my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Cotton Belt
VO-1000

48 units delivered

23 units to SSW

Cotton Belt's VO's were delivered in several batches:

• The #1000-1002 delivered between 1942/1943 arrived painted in Atlantic Coast Line colors of Royal Purple and Aluminum with Yellow pinstriping. They had the later rounded cab roof, curved metal trim around the battery box and stepwells, the earlier radiator, (see SP VO-1000 page for info), high engine number indicators and single exhaust stack.

• The #1003-1005 delivered in 1943 were visually similar to the previous three.

• The #1006-1022 delivered 1944/1945 in light Gray and Armour Yellow also had production changes, the #1006 was the only one to have the curved metal trim around the battery box and stepwells, all others had no battery box trim, and angled stepwell gussets. On the #1009-1015 the engine number indicators were moved slightly lower and these had two exhaust stacks. #1016-1022 came with 4 exhaust stacks.

As with SP's VO-660's and VO-1000's many mechanical modifications were made over their lives. Early units were brought up to later standards. Later deliveries came with factory improvements. Some of these may have included:

• the addition of cab armrests and awnings,
• the addition of shutters over the top of the radiator fan,
• the addition thermostatical control for all radiator shutters,
• the addition of an expansion tank for the radiator behind the headlight,
• the single exhaust stack was changed to a four stack arrangement,
• and later the exhausts were reduced to just two,
• extra sets of louvers at the top of the hood sides, behind the existing louvers,
• a mesh grid over the top radiator screen,
• the hood side radiator screen was plated over,
• the cast steps were replaced by welded steel steps.

Paint schemes summary:

• #1000-1008 delivered in Royal Purple and Aluminum with Yellow pinstriping,
• #1009-1022 delivered in light Gray and Armour Yellow,
• later they would receive Cotton Belt's black and orange paint scheme,
• I can't find a reference to any being painted in Blood Nose. As lowly switchers they were probably scrapped with none being repainted.

References:

• Extra 2200 South, Issue 55, Jan, Feb, Mar 1976 - SP Roster Part II
• SP Motive Power Annual 1970 - Built by Baldwin article.
• SP Motive Power Review 1983-85 - SP Baldwin Diesels article.
• Diesels from Eddystone: The Story of Baldwin Diesel Locomotives by Gary W. and Stephen F. Dolzall
• Cotton Belt Locomotives by Joe Strapac
• SP Dieselization by John Bonds Garmany.