Cotton Belt Diesels Info

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I’m needing for modeling purposes to find a book or a source for Cotton Belt Diesels in color before the SP merger. Black & White pics do no good… Anyone care to recommend a book or anything?

Thanks in advance.

2

The Cotton Belt was taken over by SP in the 1930’s, but retained its corporate ID for a number of years afterward. Bloody nose units would essentially follow SP standards. Black widow units were similar to SP, but had yellow handrails initially. Switchers were completely different from SP in the earlier years as SSW never used the tiger stripe switcher scheme. In 1965, SP renumbered its roster and, IIRC, all SSW units except remaining F’s were renumbered into the SP number range appropriate for each class’s number range).

SSW SW7 (post 1965 before being repainted to bloody nose): http://espee.railfan.net/sswsw07.html

SSW SW9 (post 1965 before being repainted to bloody nose): http://espee.railfan.net/sswsw09.html

Orange color would be Daylight orange.

SSW Baldwin VO-1000: http://espee.railfan.net/sswvo-1000.html

SSW F7 black widow: http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/f-unit_photos/0939_ssw-f7-rob_sarberenyi.jpg

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/f-unit_photos/0945_ssw-f7-rob_sarberenyi.jpg

SSW RS-3 (post 1965 number): http://espee.railfan.net/sswrs-03.html

SSW GP9 as built: http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/gp09_photos/0823_ssw-gp9-rob_sarberenyi.jpg

3

Love the looks of the Black widow.

4

Andre,

Thanks for the links. Good reference.

The color photos show the later scheme for the SSW. A simplified version of the original. That site does have a few pics of the SSW FTs and VOs in the original "as delivered scheme, but, in Black & White.

I am beginning to think that original color pics of these units do not exists. So far in my massive search through hundreds of books, sites, and pics I have seen no color pics of SSW diesels in as delivered schemes.

Models just doesn’t give the “hard proof” that pics of the real thing does.

I hope someone else may help in shedding more light on this subject. I’d like to own a pic or slide or 2 if the price is right.

Amrail

5

…and then there were the Daylight painted PA1’s and the lone Daylight painted FP7A.

6

I’d pick up a copy of Cotton Belt Locomotives by Joe Strapac. They’re all in there.

7

Thanks for the tip FlyingCrow. I guess I missed that tittle somehow. I’ll look into getting one.

Amrail

8

You’re facing a problem. The original light gray, yellow and red scheme didn’t last all that long and only really applied to the FT’s and VO-1000’s IIRC. The original paint scheme didn’t stand up too well to the effects of weather. Color photography wasn’t all that common in the 40’s. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a color photo of the original Cotton Belt scheme. I don’t think you’ll find a color pic in Strapac’s book, either.

Andre

9

There is a color photo of Baldwin Centercab DT-6-602000 in the yelloe/grey scheme on page 15 of Cotton Belt Color Pictorial by steven Allen Goen , Four Way West Publications, ISBN 1-885614-25-X

10

DSchmitt,

A SSW Baldwin Centercab? Wow!! I’d like to see that!!

I’ve done a online search for Goen’s Book. It sells for well over $100.00, close to $200 at some used book stores.

Guess I’ll have to wait awhile to get this book for my collection. Wish I’d had paid the $50 10 years ago when it was new. Live and learn!![%-)]

Amrail