Bridge Paint Colors, Liveries Or Schemes - Inquiry

Last weekend at the Wichita Train Show I purchased one of the beautiful Exactrail 72' Steel Deck Plate Girder Bridges.

The bridges are available in either an early or late version in either silver or black. The early version features simulated wood side walkways, wood posts and guard rails. The more modern or late version features simulated metal grate side walkways, steel post and cable guard rails.

Without even thinking twice, I bought the early version in black. Upon arriving home, my copy of Frisco in Color just happened to be sitting on my desk. Lo and behold the cover shot had a similar bridge in silver.

This leads to the question, was there a standard color and was it indeed silver?

Below is a picture of the bridge on the proposed new section of my railroad showing it sitting on long out of production Thomas Yorke bridge abutments that I intend to use.

The actual location of the prototype is in Fredonia, KS.

Edit 1/29/2024: Added narrative explaining the differences between the early and late versions of the Exactrail bridges.
MKD

 

I have photos of steel bridges in both black and silver.

Not sure there was a standard.

Not sure why they went with either color in a given situation either.

Guess I'm not much help.

 

Here is a photo of Frisco E8A 2017 pulling a mail train over the steel girder bridge just east of the oil tanks at Valley Park.

The bridge is silver and the Frisco motto is "Get It Going Frisco" in black.

I have also seen the black version used in downtown St. Louis near Soulard with the "Ship It On The Frisco" motto in white, so I don't think Frisco had a "standard" as to color or logo.

Here is the photo taken in either 1965 or 1966.

George

 

My father told me years ago, that the Frisco bridges were painted silver, but during WWII they were all painted black to protect them.

After the war, they started to paint them silver again as they needed painting.

 

There might be something to the WWII post.

Most old bridges are black and then painted silver. I would not expect to see much painting in the future.

While serving on the standards committee with BNSF it was determined that it does nothing to prolong the life of a bridge.

I know you paint guys are out there, and it does not look as good, but it's labor intensive and according to some, does no good.

Bill Jackson

 

Well you never know!

Lots of things have gone the way. It is painful cabooses, depots, and the lot!

I have seen a lot of it, not to mention, branch lines.

Bill Jackson