We are looking for B&O colors and markings before the 1870s (engine, freight, and passenger). We only have a couple pictures, mostly 1830s or 1860s and they are black and white; and it's hard to tell if they were original photographs or reproductions. (We are considering buying the White Freight Car book -- just not sure there is much B&O stuff in it.) Background: My wife is modeling B&O in the 1850s, western Maryland.
If I remember correctly (no, I ain't old enough that I saw it in person), the early B&O passenger coaches were yellow(ish) with green trim; into the 1850's they were yellow with reddish-brown trim. Into the later 1800's passenger coaches were an olive green with gold trim and lettering. Freight engines were generally black, but passenger type engines were various colors - green and cream with gold trim; blue and cream with gold trim; reddish-brown, sort-of-cream/tan with gold trim and lettering. Many years ago in Garrett, Indiana, the Historical Society had the paint of the old freight house analyzed by taking scrapings from the original paint that was buried under layers of various colors that had been painted on over the years. The original colors appeared to be tannish-brown with olive green trim. I believe this freight station dates back at the earliest to 1875.
That's interesting. And helpful. Thanks for the information. I found a couple photos on the net and we have the B&O Centenary Catalog (1927). Not much to go on, but that's part of the challenge.
I have some HO equipment that sort of dates back to approx. 1850 to 1880: IHC 4-4-0 William Mason: grey boiler; black smoke box and exhaust stack; dark reddish-brown headlight housing, cab, tender, sand dome, steam dome; black frame engine and tender; gold trim and lettering (has 1856 in gold on the steam chest). Roundhouse Overton passenger cars: blue upper and lower car bodies with cream/yellow center (window area) and roof; gold trim. Roundhouse 50' cars: blue body with cream/yellow car ends and strip above windows; black roof; gold lettering and trim. Can't verify the accuracy of these paint schemes, but they sure look nice.
