Milwaukee Road 'Black & Orange' Color Scheme.....

[Train-O]

Hi,

Please, if someone would answer my questions pertaining to the 'Black and Orange' color scheme of the Milwaukee Road:  
1-Was this color scheme known as the 'Simplified' color scheme?
2-Of the 'Black and Orange' scheme, what time period was it used?
3-On what equipment was the 'Black and Orange' scheme used?

Thank You,

Ralph 

[jrbernier]

  Here is some basic information:

1. Not sure if there was an 'official' name - but 'Simplified' works
2. The change on the 'F' units happened in the mid 60's - 1962 comes to mind.  The early switchers/road switchers were delivered on an orange body/grey roof/maroon pin stripe.  By 1952, they was changed to the basic black/orange scheme.  The RS3 or SD7 units were the first new units delivered in this scheme.  In the mid 70's the block 'Milwaukee Road" lettering was applied to the side of the units.  A few years later the 'Hiawatha' version with the nose logo appeared.Black/Orange was used right up to the end(with variations). 
3. Passenger units were painted in UP yellow/grey after 1955.

Jim

[Train-O]

Jim,

Thank you for a quick and informative reply.

Now, I have more knowledge of the Milwaukee Road.

Ralph

[dknelson]

The various Morning Sun books -- and the Milwaukee Road has been treated quite well by Morning Sun -- show the transition from the more elaborate paint schemes over time to the "simple" orange and black.  When a railroad changes paint and lettering schemes it takes a while for the entire roster to get repainted (often by which time the scheme has changed again!).  Even orange and black had some variants in lettering and placement of loco numbers for example.  The Milwaukee Road Historical Association has a nice set of links to other sites with photos and info that might also be helpful.     http://www.mrha.com/links.cfm

Dave Nelson

[Metro Red Line]

Someone on another forum was contemplating making a modern "fantasy scheme" Milwaukee Road locomotive, and I offered to design what could be a modern-day Milwaukee Road logo. Would ya know, it's black and orange! :)

 

 

 

[Train-O]

Thank all of you for helping me learn more about the Milwaukee Road.

Too, bad the Milwaukee road and all of the other major roads are gone, not because I like railroading and model railroading, but I believe that this country of ours would still be in a more better shape, than it is in now!!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year,

Ralph