Why are train roofs painted black ?

[Pugwash]

Having commuted on the GEML for a number of years on stock that has no A/C I recently noticed that all trains have black roofs.

Surely if they were to be painted white instead the carriages would be cooler and on stock with A/C the power use would be reduced.

The new London bus stock are red with white roofs so they don't get so hot, why not train carriages.

 

[gordonthemoron]

perhaps because the train washing machines do not clean the roof and so over time the roof gets filthy? With a black roof it wouldn't be so noticeable

 

[broadgage]

They were painted black, or very dark brown or gray during world war 2 so as to be less visable to enemy aircraft.
Perhaps the policy has carried on since then out of habit or because no one thought to alter it ?

White would seem preferable for the reasons given.

 

[Lrd]

Not all of them are black, the Class 444s have a white roof and the Class 450s have a blue roof and I am sure there are many many others that don't.

 

[edwin_m]

Networkers had white roofs when first introduced.

 

[ash39]

Pendolinos have red roofs, but yes majority are black. Always assumed it was to hide dirt.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Pendos roofs were red, but they're distinctly mucky now

 

[Rich McLean]

Voyagers have red roofs (both XC and VWC)

 

[theblackwatch]

Most locos used to have blue roofs - unless they were based at Stratford!

 

[asylumxl]

Electrostar roofs are grey I believe.

 

[Electrostar]

Wasn't that one of the differences between the Southeastern and WAGN 365s - those south of the river had white roofs like their 465/466 cousins while those north of the river had black roofs. When the SE 365s headed north I seem to remember they gained black roofs, new-look front cabs and pantographs.

 

[Class172]

Electrostar roofs are grey I believe.

As are turbostars.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Pendolinos have red roofs, but yes majority are black. Always assumed it was to hide dirt.

It often is dirt, especially on diesels!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

365's get special attention to get / keep the white front "domes" clean(ish)

Yes - a dark roof colour is "serviceable" - unless you have a very captive fleet with roof washers....

 

[fsmr]

SN Gresley was ahead of his time then
The Quad arts did look smart though when clean

 

[C2L]

I believe this 319 may hold an answer:-

I remember seeing it on http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class319_01.html you can see the noticeable difference it grime between the white and black roofs

 

[Royston Vasey]

I believe many if not all FGW Mk 3s were delivered with blue roofs when refurbished to dynamic lines.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Presumably someone has taken Rolling Stones lyrics a bit too literally...

 

[starrymarkb]

Back in 1999/2000 during their first refurb - SWT painted a 159 with a white roof, didn't take long for the exhaust to stain it! Subsequent repaints had dark grey roofs

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

SN Gresley was ahead of his time then
The Quad arts did look smart though when clean

It is times like this when I wish a "like" button was provided on RailUK.

 

[455driver]

Back in 1999/2000 during their first refurb - SWT painted a 159 with a white roof, didn't take long for the exhaust to stain it! Subsequent repaints had dark grey roofs

159008, I have got a decent picture (slide) of it upstairs somewhere taken off the bridge at fareham.

 

[RPM]

Chiltern's 165s and 168s have white painted roofs. They don't stay white for long though.

 

[mlambeuk]

Some 142s and 158s operated by Northern have light blue roofs (similar to the original BR 142 livery).