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Prototype coupler colors
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David Olsen
Tim and Todd,
I don't consider "rust" to be the bright orange color that most model paints represent, but rather a darker color like "rail brown" in some model paint product lines that provides a base for additional weathering. I've occasionally seen newly replaced couplers that are that brighter orange color, but most are various shades of grimy brown with patches of other colors. I model CSX in Maryland in the late '90s, so I'll provide some example photos from freight cars and locomotives that I've photographed, mainly in the 2000-2010 timeframe. One of the things that jumps out at me in photos is the contrasting color between two couplers that are linked together, something that I feel makes it important to vary the colors of model couplers. One compromise that I'll be making is that my Sergents all get polished and treated with graphite - powder inside and a pencil rubbed on the contact points - to improve operation, so that may cover up some of the areas that might be rusty. Here is an example of a 2-bay covered hopper with a new rusty orange coupler on one end and a "normal" dark brown coupler on the other: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1775253 http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1775259 A newer 2-bay hopper (about twelve years old in this photo) with a slightly lighter brown coupler compared to the darker one it is connected to: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=396012 A 3-bay hopper with light colored dust coating the coupler (either grain or another fine granular product): http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3450139 A 50' boxcar in general service showing a coupler splotched with rust on the knuckle: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1390757 A 60' boxcar showing an interesting contrast with rust on the shank compared to the darker coupler head: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1831312 A coal gon with "clean" rub marks on the knuckle with a patch of newer rust in the middle: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2647631 A 3-bay aggregate hopper showing a good example of contrasting coupler colors: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1961186 A 3-bay coal hopper with a coupler that's mostly the same color as the brake pad dust and other grime on the end of the car itself: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3759619 A road slug with a decent amount of visible rust on the coupler compared to the color of the pilot face: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=327744 Two road units (in coal service at the time) with rust visible inside the knuckles, but generally the same color as their plows: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3115567 An SD50 in helper service in Cumberland, Maryland with some interesting splatterings of color on the coupler: http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1319000 Dave Olsen Macomb, MI
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William Uffelman
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Dale Kritzky
I play with real trains, I see very bright rust color couplers on new stuff, the older is just dirty. In my model rr I usually paint the couplers the color of the equipment being painted, after awhile the paint starts to rub of especially on the knuckles. Dale
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On Jul 22, 2020, at 3:52 PM, David Olsen <3acr.scout@gmail.com> wrote:
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