[chrisb]

I have been detailing my shay. Made brass L&P couplers.
added another beam under the pilot beams and made a brass and wood pilot step. The front pilot I painted Testors flat read and gave it a ink wash. Were the rear pilots also red?

 

[steam5]

I would think it would also be red.

But I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer unless you are modelling a prototype?

 

[Richard Smith]

West Side Lumber Company out of Tuolumne, California painted their pilot beams an off red color, both front and back. Also their cab roofs. Most outfits just painted them black. There was no correct color unless you're nodeling a specific company. While I've learned never to say never almost certainlt whatever color was on the front pilot would be repeated on the rear.