Re: RGS coach colors

Black and white photos are generally not a whole lot of help and unfortunately the only color ones we have are of a) the 1949 and later excursions and, b) work train equipment. The excursions featured RGS cars that had been painted by the RMRRC for the excursions so accuracy????? The work train cars were freight car red.
It is generally accepted that the cars were a varnished tuscan or maroon until about 1921 when all were standardized into Pullman green. With both of these color schemes the lettering was gold (later yellow when the money ran out!).
After the advent of the galloping goose all of the passenger cars were relegated to work train service and all were painted a freight car red. This red was not a brownish red like the Rio Grande used but a dull caboose red type color, similar to what the C&TS is painting their cars but not as shiny. The lettering on the red work train service cars was white.
Hope this helps.