this came from a freinds Facebook page.
They say everything has a prototype. 
I like the hand written NS and numbersâŚ
I suspect thatâs photoshoppedâŚWhy would NS want a used SD40-2?
Every so often Iâll see a car where the reporting marks and/or number have been done by hand after being patched or having been repaired. Sometimes itâs a quick touch up over graffiti. One time on a RIP track there was a CNW covered hopper where they had touched up the reporting marks by hand after some repairs. Who ever did it even tried to replicate the font of the original lettering.
Jeff
Larry,
No these are new to NS. Ive seen numerous YouTube videos with the hastily written numbers. Id be willing to bet that they are destined for the NS Admiral cab program, and of course, the paint shopâŚ
brad
NS bought several SD40âs a couple years ago from some leaser companies. I suspect this is one they bought recently and rushed it into service.
Kinda reminds me of this boxcar (Have seen it in person) owned by the Wiregrass Central
Yes, I think brad is correct, most likely raw material for that or another rebuild program. This seems to be the way many of the bigger Class I RRs are getting power to replace units used in local, switching and other non-first line assignments now.
That was one big Sharpie to make that kind of line through the HLCX on the hood. Probably took three managers to lift it.[;)]
When I was in Richmond visiting my sister 2 years ago. I saw a graffiti police car on a tow truck. The shield on the car was covered in black spray paint and it liked a dull faded black sharpie over it.
I was planning on doing this on an old police car, but the train show isnât a few months away. Interesting project to do.
I saw this same thing a week or 2 ago here in the Fort. Thr units were painted as though they used to belong to Burlington Northern. They were green and black. The NS was spray painted. The letters were about 2 feet tall. I did not notice if the numbers were sprayed on or not. My vantage point was a couple of hundred yards away inside of a building. They might have been SDs. Iâm not that good at identifing locomotives. Unless it says 765 on it.
Cool! I some how missed thatâŚ[banghead]
Thanks all for this informationâŚ[tup]
NS has a former BN (FURX?) unit parked in Suffolk for local switching. Iâll try and upload a picture later.
Photo the friend took of the entire consist, pretty neat catch if you ask me.
Hereâs a video from the other day of a âSharpieâ unit in ATL. Note the trailing unit⌠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNBIwbVwxOI
in addition to being ex-BN, I think many of these units are ex-HLCX helms leasing.
brad
Sometimes restencilling is done where and how you can. Ages ago I had a side job restencilling railcars all over the US. I worked my regular job during the week and the restencilled railcars on the weekend. One long weekend I did an entire unit train. Fortunately they were all coupled together so all I had to do was walk down 110 covered hoppers with grey paint, a roller tray, and a roller on a long extension pole. As quickly as possible I covered up the old reporting mark. It wasnât pretty but fortunately it was 90 plus degrees outside so paint dried quickly. Then back to the first car with the end and side stencils and a ladder. I would hold the stencil board on the car, spray, wait 30 seconds, spray again and off to the next car. The car ownerâs instructions were specificâŚjust âgit er doneâ. The train left that Monday will 110 restencilled cars. Not pretty but functional.