Weekly Photo Fun April 11th-17th

[Steamtrains]

Gus, There are as many different colors for rail as there are spikes in the ties. Newer rail will be the color of new steel basically the color of a new gun barrel, then as it ages it will pick up the iron oxide rust. Branch lines and shaded rail show more rust too, nothing standard about it. Within 500 feet of a lubricator the rail will be a greasy blue and at times pick up some white from the automatic sanders applying sand when wheel slip may be detected.
On grades the rail will show sand mixed with oxide as the sand applied to the rails for traction also grinds a little metal with it, and what sand actually makes it under the wheels is powered like powered sugar, this gets splashed on the rail sides when it rains.

I like to "rust" my sidings, but prefer the bluish color for the rail web on the main lines.
Charlie

Thanks for enlightening me (us..??)