04-07-2010, 11:07 AM
Allegheny2-6-6-6 Wrote:I'm sitting here at my desk multi tasking I think they call it building a Central Valley single track 72' Plate Girder Bridge as well as looking at pictures of bridges on the net and posting here of course. So I've built several of these bridges two double track versions as well as one other single track one just like this one and of course they are all painted black. Then weathered with grimy black chalk rust what ever. So I'm thinking you know I'm getting board with black even though it may be the general color of choice for bridges. So I was wondering what alternate colors have you guys painted your bridges.
Are you modeling a specific prototype railroad? I think each railroad had a specific paint spec for steel bridges. Out here in So Cal we had three major railroads, now two since the U.P. take over of S.P. If I remember correctly, Santa Fe used a silver color for their bridges and S.P. used black. I don't what U.P. used. If you are modeling a prototype railroad, paint your bridges like the prototype did. Even if you are freelancing the scenes and bridges, having the bridges painted the same color as your prototype will identify your bridges with your prototype for any visitors who are knowledgeable about the prototype and will give you more of a feel of being a real railroad. Also many railroads put the company logo on the side of all plate girder bridges, or at least one of the plate girder bridges when there was a series of them crossing a canyon or river.