TM 55-203
CHAPTER 14
PAINTING OF RAILWAY FREIGHT AND PASSENGER CARS
Section I. GENERAL
Freight cars usually are prepared by sandblasting,
14-1. Painting Policy
scraping, wire brushing, burning off old paint, or chemical
paint stripping. Regardless of how the paint is removed
Railway freight and passenger cars normally will be
and how the freight car is readied for painting, the first
repainted completely during depot maintenance. At other
coat should be applied as soon after preparation as
times, spot painting will be done as a matter of preventive
possible. This prevents rusting on steel materials and
maintenance if the painted surface has deteriorated to
water-soaking of wooden materials involved.
On
such an extent that rusting or peeling is evident. All
passenger cars, the paint or varnish is removed when
rolling stock will be inspected periodically to locate any
necessary by paint or varnish remover. Paint is removed
surfaces on which paint has blistered, peeled, or
from the car body while the car is in the repair shop, and
otherwise deteriorated. Timely spot painting will insure
from trim in the shop where it is being reconditioned.
suitable protective coating on wood and metal surfaces,
Before being repainted or revarnished, the surfaces are
and often eliminate the need for complete repainting of
cleaned with naphtha or similar material to remove all
equipment The car repair shop supervisor will determine
traces of the remover. Fire and safety precautions will be
the need for repainting, and whether to paint over old
taken when using naphtha.
surfaces or remove old coatings. Exterior surfaces are
exposed to rain, snow, sleet, hail, corrosive gases, heat,
14-3. Painting Techniques
intense sunlight, wind-driven grit, and other destructive
influences. A good paint job depends upon weather
a. General. Paint will be applied with care and
conditions, the selection of a suitable paint, proper
under competent supervision. For the protection of the
preparation of the surface to be painted, and the method
surface, the first or priming coat is of the greatest
of application. A film of sufficient thickness to cover and
importance, since corrosion or rot may spread rapidly
protect the surface will be used.
under the paint film if the primer is not properly applied.
14-2. Preparation for Painting
(1) Steel surfaces, other than welded or hot-
riveted surfaces which are inaccessible after assembly,
All surfaces will be cleaned of loose paint, dirt, scale,
will be given one coat of chromate primer before
grease, and rust before they are painted. It is preferable
assembly. Wood surfaces which are inaccessible after
to sandblast cars having steel exteriors or interior finishes,
assembly will be given one coat of synthetic primer before
when the undercoats require renewing. This normally is
assembly.
done in a sandblast shed (para 13-2e), where the old
coatings are removed and a priming coat is applied
(2) Wood or steel sills, braces, posts,
Sandblasting of the thin inner sheets, such as are used for
stringers, etc., which are exposed during repairs to
interior finish on passenger equipment, may be
equipment, will be brush painted or sprayed with one coat
satisfactorily accomplished with reduced air pressure, and
of chromate primer.
with sand that has been previously used on the heavy
exterior sheets and has lost some of its sharpness The
(3) Paint applied to trucks and component
sandblasting and priming of new sheets to be used in car
parts will be thinned sufficiently so that detection of cracks
repairs frequently is done before the sheets are used.
or other flaws is not prevented. Wheels, axles, and parts
The manner in which either freight or passenger cars are
contained in the journal box will not be painted.
prepared for painting depends upon the material of which
the car is constructed, and upon the type of paint applied.
14-1
Previous Page
