Did they really make a Pennsylvania K-4 4-6-2 in a Tuscan paint scheme ?

Nick, to the best of my knowledge, that is a fantasy scheme.  Penny steam was either Brunswick green (dark green) or black.

According to Al Stouffer (sp?) in his book Pennsy Power, one K-4 was painted Tuscan for a while, for the flagship train, The Broadway Limited.

The PRRT&HS brings this up seemingly every 6 months. The general consensus seems to be that there is no absolute proof, but there is documentation for a few to possibly have been so painted, One, #5409, is about as confirmed as can be without a color photo, and lasted a few months in the color.

There also is evidence that some steamers in the late 19th century to get the Tuscan treatment.

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Just curious really, would be great to find a color pic of one,.  I don't even like the color scheme and will most likely paint it anyway.  I paid $200. for an Imperial version with PS 2 .

From the book, "Many Faces of the K-4" by Bert Pennypacker and Alvin Staufer: "...the one time use of red on a few selected (K4s) engines could only be termed as a phenomenon. The Pennsy's Red GG1's come to mind but there were at least 10 k4s in red livery back in the 1930's. The only known numbers were 2761, 5409 and 5436 which were, of course, reserved for use on premier trains in the East."

Big Jim posted:

Wow, very interesting!  The paint job lost in time. It's a shame there was no color film.

As much as I like Staufer's books, I don't rely on those as being 100% accurate.  The articles in the Keystone are much more thoroughly researched and I would personally rely on that information more.  Just my opinion.  The elusive Tuscan K4s is one of the stories that will be discussed to the end of time along with the correct paint formula for DGLE.

As much as I like Staufer's books, I don't rely on those as being 100% accurate. 
The articles in the Keystone are much more thoroughly researched and I would personally rely on that information more.

YEah! You Aint Kiddin! Just like the ALCo RS-2 RS-3 Fiasco- esp those used D&H units!

Was there an actual K4 Torpedo in Tuscan? I got an email from MTH recently and they are issuing the streamlined torpedo in Tuscan as well.

All of the streamlined K4s were painted DGLE. 

GG1 4877 posted:

All of the streamlined K4s were painted DGLE. 

The 3768 was painted in a Bronze color for the 1939 New York World's Fair.

Rusty

Oh yeah ... forgot about that one.

DGLE is dark green?

BradFish1 posted:

DGLE is dark green?

Yes.  Dark Green Locomotive Enamel.

Hot Water posted:

BradFish1 posted:

DGLE is dark green?

Yes.  Dark Green Locomotive Enamel.

One of the mysterious colors of the Universe.........

1929 is not that distant for some.  It would be interesting to find someone still around that actually saw a tuscan red K4.  

rex desilets posted:

Hot Water posted:

BradFish1 posted:

DGLE is dark green?

Yes.  Dark Green Locomotive Enamel.

One of the mysterious colors of the Universe.........

Well, not really. If one takes the time to "search", especially through the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society, you will find the chemical make-up and the original reasoning behind DGLE. Contrary to the old rumors and railfan lore, DGLE was NOT a "55 gallon drum of black paint with a quart of green paint added"!

Now's a great time to mention the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical society and their quarterly publication, THE KEYSTONE.  Join to learn more in depth information about the Pennsy.       http://www.prrths.com/

Pennsylover (member PRRT&HS for 30 years)

The latest issue of the Keystone had a very interesting cover.  Almost didn't recognize it was the Keystone!

I know it's not a real picture, but it's neat to see it in Tuscan!

Got this today. It's a very nice paint job,  I just don't care for it.  Looks too toyish, or maybe like a British engine. I bought some Brunswick paint for it, but if it turns out to be too green, I might just paint it black. What's interesting,  is the cab number 5436 is, in one article shared here, one of the real k-4s painted Tuscan.  Coincidence? 

Before you run it, fix that eccentric crank.  And before you go Brunswck, consider hitting it with a mist coat of weathered black.  I will try to post a photo later.

Remember - everybody has at least one Brunswick.  You are the only kid on the block with a Tuscan.

When I made signs for my business, I told the painter I wanted the script in Brunswick Green.  I explained to him that it was a color the PRR used and it was a gallon of black paint with a couple drops of green added.  He figured it out.  The color was perfect to my eye.  Just a hint of green.  Very classy.  

Here is my Tuscan K4 - a prewar Scale Craft, with an overspray of coal dust:

bob2 posted:

Before you run it, fix that eccentric crank.  And before you go Brunswck, consider hitting it with a mist coat of weathered black.  I will try to post a photo later.

Remember - everybody has at least one Brunswick.  You are the only kid on the block with a Tuscan.

LOL ! Yeah, thanks.  Luckily, I brought it upstairs to fix the smoke unit after I took the pics and noticed the cranky crank. Glad I caught it before I had any problems.  I'm in no hurry to paint it, well.....it is pretty ugly. I will try the mist and see if that helps.  Thanks!

bob2 posted:

Here is my Tuscan K4 - a prewar Scale Craft, with an overspray of coal dust:

Nice! That Color looks better, not as obnoxious as mine.

