Southern Pacific SD9 colour scheme question

[stefanuccio]

Hi

I have a model of the SP SD9 n.5378 by Proto 2000 [second hand] in the post 1958 colur paint scheme red/grey or bloody nose

I would like to know if this colour scheme is correct for the number 5378 as all the pics available to me show this type of locomotive in the black/silver colour scheme

thanks very much for your reply

stefano

[wjstix]

Well a quick web search turned up quite a few pics of SP SD-9s in the 'bloody nose' paint scheme, even if I didn't see that particular engine. SD-9s lasted quite a long time (BNSF still uses them) so unless 5378 was in a wreck I'd be pretty confident it was repainted at some time c. 1959-60.

http://www.locophotos.com/~locophot/pix/110/Southern%20Pacific%20SP%204310_Anaheim%20CA_Michael%20Hopkin_1990-04-00_110704.jpg

[stefanuccio]

Hi Stix

thanks very much for your reply and lovely pic of SD 9

regards

stefano

[M636C]

Stefano,

You may be right questioning whether 5378 carried the grey colour scheme...

5378 was delivered in "Black Widow" black, silver and orange scheme in January 1955.

In 1965, 5378 was renumbered 3856. It is possible but not definite that it was renumbered still in Black Widow. Certainly 5442 was renumbered 3920 in 1966 still in quite reasonable Black Widow colours, and it was only four months newer than 5378, so it is certainly possible that 5378 was renumbered before it was repainted. In 1971 3856 was again renumbered as 4327 by which time it was almost certainly in grey and red but it would have been fully repainted anyway when upgraded to SD9R.

However, it may have been repainted before 1965-66 when it was renumbered as 3856.

M636C