“Hello fellow railroaders”…
What might the color of a typical track side water tank be?. I realize various roads had different colors but would greatly appreciate some examples. I’ve got an old water tank that needs some attention. Right now it’s unpainted wood and weathered.
Thanks in advance.
Tracklayer
I did two of mine natural weathered. I have seen them yellow and boxcar red. The problem with painting wood is that it peals so fast. I may paint my third one blue because that is what the CEO is painting everything since he got control of the line.
As far as I know, railroads generally had some type of color scheme that they used on their buildings, just like they had color schemes for their engines and rolling stock. Water tanks would have been painted the RR’s buildings colors. Now, if you haven’t picked those colors, now is your chance, or you can just go with a neutral color like tan for the tank. The roof and supports can be dark brown. My RR’s building colors are cream with green trim for the sides, and some shade of red tiles, shingles, or roofing paper for the roof. If the building is brick, block, or stone, it is left that color and the roof is usually a dark red, but may be a dark green. Sometimes it is hard trying to stick with a set of standard colors, but I am trying. Creosote wood is left that dark brown / black color and gets lighter toward gray with age. Sometimes I leave the wood shingles their natural color also. The idea is to have a central theme for the colors of the buildings and structures that the RR owned.
Hope this helps,
Elmer.