SP&S Paint Schemes

Note: The terms “class F-1” are terms applied in order to make the various paint schemes understandable at a glance. They are not terms which originated with the SP&S; itself, but were created later by researchers.

Class “F” — Freight Cabs

Code: F-1
Base Color: Dupont LUCITE 890-180722 (Close to or exactly GN Empire Builder green.)
Trim & Herald: Yellow stripes below grillwork looping behind cab door, returning along panel rivet line. Yellow stripe along roof at angle behind cab area, meeting at point behind horns on roof. Band of yellow on roof of nose from bottom of windshield to headlight grill. Through headlight grill broadening overnoce in inverted “V” from meeting with yellow frame stripes on side of nose. Red herald on nose, spelled out. Roof behind cab red-oxide.
Lettering: Yellow gothic style. Small size unit number in green on frame stripe on side of nose. Then moved to yellow just above fame stripe of unit.
Dates: 5-48
Types delivered: FA-1 850-861; FB-1 200-205
Later Types Applied: n/a

Code: F-2
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Same as F-1, except yellow nose color increased to broad arc around number boards. Entire nose roof yellow back to windshield.
Lettering: Same as F-1
Dates: 1954
Types delivered: FA-2’s; FB-2’s
Later Types Applied: FA-1’s; FB-1’s; F3’s

Code: F-3
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Yellow nose area increased from nose roof up through windshield area. (Some units) 852-853, 866.
Lettering: Herald same as F-1. Yellow gothic style large size large unit numbers above name, approx. centered in middle panels.
Dates: 1956
Types delivered: n/a
Later Types Applied: FA-1’s; FB-1’s; FA-2’s; FB-2’s; F3’s; F7’s; E7;

Code: F-4
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Broad yellow nose band 75″ from rail, 40″ wide. Red herald with intials only.
Lettering: Gothic style & green large size. Unit number large above road name, centered.
Dates: 6-64
Types delivered: C415’s; C424’s; C425’s, C636’s
Later Types Applied: Entire Roster

Code: F-5
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Yellow band low, to “V” on nose, nose roof yellow, nose door yellow. Letter herald.
Lettering: Number yellow.
Dates: 1964?
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:FA-1 860 only.

Code: F-6
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Nose roof green, nose yellow, angle down to narrow yellow band lower than normal.
Lettering: Number yellow.
Dates: ???
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:FA-1 857 only. Alco wreck rebuild.

Class “P” — Passenger Cabs

Code: P-1
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Yellow narrow frame stripe, yellow side stripe on side below grill looping around front porthole, returning along rivet line. Yellow nose color starting at base of windshield broadening on roof through headlight and across nose in inverted “V” shape. Meeting frame stripe near ladder to cab. Red oxide roof.
Lettering: Yellow, small gothic. Unit numbers greeen on yellow nose at edge of anticlimber.
Dates: 4-47
Types delivered:F3’s; F7’s
Later Types Applied:E7 750

Code: P-2
Base Color: Omaha Orange
Trim & Herald: Colors roof green down through grill area — narrow yellow stripes seperate orange and green. Orange window panel, green band below with railroad name in yellow to point on nose. Orange stripes below green band. Nose orange, red herald.
Lettering: Yellow, gothic on green band.
Dates: 7-48
Types delivered:E7 750 only.
Later Types Applied:n/a

Code: P-3
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Same as P-1 except yellow nose color extended in arc around number boards and covering nose roof.
Lettering: Unit number small yellow at rear of unit.
Dates: 1953
Types delivered:F7’s?
Later Types Applied:F3’s; E7;

Code: P-4
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Same as P-3. Oxide red roof.
Lettering: Lettering yellow. Large Roman style numbers.
Dates: 1959-1962
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:F3’s; F7’s, E7 750

Code: P-5
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Yellow nose color extended to include windshield area.
Lettering: Lettering yellow. Large Roman style numbers.
Dates: 1959-1962
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:F3’s; F7’s, E7 750

Code: P-6
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: Broad yellow band 75″ from rail 40″ wide. SP&S; initials herald.
Lettering: Green gothic large, large numbers.
Dates: 1964
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:F3’s; F7’s, E7 750

Code: P-7
Base Color: Same as F-1
Trim & Herald: No trim. Red SP&S; initials herald on nose.
Lettering: Yellow gothic large, large numbers
Dates: Late 1969 – Early 1970
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:E7 750 only.

