Art,
I wrote an article on CB&Q depots for RMC which was
published several months ago.
Of the 5 RPPCs I used to illustrate that article, only one (Wymore,
NE) even hints at the color separation you mention.
The others were extremely well-lighted (having been taken as glass
plates by professional photogs) and I just see no evidence of the two colors.
The Wymore depot is the poorest-quality of the lot and the color
sep line (about 5-feet above the top-of-track level as you mentioned) is very
faint.
The use of sand as an anti-friction additive to the standard paint
color looks as if it could have explained the slight difference I see.
Best of luck with your project.
Contact me off-line and I'll share the list of Q RPPCs I have.
Regards,
Dave Lambert
From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Art Peterson
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012
2:47 PM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CBQ] CB&Q depots
I suspect that the apparent lighter color on the lower section is
die to the use of orthochromatic film; panchromatic film would show the lower section
to be darker, which would be logical.
I have a lot of photos of depots in this time frame and am also
curious about the color separation line. Some photos show a lighter color on
the lower section and some appear to be darker on the lower section. I think
some of it may be due to the direction of the sun in relation to the photo.
I heard a story from Jim Reisdorf who had talked to a painter
who used to work for the Q and he told Jim they used to put sand in the paint
on the lower part to prevent windblown dirt and sand from wearing the paint. I
am guessing that this may have changed the reflective quality of the paint such
as it appears to be a different shade. Would also be interested in an answer to
this as to the best of my knowledge they were always painted the standard colors.
I
am working with real photo postcards of CB&Q depots of the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. It is apparent that most of the wooden buildings were
painted with a darker color to about five feet above the ground with a lighter
color above that. If anyone has information on what these colors were, I would
appreciate hearing from you.