Hey everybody,

I am in search of Baldwin paint cards for style 223, which should be with dark dry green paint and gold lining. I have seen the source for a set of these cards being listed as the California State Railway Museum. Is that the only location they exist, or is there another place they can be found as well.

Side note, does anyone know what finish D158 would imply? I have found it on my specification card as well, with a side comment that says "except rods finish all over".

Thanks for any help!

Take a look at the Baldwin paint guide David Fletcher has compiled at PacificNG.com.
David's got a diagram of paint style 223 at:

http://www.pacificng.com/template.php?p ... index3.htm

You are correct the California Railroad Museum has a set of slides of the original Baldwin paint styles book. You can also order copies. I believe the original book is at Stanford University.

Eric Zabilka
Wilmore, Kentucky

Yes, Standford University Special Collections has the original Baldwin style book.

I don't know if this is relevant to your question, and I am sure everyone here is aware of this, but Steamtown has an original Baldwin plant switcher painted in a scheme similar to the one you describe (from Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/15128656821722 ... =3&theater

The Baldwin Paint style book is held by Stanford University, in Special Collections. Last time I checked it was out for conservation, but may be back.

As noted above we (I am a co-owner) have some of this up at PacificNG.org, under Historic Data, both under paint and under locomotive builders, Baldwin http://www.pacificng.com/template.php?p ... /index.htm

I have copied about 60% of the paint book, and if the pages in question are included I can send you copies directly...

PM me with a request...

Randy

A bit more... Style 223 is independent of locomotive paint color...

Typically a locomotive will be described as "Style 223, Green and color" (in this case "color" is yellow paint) or Green and gold (gold as in gold leaf), but it could be "style 223, Black and gold"... or "Style 1, Lake and Gold" etc...

To get style 223, you have to go to the index, and find out what style 223 includes...

In the case of 223, it includes
Cab No 12
Cyl No 12
Tank on boiler 57
Dome (sand box) No 31
Driver 36
Tender tank "none"
No notes included

It seems to be one of 6 paint styles, no 218-223, all for tank engines, in different sizes (Large, Med, small) with different cabs... (for example, style 222 is the same as 223, except style 222 has a No 3 cab... )

The finish code calls out details like finish on running board nosing... by letter they build on each, so to understand and decode, you have to look at D-1, then what changes with D-2, then on to D-3... Stanford has Finish cards too, but I have so far only started to decode them...

In the case of your style I have all the individual style cards except the tank on boiler.

Randy

Question for Randy:

Would the specification sheet for the locomotive indicate not only the style, but also the color and stripping?

Yes... Everything is on the specification sheet... (which are available on line)

Under Style, it would start with paint color (common colors might be wine, Lake, green, black... Tuscan and White are also found) this would be the color used on the locomotive frame, drivers (unless the driver style said otherwise) the domes, the cylinders, the cab (if painted) and tender or over boiler tank...)

Then follow with either "color" (yellow paint) gold (leaf), aluminum (leaf) or such... for lettering color and if there was possible leaf striping, that striping would be included...

Finally the style number to describe the striping pattern, from the paint books (which are not really books, but really bound manuscripts, containing pasted in card stock examples of each variation of stripping)

Separately there would be a finish schedule, calling out what was painted, what was brass, what was polished steel...

Elsewhere there would be a notation for jacket (russia iron, american iron, planished iron or painted) bands (brass, planished iron, or ???) Cab (painted ash or varnished walnut or what ever specified)

Beyond the specification sheet were "Laws" which would include rules, such as "unless specified, painters will spell out railroad or railway, not use initials" (from memory, not the exact quote but suggests intent)

It sounds more complicated than it is... and is a wonderful example of how Baldwin managed construction and finish of so many locomotives.

Randy