Keith,
This topic has been discussed on this list at least once in the past
with several differing opinions and no firm conclusions. Personally, I
think it at least dates to the 1933 - 1934 Century of Progress Worlds
Fair in Chicago. Among the displays, the Q had an abbreviated
Aristocrat train with hudson No. 3000 and several "state of the art"
cars from the train. As displayed, it is my impression that the 3000
included a graphite or gray smokebox and firebox and and oxide red cab
roof along with the new large Q red and gold herald that had been
introduced about a year earlier.
The story I have heard was that originally, the Q placed the locomotive
on display in the then standard and more somber basic black paint
scheme. About the same time, the British display a locomotive and cars
from their Royal Scot train and it was placed next to the Q train (I
have a post card from the fair showing that). The Royal Scot was
spectacularly painted in typical British fashion. When Q management saw
the British train, they immediately ordered the 3000 removed from
display and shopped for repainting. When she returned, she had the new
paint scheme and. in addition, chromed cylinder heads, white edged
running boards and, I believe, white tires on all wheels. There are
black and white photos of her in service between the first year of the
fair and the second year with that paint scheme. The BRHS Hudson
Bulletin (16?)includes a photo of her that way near St. Paul, I believe.
When the locomotives were in service, the red cab roofs became darker
and darker. In many old color photos, it is difficult to determine the
roof color. As I said, it is my opinion that the use of red on the
roofs dates at least to the 1933 fair. It could have been earlier and
probably was wide spread somewhat after the fair. Whenever the decision
was made,the process of painting all the cab roofs was probably slow
process, related to some level of shopping. Keep in mind that some GP
and switcher locomotives were still in the blackbird paint scheme on BN
merger day, 12 years after the first such units were painted chinese
red! So I am sure that the red cab roofs were not adopted overnight.
I am sure there will be other opinions posted concerning this question
and someone out there may have more accurate information than I have.
Unfortunately, there are very few if any color photos from that far
back. However, while I haven't been able to locate it, I think I have
seen a colorized (hand painted) version of the b&w photo from the fair
display and it shows the red roof. If I am correct, I doubt such a
colorized photo would include artistic license.
Bill Barber
On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at 01:05 PM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 10:38:38 -0600
> From: "keith erhart" <erhart@essex1.com>
> Subject: Steam engine colors
>
> Does anyone know when the Burlington started painting steam locomotive
> cab roofs red and the smokebox and firebox grey? Thank you.
> Keith Erhart
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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