SP paint scheme question

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Greetings All,

I have 2 older Atlas SD35 and GP40 in Ho scale. The SD35 is SP and the GP40 is Cotten Belt. They both have the bloody nose paint scheme.

My question is they both do not have the logos on the nose as in photos I have seen.

The SP is missing on the SD35 and the SSW is missing on the GP40.

Is this an error on Atlas’s part? Should I just add the decals myself or is this correct? Some have the logos on the nose and some dont depending on the year built? Confused.

Thanks and Happy Turkey Day,

Mark in Texas

2

Southern Pacific started putting the large SPor SSW on the nose about 1970 or71.Before then the road number was put on the nose.

3

Mark

Both ways are correct. SP quit doing the big SP or SSW on the bloddy nose because of money after the failure of the SP/ATSF merger attempt. After the DRGW came into the picture, the writing on the locomotive’s flanks was “speed writing”.

And, the color, of the lettering is not white. It is LETTERING GRAY, a color that “hides” dirt quite well while still remaining readable.