Can someone tell me when SP began using the Bloody Nose paint scheme? Was it a quick transition from Black Widow to Bloody Nose, or were there other major schemes in between these two? Scott
Bloody Nose was developed in 1958. There was the short lived "halloween" scheme in 1957(black/orange) between Black Widow and Bloody Nose. http://espee.railfan.net/paint.html By far the best online Espee paint scheme reference.
The Bloody Nose scheme develpoed in 1958 was a way to reduce painting costs. The number of colours was reduced to two and all the striping on yard switchers was eliminated. The repainting took several years. In 1973 I ran across a GP9 in "Black Widow" paint. The paint was worn and the 1965 renumber patch was visable. 3611 I believe was the unit. Passenger locomotives were the first to get the Grey & Red paint and the repainting of the Alco PA's F-M Trainmasters and the EMD E7 & 9's went fast. Other locomotives were repainted as they came due for shopping.
The last two F units on the Espee were F7a 6432 and F7b 8104 and both went off the roster in "Black Widow" paint. By some unknown fluke 8104 was repainted in 1970 in Black Widow paint by the painters at Eugene.The photo is by Jeff Black from Norcal SP Connection
In those days there was no fast information like internet so the first time I knew about the new paint scheme was when a new low nose unit( either a GP9 or GP20 perhaps) came around the curve into Santa Cruz yard heading the local. We hated it at first but after a few years it became our favorite SP paint scheme. Took many years for all the older locos to get re-painted but new ones came online pretty regularly so the Grey and red soon became common.....dave
