You guys are right if it is only a one day or week celebration show. Sorry I grew up when steam was so common it never had any color or white tires. The ET&WNC were the only steamer that did not look real as they were polished like new. The Graham County Shays were a real gem of steam in my days and when the Red paint came to cover the sides of its tender, the line died. That is the greatest example of a railroad that should have draw the entire railfan world to it and its beautiful country but the Red paint killed the interest. Cass would have gone the same way if someone painted their Shays wrong. Instead, they kept the common black and dirt and the purist came in numbers which make it the success above most tourist lines.
RailStar is doing a great job but the idea is to make it look like it did a half century ago and give the passenger the image of old, and photos that are not datable.
It is getting to a point that there is not a steamer running in America that is not carrying some colors that were not there when the engine was in 'historic' freight or passenger service. Every new engine that is rebuilt is given this same treatment. Young people must be having different agendas.