Trains This Day/Month in the Past

[TMo]

Hillyard, relating to your post, I have heard that there were vast amounts of PRR DGLE paint at some of the shops and it was applied to some of the Conrail locomotives. I find this rather hard to believe but in Penn Central days I find it likely.
    The industrial paints tend to fade and chalk so they lose the gloss rapidly. Some of the railroads are paying the price for the expensive paints that hold up, and keep the shine a lot longer. Harsh cleaners take their toll too. 
     Pictures are proof that modelers tend to fret too much over colors because there are too many shades of colors even freshly applied. 

Charlie

  Couldn't agree more, Charlie.  There's a great article in Model Railroader's "Detailing Projects for Freight Cars and Locomotives" devoted to weathering a black locomotive - the majority of the weathering is toning down the "blackness" with light coats of gray wash to simulate the fading - sun bleach is also a real thing with dark colors.  None of my Penn Central locos have remained black - they've all been toned down.  Which reminds me that eventually I'll have to fade out my M420 CN loco...