The information is good and many of the inside colors on trains are hard to discover, since the pictures are mostly in black and white. The new Daylight Reflections book has interior pictures that are fairly good and can be used as a guide for SP fans.
I have installed tinted glass in my Walthers cars using Railway Classics Proto Correct Glass and the results are stunning.
You simply install the tinted glass on the inside of the flush glass already in the car and enjoy the results.
Thanks again for the interior color information.
Don’t know about that one. It’s possible as railroads kept interior deco styles for years. It’s your railroad though, and it’s up to you. I don’t worry so much about the “exact color” as long as I get “reasonably close” to the overall tone. Visitors to my home are always impressed with the IHC interiors that I’ve painted. [swg]
The pictures of toilets that I’ve seen in most streamlined passenger trains were Stainless Steel. I paint my toilets, sinks, and vestibules the same color as my dining car kitchens, which of course is stainless steel by Testors. Silver works too. [8D]
Suggestion: Don’t worry about painting the floor and the ceilings as these areas are “extremely” difficult to see from your viewpoint at the powerpack as your train cruises on your layout’s mainline. Seats, sleeping car partitions, and tables are what attract attenion. The view is limited. As for the space between the windows, if you wish you can apply a neutral color like a gray, brown or beige. If you do this, apply long strips of masking tape along the top and bottom edges of the window row to get a neat job. [:D][8D]
Remember to USE FLAT COLORS for all interior work. Don’t use gloss as this will make the work look “toylike”. (been there, done that!) [:p]
Don’t worry so much, or you may get burned out! [B)] Keep it simple! Have fun! [:o)][8D][yeah]You will still see some very nice effects. If you make a mistake; so what. Just try again. [:)][:D]
When you finish doing one car or interior; walk away from it and don’t look at if for a long while. When you come back refreshed and relaxed, your results will make you smile!
Thank you! Glad the info was helpful! Just remember that you don’t have to be too picky to capture the overall “flavor” of the interior color. It will still look far better than the “plain-jane” tan that Walther’s and IHC interiors come with. Yuck!!
Re: The “Daylight Reflections” book. Did you see the color of the seats and overall interiors of the cars? I have a friend of mine that models the Daylight. I think that if he has the info he would likely purchase, paint and install the IHC interior kits.
He did it again!!! Actually, this was the thread I mentioned in the “Does anyone know any good threads” thread that was on the board a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, what better post to hit 3 stars on than in acknowledging a forum “Master”
Actually, I am glad you resurfaced this one as I could not remember the title and as a result did not find it with a search, I am just starting to put my Walthers cars in service, so this is a great reminder.
Anybody have knowledge of the proper color(s) for a troop Pullman. I would guess the bunks would be made up with Pullman’s standard rose or olive green blankets but that’s just a guess.
I’ve painted most of my passenger fleet interiors. Though not completely “prototypical” colors, they have a very real appearance. I also added mirrors in the restrooms, etc. and it sure adds to the visual effects of the lighting in the interiors.
As soon as I can afford it (saving up for lots of Kato track!) I will be adding the passengers and railroad staff themselves.
A retired ex-Santa Fe 1950s streamlined “heritage” coach used by New Jersey Transit. Seats are a bright blue. The material looks similar to the tough vinyl used on modern school buses so it’s safe to assume that Santa Fe’s upholstery dissappeard years ago.
The closest color approximation, IMHO, would be Conrail Blue , which I think is available in Acrylic and Solvent model paint brands. [:D][8D][;)]
VIA in Canada used these. Amtrak trial ran at least one train for a while back in the 80s. Interiors are brighty lit, the seats are an unusual but attractive Blue-Green " color.
If you go to www.railpictures.net go to the blank “Search Box” towards the bottom and type LRC. On the 2nd photo shot page you’ll see the interior photo of a VIA LRC coach. IMPRESSIVE! Note the flourescent lighting.
O.K Passenger Train Crews, here’s another railroad.
I’ve had the priviledge of knowing Mr. Jim Langston, a well liked, down-to-earth manager at CSX. [4:-)]
According to his info, Seaboard Coast Line streamlined passenger trains typically had Greenish-Blue coach seats. Lounge cars often had tan and red tables and chairs. There were variances since SCL had passenger cars acquired from other railroads, including Chessie.
Good enough for me though as it’s difficult to find interior photos of SCL streamlined cars, inspite of their popular New York to Florida runs. I’ll be mixing Model Flex Santa Fe Dk. Blue with a color similar to CN Green. Lounge cars tended to have tans and reds on seats and tables. Your basic earth colors.
