INDIANA HARBOR BELT LOCOMOTIVE COLOR SCHEMES

A look at the many colorful paint schemes Harbor diesels have worn over the years

Original Scheme: 1948-1954

Colors: Pacemaker Green with orange striping and lettering, red trim.

The lightning stripe obviously reflects New York Central's influence. The large "Connects with All Chicago Railroads" herald beneath the cab window is common to the first four color schemes. Note the "tiger stripe" pilot and the numerals at the front of the hood. The front-end numbering and safety stripes would last through the first six color schemes.

Photo by Bob Bruns.

Variation on Original Scheme: 1954-1960

Colors: same as the original scheme.

The only difference here is the use of New York Central sans-serif font for the numerals. Introduced in October, 1954, some locomotives wore this scheme well into the 1960s. Note that the Pacemaker Green has weathered into a drab brownish-green.

Photo by Bob Bruns.

Century Green Scheme: 1960-1961

Colors: Century Green (also known as "Jade Green") with red striping, white trim and lettering.

Another version of the lightning stripe livery, but with radically different colors. Because Century Green faded rapidly into a flat, unappealing bluish hue, this scheme was short-lived.

Photo by Bob Bruns.

First All-Black Scheme: 1961-1965

Colors: black with white lettering and safety sill stripe.

The lightning stripe livery is now gone, never to return (well, almost never). Replacing it is a prosaic, all-black scheme enlivened somewhat by the zebra safety stripe.

Photo by Marty Bernard.

Second All-Black Scheme: 1965-1966

Colors: same as the first black scheme.

In summer of 1965, the Harbor began eliminating the large herald underneath the cab window, replacing it with a smaller decal version that left room for the locomotive number underneath. The decal would be continued on the next two color schemes. This decal-plus-zebra-stripe combination was basically a transition from the first to third all-black schemes and very few units had it.

Photo by Marty Bernard.

Third All-Black Scheme: 1966-1969

Colors: black with white lettering and solid white sill stripe.

By late 1966, the transition from the earlier all-black pattern was complete, with the zebra stripe eliminated and replaced with solid white. The decal logo carries over here, as does the striped pilot and front-end numerals.

Photo by Dennis Schmidt.

SW1500 All-Black Scheme: 1966-1968

Colors: black with white lettering and solid white sill stripe.

In 1966, the Harbor began taking delivery of SW1500 units in an all-black scheme that lacked the front-end numerals. They were delivered with safety striped pilots, but the striping was removed a few years later. The units initially had small numerals beneath the cab window as on 9215 at right. Later, they were replaced with larger, Penn Central-style numbering as illustrated by the rear unit. All but the very last of the SW1500s were in this scheme; the final unit arrived in Brunswick Green.

Photo by Tim Vermande.

Brunswick Green Scheme: 1969-1980

Colors: Brunswick Green with white lettering.

Perhaps because of majority owner Penn Central's influence, IHB adopted in May, 1969, the Pennsylvania Railroad's Brunswick Green color, which to the casual observer is virtually indistinguishable from black. The striped pilots and front-end numerals have disappeared, but the solid white sill stripe remains. This was one of the most familiar and long-lasting of Harbor schemes, with many NW2 and SW7 units retaining it well into the 1990s.

Photo by Dennis Schmidt.

OSHA Orange Scheme: 1980-1983

Colors: OSHA Orange with Brunswick Green stripes / lettering.

May, 1980, saw the Harbor's first attempt at an orange paint scheme. IHB also introduced the now familiar striping featuring "Harbor" in large letters flanked by the much smaller "Indiana" and "Belt." Unfortunately, the OSHA paint faded rapidly, and in 1983 its application ceased. Many locomotives that had not yet been repainted in this scheme continued to wear Brunswick Green.

Photo by Paul Meyer.

Brunswick Green / OSHA Orange Scheme:
Black / OSHA Orange Scheme:
1984-2002.

Colors: Brunswick Green with OSHA Orange stripes / lettering.
             Black with OSHA Orange stripes / lettering.

In June, 1984, IHB introduced an almost exact reversal of the previous scheme, the only difference being the upswept band of orange at the front of the hood. This proved to be the Harbor's longest-lasting scheme to date. However, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Brunswick Green was gradually replaced with an outright black color, and all road units acquired during this period were outshopped with it.

Photo courtesy of Rail Photos Unlimited.

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Tennessee Orange Scheme: 2002-2018.

Colors: Tennessee Orange with black lettering and stripes, white trim and numerals.

In 2002 IHB began taking delivery of ten rebuilt GP40-2 units, and also had their SW1500s rebuilt as well. All were repainted in this new scheme, which is a reversal of the previous livery (to date, however, the earlier scheme continues on all other active units). In addition, some white trim around the radiator grill has been added, along with the Harbor's "Proud Past, Bright Future" herald underneath the cab window (the GP40-2 units wear the herald at the front of the short hood). Fortunately, Tennessee Orange has proved more lasting than the OSHA version.

Photo by Bill Gustason.

SW1500 Retro Lightning Stripe Scheme: 2019- Present.

Colors: Brunswick Green with orange striping and lettering, red trim.

Beginning in 2019, the Harbor had most of its SW1500s rebuilt by MEH in St.Louis. When they returned, they wore a scheme almost exactly the same as the original Lightning Stripe livery of the late 1940s and 1950s, including the large herald underneath the cab window.

Photo by Bill Gustason

Data compiled by Spence Ziegler and Bill Gustason.
Text by Bill Gustason.