Prototype Color Schemes

[Fred W. Schneider III]

I've had the same impression.  Pittsburgh cars appeared yellower than West
Penn.  I've been told that they aged that way ... strange that yellow paint
pigments last so much longer than yellow inks used in printing.  I suspect
there was a paint change.  I've seen Kodachrome slides of PRC low-floor cars
that looked yellower than West Penn even when freshly painted; I've seen
others that were more orange.  Maybe the reddish color was rust? And, at age
60, I sure as hell don't trust my memory.

Many transit companies have used new paint schemes to introduce new
streetcars, subway cars, or other vehicles.  For PCC cars, Cincinnati,
Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Birmingham, Brooklyn, Baltimore, and Washington come to mind.  Until I see
something to the contrary, I would believe that Pittsburgh Railways selected
the paint.  Dan Bell was on long term loan from Pittsburgh Railways to Saint
Louis Car for the body design work on the PCC; with that in mind the choice
could not have logically come from the builder.

Bob Schmidt wrote:

> I would like to know, (and many others on the list too), who's call it
> was designating the red/cream paint scheme for the original PRC order of
> 1936 St. Louis PCC cars. Was this a decision of PRC's own Engineering
> Dept., or a stock finish color of the St. Louis Car Company for that
> particular model?
>
> Also, is there any data in the PRC archives that mightt give a hint as
> to why variations of the color "yellow/orange" dominated the majority of
> PRC work equipment rebuilds from the early 20's onward. Did this color
> have anything to do with the premise of safety, a matter of a residual
> abundance of Jones Low Floor paint stock, or was it simply aping
> manufacturer's such as McGuire, Clark, and Differential who all used a
> yellowish orange finish?
>
> While on the subject of everyones second favorite topic, workcars,
> Charlie and I are still looking to find that elusive photo of M211.
> We'll even settle for a reasonably detailed description thereof should
> any of the old guard remember seeing that particular car. To avoid any
> possible embarrassment you might wish to comtact us privately at our
> respective e-mail addresses. Thanks fellas.
>
> Bob S.