I wonder if there is any special kind of primer or paint used in diesel electrical cabinets, you know, the walls of the steel compartments. Looking at GE 44's, it looks like the same stuff that is in the engine room. Is there anything special about that paint or will any reasonable modern equivalent do?

AFAIK, nothing special about the paint. Current EMD and GE production shows white electrical compartment interiors-all the better to make use of the minimal light available to work in these areas.

DPK