Classy passenger locomotive paint schemes from the 1940s to the 1980s

By David Lustig | October 4, 2023

| Last updated on November 14, 2023

When marketing departments held sway, splashy colors and paint schemes were the order of the day

Locomotive paint schemes

In an era when passengers and passenger trains were an important part of the revenue stream, railroads generally did their best to keep their equipment clean. If the marketing department was going to promote classy passenger locomotive paint schemes, railroaders did their best to make sure the rolling stock shined.

Whenever a list is created on what were some of the greatest paint schemes, Santa Fe’s red and silver warbonnet, New York Central’s two-tone gray, Southern Pacific’s red and orange, and Union Pacific’s Armour Yellow often come to mind. But there were other railroads, many less mentioned, that fielded color schemes just as classy, just as proud.

Here’s my choice for some of them.

No. 1: Atlantic Coast Line’s Champion

A purple and silver passenger diesel with green grass in the foreground and partly cloudy skies above — Top of my list for classy passenger locomotive paint schemes is Atlantic Coast Line EMC E3 No. 501 came out of LaGrange in November 1939 dressed in regal purple. The unit was usually found on the *Champion*, a New York-Florida passenger train. Saved from the scrapper, it is now part of the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, N.C. R.F. Wilt, Lloyd Transportation Library

No. 2: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s dazzling chrome

A chrome silver passegner locomotive is seen in a railroad maintenance terminal — Continuing the look from its original 990 series Zephyrs, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy decked out its passenger locomotives in a dazzling display of chrome, exemplified by EMD E5A No. 9951A. This particular unit was assigned to the subsidiary Fort Worth & Denver and could usually be found assigned to the *Texas Zephyr* between Denver and Dallas. Built in 1941 and assigned the name Silver Carrier, the unit remained active until a collision in Missouri sent it to the junker in 1963. Photographed by the Garys in Denver. Lloyd Transportation Library

No. 3: Monon Railroad’s unique livery

A gray and silver diesel idles on snow-covered ground under blue skies — Monon not only gave its locomotives a unique livery, but decked out an entire train to match. Sharp EMD F3A was built in 1947. Also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville, it was merged into Louisville & Nashville in 1971 and was scrapped a year later. Kenneth L. Douglas photographed it in 1958. Lloyd Transportation Library

No. 4: Florida East Coast’s red and yellow

A side view of a red and yellow diesel locomotive. In the background are three palm trees — Southern Pacific was not the only railroad to dress its streamliners in red and yellow. Photographer Kenneth L. Douglas found Florida East Coast Railway EMD E6A No. 1003 in between assignments at Hialeah Yard in Miami April 13, 1936. Lloyd Transportation Library

No. 5: Seaboard Air Line’s sleek and speedy

A white streamlined passenger diesel locomotive lettered with the word Seaboard and featuring red stripes — Seaboard Air Line’s passenger livery looked like it was at speed even when it was standing still. EMC E4A 3004 was between assignments in 1953 when Kenneth L. Douglas photographed it. Note the number board on the roof of the cab and the extra nose lights. Lloyd Transportation Library

No. 6: Southern Pacific’s Golden State

Three orange and silver 1940s passenger locomotives round a curve under sunny skies — Southern Pacific’s Chicago-Los Angeles Golden State backs into Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal in the late 1940s. SP purchased a three-unit set of EMD E7s in an ABB configuration and had them specially painted in vermillion and silver. A few years later they were redone in the railroad’s then-standard Daylight colors of red, orange, and black. Lloyd Transportation Library

Sticking with the 1940s to 1980s, locomotive paint schemes can be a hit-or-miss. Here’s my opinion on, “Five locomotive paint schemes only a mother could love.”