Until 1969, Tacoma Municipal Belt Line Railway had two Whitcomb 65-tonners, nos. 903 and 904. During the time they were owned they seem to have had two paint schemes, one that was dark lettering on a light color and the other light lettering on a dark color. The only photos I have found of these (using Google) are black and white, so I don't know if I am looking at a black/white, black/yellow, dark green/white, or dark green/yellow scheme. Here is a link to one of the photo schemes: Tacoma Public Library images I am hoping someone here got to see these before they were scrapped or has a color photo that would indicate what colors we're talking about. Thanks, Adam
I don't believe I have those. But might have a different unit in the pre-red/white colors. Boxcab E50
Ken, The colors would probably be about the same if you do. I can't imagine them using a lot of different paint for these versus, say, the S4 locomotives. Adam
I am sure your thought on paint is correct. I just need to get a few more things moved and I can grab the slide box I hope contains... If I do not have a view, I would not be surprised to learn that BN 5618 has one. Perhaps he'll read this, come evening. Boxcab E50
Found a slide I took of ALCo S-1 #905. It's a through the fence view when it was in Simon & Sons scrap yard. Paint is the yellow and maroon band scheme... Boxcab E50
Ken, what sort of yellow is it? A butter yellow? More of an ATSF blue/yellow scheme yellow? Armour yellow? I am just looking for approximate. I am not so nutty as to want to chase down an original paint chip and have it chromatically analyzed. Thanks! Adam
Adam- I'll try to scan it later, if my old clunker will work. If not, I'll just try describing... Boxcab E50
Although these are not in the yellow scheme you are looking for they are vintage Tacoma Beltline photos. They are 1970-1980s vintage. Here is the links for them. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=39687&nseq=36 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=338404&nseq=2 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=111323&nseq=14
About thirty years ago, the Port got a new centercab switcher. I believe it was something like a 110 tonner. Nice looking engine. I wonder if they still have it? Boxcab E50
Ken- No I am not changing my layout theme. You will notice a lot of those are older vintage cars or something more modern like the WSDOT grain cars. I just have more cars than I know what to do with. If you notice there are NO cars that are directly related to the timber industry. I have about 200+ cars and only room in my carrying and display cases for about 100 of them. So I have decided to reduce my stock. I will have more listed tomorrow more than likely, mainly canadian and eastern RR stuff. Ryan
Adam- Can't get my scanner to work tonight. Might try again tomorrow. The paint on this engine looks to be somewhat flattened by age and weather. The yellow I would describe as almost like a light margerine. On the hood, there appears to be a red stripe atop the billboard color band. I cannot see the bottom, but would guess there is one as well. However, there is no red accent stripe on the cab side! The band itself looks to be a purplish shade. I cannot think of how to describe it otherwise. Boxcab E50
Thanks for the photos, folks. It appears that Tacoma Municipal Belt changed their paint scheme with each new Presidential administration. I think Ken probably has the color for the late 1940s/early 1950s era I am looking at, which is sort of a margarine color. Judging from how colors appear in B/W photographs, and based on some of the actual color photos I had seen on other TMBL locomotives in that same time period I am thinking this is the one I will imagine unless a color photo of either of those Whitcombs at that early stage comes to light.
Agam- I forgot to note the date on my slide, but it is circa 1980-1982. As far as I recall, the white/red scheme came late 1970s. We're going back 35-40 years now and I don't recall that exact info tonight. Boxcab E50
