Russia Iron is not stainless steel, stainless steel is an alloy, made through a chemical process, Russia iron is forged, made through a mechanical process. Most of the Russia Iron that survives today is material that was used as roofing shingles. It can range from greys to greens, the bluish color is typically a reflection of the sky. Many times the cabs were varnished walnut or other wood. Typical colors for tenders, cabs and domes were a variety of reds ranging from wine to vermillion to darker browns and greens. They were trimmed with a rainbow of colors, buff, red, black, blues, greens, gold and silver leaf. It wasn't until the late 1880's and 1890's that railroads went to the more somber colors. There were even some engines painted predominately pink (which in the mid-1800's was a masculine, not a feminine color).
