The color of Army steam locos during the 40's

[Hauckra]

I plan to do a layout in the 1940's era, with a military base located on it. I've seen photos of other layouts where the US Army locomotives are painted Forest Green or Olive Drab, but I've been unable to locate any information if the Army did do this. The photos of Army loco's that I've been able to find seem to be black like all the others (seem logical to me). So I'm wondering if any of you may know what color the Army locos were during the 40's.

[cacole]

As near as I know, steam engines were not painted anything but black. They had a "U.S." or "U.S.A." painted on the tender. Green and Maroon never came into play until much later when diesel engines replaced steam.

I have a few videos showing U.S. military trains in Europe during both WWI and WWII, and the steam engines were always black.

I remember that Army steam and diesel engines and crews were still running trains on Fort Huachuca, Arizona during the 1971-73 time period. When I returned to Fort Huachuca in 1983, all of the track had been taken up.

[John Busby]

Hi Hauckra
Just like the model T Ford.
Any colour you like as long as it is black I am not sure how the US marked them but I have seen a picture of a US transport one in the UK but what is on the tender I could not make out.
The UK lend lease ones had I think W Broad arrow D on them but that probably is not what you are looking for.
regards John

[tomikawaTT]

The builders (Baldwin, Alco, Lima) painted them black, because they were painting EVERYTHING black. I doubt that repainting them any other color would have been a very high priority with the military.

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tomikawaTT

The builders (Baldwin, Alco, Lima) painted them black, because they were painting EVERYTHING black. I doubt that repainting them any other color would have been a very high priority with the military.

I agree, principally because attempting to beautify or to conceal a 150 ton coal fired/oil fired dragon doesn't make much sense. Also, making them stand out in any way might help to identify them to saboteurs bent on mischief in a yard or at a station.

[Hauckra]

Hey, thanks for the input guys! I Feel much more comfortable about sticking with the black for the color. I never thought about the black being an inconspicuous color as selector stated so that they would not stand out for sabotage.

For anyone out there looking to have a military presence on their RR, here are a few links that I've found that may be useful.
http://lackawanna.railfan.net/page7.htm
http://www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.org/eq_4039.html
http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr109.htm
http://www.gregoriou.itgo.com/custom4.html

If anyone knows of any others, I'd appreciate a posting of that site. Never could be to much info. Since there is not much out there in the way of US army box cars or cabooses, I figure I will be painting my own once I get a better handle on how they should look for that time frame.

[jecorbett]

I think the olive green locos you have seen on other layouts probably came from trainsets and are not prototypical. I see no reason for the Army or the railroads to go to the time or expense of painting their locos especially for troop or supply trains. It was war time and such an exercise would have been considered frivolous.