I'm looking to confirm the first time the Cotton Belt used the Red and Yellow (Orange?) SP paint job on its F units. I've got several books on the Cotton Belt, but none of them with the color photos indicate when that paint was first used. Anyone have a reference to that?
A quick google search yieded THIS
Scroll down to the 16th post for a date which may answer your question.
There are also some interesting comments in the other posts regarding the relationship between Espee and the Cotton Belt (and other "sorta" takeovers).
Wayne
We don't get too many comments on this forum talking about the Cotton Belt. Would like to here more.
- Douglas
What would you like to hear? What about the Cotton Belt interests you?
mreagant I'm looking to confirm the first time the Cotton Belt used the Red and Yellow (Orange?) SP paint job on its F units. I've got several books on the Cotton Belt, but none of them with the color photos indicate when that paint was first used. Anyone have a reference to that?
By red and yellow SP paint job are you referring to Daylight colors? The only Cotton Belt F unit in Daylight colors was the FP7 built in April 1950. It was a one of a kind paint scheme on one F unit. The Cotton Belt also had two PA-1s and a GP7 in Daylight colors.
Ed in Kentucky
The remainder of Cotton Belt's 65 F units were defined by three paint schemes.
The 20 FTs were delivered in Confederate Gray and Epaulette Yellow with red pinstripes seperating the colors. Later 18 of these FTs wore the SP's famous Black Widow colors. An additional two FTAs were rebuilt to F7AMs and those wore Black Widow colors. The Black Widow color scheme was introduced on the Cotton Belt approximately in March or April 1949 when the 920 four unit FT set returned from EMD after rebuild. All FTs and F7AMs were retired in 1960-61.
The 43 Cotton Belt F7s were painted in the Black Widow scheme when delivered. A number were repainted into the SP Bloody Nose paint scheme of Gray and Scarlet before retirement. Some F7s were retired still in Black Widow colors starting in the first quarter of 1966. All Cotton Belt F7s were off the roster by the first quarter of 1969.
Ed, that's what I was referring to. Drew a total blank when I was posting. I recently saw what was advertised as F7 in Daylight color and numbered for the Cotton Belt. Apparently a new issue. I'm not sure who the manufacturer is. Has anyone else seen it?