CGW F Unit Colors?

[Steve_F]

I have some CGW proto 1000 F3's and they are a maroon color, I have seen pictures of these units in red also, my question is were there two different colors or is the maroon a faded and weathered red?

[garya]

Take a look at: http://www.trainweb.org/cgw/history-bin/cgw_diesel%20paint.html for a description of the schemes. I kind of like the solid red and maroon schemes--some almost look purple.

[Steve_F]

Thanks for the quick reply, I was hoping otherwise but it appears they switched to the red starting in 1964.

I have jumped the gun a bit and have already re numbered and weathered these units to the corresponding CNW units, looks like they need to be red for this to be accurate; it's too bad as they really cool as they are.

 Ah well they will have to do for now, if they get repainted it will be in CNW colors.

[dknelson]

I recall seeing some CGW engines in original paint on the C&NW after the merger / acquisition, including cow and calf switchers here in Milwaukee.  I do not recall seeing red or maroon F units but that is not to say both weren't run.  The CGW switched to red from maroon but they did not rush to repaint their engines if the old paint was otherwise OK.   

Dave Nelson

[garya]

I found more pictures here: http://jimsands2.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=4158&Page=1

As you can see, they didn't switch to the red immediately. 

My local library has a book on the CGW, The Chicago Great Western in Minnesota / by Roger Bee, Gary Browne, John Luecke. (ISBN 0930431006).  I believe there were pictures of CGW F units, still in their original paint, after the merger. 

It's available here: http://www.comoshops.com/?CLSN_1419=12010155571419495366892cddad2a86&keyword=bee&searchby=author&page=shop%2Fbrowse&fsb=1  if you wish to purchase one, but it's not cheap.

[Steve_F]

Thanks for the links, some good photos there, I have checked all my CNW photos of ex CGW F's and these all indicate that the post merger locos were red, particularly the numbers I modeled.

In future I will do my research before I paint.

[dknelson]

The Chicago & North Western Historical Society includes many members with an interest in the CGW, and many of those are model railroaders.  Perhaps a classified ad offering to swap a maroon for a red would get a taker.  I think the ads are free if you are a member.

Dave Nelson

[wjstix]

Thanks for the links, some good photos there, I have checked all my CNW photos of ex CGW F's and these all indicate that the post merger locos were red, particularly the numbers I modeled.

In future I will do my research before I paint.

I wouldn't rush to re-do these. CGW had a lot of F units, and if they went from maroon to red in 1964 they only had about two years before the 1966 CNW takeover to repaint them all. I suspect there enough maroon CGW F units around at the time of the merger that no one but a serious nit-picker would know that the units you modelled were actually repainted red before the merger.

Also, it could be there were other F3's that never got the red paint, you can maybe just change the numbers of the loco's.