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Ho Rock Island E7A/Ho Rock Island Passenger Cars Colors Help Needed

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  • Member since
    March 2019
  • From: South Lake Tahoe California
  • 188 posts
Ho Rock Island E7A/Ho Rock Island Passenger Cars Colors Help Needed
Posted by MetrolinkFan on Thursday, May 25, 2023 3:13 PM

Hello all, I was wondering what colors are on the Rock Island E6A diesel locomotive ? I was viewing one on eBay today it was hard to tell what colors it was I was maybe. Thinking of either painting my E7A shell or just buy the one I saw on eBay today,I also for the Rock Island passenger cars they look like a red and silver too me.any hel would be helpful Thanks.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 9:15 AM

Rock Island used a LOT of variations of paint schemes over the years, so it depends on when your layout is set.

Originally E-units were maroon in front and sort of a whitish-gray with bright red on the nose going back as a wide stripe through the engine's windows. Later versions included maroon and white without the red, all red with yellow "wings" and huge "ROCK ISLAND" on the side, and probably a few more. 

Passenger cars were Pullman green, then the streamliners were unpainted stainless steel. Later some cars were red with a yellow stripe, and I believe some stainless steel cars had some parts painted red for use on a train operated jointly with another railroad (SP?).

Stix
  • Member since
    March 2019
  • From: South Lake Tahoe California
  • 188 posts
Posted by MetrolinkFan on Friday, June 2, 2023 7:41 AM

Thank you for the reply can you please tell me what years for the Rock Island paint schemes over the years? I am thinking of painting my E8A shell I have into the all red paint withe the yellow on the. On the nose and the yellow pin strip,Or try to find a E8A engine I did find a maroon and white one on ebay. When I saw the all red with the yellow. I was wondering what one earliest paint scheme acme 1st.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Friday, June 2, 2023 10:28 AM

If you mean this scheme:

Pinterest

It was fairly late, maybe late 1960s. I think it was common on the engines when they were run on commuter trains in the 1970s.

Stix
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,898 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, June 2, 2023 1:33 PM

Mike Sosalla Rock Island Railroad photo site's Photo Galleries at pbase.com

Plenty of schemes from over the years for all RI diesel engines.

The red and silver passenger cars were used on the Golden State operated with the SP between Chicago and Los Angeles.  I have to look, but I think that scheme came about because they were going to launch a new train, the Golden Rocket, on the same route.  RI ordered equipment for it, but SP decided not to and the train never ran under that name.  The equipment delivered to RI was used on the Golden State train.

Jeff

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,898 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, June 2, 2023 1:44 PM

wjstix

If you mean this scheme:

Pinterest

It was fairly late, maybe late 1960s. I think it was common on the engines when they were run on commuter trains in the 1970s.

 

The bright red and yellow "speed lettering" dates from about 1970.  There were freight diesels delivered in 1969 with the speed lettering but still in maroon and yellow. 

Those colors were derived from the colors of the Materials Service Corporation.  That was owned by Henry Crown, the RI's biggest creditor 

Jeff

  • Member since
    March 2019
  • From: South Lake Tahoe California
  • 188 posts
Posted by MetrolinkFan on Friday, June 9, 2023 4:45 PM

I am looking for a Ho Red &Yellow Rock Island E7A\E8A\E9A engine the all Red one,I cannot find any I am having a hard.Time fining one dose anyone know where i can find one? Or just a painted shell I have Ho Great Northern E8A shell ,And it fits on my Athearn SD40T-2 powered frame. Please let me know !!!Thanl You!!!

  • Member since
    March 2019
  • From: South Lake Tahoe California
  • 188 posts
Posted by MetrolinkFan on Thursday, June 22, 2023 12:01 PM

I got my HO Rock Island EMD E8A from FedEx on the 20th of this month. I tested it runs smooth and runs just fine,But yesterday I checked myself into emergenecy with my dad.I had a rapid heart beat off an on for 2 days my heart rat was, 180 I stayed in emergebcy for 3 hours. They did a ekg,Xray all was good but I had a heart afib. They looked at my pacemaker had to ajust it,Now I am doing good I am back home.Just need to take it easy having to take a half a pill in the moring and at nite time.Other then that doing well.my Rock Island E8A sure is a nice engine. Here are some photos of it. I just need to find some Rock names so I can glue them to the saides of the 5 silver passenger cars I have,What Rock Island passenger paint schemes is? Your favorite ones I will go with your suggestions I cannt afford any spray paint too much $$ Thanks All Cheers,

https://ibb.co/7KWFMqD

https://ibb.co/vk4kWWj

https://ibb.co/RpppxMS

 

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