FWIW, The Country Gentlemen, on their 1973 LP (VMS 73123), made it "gray". There were some other repellent touches on that side of the disc, and I have made a note to skip it.

As BobJovi points out, that is one of two casual mentions of the taboo subject of Race in the song, the other being the Pullman porters. They are part of its charm, for which I have coined the word "illicitude". We also get the paper bag that cheats the club car of its monopoly prices on drinks, the scandalously petty public gambling, and the conductor's mildly naughty song.

I doubt if the poor old men in the freight yards would appreciate being bleached.