What's Your Favorite Paint Scheme Steam Engines

Back in the 1980's I did this for a friend of mine.  A reworked 6-3100 FARR 3 GN Northern.:

Also, this one was mine.  A reworked 6-8101 C&A Hudson:

And as I found a builders photo of NYC/Michigan Central 8210, repainting a reworked 6-8210 JLC Hudson was a natural:

Rusty

Miggy- I think your question gives you your answer.

Rusty- awesome Canadian re-paints!!  JohnA

I like my own Shark Bay R.R. paint scheme.

How about a green boiler as on this MTH Boston & Albany J-2 Hudson?

MELGAR

WOW...... Beautiful all!! Thanks for making my day

My favorites are the Prewar Hiawatha and Blue Comet!

For steam, I'm just a fan of basic black.
(Now when it comes to diesels... Give me COLORS!)
Dennis

SP S12 tarted up for shuttling passenger cars.

Pete

The best color.  Or lack thereof.  BLACK'

Blue Goose

SP Daylight,  UP light grey/dark grey, Southern green, C&A maroon. Blue Comet, to name a few.

Black is ok.

WM fireball for traditional black engines.

LV scheme that had the red accents. But here's where the question gets muddy.

It's hard to answer on just paint schemes and not overall design. The NYC Mercury and Reading Crusader where both striking but the streamline design combined with the color choices to make it so. And of course the Milwaukee Hiawatha schemes to that concept to a whole other level.

I don’t any. Something about the Canadian National. No wild paint scheme as far as colors. Glossy black when clean. Just the use of white on the running boards and drivers, red cab windows, gold lettering, with more of an emblem on the tender rather than block lettering.

A close second is the Maine Central with the speed lettering.

DaveC-  Canadian National is my favorite also!  JohnA

@Rusty Traque posted:

Back in the 1980's I did this for a friend of mine.  A reworked 6-3100 FARR 3 GN Northern.:

Rusty

Thanks for the Photos... Beauty eh! Ive wondered what the big green panels on the sides,, in the front are for, Wind Spoilers?

thanks

Smoke deflectors.... JohnA

Miggy, I must admit that at first this thread had me wondering, "How many different black paint schemes are there?"; then I started thinking streamlined.  20th Century, ESE, Broadway, Daylight, Milwaukee, Blue Goose, then as pointed out in several posts some  railroads eschewed black for color in their everyday livery.  So there were many steam paint schemes, maybe not as many as diesel, but still plenty to choose from. Not to mention all the fantasy schemes put out by themodel train industry.  I don't know that I could pick just one.

My all-time favorite steam color scheme:  Southern's green, silver and gold.  For me, nothing else comes close, and I'm old enough to have seen those colorful PS-2 Pacifics running on the St. Louis division.  Beautiful.

                                                                                                                                                        Logan

Black! Don

Hey Don , that last one has "FlatBlack" on the (nose... smoke box? FireBox?) or light gray?

Great photos!  Thanks

@scale rail posted:

Black! Don

My favorite because some what unique a P&LE A2a Berk that probably should not have been built in real life.  And the P&LE's terminus point was in my home town.

Ron

Miggy, it's a gray/silver is the closest I can tell you. Don

I cannot find it now online but 1 really stood out in silver and gold painted detail seen some others they are simple Marx 999 engines .The detail on them really stands out when painted nicely.

Lionel's MPC Southern Crescent. I feel in love wth that steam engine back in 1977 the first tine I saw it at York. Back then, I had all American Flyer S Gauge. I remember saying to myself, Jimmy get away from this engine.

These are my top favs

Al

Except for the Daylight and Southern green - black all the way.

It’s always good to see Albert’ beautiful Canadian engines! JohnA

I'd have to go with The General McCallum

Black with medium grey smoke box and fire box, along with white walls on all wheels for a dressy look fit for a ball.

Albert's engines are a perfect example of great steam paint schemes on non streamlined steamers.

No brainer...ask the little guy in your picture what he wants.

Simon

How about the Blue Comet:

Hi Miggy,

Some years ago when I was a Fireman on a consolidation steam loco for the New Hope & Ivyland R.R., we would, at times, paint the smoke box with a mix of graphite & Linseed oil. The heat from the smokebox cured the two. Your color could be of a graphite tint! Hope this helps!

    Steam Forever

           John

The Southern Crescent is my pick.

@31charlie posted:

The Southern Crescent is my pick.

Ohhhh be still my heart. Beauty eh

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

How about the Blue Comet:

Stellar, Arnold, Shes a winner. Beauty eh

@MELGAR posted:

How about a green boiler as on this MTH Boston & Albany J-2 Hudson?

MELGAR

Totally agree and my Kline green berkshire also B&A

I have several schemes I enjoy. 

1. PRR in DGLE (or more commonly called Brunswick Green).  It is subtle, but noticeable against the black frame and undercarriage.
2. CNJ Blue Comet.  This is the classiest train ever built in secret with little to no budget to make it happen. 
3. Southern Green.  Apple green on a steam locomotive is just classy.
4. MILW Orange / Grey:  Looked great on their streamlined locomotives.
5. Southern Pacific Daylight.  Just timeless.
6. Good old fashioned engine black.  These were the locomotives that went to work everyday in relative anonymity and got the job done.
7. I'm missing some......

Central Railroad of New Jersey 4-6-2 #833 – model by MTH Premier.

MELGAR