I tend to agree with Ed, most of the RPO's and Baggage cars stayed in Pullman Green as far as I can remember, when I find my Color Guide (I just moved and I have no idea which of the 200 boxes that book is in.) I will post my findings.
Rick Jesionowski
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!
Hi, Sandusky
From the information I have on hand, the only "true" heavyweight to get the "Bluebird" paint was a diner, number 127. Several other heavyweight diners were rebuilt at Nickel Plate's Calumet shop and recieved the blue/silver treatment.
I recently finished a model of one of these diners:
NKP_DL131 by Edmund, on Flickr
None of the heavyweight coaches, business cars or head-end cars ever got this treatment as far as I'm aware.
The NKP had, I believe, ten box-express cars built of aluminum. These were bare metal with black lettering.
NKP8504_Express by Edmund, on Flickr
This is a "close-enough" stand-in Athearn PS1. I'm working on a better replacement... some day.
You're right about the "silver" as there has been some controversy over this, especially as applied to the PAs.
The color started out more "nickel" than white on the first seven PAs delivered in December of 1947. NKP wasn't satisfied with that color and the last four units, delivered in March of '48 were painted in "Aluminum Gray" with very little metallic pigment. At later shoppings the original seven were repainted with the aluminum gray. NKP continued to search for a "Nickel" color so there were more variations as the units aged.
Good Luck, Ed
I want to find a prototype for an NKP heaveyweight baggage or rpo in Blue and White (or Silver). I have not found any so far. Anyone know of any?