Why did SP drop the "Black Widow" paint scheme?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I always thought SP’s Black Widow paint scheme was great. Why did SP drop this great looking paint scheme from their engines?

2

Because it involved 4 colors (black, orange, red and silver) and a significant amount of masking, making it expensive to apply. The Bloody Nose scheme only involved 2 colors and much less masking.

IOW, SP went with a simpler scheme for the same reason every other RR (other than UP) went for a simpler scheme. It was cheaper.

Andre

3

I remember when I saw the first ‘bloody nose’ diesels on SP, my reaction was: EH? Even though it was more complicated and expensive, I think SP’s “Black Widow” freight scheme was one of the best-looking diesel schemes ever. I would have loved to have seen it on their Tunnel Motors–it certainly looked handsome on their GP and SD series diesels.
Tom

4

I have an SP Black Widow F7 A&B set on my list of things to buy as soon as I get around to it. I agree. I was a really nice looking paint scheme…

TL

5

I noticed on Tower 55 they will have an GE EVO in Black Widow , that would be the only way I would buy an EVO from them at that price. I have painted an a-b set of Alco FA’s in black widow, looks great. However SP never had FA’S, but it’s my railroad.[:I][:o)]

6

I remember a black widow F-7 A / B unit and a GP-7 that used to go by my house everyday hauling cattle cars and open bay hoppers when I was a kid…you are right…what a beautiful paint scheme…I used to wait for the train at my back fence for hours just to get a glimpse of them…chuck

7

That was a really nice paint scheme. They should’ve kept it for their special trains, and at least the black and silver for their regular freight trains.

8

That was one very cool paint scheme, but as already mentioned it was expensive. It’s not just the paint, but the labor and materials involved in masking off for the other colors. The simplified solid gray & red scheme was, in the end, much cheaper.

Would be neat that since Union Pacific is still painting locomotives in “Heritage Schemes” for them to do an SP Black Widow!

Would look really neat on an SD75!