Progression

As model railroaders, we create a physical model of history, or at least how a locomotive, freight car, or caboose looked at a certain point in time.  I find it fascinating to look back at the history of a prototype and see where it has come from, which offers up the chance to build that same model as it might have looked long ago.  For instance, this caboose, long-stationed in Plattsburgh, NY:

The Bay - Where the action is.

This is Delaware & Hudson caboose number 35815. Originally, it was built in 1970 as Erie Lackawanna #C378.  Shown in March of 1976 in Marion, OH, less than a month before Conrail, it won't hold these colors for long:

Erie Lackawanna C378, from the collection of Gene Dent / fallenflags.org

Almost immediately, the shops in Oneonta patched over the EL heralds and markings, applying a quick temporary fix:

Date unknown, assumed 1976, from the D&H Virtual Museum

By 1979, it had been repainted into the D&H "Spartan Scheme", at least matching the corporate identity of the classic red caboose:

35815 in 1979, from the D&H Virtual Museum

The 35815 remained in this scheme, as best I can tell, until the D&H was absorbed into Guilford in 1984.  By then, things were pretty rough on the railroad, and the caboose ended up being damaged by fire.  This resulted in the caboose emerging from the repair shop in Guilford's orange paint, with a "G" herald to the left of the bay window.  While I can't seem to locate a photo of the caboose in that scheme ( Guilford was not well-liked by railfans ), the caboose survived those tough times. The D&H was purchased by Canadian Pacific in 1991, and by 1993, it was wearing the same scheme applied in the mid 1980's, only with the "G" patched over. Check out this photo.

Note the square of off-color paint, covering the "G". Thank God.

When I lived in Plattsburgh in 1996 - 1997, I saw this caboose ( or a close relative ) go up and down the main from the yard to the Georgia Pacific plant every day.  It looked much the same as it does now, perhaps minus the graffiti. 

Primer finally showing through after 20+ years of foot traffic

A defaced 35815 still holding onto D&H livery

Interestingly, 35815 was sitting parked in Plattsburgh recently with a GP38-2 has quite a history itself, originally built as Lehigh Valley 319 in 1972, then shipped off to D&H as 7319, then D&H 225, then 7306, and finally re-painted by CP Rail at their Ogden shops into STL&H 7306 in April of 1997. 

Resting on a weekend, basking in the sun, STL&H 7306 & D&H 35815

So even with some gaps in the history of 35815, you can still see quite a progression in age and paint.  The choice becomes at which point to model the prototype, generally dictated by the chosen modeling era.  But for those that want to show off weathering skills, maybe a touch of D&H red under that orange would be neat to see.  Nothing wrong with being able to see some of the history, as well as know about it.