While in the throes of working on a project, I often do some "armchair railroading" on other projects, even going so far as to collect parts and materials for them. The other night I was thinking again of my O scale Thomas (1940's-'50s-early '60s) Consol project only about 2/3 complete due to resolving to finish earlier half-done projects first. For some unknown reason, the real roads usually painted steam loco cab interiors a shade of light green! I seem to recall the late Mel Thornburgh mentioning that he did the same on his O scale models and (as far as I can remember!) every steam loco cab I've ever been in was also a pale green of some sort. Has anyone ever noticed and maybe researched a little to see what color of model paint might match? I'm a comolete mutt when it comes to color matching. Thanks--and happy railroadin'!
Deano
I always thought they were 'light machinery gray' ... dunno ??
For most steam-era railroads, seems like the default interior paint for anything - cabooses, roundhouses, passenger cars, engine cabs, etc. was 'light industrial green'. I think Tamiya's "Cockpit Green" seems about right. Same color was often used in airplanes, airplane hangars and such.
wjstix For most steam-era railroads, seems like the default interior paint for anything - cabooses, roundhouses, passenger cars, engine cabs, etc. was 'light industrial green'. I think Tamiya's "Cockpit Green" seems about right. Same color was often used in airplanes, airplane hangars and such.
Even into the diesel era, light green was used for interiors for the aforementioned things by some railroads. Light gray by others.
I always figured the color interacted with limited artificial lighting fixtures at night to make the room or interior seem 'brighter'.
Jeff
Hello,
I have a copy of a Pennsylvania Railroad 10/8/1929 Painting instruction for Locomotives and Tenders booklet. In it is mentioned a color the PRR calls Interior Cab Green, later described as "Medium Green".
This panoramic view of the cab interior of a PRR H6 No. 2846 will confirm what I recall seeing in several other steam locomotive cabs:
http://rrmuseumpa.org/QR/h6/
You can pan and zoom this view. Here's a look at UP 844 showing a similar medium green:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1599024
Here is CNR Hudson 5702:
Cab Interior, CNR No. 5702 by Jonathan Crowe, on Flickr
I've seen some diesel cabs painted in this shade of green as well.
Other diesels used a "suede gray" or a variation of "Sea Foam Green" I have used some older Floquil "Reading Green" for cab interiors. B-N green might be a good stand-in.
Regards, Ed
wjstix I think Tamiya's "Cockpit Green" seems about right.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Here's CNR's Mountain 6060, when it was used in place of one of the usual RDC trains between Toronto and Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the mid-'70s....
The pale green is visible inside the cab door, where the jump-seat for the head-end brakeman is located.
I mixed a similar green for the inside of the cab of this Bowser PRR A5 switcher, built for a friend...
...and I believe it was used for these large castings, too...
Wayne