ATSF GP60M Lettering Variations

[tehachapifan]

After spending some time looking at a lot of photos of ATSF GP60M's, I discovered that there were some very subtle variations in lettering style and placement on some units that I never noticed before. I'll list them here for modeling reference. Note-this excludes door replacement omission-type stuff and all the BNSF patching stuff, including all the unexplainable blanked-out number boards added to the rear of many units . If anyone is aware of any other variations, please list them here as well.

ATSF 133 had more of a GP60B style lettering ("a's" in Santa Fe more upright and have tighter hook at top) on left side only for a while, but it was repainted with standard lettering at some point.....

Before...

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=37558

http://www.trainpix.com/ATSF/EMDORIG/GP60M/133D.HTM

After...

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=579496

ATSF 137 had an non-standard (short) "cigar band" and GP60B style lettering on both sides that was set back farther than normal...

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2122238

http://www.trainpix.com/ATSF/EMDORIG/GP60M/137.HTM

ATSF 146 had GP60B style lettering on both sides (this was the Maersk repaint)....

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=54541

ATSF 156 had GP60B style lettering on left side....

http://www.oocities.org/esprrfan/JPEGs/ATSF-156.jpg

ATSF 129, 131 and 142 had standard letting on left side that was set a little farther forward than normal (indicated by where the "F" is positioned under the radiator grille and how the front of the "a" touches the vertical body joint)....

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1881868

http://www.trainpix.com/ATSF/EMDORIG/GP60M/131.HTM

http://www.trainpix.com/atsf/EMDORIG/GP60M/142B.HTM

[lajmdlr]

Russ
Most people who work for the RRs call the loco sides either the engineer's & fireman's side. Makes it much easier to know which side you're talking about rather than left or right sides.
Andy Jackson
Bellflower CA

[peteski]

Russ
Most people who work for the RRs call the loco sides either the engineer's & fireman's side. Makes it much easier to know which side you're talking about rather than left or right sides.
Andy Jackson
Bellflower CA

...and all this time I thought it was starboard and port-side.... 

[Denver Road Doug]

Yeah, left and right's waaaaaaay too hard. 

Nice writeup.  Interesting how much differentiation there is across the fleet.  Really surprised how weathered that 133 looks only 4 1/2 years in.   I've been perusing the photo sites looking for overhead shots.   I can't figure out what to do with the black fans...certainly doesn't look "right" to me but of course we hardly ever see the tops so I guess it is?

[tehachapifan]

Thanks, Doug. Yes, some seemed to get really weathered fast and some still look great even today. The 104 is a good example.

On then fans....maybe a thin wash of a slightly lighter color would bring the detail out more but leave the fan grilles black?

Russ
Most people who work for the RRs call the loco sides either the engineer's & fireman's side. Makes it much easier to know which side you're talking about rather than left or right sides.
Andy Jackson
Bellflower CA

I know about the (incredibly outdated) railroad terminology but disagree that it is an easier-to-understand reference....especially with this particular loco that has a pretty darn obvious front end. Maybe it is a better reference for railroad workers but I don't know about your average railfan or model railroader who, like me, would have to think a second about where the supposed "fireman" would sit.

[lajmdlr]

I know about the (incredibly outdated) railroad terminology but disagree that it is an easier-to-understand reference....especially with this particular loco that has a pretty darn obvious front end.

Sorry Russ but even the modern RRers still still use those terms.

Maybe it is a better reference for railroad workers but I don't know about your average railfan or model railroader who, like me, would have to think a second about where the supposed "fireman" would sit.

But isn't one of the purposes of forums like this to inform those that don't know much about RRs? And if if one knows where the engineer sits it should be obvious where the fireman sits. And even though that seat today is occupied by the conductor RRers it's still called fireman's seat.

[Leggy]

Don't forget other countries (yeah there's people from outside NA here too) where the crew may sit on opposite sides which could cause confusion....better off saying left and right imo.

[C855B]

Don't forget other countries (yeah there's people from outside NA here too) where the crew may sit on opposite sides which could cause confusion....better off saying left and right imo.

And your toilets flush backwards, too.

 

[Leggy]

Nuh uh, yours do 

[lajmdlr]

Don't forget other countries (yeah there's people from outside NA here too) where the crew may sit on opposite sides which could cause confusion....better off saying left and right imo.

Do you mean conductors & engineers in your country can do each others jobs so they sit anywhere they want?

[Leggy]

Well....in QLD on the narrow gauge drivers sit on the left, on the national standard gauge the drivers sit on the right, etc etc.

[lajmdlr]

Well....in QLD on the narrow gauge drivers sit on the left, on the national standard gauge the drivers sit on the right, etc etc.

When you say right & left which way are we looking - in or out? 

[Leggy]

Looking out of the cab (like LHD and RHD for cars).

[davefoxx]

Unless it's got dual control stands (a la N&W locomotives) and then it gets real confusing.   

[dave n]

Some interesting info.  I knew the GE & EMD "Santa Fe" script was pretty different, but I didn't know the B's were different from the A's.

Thanks for sharing!