I'd like to find out the font, height, and color for lettering a B&O SW-1 switcher in the early Baltimore & Ohio paint. Not the later B&O paint. Thanks in advance.

The font, positioning, and spacing may be available from the B&O Museum or the B&O Historical Society.

From a published chart, the blue color on an EMD SD7 or SD9 was Duco 254-35155; EMD no. 8106284. Imitation gold lettering & striping Duco 254-54292; EMD no. 8106248. The black running boards were Duco 243-2504; EMD no. 8106292. The black trucks & underbody were Dulux 88-762; EMD no. 8106299. The same colors were used on F units, although a different black was used on the F unit name band (irrelevant on an SW1).

Honestly, I don't know the significance of these identifications. A paint specialist would probably know. Also, I can't guarantee that the exact same colors were used on your switcher. Since they were built by the same builder during a period when the B&O's painting practices didn't change much, I would say these colors are about as close as you're likely to come.

Hope this helps.

Tom

The problem is, the 1940-built SW-1 substantially pre-dated the SD7/SD9 (by at least twelve years), and as far as I know they're repainting to original 1940-ish (and war-era) scheme, which may not have much to do with 1950s SD7/9-era diagram/specs.

I seriously doubt that there was any significant difference in the color of B&O "Bando" blue during the period between the delivery of the SW1's and the early SD's. Once C&O took control in the 1960's, the color was changed to C&O Enchantment Blue, which (to my imperfect eyes) was a bit darker, less bright, and had a subtle purplish cast.

Tom

I have found this B&O Historical Society page helpful in the past.

http://borhs.org/Logos/bo_font_logo.html