MrWolf Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 I have started a small layout project after a lengthy break in railway modelling. Part of this involves two girder bridges crossing a river. Pretty much all surviving minor bridges are painted in a high zinc content grey to hold back the rust. But if we wind back the clock pre WWII, when railway companies painted anything that stood still long enough, did the GWR paint their bridges in the standard stone colours and if so, was there a formula; eg: Panels light stone, reinforcements in dark stone? Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Light grey, or dark grey, or (if crossing the Thames) Bridge Green. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted January 4, 2020 Author Share Posted January 4, 2020 Thanks, that will save a bit of work! I have seen a few bridges on layouts over the years with fancy paint jobs. I had a feeling that even Swindon wouldn't be OCD enough to give bridges in the middle of nowhere a tricky to maintain paint job. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Prism Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Bridges tended to be painted by subcontractors, who probably had some leeway over which colours to use, although I doubt whether two-tone schemes lasted through later repaintings. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Most likely would be 'micanised iron oxide' used to this day for steel structures. It comes in various shades of grey or 'bauxite', and has little reflective pieces of mica mixed in. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted January 5, 2020 Author Share Posted January 5, 2020 51 minutes ago, Fat Controller said: Most likely would be 'micanised iron oxide' used to this day for steel structures. It comes in various shades of grey or 'bauxite', and has little reflective pieces of mica mixed in. That is pretty much all I have ever seen bridges painted in. I am ignoring bridges that have had a revamp in the last thirty years because they are a landmark, such as the long disused Derby Friargate bridge or the bridge that crosses Lancaster LNW station. Thanks for your input everyone. I will also have to look at some way of giving the paint that faint sparkle over the matt finish. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted January 5, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) On 04/01/2020 at 23:21, Fat Controller said: Most likely would be 'micanised iron oxide' used to this day for steel structures. It comes in various shades of grey or 'bauxite', and has little reflective pieces of mica mixed in. Definitely used by the WR (as Brian will know of course) and could be seen on bridges painted in earlier years. Edited January 11, 2020 by The Stationmaster Edited to spoil some fun ... tehehe 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 3 hours ago, The Stationmaster said: Definitely used by the WR (as Brian will know of course) and could be seen on brides painted in earlier years. I only knew because I'd worked for one of the firms that made it.. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailWest Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 On 05/01/2020 at 12:50, The Stationmaster said: Definitely used by the WR......and could be seen on brides painted in earlier years. Good job that didn't happen when I got married then :-) 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted January 10, 2020 Author Share Posted January 10, 2020 It didn't happen when I got married either, it was a gradual process over the next two years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted January 10, 2020 Author Share Posted January 10, 2020 She didnt like railways or motorcycles either. I became very happily divorced after three years! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 Thanks all for your advice. Here we have the loosely assembled results in primer grey, before any detail painting. Although no particular prototype and cobbled together with a few Wills bits, DAS clay and plasticard, it's meant to represent a former timber structure that has had its centre piers raised in blue brick and three iron spans fitted. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 It was inspired by this old magazine page a friend gave me. I'm sure I have seen the photograph before, but can't remember where it was taken. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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