Muck
What colors should we paint our railroad car trucks and wheels?
Many variables to that question - environment, maintenance, era, age and usage. These examples are old Denver & Rio Grande wheels set into restored trucks. Look closely and you can see a variety of color and texture on the same wheel sets. Like the track, the metal wheels can even host the growth of moss/mold/mildew, as visible on the right wheel in the second photo below.
![](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-1-1676867212.jpg)
![](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-2-1676867212.jpg)
![](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-3-1676867212.jpg)
![](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-4-1676867212.jpg)
Two trucks of the same car (this photo and second one below...
![Two trucks of the same car (this photo and second one below...](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-5-1676867212.jpg)
...left wheel is much greasier.)
![...left wheel is much greasier.)](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-6-1676867212.jpg)
![](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-7-1676867212.jpg)
A variety of rusts and grime on these couplers
![A variety of rusts and grime on these couplers](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-8-1676867213.jpg)
Rust patterns and colors on this bolster.
![Rust patterns and colors on this bolster.](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-9-1676867213.jpg)
![](/upload/media/entries/2023-02/20/340-entry-10-1676869567.jpg)