Southern Pacific rsd 4/5 paint scheme question

[stefanuccio]

HI
Another addition to my collection is another ALCO rsd 4/5 by atlas
This one has a black paint with silver on both the front and back sides and orange orizontal stripes along the body right and left sides
Does anybody know in which time period was this paint schemes used?
thanks very much for your reply
stefano

[John_Perkowski]

You refer to what was called the "Black Widow" paint scheme. It was a very early SP scheme. I will see if we can get you some more help on it.

[stefanuccio]

Hi John
thanks very much for your reply and for your offer
I think this is the Tiger stripes paint scheme i am referring
I found some more infos about it and it seems to have lasted until the early 1960's
It is difficoult to find pics but i read somewere that some of the locos were still in tiger stripes in the mid 1960's althought in at least one pic its fuel tank stripe were painted over
Can you tell me if this was a rule or a random practice ? was the painting of the fuel tanks done always or sometimes?
thanks very much for your reply
stefano

[John_Perkowski]

I think you'll be better served contacting the Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society
http://www.sphts.org/

[stefanuccio]

Hi John
Thanks very much for the link
stefano