Super O Bob posted:Roof is originally blue, under all that soot, according to these picrures...
Lionels blue looks really close to this photo of the real engine all cleaned up on this turntable. The roof looks to be originally blue, then covered with soot.
Lionel model looks like the repaint on the turntable with the nice black pistons... looks really good...
I am no expert and my eyes are getting old but when I expand the photo, the roof vent cover in the above picture looks to be painted the same as the smoke box. Doesn't look like soot covered blue to me. Just my opinion.