At the time of their final disposition and scrapping (i.e. ca. 1985-1986) 94 of the surviving "Washboards" were painted as shown below. This information was verified through many rail-walks and personal observation:
NH 401 Green, both ends (42 cars)
4402, 07, 10, 11, 16, 22, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 68, 69,70, 71, 72, 73, 76, 77, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87
McGinnis Block NH, both ends (25 cars)
4403, 05, 06, 09, 12, 13, 23, 25, 27, 28, 48, 50, 52, 53, 67, 74, 79, 88, 4673, 4674, 4675, 4676, 5111, 5112, 5113
Penn Central PC, both ends (12 cars)
4400, 01, 20, 34, 41, 54, 59, 65, 75, 80, 84, 5110
Silver paint, both ends (5 cars)
4408, 4670, 4672
4418 and 4431 ran as a coupled pair to New Canaan: outboard ends were silver with red NH; coupled ends were plain silver.
Other paint schemes (11 cars)
4671: gray ends
4451: stainless (unpainted)
4446: one end NH; other end plain white
4417: one end PC; other end light green
4449, 4478: both ends light green
I do not have personal knowledge of the final paint schemes for cars 4415, 21, 26, 37 and 38. 4404, 4426 and 4438 had been destroyed, but I was able to determine end paint scheme of 4404 (NH 401 Green) by reviewing an accident report photograph.
As far as I know combines 4671 and 4673 (renumbered MNRR 65372 and 65373 respectively) were the last Washboards employed in useful service as part of the wire train based in Stamford.
Some additional information:
After being taken out of retirement, the 4418 and 4431 ran to New Canaan between December 1980 and the Spring of 1983. By June 1985 they were in Bridgeport waiting to be hauled to the scrappers.
Washboard club car 5113 was also named "New Canaan" (thank you Noel Weaver for correcting me on this on another forum)
Research that I undertook on this fleet shows that the 5110, 5111, 5112 and 5113 were stored at GCT on Oct. 13, 1978, along with 29 other Washboards.
In the early 80’s (’83-’84) the Washboard fleet was stored between Stamford, Croton and New Haven. By 1985 many were moved to Bridgeport’s East Yard, and late in that same year their transfer began to Cedar Hill for scrapping. Scrapping of this fleet was observed through March 1986.
Thankfully two cars escaped the procession to the scrap yard, the 4670 and the 5111, which were donated to the CVRM in May 1985. I believe these are now stored at the Danbury Museum.