Bandits?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Would bandit locos just be ex Milwaukee locos patched to Soo Line or were there other bandits please?

Where would I find pics and other info please?

Thanks [8D]

2

You’re pretty much right. Soo painted out the Milw. name and added “Soo” and a road number on the cab. WSOR bought six MP15AC’s, painted over the Soo name and added WSOR and their own number. Most of these were subsequently repainted in the WSOR colors, altho at least one is still operating in mustard primer. Photos, etc. are on this website http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=WSOR

Hemifanone

3

Folks have used the term “bandits” for other merger situations where only a band of the planned color is used to paint over the former road name or number. The UP did this a lot with former SP power, among others. Such as this

Here’s the full railpictures listing for this photo

Another view of the same unit showed that the shop used just enough Armour Yellow on the nose to back the UP shield.

Again, the full railpictures listing for this photo.

Later, these units are typically fully repainted.

4

Out west we call them " patched" and their getting to be a rare breed, with repaints and retirements thinning the ranks.

Dave

5

I think the term “bandits” was first used with the Milwaukee engines, but I’ve heard them called other things (not all repeatable). BTW they’re still around, I see one a couple times a week working the CP hump in St.Paul MN. An interesting thing is the black paint wears off over time, but the white SOO lettering remains, giving it an odd look.