As regards paint, trim, lettering and even tenders

Guys,

One of the things I have noticed on the D&RGW, the C&TS, The GB&L, The WP&YR, The VRR, The GSMRR and practically every other railroad I can think of is they didn't do things the same way every time even when their specifications called for them to.

If you have a picture of a specific locomotive taken on a known date all you can safely conclude is that that is the way it was on that day.

The railroad and the railroaders were not nearly as concerned with paint and lettering as the fans are. I have also noted that as the distance from the main shop or corporate office increases so does the variation from the "standard pattern".

John Bush