Re: Any news on Loco #168?

Skip Wrote:
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> Blue boiler? Is it possible that she originally
> had a Russia Iron boiler jacket? Many modellers
> use blue to replicate Russia Iron, although that's
> not the right color. Would be more grey.
>
> Wish she could be restored to pre-1900 look.

All of the pre-1900 D&RG locomotives were delivered with planished iron boiler jackets. Most of them used American-produced materials instead of genuine (and more expensive) imported russia iron. I believe you're correct in saying the blue was a well-intentioned but ultimately incorrect attempt to simulate planished iron. The state of research decades ago when it was painted in that manner wasn't nearly so good as today so the error's understandable, and incorrect paint is still better than no paint.

The largest problem with restoring it to 19th century appearance is that it was built with a straight boiler. The D&RG essentially developed the extended wagon top boiler, however, and some of the narrow gauge D&RG 4-6-0's (albeit members of class 45.5, not class 47) had been rebuilt with extended wagon top boilers during the 1880's. As such it could be restored to a 19th century appearance, but not precisely its own 19th century appearance. That might not be a bad idea considering the C&T already has a large stock of 1920's era power.