Boxcar colors

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Ever had a weird observation suddenly pop into your mind that made you scratch your head. Well, I had one strike me just a little while ago.

Before the 50s, boxcars were generally a variation on the theme of brown or red. Hoppers, gondolas, and flatcars could sometimes be brown…but they could also be black in color. However, I can’t recollect ever seeing many (if any) black boxcars. Was this because boxcars were generally used to transport goods (vs. coal or scrap) and darker colors like black might cause product to overheat unnecessarily?

Sorry for the dumb query. It’s just one of those stray thoughts that nag me and I have to find out the answer. LOL!

Tom

2

I’m not sure but I think they painted them all the same color would be for cost. When you change the color on an assembly line it takes time and money to clear the old paint out of the sprayers, thinner to clean and man hours to get everything ready. Plus I’m sure good old tradition kept the colors the same rather than constant changing colors. Remember what Henry Ford said " you can have any color you like as long as it’s black" in reference to model T’s.

Ray

3

I know several railroads painted the ends of their boxcars black. I have no idea why.

There may have been some black boxcars in the period you’re asking about, but I don’t remember any specific roads.

I suspect hoppers, gondolas, etc. were painted black because they were often used to carry coal.

As I understand it, black and red-brown (iron oxide) were the cheapest and most durable paints available.

4

The only black boxcars I can think of were the SP “black widow” overnight express cars.

Ray

5

I know of at least two others such as some L&NE, C&O and NCSTL Boxcars.

Rick

6

Tom.

From what I have read in the various books Hoppers started to be painted black to try to keep the load from freezing. Then after WW2 black became a standard color. There were plenty of Tuscan hoppers. Reefers were mostly painted in light colors to resist the heat of the sun. General merchandise box cars were painted in the owners standard color.

Pete

7

Maybe the heat gain, but I wonder if it could be the same issue you notice if you have a black car - black shows every bit of dust and dirt that gets on it. Older black equipment also tends to fade after years of exposure. The red didn’t fade as much (or at least looked reasonably decent after fading).

8

“Boxcar red” was used on freight cars because it was durable and dirt cheap, since it was made of…well, dirt. More specifically, red clay containing iron. Before 1859 a paint’s price was determined by the natural products used to create the paint. Rusty red was made from red clay so was cheap to make and wore well, so was used on freight cars, buildings - and barns. The fact that some railroads painted their flatcars. gondolas or hoppers black probably didn’t have any particular reason behind it . As noted, it wasn’t uncommon for a boxcar (or reefer) to have black ends, or black roofs. I think at one time that was because of some material put on top of the cars to waterproof them??