Jon Porter Wrote:
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> The 6378 would be the one to paint scarlet and
> gray since it was the first unit SP painted in the
> new scheme. It also had the rare block lettering
> on the nose and flank. (See page 98, SP Historic
> Diesels Vol. 10)


Actually, E7 6002 was the fiirst unit painted scarlet and gray, predating the 6378. It was painted in mid-July (SP photos show a 7-16-58 date) at the LAGS and was worked to San Francisco for viewing by SP's upper management, which then approved the color scheme. 6378 was then painted at LAGS. The main difference between the units was the lettering. 6002 had non-standard letting and a round disk on the nose door with SP and the unit number on the nose was either gray or black. 6378 had the so-called "freight car" lettering and the nose number was white.