Class “G” — Road Switchers

Code: G-1
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Yellow frame stripe, yellow diagonal stripes at edge roof on hoods. Red oxide roof.
Lettering: Yellow gothic, small word herald.
Dates: 1945-56
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:n/a

Code: G-2
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald:Yellow diagonal frame stripes, red oxide roof.
Lettering: Yellow gothic, on three lines on GP9’s, large numbers
Dates: ?
Types delivered:GP9’s
Later Types Applied:RS1’s; RS2’s; RS3’s;

Code: G-3
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Yellow dashed frame stripes.
Lettering: Same as G-2.
Dates: ?
Types delivered:RS3’s
Later Types Applied:n/a

Code: G-4
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Same as G-3.
Lettering: Same as G-3.
Dates: 1961
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:GP9’s; RS1’s; RS3’s;

Code: G-5
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: No trim. Red SP&S; initials herald on nose.
Lettering: Yellow gothic large, large numbers
Dates: Late 1969 – Early 1970
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:E7 750 only.

Code: G-6
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: No trim. Red SP&S; initials herald on nose.
Lettering: Yellow gothic large, large numbers
Dates: Late 1969 – Early 1970
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:E7 750 only.

Code: G-7
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Broad yellow band 40″ wide. Red SP&S; intials herald. Red oxide roof?
Lettering: Green, small narrow on Alcos, large on GP9’s and Century Units.
Dates: 1964 to BN.
Types delivered:C424; C425; C636;
Later Types Applied:Entire Roster.

Code: G-8
Base Color: Yellow
Trim & Herald: Broad black or green band. Black roof.
Lettering: Red gothic.
Dates: 1970
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:RS1 53.

Code: G-9
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Yellow band 4’6″ wide, 7’0″ from rails.
Lettering: Red letter herald, green gothic lettering.
Dates: 1970
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:???

Class “S” — Switchers

Code: S-1
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Solid yellow frame stripe. Herald “North Bank Route” in margin, yellow.
Lettering: “SP&S; RY” in squared Roman style on metal letterboards on hood top centered.
Dates: 1940-1950
Types delivered:VO-1000
Later Types Applied:n/a

Code: S-2
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Thin yellow rectangles on frame. Solid color, original Alco S1, S2 scheme. Pinstripe along roof line.
Lettering: Yellow.
Dates: 1940’s
Types delivered:S1; S2
Later Types Applied:n/a

Code: S-3
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: NP style, solid yellow frame stripe, three yellow stripes at end of hood and on cab back. Red herald. Tiny yellow stripe at roof edge of hood.
Lettering: Rairload name spelled out in small gothic style, word herald.
Dates: 1940-1953?
Types delivered:S2
Later Types Applied:VO-1000

Code: S-4
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Frame stripe diagonal yellow stripes applied to S1 and S2 schemes.
Lettering: Same as S-3.
Dates: 1955-56
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:VO-1000; S1; S2;

Code: S-5
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Yellow frame stripe. Yellow stripe around entire body just above frame stripe. 5 yellow stripes at end of hood bending around hood each one longer than the one above. Narrow yellow stripe below cab window and handrail on hood. Red herald.
Lettering: Yellow gothic style, spelled out.
Dates: ???
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:VO-1000; S1; S2; NW2’s; SW9’s;

Code: S-6
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Dashed yellow frame stripe, stripes at end of unit, narrow yellow stripes at roof edge of hood. Red herald.
Lettering: Yellow gothic, regular and narow style. Also a Roman style used on Baldwins. Word herald.
Dates: 1970
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:VO-1000; S1; S2; NW2’s; SW9’s;

Code: S-7
Base Color: Green
Trim & Herald: Broad yellow band 40″ high. SP&S; initial herald.
Lettering: Green gothic regular on EMD’s, narrow on Alcos. Letter herald.
Dates: 1965 to BN
Types delivered:n/a
Later Types Applied:S1; S2; NW2’s; SW9’s;