This image is from the inside back cover of the Frisco's 1945 annual report. It shows an early proposed paint scheme for the EMD E7As (EA7s) that were on order but would not be delivered for another year. One cannot tell the colors from this picture but is similar to many other schemes which have the "bow wave" motif. Rich Edit 2/21/2024: Locomotive builders at the time had a catalog of proposed standard paint schemes from which railroads could choose. Of all the locomotive builders the Art Department at General Motors (GM) Electro-Motive Division (EMD) was well known for having the most creative designs and prolific selection of designs catalog. MKD
I think I read someplace that the Frisco and Katy scheme had not been chosen at the time of that advertisement. Believe a catalog paint scheme that was ultimately chosen by the Chicago and Alton (C&A) or Gulf Mobile and Ohio (GM&O) as their scheme was used. Tom
The Frisco scheme is similar to the GM&O scheme, but there are significant differences. In the GM&O scheme, the lighter band covers the top of the nose instead of forming a soft V shape on the front. Also, towards the rear of the GM&O body, the light band ends in a downward curved shape. The Alton scheme is a more elaborate version of the GM&O scheme. My reference is an article in the March/April 1980 issue of Mainline Modeler entitled "ALTON Diesel Painting Guide" by Bruce R. Meyer. Here is a link to a photograph of GM&O E7A. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1543782 Rich
The EMD Styling Section produced at least two other liveries for the Frisco E7As (EA7s). Both were of the same style, but with different color schemes. One scheme had two contrasting shades of brown; yellow-orange pin stripes were used to separate the browns. The nose pattern was yellow-orange with dark brown whiskers and a dark brown border, and had a red FRISCO LINES coonskin below the bottom headlight. The second color scheme was the same style, and it used a dark green and a medium green. Pale yellow pin stripes were used to separate the greens. The nose pattern was pale yellow with a red pin stripe border and red whiskers. A red FRISCO LINES coonskin was located under the bottom headlight. Both were escribed as a MP-styled Loewy Curve on the sides and with an Art Deco C&NW nose pattern styling I wonder what the matching cars would have looked like? The proposed schemes were far different than the adopted schemes for the Meteor and Texas Special.
Arncha glad that the Frisco and Katy managers chose the designs and colors that they did! A brown and orange Texas Special or a two-tone green Meteor would have been pretty forgettable. Tom
Ken, That nose pattern could almost be the "proto-form" that ultimately became the the "cat whiskers" on the the E8As KEB
This scheme is close to the final choice, except that the locomotive is numbered SLSF 302 and named The Meteor Flash. Rich
Interesting posting now on eBay. Another EMD art rendering of a possible scheme for the SLSF and MKT EMD Texas Special E7A (EA7) units. I like the final version that was actually used a lot better. Ken
Someday I will learn to stay out of diesel affairs since I know nothing of powered boxcars (lovingly). Forgive me.
Interesting. At the end of the day, though I am glad the Frisco itself went with that glorious cat whisker scheme, especially with the white outline. Wow what a classy paint scheme! It was like no other, and the famous horse names only added to the uniqueness.
The Frisco famous horse "Racehorse/Redbird" scheme was neater than the Warbonnets, Daylights, Zephyrs by far. So was the original Texas Special/Meteor for that matter! Tom G.
There were certainly a large number of really neat paint schemes for E's and PA's during the "Golden Era" of streamliner passenger diesels. I loved most of them I saw and miss them all. I agree with Tom, yes, we are no doubt biased a bit, the Racehorse E-unit scheme in gold and white with the dark blue logo was as good as any. And, the fact that they each carried individual horse names made them truly unique. I also support what Tom says about the Texas Special and Meteor scheme. I never saw one in real life, at least that I remember, but I have to say the best looking diesel model I have is my Texas Special unit, SLSF 2003. The thing is just plain beautiful. It wasn't all me. It was painted by a very talented guy, and I detailed it and finished it off. I think I have pictures of it posted in my album. I tried to get him to do another for the Meteor scheme, but no soap so far. Ken