What color for PSC SP auto boxcars?

 "Does anyone have any definitive information as to which color is correct "

 

  "correct" is really dependent on the age of the car or it's last paint job along with the territory and weather it's run in since then. I'd look for color photos and compare them to the paints I had till I find the one that best matches the condition I wanted to portray the car in. If you want to know what the original SP paint color was called you could try the Proto 48 group on Yahoo and see if anyone there has the answer, there are some serious SP modelers in the group.....DaveB  

Excellent response. In addition, the Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society should be checked/contacted for specifics.

The SP changed their colour in the early 1950s to a more of a red brown.  Tru-Color makes this shade.   I have used NP freight car Brown for the older colour.   You can also use Star Brand SP/UP freight car brown. 
Tru-Color darker colours are matched to AC&Friday paint swatches (drift panels) by historian Ed Hawkins.   They need to be adjusted for indoor viewing.  You add 5-10% gray or cream to adjust the colour.

Gene

Thanks Gene.  I appreciate the information.

Regards,

Ed

I prefer star brand paints sp shade over trucolor fwiw.    You might email tony thompson to get his opinion too.

Thompson supplied the drift panel to Jim Booth for matching the Star colour.
Tru-Color picked the 1950s AC&F drift panel to use for their paint.  It is too red for steam era freight equipment.  Their UP freight car color looks pretty good for SP WWII era cars.

Gene

Gene,

 

good of info to know!