Northern Pacific Paint Codes


Richard Wilkens
 

While doing some cataloging at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive I came across this Northern Pacific drawing with the different paint manufacturer codes. Interesting that two different Dupont paints were used, one for refrigerator cars and another for the rest of the freight cars.

Richard Wilkens
Director of Collections
Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive


Kenneth Montero
 

Also 2 different codes for Sherwin- Williams without any differentiation in the type of cars to which each was applied. Different types of paints?

Ken Montero

On 01/08/2023 7:40 PM Richard Wilkens <railsnw123@...> wrote:


While doing some cataloging at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive I came across this Northern Pacific drawing with the different paint manufacturer codes. Interesting that two different Dupont paints were used, one for refrigerator cars and another for the rest of the freight cars.

Richard Wilkens
Director of Collections
Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive


Ed Hawkins
 



On Jan 8, 2023, at 7:42 PM, Kenneth Montero <va661midlo@...> wrote:

Also 2 different codes for Sherwin- Williams without any differentiation in the type of cars to which each was applied. Different types of paints? 

Ken,
I first express my thanks to Richard Wilkens for sharing this drawing. 

The “Carclad” term associated with the lower Sherwin-Williams reference was an early-1950s paint formula primarily for covered hopper cars to offer better protection against such lading as dry chemicals, cement, and alkali products. Examples of cars known to have received S-W Carclad paint include ACF lot number 3535-B built 6-7/1951, SHPX 25481-25500 (leased to Westvaco Chemicals), 25501-25512 & 25653-25665 (leased to Mathieson Chemicals), 25666-25690 (leased to Colgate-Palmolive-Peet), and lot 3538, IC 79400-79499, built 8-51. These were ACF 1958 cu. ft. 70-ton covered hopper cars, painted gray, and illustrated in RP CYC Volume 27. 

A look at the NP 75040 builder photo & NP 75093 in-service photo from Bob’s Photo denote NP 75030-75129 built ca. 6-51 received “SW CARCLAD” stencils positioned exactly as specified on the drawing. Refer to RP CYC Volume 30 for these cars that received black paint.

The other S-W entry 4th down on the list would be an earlier S-W paint formula for general use on any of the freight car types shown. Dating back to the 1880s Sherwin-Williams was a major paint manufacturer for the railroad industry, so it’s likely that Northern Pacific used S-W paint even before the drawing originally dated Oct. 24, 1939. 

A Google search finds that Sherwin-Williams paint still uses the Carclad term to this day. 


Regards,
Ed Hawkins


Kenneth Montero
 

Ed,

Thank you.

Ken Montero


On 01/09/2023 3:15 PM Ed Hawkins <hawk0621@...> wrote:




On Jan 8, 2023, at 7:42 PM, Kenneth Montero <va661midlo@...> wrote:

Also 2 different codes for Sherwin- Williams without any differentiation in the type of cars to which each was applied. Different types of paints? 

Ken,
I first express my thanks to Richard Wilkens for sharing this drawing. 

The “Carclad” term associated with the lower Sherwin-Williams reference was an early-1950s paint formula primarily for covered hopper cars to offer better protection against such lading as dry chemicals, cement, and alkali products. Examples of cars known to have received S-W Carclad paint include ACF lot number 3535-B built 6-7/1951, SHPX 25481-25500 (leased to Westvaco Chemicals), 25501-25512 & 25653-25665 (leased to Mathieson Chemicals), 25666-25690 (leased to Colgate-Palmolive-Peet), and lot 3538, IC 79400-79499, built 8-51. These were ACF 1958 cu. ft. 70-ton covered hopper cars, painted gray, and illustrated in RP CYC Volume 27. 

A look at the NP 75040 builder photo & NP 75093 in-service photo from Bob’s Photo denote NP 75030-75129 built ca. 6-51 received “SW CARCLAD” stencils positioned exactly as specified on the drawing. Refer to RP CYC Volume 30 for these cars that received black paint.

The other S-W entry 4th down on the list would be an earlier S-W paint formula for general use on any of the freight car types shown. Dating back to the 1880s Sherwin-Williams was a major paint manufacturer for the railroad industry, so it’s likely that Northern Pacific used S-W paint even before the drawing originally dated Oct. 24, 1939. 

A Google search finds that Sherwin-Williams paint still uses the Carclad term to this day. 


Regards,
Ed Hawkins


Hudson Leighton
 


Dave Nelson
 

He looks just like Bill Murray.

 

Dave Nelson

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Hudson Leighton
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2023 2:43 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Northern Pacific Paint Codes

 

Circa 1953 on the NP.

http://research.nprha.org/BRHS2/BRHS_467_1_2708.jpg

-Hudson


O Fenton Wells
 

Yes, he does


On Jan 12, 2023, at 4:21 PM, Dave Nelson <Western.Pacific.203@...> wrote:



He looks just like Bill Murray.

 

Dave Nelson

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Hudson Leighton
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2023 2:43 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Northern Pacific Paint Codes

 

Circa 1953 on the NP.

http://research.nprha.org/BRHS2/BRHS_467_1_2708.jpg

-Hudson