The black nose stripes were the color as per the original design. If you look at an
E5 head on, and ignore the windshield, the appearance of a Shovelnose Zephyr is apparent,
that is also the reason for the fake "Zephyr Grilles" aside the Mars light. CB&Q was
not pleased when GM stopped production of units in other builder's car bodies, in an attempt
to retain a respected customer, EMD modified an "off the shelf" unit with fluted stainless steel sides complete with name plates, flat stainless side panels above the fluting, a
stainless nose and the stripes to look like the 9900's windshields complete with the silver
dividers between the glass sections. E5s were great locomotives, which looked like they
were going 100 mph when standing still with that 60 degree angle to the nose. Your photo
is absolutely a work of art. (The nose stripes went to Chinese Red at the time the "Q"
changed their GP and SD units from black and silver to the Chinese Red.) I was told that
when the E5s were to be ordered, the "Q" management tried out E3s or E4s to see how the
acceleration compared to the Shovelnoses. It was found that they were as fast or faster,
and with Budd building non-articulated streamlined lightweight cars for Santa Fe, a new
Zephyr fleet would emerge.