LIRR Passenger Car Paint & Lettering Schemes  - PRR, Tichy, Goodfellow, World's Fair, MTA

LIRR Passenger Paint Schemes 1900-1970 Author/Archive: Michael V. Boland

Penn ROMAN Font

 Dulux gold lettering in Penn ROMAN font with the Tuscan Red color scheme on an MP41 car. Archive: Art Huneke

While it's not an MP54 car, the color scheme was identical:  While the paint has been faded and, perhaps, the color dies as well, you can see the Penn Roman lettering and car numbers on the side were Dulux gold lettering and the car numbers stenciled in the end windows were white. This was for the Tuscan Red scheme only.  Info: Dave Keller

Dulux Gold was a DuPont color that simulated real gold for lettering. The Tuscan Red cars used that after real gold, or gilt, lettering got too costly. The letter style (or typeface, as we usually speak today), was a PRR design known today as Penn Roman - not sure what its original name was. Tichy and Goodfellow used Futura, which is a very famous design - it is the letter design chosen for the cornerstone of the new Freedom Tower at WTC. 

MU #1725 in experimental aluminum paint color scheme -
  Jamaica – 2/12/1937  Photo: George E. Votava  Archive: D. Keller

MBM62 RPO #4209 Morris Park 1969
Photo: Richard Glueck

Private car “Smithtown” with aluminum painted roof  (alumineal) and Futura lettering at Morris Park Shops yard – 5/18/1940
Archive: Dave Keller

The Tichy colors were applied to both motive power and  passenger cars as well, with MP54 electric coach #1901 being the first to wear them. According to the December 1949 issue of the employee magazine, Long Island Railroader, these colors consisted of a bright aluminum color roof, slate gray body, and dark green underbody. “Lettering is in aluminum, and numerals are in red against an aluminum background.”   

LIRR #1901 press release of the new Tichy Scheme in 1949
Archive: Gary Doster

Tichy had white numbers underlined in red in the windows, white lettering and
perhaps red or gray (can't determine from this photo) numbers on the car sides.
MP54A #1495 at VD Yard, Brooklyn c.1950  - Dave Keller

 
Double decker Tichy early 1950's at Jamaica
Photo: Harold Fagerberg Archive: Mike Boland
 
 

MP70B #1292 at Rockaway Park - PRR Tuscan Red scheme
10/1948 - Archive: Mike Boland

3500-3519 "Wyer cars" a nickname ordered by Trustee Wyer. The only cars delivered in the Tichy scheme with an attractive rounded blue stripe through their windows. Also referred to as "Cadillacs", sarcastically for their lack of amenities and "Back Breakers", for their uncomfortable fixed seats. Mike Boland

 
Wyer MP70T #3505 Babylon 5/15/1955 (Votava-Boland)

   


Prior to 1952, car "...doors where either gray or dark gray..." Mike Boland

 
MPB54 #1353 at West Hempstead - 6/11/1939
Photo: George Votava Archive: Mike Boland

   


Starting in 1955 with the arrival of the new Alco RS-3 diesels to replace the last of the steam locomotives, the
“Goodfellow Colors” (as they were often referred to) came into use.  These colors were a smoke gray body
and bright orange ends applied to both engines and passenger cars.
LIRR President Thomas M. Goodfellow: 1955-1967

 
“Goodfellow Colors” MP54Cc train on Atlantic Ave EL - c.1956 (Maywald-Boland)

MU20 #4920 Jamaica 10/1969

MU20 #4156 Jamaica 3/1970 Goodfellow era paint scheme had white letters and red side numbers and RED car numbers stenciled in the end.

LIRR President Goodfellow era paint scheme had white lettering with RED side numbers and car numbers stenciled in the end windows.

 
MP54 #4761 modernization #10 - Jamaica 8/1961 Photo/Archive: Jim Gillin
Yellow circle with red border

   

The first timetable to have Dan was in September 1959, although he was introduced in the April 1957
Long Island Railroader. The original Dashing Dan with base and running to the left.
 

P72 #2920 blue experimental stripe c.1963
Photo: Henry Maywald Archive: Mike Boland

Parlor #2035 Onondaga Club at Montauk
1960 (Edwards-Keller)

Parlor  #2023 WYANDANCH at Riverhead Yard c.1963
Archive: Mike Boland

    


MP75c #2525 Zip car in New York World's Fair colors
passing Jamaica - 8/23/1963 ((Madden-Keller)

LIRR/MTA PASSENGER PAINT SCHEMES
Semaphore Jan-Feb 1991 Modeling "LIRR Passenger Paint Schemes Under The MTA"  by Mike Boland

Semaphore Jan-Feb 1991 Modeling "LIRR Passenger Paint Schemes Under The MTA"  by Mike Boland