Green, green boiler jackets you say?!
While I posted info on this subject a few years ago (from the mid 40's Standard Practice) to add to the information that others submitted, it is interesting to note all the latest opinions and the facts offered thus far. So, here's more.
From some of the pictures taken at Montrose in the late 40's or early '50s, the 340 appears (I do mean appears) to have been painted with a green boiler jacket. This might go along with the 605's paint job one post noted.
Whether this (paint job-340) was after the last shopping or if it was done at Montrose I don't know. Also, even in b&w pix's, when clean, the green jacket generally will stand out from the other black painted parts.
Previously, if I recollect what a Burnham shop foreman told me, that during the WW-II, they discontinued using the green paint. Doesn't mean some of it wasn't around, but more likely, that when pressed for time, black was fine. Whether many passenger engines (or ng power) got the green paint after the war is unknown. Too much time has passed to answer in the absolute.
And that same foreman, answered when asked about the ng power (sg also) and some of the different paint schemes or trimming that was noted in photos, "As you got further away from Denver, standard practice was not always followed".
Remember, the ng was not a big money maker compared to the sg. And after the late 30's, managements' desire was to abandon the ng and less profitable sg branches (including dieselizing also). So, if 'a little' poetetic license, as were, was taken on the NG power, it was probably overlooked as harmless, as few in management at 1531 Stout St. Denver really cared (in my opinion). It would be the local shop or terminal that took an interest in how the power looked. Pride in what they worked on or, who they worked for.
All of this a product of the time. And the Grande, like many other RR's, didn't want to appear (to others in the rail & business community) to be living in the past. Also, in the long term, operating ratios, the ability to move freight, the competition with other east/west carriers was becoming and remained an issue up until the takeover & mergers.
As for passenger vs frt. & std. vs ng, the tri-colored emblem did seem to be mostly on the std. ga. pass. power. This from pix's & discussion with different men. But who knows for sure.
And the paint gets stirred alittle more!
Chris