Here is a photo of 5409 possibly waiting on an engine change in Trenton back in 1947.  http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=1395742  (link edited)  She ran the southern part of the Nellie Bly route from NYC to Atlantic City.  If you look closely, the cow catcher for example, it's clearly not black.  This is interesting to me because the first train station I ever boarded a train at was Trenton, well after steam though.

I purchased an MTH Premier Tuscan K4 a couple of years ago before doing any research on the paint scheme.  

In the first few seconds of the attached video, you can the the Premier K4 in tuscan on my Holiday layout last Christmas.  Yes it's an unusual consist but could NS really do something like that?  I'd like to think so :-).  Of course it shouldn't be freight even if it is "special" Christmas freight.  Hey, it's my railroad!! :-)

Tony

Kittytrain1969 posted:

bob2 posted:

Here is my Tuscan K4 - a prewar Scale Craft, with an overspray of coal dust:

Nice! That Color looks better, not as obnoxious as mine.

Looks better,  but still might paint it. Maybe I'll just look for another in black. Thanks for sharing your input and photos!

Tony_V posted:

Here is a photo of 5409 possibly waiting on an engine change in Trenton back in 1947 (http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=1395742) .  She ran the southern part of the Nellie Bly route from NYC to Atlantic City.  If you look closely, the cow catcher for example, it's clearly not black.  This is interesting to me because the first train station I ever boarded a train at was Trenton, well after steam though.

I purchased an MTH Premier Tuscan K4 a couple of years ago before doing any research on the paint scheme.  

In the first few seconds of the attached video, you can the the Premier K4 in tuscan on my Holiday layout last Christmas.  Yes it's an unusual consist but could NS really do something like that?  I'd like to think so :-).  Of course it shouldn't be freight even if it is "special" Christmas freight.  Hey, it's my railroad!! :-)

Tony

Maybe its my phone,  but I can't get the Web page to come up and your video doesn't play. Thanks for sharing your info though :>

Kittytrain1969 posted:

Tony_V posted:

Here is a photo of 5409 possibly waiting on an engine change in Trenton back in 1947 (http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=1395742) .  She ran the southern part of the Nellie Bly route from NYC to Atlantic City.  If you look closely, the cow catcher for example, it's clearly not black.  This is interesting to me because the first train station I ever boarded a train at was Trenton, well after steam though.

I purchased an MTH Premier Tuscan K4 a couple of years ago before doing any research on the paint scheme.  

In the first few seconds of the attached video, you can the the Premier K4 in tuscan on my Holiday layout last Christmas.  Yes it's an unusual consist but could NS really do something like that?  I'd like to think so :-).  Of course it shouldn't be freight even if it is "special" Christmas freight.  Hey, it's my railroad!! :-)

Tony

Maybe its my phone,  but I can't get the Web page to come up and your video doesn't play. Thanks for sharing your info though :&gt

The link was busted.  No idea why, just a copy and paste.  It's fixed now.  The video plays for me from the post.

Tony

Tuscan K4 5409, I'd say this image shows a 99 percent guaranteed Tuscan k4, just like all of yalls models and that one colored painting someone showed, if you look at the lettering on the tender it has that same small lettering and stripe that goes around the letters and its the same way with the cab letters. Now, it isn't the most solid proof, but id say its certainly decent.

@Kittytrain1969 posted:

I just bought an MTH Railking K-4 in the Tuscan paint, mainly because of the price. Did they actually paint one like this, or is it just a "fantasy" paint job?

I tried to find a photo, but was unsuccessful, then again, a lot of the photos are in black and white, so you can't really tell what color they are.

If anyone has any information on this, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you !

Nick

Nick,

    Since it is a RailKing engine not a scale K4 if I were you I would be perfectly happy with the engine the way it is. As both Lionel and MTH made Tuscan K4s I tend to believe that the PRR did paint a few K4s either for a promotion or just because they had a lot of extra Tuscan paint. They only used 3 colors DGLE, Tuscan and Black, maybe they were out of DGLE and Black paint that day. Bob2’s engine with the coal dust looks good, maybe that’s the way to go.

JohnB

Personally, I like the Tuscan K4 (says the NYC fan), even your RK one. I do think that MTH got the "Tuscan" a bit wrong, at least based on your photo. But, not "ugly" at all. A bit of clear coat, some weathering dry pigments, and it should look good. Your start, above, looks good.

Here’s the Legacy version K4 #5409, 6-11319.  From around 2011.  IMO the color is pretty good on this one.

I have the legacy one and love it!

I took the time to look it up, posted page number, title, date published, author, and typed the quote.  My post disappeared.  Phooey.

This is one of my favorite legacy steamers as well. It’s beautiful! It would have been so cool if the PRR kept a few painted Tuscan u til the end of steam.