What color is the smoke box on a SP Steamer? Not the very front of the boiler, the section under the smoke stack. Was it silver or graphite or Black? Thank in advanced.
I'm not an SP expert by far, but I think the smokeboxes were treated differently for the different classes. Most of the restored Pacifics are graphite, and for that matter so is 4449. I'm not sure what the 4300's had, nor the ACs. Wish there was a 4300 around to check. :tb-biggrin:
Nick. The answer to your question depends on the year that the locomotive was in operation. Prior to 1946 SP coated the unlagged portions of the firebox, smoke box, and boiler front with a lighter colored graphite coating. Beginning in 1946, they went to a darker graphite on the unlagged portions of the fire box, and smoke box, and the boiler front got a bright silver coating (almost an aluminum shade). I have seen pics that show a light graphite firebox, a dark graphite smoke box, and silver boiler front, but it is difficult to find a picture of a loco fresh from the shop. As such, these colors may have faded at a different rate due to differing levels of heat produced in various areas of the loco. Jim J.
The smoke box is powdered garphite and boiled linnseed oil. I believe They used waste oil instead of linnseed oil. The smokebox has to be hot for the coating to cure. The front is aluminum color. That color was chosen to increase the visibility of the engine.
