If my memory serves me correctly, I recall someone telling me years ago, that
around 1935, or else following WWII, the use of gold leaf was pretty much
phased out in favour of the cheaper Dulux Gold (paint). Perhaps some of the
'Old Timers' on the list can add or set the record straight.
Jim Little
________________________________
From: Michael Salfi <mikesue.salfi@xxxxxxxxx>
To: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: [cpsig] Re: CPR K1a 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive
Not to disagree with Omer but late 1950's photos of passenger power such as
Royal Hudsons and Pacifics dressed in tuscan sure look to have dulux gold
trim and lettering rather than gold leaf. I just finished viewing "Steam
Memories of Ontario" and the sequences with a Royal Hudson or standard
Hudson, or 4-4-4 or Pacific's hauling passenger cars, the lettering on the
locomotive and passenger cars looks identical, be it heavyweight or
lightweight tuscan cars. I can understand it being difficult to tell the
difference but these sequences are obviously under the same lighting
conditions as the train passes the movie camera and I was under the
impression the passenger cars in the 1950's were painted in dulux gold.
If you look at the Black Cat decals of the lettering and stripes, dulux
gold versus gold leaf, there is a striking difference. Not to say that the
decals represent absolutely accurate colors, but the difference is, as
mentioned, striking. I think I am going to go with dulux gold if that is
why my eyes are being tricked into seeing.
Mike
On Mon, Oct 1, 2012 at 10:28 AM, <jpinchbeck@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
**
Can anyone tell me when the CPR went from gold leaf to dulux gold on their
steam locomotives. I know this may not confirm that the 4-8-4's were
painted with dulux gold trim but if much earlier, then it does help.
Gold leaf was always used on dedicated passenger assigned
locomotives. This is also notated in Appendix K of Omer's book.
It's very difficult to tell the difference between it and gold paint
in photographs unless the lighting is right. It's a bit easier with colour
photos because if the sun hits it at the correct angle the gold leaf
reflects bright sunshine yellow right back at you. And if the sun is
particularly obtuse gold leaf becomes dull and almost disappears. Gold
paint on the other hand looks pretty much always the same regardless of the
lighting.
There's a colour photograph of one of the K1 engines at John Street taken
in the evening and the lettering is bright sunshine yellow. You probably
have seen it because it's been in a few books. For many years I puzzled
over the photo until one day I saw 2816 in the evening and I saw the same
effect. It's very striking.
jeff
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