New York Central question - Paint Color

Kitbash Jan 10, 2019

  1. Kitbash

    Kitbash TrainBoard Supporter

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    Greetings.. What is the correct gray color for NYC diesels during the the lightning stripe era?

    My Albemarle Central has a coal branch interchange w/ the NYC. The C&O and NYC actually had joint coal operations in WV. I have an RS-11 from Broadway (undec'd) that is pretty sweet. I am going to paint it for the NYC and use Microscale's NYC diesel lighting stripe decals. While having done "some" research (admittedly not too much), I haven't seen the exact model paint mix or formula for the NYC gray during the "Lightning Stripe" era.

    Any posting or lurking NYC fans have suggestions on the correct gray for this?

    Thanks!
     
  2. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    I don't model, nor paid attention much to diesels, as a resident steam curmudgeon, but I do seem to recall that the passenger diesels were grey with lightning stripes, and the freight engines were black. May not help much.
     
  3. Mike Kmetz

    Mike Kmetz TrainBoard Member

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    The NYC had nine RS-11s numbered 8000-8008. They were the first locomotives delivered new (1957) in the new standard all black scheme. They had a broad white stripe along the frame; no lightning stripe. Lettering was a new large bold style compared to what had been used. Originally they had the new script herald on the cab which was later replaced by the locomotive number. Handrails were yellow.
    Sorry to "rain on your parade", but if you don't care about prototype accuracy put lightning stripes on it - I'm sure it would look great.
     
  4. Mike Kmetz

    Mike Kmetz TrainBoard Member

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    In 1960 Alco delivered six more RS-11s to the New York Central. The order was cancelled when the corporation refused to authorize the expenditure of funds. The locomotives were returned to Alco and were later sold to the Delaware and Hudson. These locomotives do not appear on the New York Central locomotive roster.
    What is interesting for you is that these locomotives, 8009-8014, were delivered in the New York Central lightning stripe scheme. They were black with the gray band enclosed by the aluminum gray lightning stripes. The lettering was the older normal size in aluminum gray with locomotive number in aluminum gray on the cab sides. Handrails were yellow. A photo showing 8009 and 8010 appears in the book "The New York Central System - Gone But Not Forgotten" by H. F. Cavanaugh.
    So there you go - you can do this scheme as "what could have been".
     
  5. Kitbash

    Kitbash TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is what I needed. Thanks. I haven't kept up w/ NYC nearly to the extent I've studied the C&O, only to the point that the NYC and C&O did service common coal fields in certain parts of WV. I had seen the RS-11's in "modeling photo's" w/ the lightning stripes, but not a prototype. Since I model into the mid 50's, I could stretch and use the broad stripe version. This gives me a direction to look into. Thank you for the post.
     

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