Steam loco cab interior colors

[Loren Perry]

I'm working on a couple of ATSF 3800-class 2-10-2 steamers, ca. 1950, and am about to start painting them. What is the correct color for the inside of their cabs?

[randgust]

Here's the interior of ATSF 3751, and that cab color is consistent with the majority of every steam cab I've been in - medium green:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C56669%5CSan%20Bernardino%20RR%20Days%20Trip,%20May%202010%20187.jpg

[Loren Perry]

I suspected as such, and your photo confirms it. Just wanted to be sure. Thank you!!!

Here's the interior of ATSF 3751, and that cab color is consistent with the majority of every steam cab I've been in - medium green:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C56669%5CSan%20Bernardino%20RR%20Days%20Trip,%20May%202010%20187.jpg

[nkalanaga]

Another question:  WHY were most steam loco cabs medium green?  I doubt that it was simply "tradition", but does anyone know the real reason?

[SkipGear]

I've always used aircraft interior green for cab interiors. I assumed it was for the same reason it is used in planes, as a rust inhibitor.

[Big Train]

I've seen it referred to as "Sea Foam" green. Usually the same colour of green you'd see on machines in factories. As to the reason...maybe cost?

Hope this helps...

[central.vermont]

This was discussed on the old Atlas forum also.

Jon

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=28392

[CBQ Fan]

Interesting thing to me is that when I was touring a railway museum I was able to get into the cabs of may early diesel cabs I noticed that the diesel cabs looked just like the cabs of steam locos.  You could really see the influence really carry over, especially makes other than EMD.

[Loren Perry]

I found that Floquil's Vermont Green appears to be almost a dead-on match for the shade of green seen in the photo of ATSF 3751's cab. Obviously it won't be available much longer.

[nkalanaga]

Tony:  Thank you!  If the same type of paint was also common in factories maybe it was as a rust inhibitor.  Certainly a steam cab would be warm and humid, ideal for rust, and coal dust is corrosive when wet.  I hadn't thought of that possibility.

[Ian MacMillan]

When I was younger I always heard it refereed to as Psych Ward Green or Industrial Green. Every one of my father's tools in his shop was that green. I can remember the interior walls of the old Hale hospital in Haverhill, MA and the abandoned Danvers State
hospital in Danvers, MA being that green.

The cabs of our locos at NEGS are a battleship gray.

[Cajonpassfan]

Loren,
I don't care what color you paint the cab interiors, what I want to see is the 3800's exteriors! Well, I do, but mostly I'd like to see the engines .... Mine are still on the workbench in various states of progress, and I use that term loosely...
Can't wait!
Best,  Otto K.

[Big Train]

I found this recipe for "Sea Foam Green" as applied to the cab interior for Daylight steam locomotives. This is from Richard K Wright's "Southern Pacific Daylight Train 98-99" by Whistle Stop Publications circa 1977.

Sea Foam Green
White: 133 parts
Green Toner: 134 parts
Yellow Oxide: 148 parts
Zinc Yellow: 150 parts
White Flatting Base: 200 parts

I guess they didn't believe in rounding-off! But then, there is the specification and then there is the recipe compounded during production.

According to this book, it's also applied to the interior of baggage cars.

It's a great book for all things Daylight. The price tag from the hobby shop where I bought the book in 1984 is $84....I can also tell you that the Kato SP Morning Daylight (Train 98)  is based on the  consist effective April 1946 till March 1949. Curiously, Kato has the consist order incorrect.

Hope this helps

[Loren Perry]

Loren,
I don't care what color you paint the cab interiors, what I want to see is the 3800's exteriors! Well, I do, but mostly I'd like to see the engines .... Mine are still on the workbench in various states of progress, and I use that term loosely...
Can't wait!
Best,  Otto K.

Otto, I can't figure out how to post photos here, but if you send me your e-mail address, I'll e-mail you some photos of the completed engines. They're both finished now and ready for revenue service.

[Sokramiketes]

The green in the cab of modern day 3751, linked above, is much darker and richer green than what I think of as the industrial greens being described in the other posts.  Sea Foam is a good description of a paler, almost pastel green that I picture in my mind as appropriate for steam loco cabs.

I always hesitate to use museum restored examples for historical data.