steam locomotive paint

[UP5521]

Does anyone here who have any thought of how many times that any North American steam locomotives have been painted throughout their careers?because I don't have any idea!

 

[mjolnir]

Does anyone here who have any thought of how many times that any North American steam locomotives have been painted throughout their careers?because I don't have any idea!

Probably not very often, although some, such as those assigned by some roads to particular passenger trains might have been painted more often than those in general service. The painting of an engine would have taken several days, if not more than a week, during which time the unit would have been unavailable for service, and thus unable to produce revenue. Some might have been repainted at the time of major inspections, or about every five years, but I'd guess that many did not get repainted at all during their lives.

ns

 

[whitepass]

Every ten years, that is how often the boiler has to be rebuilt.

 

[Sampug394]

...

Actually, a More Sensible Question would be 'How often were Steam Locomotives WASHED'.

Several Railroads that Ran Classy/high Importance Trains, or liked Upkeep on their Locomotives used Wash Tracks. One Railroad commonly known to do this was the Union Pacific. They would have a Small Switcher, typically an 0-6-0, Push a BIG Locomotive like an FEF into the Wash Track, and the Water would Fly, Cleaning off the Locomotive of Grime and Soot, to an Extent...

 

[magickmaker]

The paint used on locomotives back in the day was a very thick substance. Had about the texture of tar when you got down to it. Also tended to be oil based, so it wore pretty well. Every so often, maybe every two or three years, they'd send some guy up on the loco while it was being serviced, hand him a bucket and a mop and tell him to have at it.

 

[SR6900]

Southern's usual practice was to repaint the white tires and sometimes even graphite between runs. It was part of the usual servicing that they always did (coaling, water, inspection, washing, light maintenance). This was quite often. For example, Southern would doublehead Ms-4's from DC to Spencer. Take those two off and service them for another run. Put two more on the point to Atlanta and do the same there. It kept fresh, clean locomotives on the points at all times.