B&M Diesel Locomotives 1930 - 1983

Copyright 1997 - 2021 by James B. Van Bokkelen . This document may be duplicated and distributed for non-commercial purposes only, all other rights reserved.

With much thanks to Harry Frye and L. Stewart Twombly for their roster published in the Fall 1977 - Fall 1978 B&M Bulletin .

Pictures are (to date) from my own original slides and a few given me by J. R. McCarren. My first efforts appear somewhat blurred, compared to the originals as projected. They'll get fixed as time allows.

I have three major groups of information about B&M diesels:

Note: Self-propelled passenger equipment (the Flying Yankee, Budd RDCs and gas-electrics) is covered in my B&M passenger equipment page.

Abbreviations

Oddballs and Small Switchers

1, 2: F-M P-12-42 (1957), class DP-2a
cab unit, B-2 wheel arrangement, for Talgo train, retired 1964, used as generators in scrap yard in Leeds, ME through 1979.
100: Plymouth 16 ton (1930)
reported as going to Beebe River logging operation.
2nd 100: B-B Road Slug (Billerica Shops 1983)
Cut-down GP-9 (ex-UP 134), mated to GP-40s 300, 301.
101: Plymouth 30 ton (1938)
later to Naragansett Pier #33.
110 - 114: GE "44 tonner" (1940), class DS-1a
Delivered in black scheme, received red nose stripes & Minuteman herald later, 111 scrapped 1971.
114 - 116: GE "44 tonner" (1941), class DS-1a
Delivered in black scheme, received red nose stripes & Minuteman herald later, 116 sold Sanford & Eastern, others sold or scrapped by 1971.
117: GE "44 tonner" (1942), class DS-1a
Delivered in black scheme, received red nose stripes & Minuteman herald later, sold 1971.
118, 119: GE "44 tonner" (1947 - 1948), class DS-1a
Delivered in black w/red nose stripes scheme, at least 119 received solid blue, sold 1971.

44 ton assignments included:

EMD and Alco B-B 800 & 900 HP switchers

800 - 807: EMD SW-8 (1953) , class DS-6-a
delivered in maroon/gold, all received solid blue in the 1970s.
860 - 865: Alco S-5 (1954), class DS-6b
delivered in maroon/gold, rebuilt to 1000 HP & renumbered 1280-1283 1963-1966.

GE, EMD and Alco B-B 600 HP switchers

1100: GE center-cab (1935)
Similar to earlier DL&W units (see Diesel Spotter's Guide) delivered in black, retired Oct. 1950.
1101, 1102: Alco HH600 (1934, 1938)
delivered in black w/531 prime mover, later received red nose stripe scheme, renumbered. 1160, 1161 in 1940, retired 1958
1103 - 1105: EMD SC (1936)
delivered in black, retired 1957-1958.
1106 - 1108: EMD SC (1938)
delivered in black, retired 1957, mis-listed as SW in some sources.
1109 - 1111: EMD SW-1 (1939), class DS-2c
delivered in black, later received Minuteman on cab, sold to Montpelier & Barre 1960 - 1962.
1112, 1113: EMD SW-1 (1941), class DS-2c
delivered in black, later received Minuteman on cab, sold 1959, 1960.
1114 - 1117: EMD SW-1 (1946), class DS-2c
delivered in red nose stripes.
1118: EMD SW-1 (1949), class DS-2c
delivered in red nose stripes.
1119 - 1132: EMD SW-1 (1953), class DS-2c
late body style, delivered in maroon/gold with full handrails, numberboards for road service. 1127 received MU
1162: Alco HH660 (1939)
delivered in black w/539 prime mover, later received red nose stripe scheme, retired 1958.
1163 - 1165: Alco S-1 (1944), class DS-3b
all photos I've seen are black w/red nose stripe scheme, except some survived to receive solid blue.
1166, 1167: Alco S-1 (1948), class DS-3b
all photos I've seen are black w/red nose stripe scheme, except some survived to receive solid blue.
1168 - 1172: Alco S-1 (1949), class DS-3b
all photos I've seen are black w/red nose stripe scheme, except some survived to receive solid blue.
1173 - 1175: Alco S-3 (1950), class DS-3-b
delivered in black w/red nose stripe scheme, some received solid blue, 1174 rebuilt to S-4 11/57, renumbered 1274
1176 - 1188: Alco S-3 (1952) class DS-3-b
delivered in black w/red nose stripe scheme, some received solid blue

