This page is the result of a quest..a quest for accurate historic color data.

I want the accurate color data because I'm working on an On2 scale model of SR&RL number 9, in her "as built" configuration, using one of the new On30 Bachmann Forneys..im going to regauge it to On2 scale.

But when it comes time to paint the model, how should I paint it?
what did the real No. 9 look like when brand new?
what color was she?
It seems no one knew for sure. 

I could guess and go with the standard "all black with red oxide roof and yellow lettering scheme", but I suspect that is a much later color scheme for the Maine 2-footers, that is the scheme the locos were wearing in the 19-teens, 20's and 30's.. I want to model them "as built"...I suspect they were not black!

So in October 2007 I started looking..I have since found a lot of information! And I hope to continue and add more. I would like this page to be a continuous "work in progress". When I find accurate color data for a specific locomotive, and I also have a photo I can colorize, I will add it to this collection.

Below is a collection of historic photos, all originally in Black & White. I colorized them using Adobe Photoshop in their "as built" paint schemes, which I believe are very accurate based on my research. (All the research can be found on page 4 of this website.)
 

On to the pictures! 
 

First up, Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes No. 9
built by Baldwin in 1909.
 

actually, the style written is the same, and the striping should be the same on SR&RL 9 and WW&F 7 (based on "style 215" indicated for both) but the engines are clearly wearing different striping patterns..this is discussed more on page 4.

A note about computer monitors.
No two people have the same monitor balance..most are balanced fine, and are close in balance, but some are off quite a bit..which causes problems when attempting to demonstrate very subtle color on the internet! Some people may see the green in the images above as almost black..some may see it as slightly "too green"..brighter green than the prototype "Baldwn Olive Green".  I attempted to make the Olive green appear as to close to this:

as possible. If you monitor is well-balanced, the photo above shows a very accurate Baldwin Olive Green. Its a very dark green!
(If you suspect your monitor may not be well balanced, try this.)
 

Thats all the color renderings I have so far! 
Its a good start, but i'm sure there is still quite a bit of color information still waiting to be rediscovered! For example, Jim Wilke said someone once told him that color data from the Portland Locomotive Works still exists! somewhere... but it was never actually "found"..If anyone knows the whereabouts of the Portland info, please let me know! Having color data for the Portland Forneys would be of huge benefit to the entire
2-footer community.

I'm planning to add more "colorized" photos as new schemes and new available photos come to light. I have started my own small collection of photos, finding them at train shows and other sources, but I still have a very limited supply of photos that I can use on-line. If you have any photos in your own collection you would like to see colorized, please let me know! full credit to the photo owner will be given of course.
 

So far I have found color data for 16 Maine 2-foot locomotives!
the list can be found at the bottom of page 4.
 
 
 

   Continue to page 2, Russia Iron. 
 
 
 
 

Quick-Jump to individual pages:

Page 2 - Russia Iron.
Page 3 - All-time Maine 2-footer roster.
Page 4 - All the research.
Page 5 - SR&RL.
 

Scot Lawrence
Rochester, NY