You have to be more specific as to what part of the continent you are refering to. I don't believe that I have ever seen a "yellow and brown" depot, at least not in the Northeast or the Deep South Hank
Considering his user name and location, I'll assume he's referring to depots in Texas. That paint scheme was standard on SP depots until 1950. After then, they could be either yellow with brown trim or green. MP also painted their depots yellow and brown. Santa Fe used yellow, but I don't think they had brown trim (though they may have at one time). And I think the Katy painted some depots yellow and brown for a while as well. I read somewhere that yellow was used so that engineers could see the depot better. But there's really no way of knowing if that's why they were painted yellow. Dwight
Dwight, your comment about depots being painted yellow to aid visibility for engineers is interesting. Having been to west Texas a few times, I don't remember seeing any landscape color except yellow sand. So I wonder how painting a depot yellow could possibly make it stand out against yellow sand But then the New England lines either painted their depots dark green and brown, or built them out of field stone. Then they placed them near the woods where they were really hidden Sorry, it's just my warped sense of humor Hank [ 10 May 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
Thanks for the replies. Most of the railroads in my area were SP Lines, and many of the rural and medium size depots have this pain scheme For an example go here:painting of the old College Station, TX Depot originally built in the early 1900's Many of these lines are now used by UP. I had heard of other road names using the same style of architecture and paint scheme, and just wondered if there was any reason behind the similar coloring. I was wondering about the visibility issue as well, but thought that trains had to begin their slowdown long before they could actually see the station.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hank Coolidge: Having been to west Texas a few times, I don't remember seeing any landscape color except yellow sand. So I wonder how painting a depot yellow could possibly make it stand out against yellow sand <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> What, you think all of Texas is just yellow sand? Sheesh! <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tamu_railfan: I was wondering about the visibility issue as well, but thought that trains had to begin their slowdown long before they could actually see the station.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Keep two things in mind: 1) train speed wasn't always fast; 2) railroads are very slow to change. It's likely the visibility thing dates from the mid-1800's. That's pure speculation on my part. But it makes sense (to me at least). Dwight
My brother-in-law was born and raised in the section row houses until he was a young man. All railroad property was painted the canary yellow and sh*t brown as it was refered to. Even some water towers. The two colors denoted railroad property, which for years was so sacred, most buildings and shacks were not even locked. No one would have dared fool around with them. In fact, only main line passenger track switches were not locked until the late twenty's. He said no one in their right mind would have changed a switch, because it would have caused a wreck. As for Texas, for years, a Texas ranch house was always painted white, with bright blue trim. It was easy to see from miles away, and denoted "The Big House". The owner of the ranch lived there. It has always, and still is, an honor to be asked to come eat at the Big House, although the term has degenerated to mean a prizon today. The railroads picked a color combination almost unused by anyother building, sort of like a Brand name. I remember when we saw a row of section houses of the railroad colors, we were getting close to some action. I don't recal off hand seeing any other color for houses until after WWII, when everything began to go for color.
In the East, The PRR had at least four colors officially used for railroad buildings. The main color was either buff or gray, with very dark brown or maroon trim, and window sash and muntins often painted bright "toluidene" red. The colors seemed to be used either by local preference or whatever the storekeeper furnished. [ 12 May 2001: Message edited by: Gregg Mahlkov ]
Hank, I have to say you haven't been around the B&O in southern Pennsylvania offen. The Meyersdale, PA B&O railroad station is in fact as Watash has said, but its actually called "structure yellow" instead of "canary yellow" but he did name the brown right to sh*t brown. The B&O station in meyersdale is still this color, and is still in use by the CSXT R.R. Also the B&O used alot of brick style buildings as well. On the Western Maryland R.W. they used mostly brick buildings, now to say about the old Deal, PA Western Maryland R.W. station I can't recall if it was brick or wooden, but if my memeory serves me right I believe it was wood. Matter of fact I believe the WM R.W. burned it down so yes I believe it was wooden. The Western Maryland R.W. station in Meyersdale, PA is all brick built. Thats the building that I am part of in the Meyersdale Historical Society. In that is the train club that I do these shows I speak of. Their inside that old WM R.W. station. Which is nice a train club and a Historical Society in an old R.R. station what more could a model railroader want? HE! All the layouts are in the frieght room of the building! Watash you'll get to see that first hand when I get those pictures back! Then everyone else will see it once I get to post them in the board.
You're right John. I was being nice, by not calling it Baby Puke Yellow, I could not think of the name "Structure"!
At least on the Mopac and Espee, it's called Colonial Yellow. But I like "Baby Puke Yellow" better. Dwight
Watash, Means all the same right??? We all know what the color looked like and what not so.... But it can be bought under "structure yellow" if needed. Thats the name to look for if anyone needs a a name to buy some. And for the "sh*t brown" the name its under is "trim brown" I can't give ordering numbers as for the numbers on my spray cans or on the brush paint bottles are worn off. And also their are to many numbers being that its made by alot of different paint mixing companies.... But the name is the same on all the companies bottles and cans so.... Thats the easiest way to get it and get it right the first time. You might want to watch for the fact of one companies color might be a little different shade to another companies color. I have found this and its a common mistake made in the paint shade match.
