D&RGW Steel Caboose Paint Schemes

Compiled by Don Strack

This page was last updated on November 15, 2002.

Original paint schemes

(Click on a number series for a number-by-number review of later paint schemes)

Road Number	Body Construction		Window Style		Original Paint Scheme	Year Built
Road Number	Riveted	Welded	Wood Frame	Rubber Frame	Original Paint Scheme	Year Built
01400-01409	X		X		all black	1940
01410-01419	X		X		two yellow stripe	1941
01420-01429	X		X		all black	1942
01430-01439	X		X		all black	1944
01440-01449	X		X		all black	1944-1945
01450-01459	X		X		all black	1947
01460-01469	X		X		all black	1951
01470-01479		X		X	all black	1955
01480-01490		X		X	single black stripe	1959
01500-01514		X		X	single black stripe	1966
01515-01524		X		X	all orange	1976

First steel caboose with the Aspen Gold and silver, with four black stripes scheme - The first D&RGW caboose in the gold and silver with four black stripes paint scheme was D&RGW 01402, completed in June 1956. At the same time, it received sealed windows using rubber frames with rounded corners. The cupola side windows retained their original wood frames.

First steel caboose with the Aspen Gold and silver, with a single black stripe scheme - The first D&RGW steel caboose with the single black stripe scheme was likely D&RGW 01480, built by D&RGW in their Burnham shops in July 1959. (First use of black single stripe on freight cars was on repainted 40-foot boxcars in August 1956.)

Roof Color - Although all of the gold and silver cabooses received a silver roof, they very soon became dirty and looked like they were painted black. All originally had silver roofs.

First steel caboose with the all-orange "Action Road" scheme - Freshly painted in orange D&RGW 01426 was identified in a March 1972 photo as being the first caboose to receive the all-orange paint scheme.