EMD and Alco B-B 1000 HP switchers

1200 - 1207: EMD NW-2 (1941 - 1946), class DS-4a
Phase II body, 1200, 1201 had full-length handrails, early units delivered in all black, later in black/red nose stripe scheme, most received solid blue. 1203 re-engined w/E-7 engine, 4 stacks, full-length handrails.
1208 - 1209: EMD NW-2 (1949), class DS-4a
Phase IV body, delivered in black/red nose stripe scheme, most received solid blue.
1210 - 1213: EMD NW-2 (1949), class DS-4c
Phase IV body, with MU, delivered in black/red nose stripe scheme, most received solid blue.
1220 - 1231: EMD SW-9 (1952, 1953) class DS-5a
2 w/MU, delivered in maroon w/gold stripes, most received solid blue.
1260 - 1265: Alco S-2 (1944, 1945), class DS-4b
delivered in black w/red nose stripes, 1265 received maroon & gold, others received solid blue.
1266 - 1273: Alco S-4 (1950), class DS-4b, d, h
2 w/MU, delivered in black w/red nose stripes, most received solid blue later.
1280 - 1283: Alco S-5 (ex 860 - 865 1963 - 1968)
maroon/gold before and after re-build.

Alco B-B Freight and Dual-Service Roadswitchers

1500: Alco RS-2 (1948), class DRS-1a
no steam generator, no MU, long hood front, delivered with air-cooled turbo in black w/red nose stripe scheme, later solid blue
1501 - 1504: Alco RS-2 (1949), class DRS-1b
no steam generator, MU, long hood front, delivered with air-cooled turbo in maroon carbody w/gold stripes scheme, steam generator added 1953 and reclassified DRS-1c, retired 1959
1505 - 1509: Alco RS-3 (1954), class DRS-1e
Phase III body, steam generator, MU, long hood front, train-light box by radiator, delivered with water-cooled turbo in maroon w/gold stripes, black roof scheme
1510 - 1519: Alco RS-3 (1955), class DRS-1e
Phase III body, steam generator, MU, long hood front, train-light box by radiator, horn on bracket on long hood, delivered with water-cooled turbo in maroon w/gold stripes, black roof scheme
1530 - 1534: Alco RS-2 (1949), class DRS-1c
steam generator, MU, long hood front, delivered with air-cooled turbo in maroon carbody w/gold stripes scheme, retired 1959 - 1963
1535 - 1545: Alco RS-3 (1952), class DRS-1e
steam generator, MU, long hood front, delivered with air-cooled turbo in maroon w/gold stripes, black roof scheme, retired 1966 - 1972

EMD B-B Freight and Dual-Service Roadswitchers

1550 - 1553: EMD BL-2 (1949), class DRS-2a
Steam generator, no MU, most out of service by 1958, officially retired 1959, traded in towards GP-18s 1961
1555 - 1562: EMD GP-7 (1950), class DRS-3-b,c
Steam generator, no dynamic brakes, short hood front, two versions, most survived to receive solid blue
1563 - 1571: EMD GP-7 (1952), class DRS-3-d
Steam generator, no dynamic brakes, short hood front, delivered w/o MU, most survived to receive solid blue
1572 - 1577: EMD GP-7 (1953), class DRS-3-c
Steam generator, no dynamic brakes, short hood front, differently equipped, most survived to receive solid blue
1700 - 1749: EMD GP-9 (1957), class DRS-4a
No steam generator, dynamic brakes, 4 X 36" radiator fans, short hood front, delivered in Bluebird scheme, 1710 and 1735 wrecked 9/68, 1713 wrecked 4/72.
1750 - 1755: EMD GP-18 (1961)
No steam generator, dynamic brakes, low nose, delivered in Bluebird scheme, all but 1755 had 4 X 36" radiator fans
201 - 212: EMD GP-38-2 (1973)
No dynamic brakes, low nose, delivered in solid blue . 212 renumbered 200, painted for Bicentennial 1976, repainted solid blue 1977 but not renumbered.
300 - 317: EMD GP-40-2 (1977)
No dynamic brakes, low nose, delivered in a variant of the solid blue scheme

EMD A1A - A1A Passenger Cab Units

3800, 3801: EMD E-7A (1945), class DP-1a
delivered in maroon/gold with Minuteman herald , retired 1959
3802 - 3815: EMD E-7A (1946), class DP-1a
delivered in maroon/cream "Rock Island style" scheme, repainted maroon/gold by late fall 1948. All but 3808 - 3810 retired 1959, 3810 burned 1960, 3808/9 retired 1961.
3816 - 3820: EMD E-7A (1948, 1949), class DP-1a
late body style, different side windows and numberboards, 3820 wrecked 11/54, others retired 1959.
3821: EMD E-8A (1950), class DP-1b
freight pilot, retired 1961, sold Missouri Pacific 1962, scrapped 1971

