VintageClassics posted:Lou1985 posted:So either color smokebox front would be appropriate in the 1951 time frame. I prefer the gray front, so I may change anything with a black front.
Hi Lou!
Great topic! Check out a great example of a dirty Santa Fe Boiler front, you can see how you can choose to go either way. This is a 5001 class in color.
And here is the 5011 herself with a clean Smoke Box Cover...
Hope this helps!
David
For what it's worth, you can NOT go by the paint jobs on most of the steam locomotives that are on display around the U.S., as way too many liberties have been taken in order to make their display look "attractive". Rarely is there ANY attention paid to historic details. Some museums even fall into the same trap. Always refer to, and believe, photos of steam locomotives in actual revenue service, back in the days of steam.
