coal trestle car stop color

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Greetings.

I am building a new coal trestle for my local dealer of coal and POL products. I model the NYC around Dayton Ohio in 1967. I am building a new coal trestle as my old one is getting shopworn due to many moves during my time in the Air Force.

I am going to use Hays car stops at the end of the trestle, and I know they are a bit modern, but my old car stop of a RR tie on top of the rails lashed to the tie under the rail has a tendancy to derail the car when the Kadee “air hose” bumps ir.

My question is what color would the car stops have been painted in the 50s and 60s. I have photos of such animals, but they are all in black and white. Your oppinions and/or suggestions would be appreciated.

Paul

Dayton and Mad River RR

2

Whatever color the coal dealer painted his stuff.

If they are dark in the pictures, probably black. If they are light in the pictures, probably aluminum or yellow. And rust.

Dave H.

3

Like Dave, I’d go with rust mixed with greasy coal dust.

Ironically, today we actually recommend to industrial customers they do not install wheel stops or bumpers, as sooner or later someone will shove a car right through them and tear everything up. Better to just use a pile of dirt: it’s cheap, effective, and easy to put back in place after a car runs up it.

That doesn’t work on a trestle, but rarely do any customers want or need a spur ending on a trestle these days, and we’d talk them out of it even if they wanted it.

RWM