See: The DIAMOND, vol. 7, # 1, p. 18: Erie Railroad Steam Locomotive Paint Standards, by Dan Biernacki. Steam standards applied to the early diesels, as well.
On the Erie (and many other roads) "yellow" could vary. The most popular was a shade produced by DuPont, in their "DuLux" line, called "Gold." It was really a darkish yellow, sort of a "real" yellow with a buff tone, to approach the color of gold without having to fuss with metallic pigments.
The block lettering seen on the Triplex mentioned previously was standard until 1927 and President Bernet. The standard was changed to the ball-in-a-diamond and block letters. It first appeared on the Berkshires, but other engines got it when they were repainted. The taller letters showed up in 1940, and gradually replaced the earlier scheme through WWII. In all cases, as Paul says, it was all one shade or another of yellow.
The yellow stripe along the bottom of the boxcab's side is another matter as to when it arrived. That probably coincided with the later diesel switchers, but I don't know exactly when.
The K-1 that went to Korea wore a white diamond, black ball, and white ERIE on the tender, with a smaller white ERIE on the cab and no number. Apparently, yellow had/has negative connotations in Korea.
Randy Brown
- --------------------------------------------------------------
> It depends on what era you're talking about.
>
> if the loco has the earlier "block" lettering, or the "block"
> lettering in the diamand and ball, it's white.
>
> http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/erie2603.jpg
>
> http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/erie-s950blb.jpg
>
> At some point in the 40's I'm guessing, they went to a taller
> more stylized lettering and gold paint.
>
> http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/erie-s2521jza.jpg
>
> So just look at your lettering style.
>
> Now the same class often had both, even the Berks. And
> tenders were often switched. So it's hard to say that one
> modern steamer had the gold lettering on it's tender
> throughout it's life.
Ummm, in the modern (post-1900) Erie era, the lettering was *ALWAYS* in yellow, on steam AND diesel. Of course, there might be an exception, but none that I've ever seen. This was regardless of the lettering style, too.
The only exception to this was the one 4-6-2 that was sent to Korea - it was repainted with an Erie diamond and "ERIE" on the cab in Korea using white lettering.
- Paul
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