EMD B-B Freight and Dual-Service Cab Units

4200A/B - 4205A/B: EMD FTA/FTB (1943)
drawbar-coupled A-B sets, dynamic brakes, no steam generator, delivered with wing herald, received nose Minute Man later, traded 1956-7 on GP-9s
4206A/B - 4223A/B: EMD FTA/FTB (1944)
drawbar-coupled A-B sets, dynamic brakes, no steam generator, delivered with wing herald, received nose Minute Man later, traded 1956-7 on GP-9s
4224A/B - 4226A/B: EMD F-2 A/B (1946), class DF-1b
A-B sets, steam generator in B unit, 4225A (1st) wrecked 8/49, 4224A/B wrecked 11/57, others retired by 1966.
4227A/B, 4228A/B: EMD F-3 (1948), class DF-3a
A-B sets, steam generator in B unit, Phase IV body, all retired by 1974
4250 - 4264: EMD F-2A (1946), class DF-2a
A units, purchased to MU with FT A/B sets, 4263 renumbered 4225A (2nd) 9/49, all retired by 1964.
4265A - 4268A: EMD F-7 A (1949), class DF-4a until B-units added, then DF-3b
Most later received solid blue, several in service into 1978. 4266A and 4268A at Conway Scenic RR.
4265B - 4268B: EMD F-7 B (1950)
B-units added 1950, most later received solid blue, several in service into 1978.

B&M Diesel Paint Schemes 1930 - 1980

Most B&M diesel paint schemes are hard to do without appropriate commercial lettering; the stripes on the maroon and black schemes using the Minuteman herald are going to be very difficult to arrive at either freehand or with dry transfers. For later eras, the multi-colored or outlined McGinnis interlaced BM herald shouldn't be too difficult to apply with dry transfers, but would require a lot of skill to hand letter. Decals for most equipment have been offered in HO and N scale, but I don't know how the market looks for O or S.

Rectangular Herald - Black

Black all over, with a rectangular "Boston and Maine" herald in white under the cab window or on the long hood. Switchers purchased before 1944 arrived in this scheme, including all SWs, SCs and HH-660s, as well as early SW-1s, NW-2s and 44-tonners. The earliest Alco S-1s and S-2s were delivered while this scheme was in use, but I've never seen a photo proving they received it. In the 1950s, some EMD switchers got a Minuteman herald on the cab side in addition to the block herald on the hood.

Wing Herald - Maroon with Gold Stripes

The first version of the B&M's maroon with gold stripes scheme was applied to the EMD FT locomotives delivered starting in 1943. The carbody sides and cab were maroon and the roof, underbody and blind ends were black. Initially, there was no Minuteman herald, and the "Boston and Maine" on the side was enclosed in a Chinese Red wing herald (similar to that used on the side of the Flying Yankee ). As the FTs were shopped in the late 1940s, the wing heralds on the sides were removed and replaced with the road name on a gold background. At more or less the same time, a Minuteman herald was applied to the nose, but photos show units in service with repainted sides but original noses.

Minuteman Herald - Black with Red Stripes

Cab, hood and underbody black, trucks silver. Horizontal red stripes outlined in white on front end of hood (or the ends of both hoods on a 44-tonner or RS-2 no. 1500). Minuteman herald and engine number on cab side. This scheme was applied to switch engines delivered between the final years of WW-II and about 1952: EMD SW-1s and NW-2s, Alco S-1s, S-2s, S-3s and S-4s, and GE 44-tonners. The only non-switcher to receive this scheme was the first Alco RS-2, no. 1500, which kept it into the early 1970s.

I've been satisfied with Accu-Cals for this scheme. Floquil Platinum Mist works well for the silver trucks.

Minuteman Herald - Maroon with Gold Stripes

The most common version of the Maroon and Gold Minuteman scheme first appeared on the first two EMD E-7s in 1945: Maroon carbody sides and nose, with black roof, blind end and underbody. A Minuteman herald was applied to the nose door, and four wide gold stripes ran the length of the sides. Finer gold stripes trimmed above and below the radiator openings. The road name appeared in a gold panel overlaying the upper three gold stripes. Except for the 1946 order of E-7s, all post-1944 B&M cab units were delivered in this paint, and most kept it all their lives. E-7s 3802 - 3815 were delivered in "Rock Island-style" maroon and cream paint, which had been replaced with maroon and gold by late Fall 1948.

Maroon and gold was also applied to roadswitchers: the BL-2 variation had a black roof and a nose herald (both ends), but only a single wide gold stripe instead of the upper three on other versions. RS-2s had all four stripes and nose heralds, but didn't have any black on the roof as delivered. A number of RS-2s received black roofs later. GP-7s also had a maroon roof, with cab-side heralds and four stripes. Early RS-3s had nose heralds (long hood only). The last RS-3s were delivered in 1954 with cab-side heralds and silver trucks. All RS-3s had black on the top of the hoods and cab roofs.

Four orders of switchers were delivered in maroon and gold, with cab-side heralds, black roofs and aluminum trucks: The 1953 order of EMD SW-1s and all the SW-8s, SW-9s and Alco S-5s. A few older switchers were re-painted in maroon and gold in the 1950s, when assigned to road service.

Some engines kept their maroon/gold paint into the late 1970s. When their footboards were removed, they received orange step wells and white sill stripes. The last engine re-painted in maroon and gold by the B&M was SW-9 no. 1223, which was done in co-operation with some railfan elements around 1981. It and 1220 were repainted from maroon/gold to gray at the time of the Guilford merger.

There were two visible variations in the maroon/gold scheme. First, about 1953, some engines started coming out of Billerica Shops with the trucks painted aluminum. I've seen photos of E-7s, FTs, F-2s, BL-2s, RS-2s, RS-3s, GP-7s, SW-8s, SW-9s and S-5s painted this way. The silver trucks disappeared from Es, Fs and GPs quite quickly after McGinnis took over in 1955, but I've seen RS-3s with recognizably silver trucks a decade later. The second variation was in the color used to letter the "Boston and Maine" on the gold side panel: The letters can be either maroon or black, depending on the engine and the period. All the color photos of Alco S-5s, BL-2s and repainted FTs I've seen show maroon letters. Most E-unit pictures show black letters, but I've seen counterexamples. Fs, GPs and RSs could be lettered either way - go by a picture if you're worried about it.

For HO scale, I've used Accu-Paint "Engine Maroon", and either Accu-Cals or Micro-Scale decals. Other people think "E-L Maroon" is a better match, but photos show considerable variation, either due to weathering or different batches of paint, so I'd say follow your taste. Which black to use is also a matter of taste - I like Floquil Grimy Black roofs and Weathered Black underbodies best.

McGinnis Bluebird - Blue/Black/White

Aside from experimental paint jobs applied to some F-2s (4225A/B, 4226A/B and 4256), an F-3 set (4228A/B), an E-7 (3814) and an S-4 (1274), President McGinnis's investment in professional design services was directed at the GP-9s and GP-18s. The result is widely referred to as the "Bluebird" scheme: blue hoods, black cab side, cab roof, ends and underbody, and white cab ends, end stripes and side sills. These units were re-painted as Bluebirds when shopped up until the advent of the solid blue scheme in the late 1960s; the last Bluebirds kept their paint into the late 1970s. Some remained when footboards were removed from all engines, and so received the orange step wells. I believe all the Bluebirds were gone before the Guilford merger.

I haven't painted anything in this scheme in years - back around 1973 I mixed my own Floquil B&M Blue out of Diesel Light Blue with about 20% Reefer White added, and used Walthers decals. My next attempt at this will use Accu-Paint B&M Blue and Accu-Cals; I haven't looked at Micro-Scale's offerings.

Solid Blue - Blue and White

About 1969, Billerica Shops started applying a solid blue scheme to yard and road units. The trucks and underbody were black, and a white stripe was applied along the side sill (or the bottom edge of the carbody of F-units). An all-white interlaced BM herald was applied to the cab side of switchers and road switchers, and to the nose and side of the carbody of F-units. The GP-38-2s arrived in this scheme, but the GP-40-2s had "Boston and Maine" lettered in white on the long hood, and kept the interlaced herald on the cab. Late in the 1970s, some GP-9s received a variation with a larger "Boston and Maine" on two lines on the long hood, and no interlaced herald. During the period when footboards were being removed from engines, most received orange step wells, but most were repainted black before the Guilford merger.

I've never painted any units in this scheme, but the blue appears to have remained more or less unchanged - by the time the GP-40s arrived, they were noticeably darker than the GP-38s, but that was probably the older paint bleaching a bit - the paint they used on the GP-7s certainly did over the years. I'd start out with Accu-Paint B&M Blue and maybe add a little white for some units, to taste...

Maintained by James VanBokkelen