SD70ACe No. 1111
Randy Olson
Q I recently saw a Norfolk Southern locomotive passing through Vermillion, Ohio, with only four vertical stripes on the cab where a unit number should be. Can you explain what this designation is? — Joseph McCormick, Oberlin, Ohio
A The stripes are really four “1s” for NS’s SD70ACe No. 1111. The “1s” are in a font that makes them appear as white bars. Some train-watchers refer to No. 1111 as the “barcode” unit. — Brian Schmidt
Most agree the numbers are spaced too closely together. In fact, one unit [1137?] was redone and looks much better.
Kinda reminds me of the first all Timkin roller bearing equipped 4-8-4 that was purchased by Northern Pacific and came to be known as “Four Aces”.
Do you have data about two Norfolk & Western trains that collided outside Bristol in the mid 1950’s?