Brighter Locomotives.

Whatever be the economic value of applying decorative colour schemes to locomotives, some companies expect a wholesome psychological effect to follow from seeing brightly painted and polished locomotives on the road.

Increasing attention is at the present time being given to this question in the United States. On some of the new Pacific types of locomotives recently turned out for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the boiler, tender, cab and other fittings are painted in an attractive shade of green, with lining in red and gold. The lining-out includes the spokes of the wheels. Other Pacific types of engines have been painted in “battleship” grey, relieved by black and aluminium colours.

Coloured monograms painted on the sides of the tender have also made their appearance on the Chicago and North Western Railway, whilst other roads have equally elaborate colour schemes in hand, such as the nickel plating of side rods and the use of aluminium paint for running boards and tyres. One of the most interesting innovations, however, is the painting of the enginedriver's name (if he had an excellent record) in red and gold, on the cab of his engine.

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