Can't quite make out the 'missing' word Alex, but it'll be something like 'Out', or 'Latch'. In the first pic, the tone of the letters definitely suggest red, and in the second pic, yellow. Unlikely they would be painted free-hand, more probably a 'transfer' (decal), which was common, even for items such as serial numbers on Lancs! Otherwise it may be a stencil, but the letters in the first pic look 'solid'. As most, if not all, stencils/markings on 'Special Night', 'Night', and the other black paints were red, with some exceptions for certain markings, I'd suggest that red would be the normal colour, with yellow, as in the second pic, as an alternative.
Terry.