The local rail museum had donated an REA baggage cart. It is of heavier construction than most carts,has rubber tires, and the front is curved and the cargo deck has letterboards above it. We are needing the correct shades of red and green to restore it for display. Thanks.
An excellent question for which I have no answer, unfortunately. If this post continues to go unanswered, you might consider posting a similar query under one of the Model Railway forums, as many of the people there insist on absolute authenticity. The color also might vary according to what “year” it is – if part of a 1940’s exhibit it might look different from one from the twilight of REA 25 or so years later. The rubber tires suggest a more modern cart.
I just looked at a book I have on REA published by Rocky Mountain Press in 1992 and the colors I could not find reference to the paint colors except from what I could remember is very close to the colors on the cover of the book. The green is very dark and the red is a lighter bright red. I know that isn’t much help. Dont forget the lettering was real gold leaf.
I at one time was modeling REA and found that athern models painted their REA models Hunter Green…I remember reading somewhere else that it was Hunter(s) Green…The book I have is Railway Express by V. Roseman ,2nd printing 1993
Hope this helps…videomaker
At our museum we use a dark green shade of hunter green I think…you can see a photo of here: http://www.pbrail.org/MR11.JPG . Our site is at www.pbrail.org . Pay no attention to the yellow on that one cart, one of our volunteers tried to lift by himself, hurt himself, and we never got around to finishing it yet, lol.
UPTRAIN the color looks right to me so Hunter Green it must be. Haven’t seen anything else that comes any closer. The shield or emblem seems to be of an older style than I remember. Was sure I remember the red but some had white lettering outlined in gold leaf or am I letting my age get to me.