Re: Caboose roof color

Posted by Derrell Poole on Jan 08, 2015; 4:57pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Caboose-roof-color-tp61p117.html

I haven't found anything to substantiate black roofs on rebuilt (1908) C&Sng cabooses. I haven't found anything to prove they never had black roofs either. Photos around that time are not very common but those that exist often portray the red cars darkly. And they are often taken in strong light which would lighten top surfaces. Edges of roofs sometimes appear darker compared to the surface of the fascia and sides - but that could be the function of the angle the edge surface is to the light source. Photos taken prior to the early '30s are not reliable in conveying the tone values of reds and black. I paint the roofs black on the "logic" that they could have been black initially but probably went to red as a less complicated measure when shopped thereafter. I like how they look that way but I don't guarantee that to be correct.