UP_Santa Fe:[8D] Great idea on using mirrors your bathrooms. Even from the outside that’s an item that could stand out in a lighted car.
This is my first post so forgive me if this has been discussed.
I too have been detailing the interiors for my IHC Heavyweights, but I have a question regarding the IHC lighting kits and how they work with the IHC interiors! I hope you, or someone has the answer.
As you are proabably aware, these lighting kits come with metal wheel sets to replace the plastic ones along with a bushing, screw, nut and wire mounting post to replace the original plastic pin that held the trucks on originally, and also to help aid in the wire hookup.
I followed the instructions to a tee, inserted the bushing in the truck, then proceeded to insert the screw from the bottom up throught he floor board and and secured it with one of the tiny nuts provided. However, when I went to dry fit the interior the screw was sticking up too far to allow the interior to lay flat. Another problem that arose was the directions call for you to loop a wire connected to the light around the screw, then place the mounting post on top of that and finally a second nut to secure the post and wire.
According to how it lays out now, there is no way to intall the mounting post because that would require the screw and post to portrude through the floor of the interior! If that is the case IHC never hints around to do this in their instructions.
Just wondering if you or anyone may be able to shed some light (pun intended), or may have had a similar experience with these kits. From what I see, they don’t look compatible with each other, although they’re both IHC products. And it wouldn’t make any sense to have an interior if you can’t light it up, right?
Heavyweight coaches: “Cincanattian”: Dark red seats, similar to Caboose Red. Tan walls.
Heavy weight coaches: 1948 rebuilt version. Beige seats. Yellow-Beige Walls. Flourescent lights in center of ceiling.
UPChallenger,
I haven’t gotten to the point of lighting my Rivorossi cars yet, which are similar to the IHCs, so my info might not be helpful. From what you describe though, I would go ahead and try one car. The screw stud protruding through the floor might not be noticeable because out typical vantage point when running passenger trains is about 2 feet “above” our layout.
For lighting, I don’t plan to use the IHC kits though. Miller is supposed to be introducing a flourescent lighting kit in 2006 using diodes. I might not wait that long. With help from a friend, I’m strongly considering installing “blue-white” diodes in my Rivorossi cars as these resemble flourescent bulbs. Since diodes are point sources of light, I’m going to experiment with a piece of mylar to see if the light can be spread.
It will be a while, but when I do it I’ll post my results right away, regardless of the outcome.
Another great place to look for passenger car interior decor is old magazine ads. Most of the ads are dead on with interior colors, but some are artistic interpretation. But as posted before, don’t get too wrapped up in getting the perfect colors, just make it look good for you. One area you may want to try to get right is dome seating and carpeting. This is the only area that I have made a point to get right.
hi there. painting the interiors is a good idea if you know the colors, i am in Australia and finding out is hard,so what are the interior colors of the union pacific passenger cars, all the photos i have and have found on the net are in black and white,i e-mailed the uphs but never got a reply,so any help would be great. thanks biggsy
The photo of a UP passenger coach’s interior that I have is grainy. Looking at the photo carefully, here’s my best guess:
Seats: Dark Tan, Headrest area Chocolate Brown.
Walls: Greeni***an.
Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.
Perform a web search and contact some of the UP railfan and historian clubs. Since UP still has a set of the passenger cars for use on excursions and officer’s specials someone has to have some interior shots!
Hey, to UP Modelers! Here’s a more encouraging update, I hope.
( I need to buy a digital camera and a photo scanner! ).
I found an excellent prototype interior shot of a yellow, streamlined UP coach. Though smoothsided it has rivets on the body.
I was quite surprised to see that the wall and ceiling color is a very light “Powder Blue” especially since Light Tan was often the favorite with western roads. Basicallly looks like White with a small amount of Blue tint. To get this color, IMHO, it looks like mixing 4 parts Bright white, and 1 part Great Northern Big Sky Blue would do the job .
The seats in this coach are vinyl and the most reasonable color that I found on the model paint charts is SOO Line Red, IMHO.
Remember though, just as with other railroads different color schemes were applied over the years. [8)][;)]
Great topic!! Any thoughts on the interior colors for the late ATSF Chief or the ATSF business fleet? The few pics I found on Fallen Flags showed a tan interior with blue seats.
While we’re gussying up psgr cars lets do some frosted windows for ltwt cars. Get a piece of clear plastic (enough for a BIG bunch of windows) and lay out a bunch of parallel strips of 2" (scale) masking tape on 2" centers. Spray w/ a mist of white ( a little heavier than you would do Grimy black if weathering). Strip off the masking tape and repeat. The painted side goes to the car’s interior.