Re: Passenger Roof Color and sheen - Colorado, 1930s

Passenger car roofs on most narrow gauge passenger cars, and early on D&RG 8 wheel passenger cars* were turne metal, a soft iron sheet, "washed" in lead. Sheets were small, maybe 22"x 30" with some variation. Edges were folded and locked, then soldered. We found copper flashing on several cars around the clearstory window posts. Terne meant to be painted, and on the D&RG and D&RGW was painted black until the Silverton Yellow non-sense...

When doing the C&TS historic car report we found that the roofs in some cases had be sealed or patched with black tar roof compound. That would have been a late in life make do repair.

* I don't know what roofing was used on the original 4 wheel Jackson & Sharp cars, possibly canvas... and not sure about the early arched roof RPO's. Cabosses had canvas roofs, sealed with paint. Wooden UP cabooses used a product called "mule skin" like a roofing paper, again likely sealed with tar or paint.

Randy Hees

Director, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, retired
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