted by PennsyNut on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 8:41 PM
Lot's O Luck! They are tricky.
A SPF,Nuts about Pennsy,what else is there?

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