What year did the Burlington start using redbird paint schemes. Also, I have noticed some models of the passenger diesel schemes have red stripes and some black stripes on the nose of the engines. What was the reason for the different colors and if it was just a time of change thing what year did they start using which.
I have some Monrning Sun books on the way which will no doubt answer these questions but I thought I would ask anyway.
Thanks
March 1958 is when the Chinese red schemes came out. That is also when they switched from the black stripes on the nose of silver passenger units to the red stripes.
The last black bird scheme was repainted to BN green on September 29, 1976. The last Chinese Red unit was repainted December 29, 1976. The last silver unit with red stripes was repainted in June of 1979. I don’t have any record of the last silver unit with black stripes, nor any record of the last greyback.
Thanks Texas for the information. I take it by greyback you are in reference to the F freight units. I am just starting HO modeling and have picked the Burlington as my main road.
If I recall correctly, the first new locomotives in Chinese Red were the SD24’s. Next were GP20’s, GP30’s and so on. Some, but not all, older road switchers were repainted from black to red. Only one yard switcher (an EMD unit) was painted in Chinese red which I beleive was owned by Burlington’s subsideriary, the Colorado and Southern. Prior to the BN merger some new units were delevered in green and white.
Actually, while we’re on the subject of Burlington diesels–in the color photographs I’ve seen of the freight F-units, they appear to be a lighter shade of silver than the passenger units. Were the freight units actually painted white, or is it just my eyesight? But I’ve noticed a distinct shade difference.
Tom
The F units, or graybacks, were painted in what was officially called imitation aluminum, sort of a whiteish gray color. The color varied as it faded and weathered. When some units were repainted they had a more gray color. The were no Q F units on the roster at merger time. They had all been traded in for newer units by 1970.
The ‘Q’ still had a single F7A(167A, IIRC) on the roster on merger day in 1970. It was never repainted or even renumbered and was among the first ‘trade bait’ sent to EMD for SD45’s. BN even has a pair of NP FT’s still in running condition - They were never renumbered and powered a freight train from Auburn to Chicago(and on to the scrap yard) right after the merger!
Jim
Yes, that is correct.
Possibly the best run railroad in the USA. Definitely the most influential. I would highly recommend you track down a copy of the book “Burlington Route - A History of the Burlington Lines” by Richard C. Overton. It is in many libraries. It is told from the business perspective so there is not a lot of information on color schemes and slang like “greybacks”, but it will certainly help one to understand the physical railroad itself, its philosophy of managment, and therefore help one to become a better CB&Q modeler.
I first read the book, or tried to read it, in Jr. High. It was a bit over my head. I read it again sometime in college, and then again just two years ago. I decided I had to have my own copy and finally tracked one down. It is now on my “frequently referenced” book shelf.
Texas
Abe books on the internet has 22 of these Burlington Route books priced anywhere from $14 to $125. I will pick one of them up in the near future. Thanks
TZ …I read that book also. Interesting. One tidbit of trivia from the book. In the late 1800’s the Burlington was striving to purchase the MKT railroad. That would have connected with existing Burlington tracks to provide a direct route between Chicago with Texas. However, the politicians were on the warpath against “robber barrons”, the ICC was created, and no such merger occurred back then. Decades later, BN solved the Texas connection problem buying Frisco.
As for Tom’s question. … I have an old EMD poster with the origianl CB&Q FT’s and they look white in that picture. Any CB&Q F units I saw (lots of them), the were a light gray color. The hobby shops sell a military paint called “light aircraft gray” that’s very close in my opinion. That’s what I use when I paint a Q F-unit.
There are some great photos of CB&Q F units in Michael Spoor’s CB&Q in Color series.