Need advice from someone on the type of paint or stain to use when weathering wood grade crossings for the 1945-1955 era. The information I had saved on this subject has disappeared from my desk.
Weathered as in dusty roads, seldom used or light traffic on the rails, but lots of car use? Or heavyily used in both cases?
A heavily used crossing, even in the 40’s, would probably have concrete, but if it is to be timbers, it would be heavy ones and creosoted. So, I would resort to Burnt Umber as a good start, maybe add a dab of plain black. If you want the slightly shiny creosoted look where the tires don’t continually draw concrete and pavement dust over the timbers, mix a very small amount of gloss medium in with the paint.
If it is a dustier, more tire-travelled crossing, I would try a slate grey and go from there. Maybe a spray wash of black acrylic or India ink to finish off.
Crandell
I went for an older, weather beaten look for mine. Just multiple Alcohol/India ink wash. DJ.
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The crossing we used regularly in the 50’s on a concrete road was wooden plank… There were 2 or 3 planks outside each rail, as a ramp up to rail top level for the road. All plank between the rails except for the flangeway. They were grayish in color, but darker if just replaced. Where the car tires went, maybe a little lighter due to more wear. If you are on a dirt road, it would be more the color of the road that the tires had ground into the wood. I assume they used a single plank, thick enough to reach near rail top height, then were spiked to the ties.
Good luck.
Richard