Trains.com

Can Anyone Answer Me This?

3327 views
16 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Can Anyone Answer Me This?
Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, March 18, 2024 6:54 PM

Everyone knows Canadian Pacific Hudson 2816 will be making it's cross-country North-to-South trek soon and the color photographs are showing up in the fan press.  However I've gotten to wondering:

Just WHAT color is 2816's boiler jacketing from the smokebox to the cab?  In some shots it looks like sky blue, in others like a metal-flake blue, in others almost silver.  Has anyone got any ideas as what the actual color is?  

Anyway, it's one beautiful machine! 

  • Member since
    July 2020
  • 1,623 posts
Posted by pennytrains on Monday, March 18, 2024 7:38 PM

It should be gray.  That's all I know.  Maybe it's different cell phone filters?

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, March 18, 2024 7:52 PM

I don't know but I would have expected a 'gun metal blue' which in dull light would be black.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:07 AM

Thought it was Russia iron or facsimile thereof.  But I thought the actual color was gray paint, like the gray used on the old CP diesel scheme.

Proper 'American' Russia iron is a kind of gunmetal gray with a greenish tinge, but it does reflect 'sky color' to assume a blue tinge under many circumstances.  The color has been replicated in paint for at least one class of modern locomotives I wouldn't have anticipated would get the treatment (DM&IR 2-8-8-4s).

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 4:48 PM

Flintlock76
Just WHAT color is 2816's boiler jacketing from the smokebox to the cab?  In some shots it looks like sky blue, in others like a metal-flake blue, in others almost silver.  Has anyone got any ideas as what the actual color is?  

 

Brunswick Blue.  

 

(I'll show myself out).

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 696 posts
Posted by rixflix on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 5:05 PM

Blue Goose Pink?

rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • 2,678 posts
Posted by kgbw49 on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 9:44 PM

2816's boiler and cylinders appear to be a light gray but in bright light when the sun hits it, it has a shiny gloss to it and so can actually give reflections.

https://railpictures.net/photo/761891/

https://railpictures.net/photo/838066/

Incidentally, on the break in runs it was purportedly run up to 60 mph.

Here are a few vignettes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGwVSPC7t5A

This one has canteens like the Big Boy and stepping along:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jqvg4a5TSI

And an 8-minute one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpwv0E12nDM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 2:37 PM

I rode behind 2816 some years back when it was here in Minnesota, on a trip where it doubleheaded with Milwaukee 261 (no diesels allowed!). 

It's gray, basically same gray as CP's maroon and gray diesel colors. Because it's kept shiny, sometimes it will reflect the blue sky. But it's gray.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF-k_bNI9xA

 

Stix
  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Calgary
  • 2,047 posts
Posted by cx500 on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 4:38 PM

Near the end of steam some CPR locomotives did receive the same light gray as was used on the diesels.  But they were the exception, and the traditional colour of boiler and cylinder jackets was considerably darker.  The exact shade is hard to define and seemed to vary depending on the lighting.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 6:06 PM

Great answers all!  Thanks! 

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • 2,678 posts
Posted by kgbw49 on Friday, April 5, 2024 1:42 AM

'76, here is about the "freshest" photo of 2816 out there, comin' at ya!

https://railpictures.net/photo/853966/

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 4:12 PM

The recent "all Canada (more or less)" issue of Railfan and Railroad has some great color pics of the engine, taken in the last year or two.

Stix
  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 4:53 PM

I find it interesting that the whole eastern half of the original CP is being missed.

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • 2,678 posts
Posted by kgbw49 on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 5:55 PM

Maybe on the way back they can send it all the way to St. John.

But I suspect that neither CSX nor NS wanted to let 2816 on their railroad to get to either Detroit or Buffalo.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 8:07 PM

kgbw49
here is about the "freshest" photo of 2816 out there

Wow!  Great shot!  Thanks!

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 8:09 PM

wjstix

The recent "all Canada (more or less)" issue of Railfan and Railroad has some great color pics of the engine, taken in the last year or two.

 

Right, I've got that issue of R&R, it's a good one!

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 8:12 PM

kgbw49
But I suspect that neither CSX nor NS wanted to let 2816 on their railroad to get to either Detroit or Buffalo.

Unless there's been a BIG policy change CSX won't allow any antique rail equipment on their lines, NS will but more-or-less dead in tow. 

So there's no way 2816 would get a romp on either 'roads mainlines.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy