Starting in late 1984 BN debated making changes to the diagonal striped nose
used on its engines since 1970. It came up with a design of the alternating black
and orange nose stripes and cab face of orange. Because of the unique paint
selection it acquired the Tiger Stripe nickname.
However, the first attempt to improve grade crossing visibility actually
began in 1973 with the Chicago West Suburban Mass Transit District E-9's.
The Illinois Department of Transportation requested orange diagonal stripes
on the face of each unit. The solution was to apply orange and white to the
nose below the headlight.
In 1985 the Tiger Stripe test began on the SD40-2 BN 8002. The unit also
became the first to have the number and logo switched. This has the BN logo
and name moved to the long hood and unit number moved to the cab. After a
period of time leased SD60's BN 8300-8302 tested the paint scheme, and the
1985 order of GP50's 3110-3162 was delivered in Tiger Stripe. Although the
orange changed the appearance of units it was not considered aesthetic and
economic and dropped after three years.
By 1989 the 8002 and GP50's were repainted, the SD60's were returned to
GM and later repainted to the maroon-gray-silver lease scheme and in late 2000'
traded to the CSX. E-9's worked the famed BN racetrack with fading orange until
retirement in 1992.
Although not part of the 1980's High Visibility study BN E units are included in this list.
|
