Lionel Southern F3 ABA 2356

[statistician]

My all-time favorite Lionel diesel is the Southern F3 ABA 2356, however I cannot seem to find any evidence that the SR ever painted their F units in the green with grey-trim paint scheme. All units I've seen have either been the black/white or green/white "full-tuxedo" scheme, where the white comes up to the windshield.

Did Lionel model this after a very early unit, or was the 2356 paint scheme an invention of Lionel's based loosely on how the real Southern Ry. engines resembled?