Colour codes for oil drums

[Martino]

I have a rack outside my signal box on which sits two oil drums. I am assuming that these will be to fill the oil containers of signal lamps, loco lamps etc.

 

What colours should I be paining them? I seem to remember red with white ends, but don't know if this even slightly correct.

 

Anyone know a list of codes?

 

I'm think of 1930's through to the early '50s. - GW/WR

 

Many thanks in advance.

[The Stationmaster]

I can't go pre 1960s and I'm fairly sure that then red with yellow ends was Lube Oil and I can't recall red with white ends offhand. In the 1970s I'm fairly sure our lamp oil always came in black painted barrels in the various places I worked on the Western in England and Wales.

[Martino]

That's great Mike. Thank you.

 

Black would be ideal - I guess i could do one lamp oil, and one lube oil. That would make sense to have hanging around the signal box end of the station.

 

Thanks again.

[JeremyC]

I think you will find that the colour of an oil drum is more to do with who the oil supplier is, examples would be [iIRC ].

 

Green: Castrol [and possibly BP]. [Nowadays they're the same company]

Blue: Esso

Red with Yellow ends: Shell

 

Pipe lines are coded for content by Pipe Colours

 

Jeremy

[Martino]

Hmm - Thanks Jeremy. That's a useful chart.

 

So, colors mean more about the supplier. Where does that leave black drums?

 

Where, or who, would lamp oil come from?

 

Would there be any other identifying marks or signs?

[The Stationmaster]

Hmm - Thanks Jeremy. That's a useful chart.

 

So, colors mean more about the supplier. Where does that leave black drums?

 

Where, or who, would lamp oil come from?

 

Would there be any other identifying marks or signs?

 

Ours came with the words 'Lamp Oil' and a BR catalogue number painted on the business end of the barrel although I've an idea it later changed to just showing the catalogue number.

 

The BR oil contract did move around a bit (depending on negotiating the best price - dieselised BR was a BIG customers ) and I think the lesser stuff such as lamp oil might in latter years have come from different contractors from the main suppliers as it was an increasingly specialised product. I know that it came from Shell at one place where I worked as the barrels were marked - but definitely black barrels.

[Martino]

Great info Mike and Jeremy. Just what I wanted to know.

 

Many thanks again.

['CHARD]

Here's a gorgeous colour shot that is just perfect for planning my fuel point:

 

 

 

http://david-j-smith.fotopic.net/p55843435.html

 

[Martino]

Now that's JUST what I needed!

 

Thank you very much.

[The Stationmaster]

I'm fairly sure that at one time pale blue was only used on barrels of anti-freeze.