PRR Post-War Pass. Color Scheme Questions

[M636C]

Just a comment - while it doesn't answer any questions, anyone interested in PRR passenger trains should see Kalmbach's "Pennsy Streamliners" by Joe Welsh. The colour photos, particularly the ACF builder's photos, and the 1939 photo of the "Trail Blazer" observation are just amazing.

M636C

[jpwc50]

jimrice4449....thanks for the info especially on the E-8's
ndbprr.....Ooops! I thought the Keystone only scheme started in 1952, looks like I have some work to do on a few cars since I am modelling the PRR in 1953. Was 1962 the year that they dropped the 3rd stripe below the windows? If so, then all cars in 1953 would have the full name on the letterboard & triple stripes...correct?....regards, John

[ndbprr]

Postwar scheme was a double "Buff" not gold stripe under the windows. The Keystone only scheme was initiated in 1962 to save money as was the switch to Buff from gold earlier. head end cars rarely spent time in any of the coach yards and rarely got washed hence they were extremely drity all the time. Many travelled the country and the Walthers B60b and R50b cars have been seen on virtually every railroad. They were often in dedicated mail and magazine service. That is why they didn;t get dolled up like the passenger cars. the one excpetion would be the RPO on the Brodway Limited.

[jimrice4449]

The PRR head end cars didn't get striping in the Pre-Depresion gold/black stripes either. I guess if it didn't actually cary psgrs the PRR didn't think it worth bothering w/ , although the baggage/mail storage cars assigned to the Broadway limited in 1937 did carry (very briefly) the Lowey two tone Tuscan red.
The PRR psgr diesels were all brunswick green until about 1952 when all psgr units went to Tuscan red, except the Baldwin Centipedes which they'd already given up on by then as psgr power. Some of the E-8s were delivered in Brunswick green.

[jpwc50]

I've looked thru a couple of PRR pictorial books and have noticed that none of the post-war baggage or RPO cars had any striping. Does anyone know the reason why? Also, I can't imagine why some of the E-7's & 8's were painted in Brunswick green and not all were in Tuscan Red. Seeing that streamlining & consistency were all the rage after the war, it doesn't make sense to me. And in the early 60's PRR went with a simplified paint sheme which did away with the Name on the letterboards in favor of the keystone heralds on the window panels at each end. Again looking at the books, it seems that only baggage, Rpo's, Diners & coaches got this treatment with the sleepers, lounges & Obs seeming to have escaped the simplified version.Can Any PRR buffs out there shed any light on this?