Re: White trimmed driver tires - cosmetic or valid reason?

Jake Mahr the retired Chief of boiler inspection for the state of Colorado, retired FRA/ICC inspector, ex UP general foreman, ex UP biolermaker/Machinist(who taught me most of what I know about steam locomotives) was a UP inspector when the Challenger locomotives were built in Schenectady NY. He related to me that he got chewed out by the CMO when he first saw the builders photos of the new engines because the driver tires were painted white. He explained to Jake in colorful language that "we dont paint tires on the Union Pacific". It took Jake some time to explain that the tires had only been painted to make them show up better for the builders photos.

The reason they did not paint tires is that it might hide cracks.

John Bush