Keep in mind that when units began being repainted no exact dates can be determined except the starting dates. Some units remained in the older paint scheme for some time before being repainted whereas some were repainted right away. As always, when custom painting a model, refer to good pictures of the unit for placement of roadname, road numbers, heralds and other lettering details. Pictures also reveal minor variations in these paint schemes due to being done in different repair shops. Pictures also reveal minor variations in the placement of horns, bells, lights and other appliances.
1940-1949 Scheme-Black with White(Silver?) letteringEntire unit painted black with a single narrow white stripe at the top of the hood from the cab forward. The edge of walkway was also painted white. Roadname S O U T H E R N, centered, on the hood was in railroad roman lettering. The road number on side of cab was D S-6 0 5 7 and smaller on front of hood D S-6 0 5 7. A large (5') diameter monogram with SR in center, surrounded with "The Southern Serves the South" in a circle, was on the Alco and Baldwin units. A smaller monogram (2'-06") was used on EMD units. All lettering was white. Pilots did not have the black/white stripes when delivered, were added by Railroad. There are 2 different sizes stripes one narrow and one a bit wider. Examine pictures for these and other variations such as the upper narrow white stripe continuing around the cabs on some units. Some units that were delivered painted this way are Alco S-1 & S-2, Baldwin VO-660 & VO-1000, EMD SW-1, NW-2, and the cow-calf TR-2a & b and possibly the GE 44 tonners.. There is one school of thought that the switchers may have been delivered in solid black with silver letters and numbers. At present there is no documentation to confirm this thought. |
1949-1958 Green/White SchemeEntire hood, cab painted green except the white band at bottom of hood. A narrow yellow stripe was used to separate the black/white and another near the top of hood. The walkway, edges and all underframe items below the walkway were painted black. Roadname, centered, on the hood was S O U T H E R N in yellow block letters. The road number on side of cab was, for example, 2 2 2 8 and smaller size on front of hood, for example, 2 2 2 8 . A small (2'-06") diameter monogram was placed forward of the Southern. Again two sizes of pilot stripes were used. Some units that were delivered this was are Alco S-4, Baldwin S-12, and EMD SW-7. |
1958-1982 Black/White Tuxedo SchemeEntire hood, cab, walkway and underframe painted black except the band at bottom of hood. A narrow metallic gold stripe was used to separate the black and white. Pilots had the stripes coming together at the top with two sizes being used. Roadname lettering was S O U T H E R N in metallic gold plain Helvetica font. The road number on side of cab was for example 2 2 5 7 and same size on front of hood for example 2 2 5 7. This is the scheme being used today with the exception of a change in the lettering from metallic gold to dulux gold. Some units that were delivered in this scheme are EMD SW-1500 and MP-15. After this date all units were eventually painted in this scheme until the 1982 merger with N&W. |
SWITCHER-UNITS ACQUIRED THRU MERGERSThese units were lettered for the subsidiary road, in 1970 the lettering was replaced with "Southern" There were a few other examples of different color schemes. The Albany & Northern and the Georgia, Ashburn, Sylvester and Camllia 70 tonners retained their paint. The Georgia Northern lone BLW DS-4-4-660 also continued their paint.
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