Rooftop color for Chessie 86' Auto Boxes

[Anonymous]

Currently working on renumbering my 86' Chessie 8-door auto box fleet, and I am trying to get a color for the rooftops. The tops of the ends are white, and I have a couple of good personal photos as well as some from fallen flags that were taken from the side, but I am trying to find out if I need to repaint the roofs white (these are Athearn Blue Box stock #1995) or just the tops of the sides and ends. Any help would be appreciated!
- john

Chessie's Michigan Division - the Cat's OTHER merchandise moneymaker

[dknelson]

I cannot testify as to the Chessie but a lot of railroads left the roofs unpainted galvanized steel
As a practical matter the edges usually had paint bleed from painting the sides and ends so the actual appearance was feathered colors with the center being more or less unpainted. Again this is not specific to Chessie and perhaps some roads did paint the roofs on these cars.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dave,
I found out that Chessie left them galvanized, but when they were shopped, they would repaint the roofs blue to reduce rusting. Thanks for the helpful info!

- john

Chessie's Michigan Division - the Cat's OTHER merchandise moneymaker