NYC Freight Car Color Scheme

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I have and have seen some model NYC cars that are a light green. When did NYC use this color (or did they)? What color were their freight cars in the mid-50’s?

2

Mark,

I believe it was '52 or '53 when the jade green scheme first came out. As far as other colors, they were mostly variations on a theme of red, brown, and black. The one exception would have been the Pacemaker paint scheme of red and gray.

Tom

3

In 1958 the NYC tested the Cigar Band Scheme on 12 cars and the scheme was approved at the Shareholders Meeting in 1959, thereafter cars were repainted in Century Green with the Cigar Band Herald. So 1959 was the date of the change over to the Century Green Paint.

So for a mid fifties car the paint would be Boxcar Red/Mineral Brown with the either the oval herald with a black or plain background, except for the Early Bird Herald Cars and Pacemaker Cars.

Rick