Designer Lester C. Tichy (1905-1981) Photo: 8/03/44

LIRR Tichy Paint Scheme 1949-1955 
FM CPA-20-5 phase 1 LIRR #2008 Artist: Will Anderson

EARLY PRE-HISTORY

When the first diesels arrived, they only had “ LONG ISLAND” in gold lettering, a practice used on the steam tenders for example:
  LIRR #39 G5s at Oyster Bay Archive: Art Huneke

This unit arrived in July 1949 as the last of the S1 group built 6/46 - 7/49 in the "classic" PRR gold serif lettering on black unit.; as previously applied to the steam tenders as seen above. LIRR ALCO S1 #421 LI City 3/12/52 Archive: Gary Stuebben

 TICHY HERALD

The Tichy herald  was applied only to the passenger diesels, not the passenger equipment. (November 1949) This herald consisted of a white map of Long Island on a light blue rectangle, offset with a black rectangle giving a shadow effect.  Printed over the map was a large black “plus sign” with the letters L, I, R, R in each corner of the “plus”; these represented the four corners of Long Island served by the Railroad. 

The first delivery (12/1948?-2-3/1949) of RS-1's came in black. (#461-465) That scheme didn't last very long and were repainted in the Tichy livery (In November 1949 Alco RS-1 #465 became the first unit with the new Tichy herald along with the Tichy paint scheme. The remaining RS1 units (#461-464) were repainted up until 11/1/52. 

When the remaining  RS-1's arrived (#466-469 4/1950),  the FM C-Liners arrived in 1950 (#2001-08 6/8-1950), and the H16-44s arrived (1501-09 10/1951) with this paint scheme applied upon their delivery.  Info: John Scala

LIRR #1501 H16-44 at Morris Park Shops 1953 (Bill Rugen - Art Huneke)

1.Orange pilot
2. Light slate gray paint scheme with white numbers
3. LIRR map logo
4. Block lettering

Tichy: Applied to all passenger cars, some DD1 electrics (period of painting 11/01/49 to 11/01/52), GE 44 tonner #400, an electric shop switcher, ALCO RS1 units. through 1955
RS1 units repainted up until 11/1/52.  FM C-liners arrived in this scheme in Jan. 1950.

RS-1 #467 Oyster Bay 11/07/1950  Photo: 
George E. Votava, Archive: Dave Keller

Trust Plate LIRR RS1 #469 - G5s #42 -Morris Park 5/27/1950

FM H16-44-1503 MP Shops 1953 Archive: Dave Keller

FM C-Liner close-up of cab Tichy Logo c.1954 
Archive: Dave Keller


LIRR #2404 FM CPA24-5   c. 6/1950+

The Tichy colors were applied to 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.”   

Tichy block lettering with color scheme: Slate gray body, dark green undercarriage, white and/or black painted roofs. Named for designer Lester C. Tichy (1905-1981) 

On the RS-1s, “the engine number has been repeated in large silhouetted aluminum numerals mounted in a blue frame on either side of the head end,” and had red pilots and black cab roof.  The C-Liners differed slightly, with the engine number appearing on the nose in a “battleship” style with a shadow effect.  Also, the roof was an aluminum color like on the coaches.  The H16-44s had slate gray applied on the body and roof, with red pilots.  

The GE 44 tonner, #400, also had the Tichy colors but with a modified herald.  This was a “plus sign” with the horizontal line in red and the vertical line and LIRR letters in white.  There was no map and blue and black rectangles; definitely a one-of-a-kind herald.

1.  White or black roof
2.  Light slate gray paint scheme 
3.  NOT used on passenger cars after 1955-56
4.  Block lettering

LIRR #2004 CPA20-5 eastbound Bay Shore 9/04/1955

Tichy schemed loco pulling a mixed consist train. (1) The 1955 Pullman Standard P72 coaches (in their as delivered "Goodfellow" scheme) are the 4th and 5th cars in this eastbound train approaching the station at Bay Shore on September 4, 1955 (Will Faxon, Jr. photo, Dave Keller archive)

lirr #2008 Montauk c.1950s Archive: Gary Everhart

LIRR #2001 Tichy scheme Morris Park Shops

Note 1: The first press run of new air conditioned Pullman Standard P72 passenger cars arrived on the LIRR 05/23/55. Destined for Greenport, in the "Goodfellow" dark grey color scheme,  it's possible that some of the C-liners still in Tichy scheme could have been pulling some of these new cars but it would not have been for very long.

This was a Jules Krzenski photo shot in the West Yard.  While 1957 showed locomotives in a transition, the passenger cars had already undergone their repainting, primarily due to the remodeling (and subsequent renumbering) that began in December, 1954. 

By 1955, I'd say pretty much ALL of the Tichy-schemed passenger cars had been repainted. Info: Dave Keller