Which engines wore the full Crescent Limited paint scheme, with the name of the train on the tender and the moon on the cylinder jackets. Seems to be the version with just Southern on the tender was more common, and the cylinder jackets lacked the cresent moon on them. From what I have read, only the engines assigned to the train had the name on the tender, but what road numbers or did that vary depending on the year. Lets not start the arguement over the color of the cab roof, that can be debated till the cows come home, some say green, some say black and others remember them being tuscan red. Just depended on what shop did the last repaint from what I gather. I think it looks better with the tuscan roof to match the tuscan tender deck. How far north did the PS4’s come. I think the train made it up the east coast. Now that I own 2 PS4’s and the full passenger train, just trying to learn more about it other than what it was called. Mike
I know that at one time the 1393, 1395 and the 1396 had the Crescent Limited scheme; probably the 1394 too.
The 6689 also wore the Queen and Crescent Limited scheme on it’s tender.
The Ps4’s daily ran north on the Southern to Alexandria, VA and then over the RF&P and Pennsy to Washington Union Station where they were serviced at the Ivy City engine terminal. This is as far north on the east coast they traveled. They also operated into Cinncinatti, Ohio.
Dale Latham, Piedmont Southern RR, GMR 2009
Washington DC was about as far north as the Ps4’s operated. At some date, perhaps late 1920’s or early thrities the green was changed from the as delivered Apple green to the darker sylvan green, gold leaf lettering was replaced with a buff subsitute and the installation of shorter tube pilots. Depending on a given locomotives shop assignment, ladders, headlight style and appliances could vary as did tender type. Not only is 1401 the last extent, it also represents an example with the least amout of heavy modifications.
Dave
Thanks for the replies guys. I thought they ran up to Washington DC, just didnt know on who’s tracks. I am planing to have mine painted as 1401 and without the CL name on the tender. I already have one PS4 painted that way. I didnt know they had 2 shades of green. My PS4 thats painted is the darker Sylvian green. What is 1401 painted now, apple or sylvian green? Maybe one day I can visit the Smithsonian and see her. Mike
1401 was restored to apple green with gold leaf lettering, the smokebox has a tad too much silver surface however, overall a beautiful restoration.
Dave
this is not to start a debate about the cab roof color but as i recall, may railroads painted cab roofs and tender decks with oxide red. more of a protective color than for decoration. these surfaces soon blackened from soot, smoke, cinders and coal dust so any color would probably be appropriate depending on how long the engine had been in service.
photos of box car and reefer roofs from the steam era often show black but i doubt if that was always the original color.
grizlump
Having not seen the 1401 in person, the pics I find on the net sure look darker than apple green. The models I have seen in apple green look more like the flying scottsman in green than the pics of 1401’s color. I have looked at several pics from different sources with different lighting used and they all look darker than apple. Mike
The cab roof/tender deck color query brings to mind my attempts to discover how SP did it. The sole MT class 4-8-2 painted green did have an oxide roof but no oxide on the tender deck, now they had a 4-8-0 with the green extending to the cab sides but with a black roof, to mix it further a single 4-6-0 recieved a green cab front but black elsewhere on the cab. Guess there are as many ways to trim it as there are days of the week.
Dave
The darker green on my painted PFM PS4 does match the paint on my old AHM/Rivarossi CL passenger train. My debate is whether to paint the new engine in full CL dress, or like 1401 is today with just Southern on the tender. I still dont know which way to go. Here is a pic of the engines. Mike
