I am trying to start a collection of HO American steam trains that are colorful (Not Black). I already have the Southern Crescent Limited. Does anybody know of a place where trains such are available (Preferably Online)?
Kind Regards,
Lop Il
Not online, but the most comprehensive book I know of that shows practically every steam locomotive ever built in the U.S. is entitled, “American Locomotives in Historic Photographs, 1858 to 1949” by Ron Ziel, Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1993, ISBN 0-486-27393-8. Unfortunately, all of the photos are only black and white.
Not that many around, I am afraid.
Steam locos were actually a quite “dirty” affair, involving oil, coal, cinders, which were not easy to keep clean. The black color helped to maintain a somewhat decent look.
“Colorful” locos that come to my mind are:
SP GS-4 in its Daylight paint scheme
Milwaukee Road´s class A Atlantic and class F Pacific
Is that all? Well PRR´s locos were not really black, were they?
If you know the models you want, check these sites:
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/
http://www.trainworldonline.com/
One other is the American Freedom Train which celebrated the 200th anniversiary of the USA
Look for books on streamlined trains, they were painted bright colors.
The GN had green engines.
Whie the N&W’s bullet-noses were basically black, that wide, gold-bordered Tuscan red stripe makes them look as if they’re flying, even when standing still.
NYC and other railroads had a few stainless steel locos.
B&O and CNJ had a few blue locos.
In the 19th century, many steam locos were works of art - polished wood, polished brass, pinstriping and multi-color paint schemes. It didn’t take profit-conscious rail executives long to recognize that all that artwork came at a price, and that black paint was cheap.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with black steam locos)
The Santa Fe had the “Blue Goose” streamlined 4-6-4, and that was sky blue. Rivarossi made one of these. There are some on E-bay, but they aren’t cheap most of the time.
The Leigh Valley had the John Wilkes, which was red, silver, with a little black.
The CNJ had some blue, gray, and gold engines.
The B&O also had some blue, gray, and gold engines.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rivarossi-Baltimore-Ohio-Blue-Pres-Washington-4-6-2-/300500978
OK so this one isn’t American but I’m a Canadian so how could I resist?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/455-349006
Dave
The UP painted some of their steam locomotives in an attractive gray scheme for a time, and AHM/Rivarossi has offered them. The Milwaukee Road had a non-streamlined 4-6-2 in a orange, gray and brown for the Chippewa service; I think AHM had that. The Alton had a red engine as did the Lehigh Valley and I seem to recall AHM (or IHC?) offered those in HO. Both the Reading and the CB&Q had streamlined steam with fluted stainless steel sides. The Reading engine was once available from Penn Line but it gets collector’s prices now, assuming you can find one that runs.
Dave Nelson
The Northern Pacific had a few with grey boilers. Don’t know if that is considered colorful but it wasn’ t black.
If you drop into narrow gauge the D&RGW had a yellow one with black stripes. Then going way back in time to the 1850-1870s locomotives had all type of colors. Those are harder to research though because of only having very few photos of which all were black and white.
Nobody seems to have mentioned the New York Central Streamlined “Twentieth Century” J3a Hudson which was two tone grey with blue stripes. Not extremely colourful but definitely not black and readily available…
The similar stainless steel and black “Empire State Express” streamlined J3a is also available, although this might not be considered colourful…
The Pennsylvania Railroad had a dark green (bronze green, not the nearly black Brunswick green) streamlined K4s pacific, too… I’m not sure about an HO model but there have been O gauge models.
M636C
“The Steam Liners” by Kevin J. Holland wouldn’t be a bad place to start. 
Many railroads had non-streamlined engines with boilers painted gray or light green, presumably to echo the “Russian Iron” boilers of the 19th century. Not the same as an entire train painted in matching colors, though, if that’s what you’re looking for.
http://www.walthers.com/prodimage/79898786/83693323325245.gif