What was the first year the CB&Q Blackbird paint scheme applied? I have a couple of early SDs I wound like in Blackbird paint.
Never mind, I answered my own question. 1950 was the first year up to 1970, until a CB&Q fan/expert says other wise, or confirms.
The ‘Blackbird’ paint scheme started on switchers as early as the 40’s. I was used on all switchers/GP’s/SD’s up unitl 1958. At that point the ‘Q’ started repainting/buying new road switchers in the ‘Redbird’ paint scheme. C&S SD9 828 was repainted in ‘Redbird’ after heavy wreck repairs. The GP20 & SD24 engines were the first ‘new’ engines that I am aware of being delivered in ‘Redbird’ paint. Switchers stayed in the ‘Blackbird’ paint scheme except for a lone FW&D switcher that got repainted into the ‘Redbird’ paint scheme. BTW, SD7 production did not start until 1952.
In late 1968, the ‘Q’ took delivery of a black/white/green GP40, followed by 15 SD45’s in the same ‘premerger’ paint scheme. The following spring 9 U23C engines were also delivered in the ‘premerger’ paint scheme. Many of the early GP7/9 and SD7/9 engines remained in the ‘Blackbird’ scheme until they were repainted in BN ‘Cascade’ green after the 1970 merger.
I feel that you are very safe painting your SD7/9 engines in their ‘Blackbird’ delivery scheme!
Jim
The Q GP40 (number 629) was delivered in red/gray … it was repainted in the pre-merger scheme at the West Burlington (Iowa) Shops (according to Alfred Holck’s Burlington Route Color Pictorial Volume #2).
Regards,
Burlington John
As a kid, I can remember watching Blackbird painted SD’s come into town and do some switching. My Grand Parents house was behind the Piggly Wiggly in Custer SD, next to the tracks, I’d set on the back porch and watch. And always a lollipop would be tossed to me from the caboose. This was on the CB&Q,s high line throught the Black Hills. It is now a bike trail. I can remember two SD’s at the head end, but the number of cars ranged from 6 to 15 cars on any given day. These memories are the reason why I would like a couple of Blackbirds on my layout.
My railroad is the “Western Dakota & Wyoming RR” which runs throught the Black Hills. Of course the WD&W has a good relationship with the CB&Q. Thus some track is shared, as well as motive power.
FWIW I seem to recall the Burlington’s red was called “Chinese Red”…
I apologize up front because most of my reference material a couple hundred miles away. If I recall correctly the Q used SD-9s in the Black Hills versus SD-7s. That may be backwards but the basic point is that they pretty much used one type and it would be rare if you even saw the other type. They also kept one SW-1 switcher there too. Again, if my memory serves me correctly, it was one of the only Q switchers to have a plow, a larger one at that.
Rick
Rick, you are correct, SD9s were used. I stayed with my Grand parents from 1960-63 and visited often after that. On one of those visits I remember a E unit, 2 coachs, and an observation come throught town. That was 1968 or 69. I do not know the nuts and bolts of the high lines abandonment but I wonder if this was part of it. That train moved slow, as the curves were very tight. Not to long after that my Grandpa wrote to tell me the railroad is going away.
The ‘Q’ used basically SD7 & SD9 class engines on the Black Hills Line. The SW1 was the Deadwood/Lead switcher and operated on the ‘High Line’ behind that ‘Piggly-Wiggly’ store. It switched out Homestake Mining area, IIRC.
I remember one vacation in the early 60’s - Rode the Black Hills Central and was talking to some CB&Q train crew folks. They mentioned that about once a year, there was a ‘Zephyr Streamliner’ special that was run up the line for some civic function. This may be the E unit/coaches/observation car you saw. The Black Hills line was still in service in the 70’s under BN. Of course the entire line is now gone. Most of the CB&Q SD7/9 locomotives had ‘dual controls’ and space in the cabs was sort of ‘tight’. Usually the ‘road train’ from Edgemont had four SD7/9 ‘motors’ on the point.
Jim
Jim: your knowledge is very impressive. You even mentioned the red FW&D switcher.
I lived next to the Q in IL as a kid ages 5-18. We moved there in 1949, and that’s why I am interested in the Q.
SD7’s and SD9’s were gradually repainted into the red scheme from the black scheme in the 1960’s.
SD24’s introduced the red scheme. Originally, the SD24’s were assigned as 4 unit sets to the Chicago-Denver hotshot. The crews referred to the units as “red devils”. I recall the turbochargers whining as the train rolled through town. I could see the action from a bedroom window if it was winter and no leaves were in the trees to block the view. Of course, I have a pair of the latest run of Atlas SD24’s on the layout.
My SD7’s and SD9’s include both balck and red units.
The CB&Q sure was a colorful road with all the different paint schemes that were used. White/red on the F units, ‘blackbird’ early road-switchers, later the red/gray.
There is an excellent book on the Q in the Black Hills by Rick Mills. I picked up a copy in the Hill City depot/museum a few years ago. The exact name escapes me, again most of my stuff is not with me, or more correct, I’m not with it…yet.
Rick