Did Lionel run out of white paint?

Little things like that bug me too.....Williams used a lot of silver in place of white like on the nose emblem of SP bloody nose units.

There was a period of time where the WP logo was black with silver letters.  I thought it was earlier than the GP 35, but I am not sure.  Starting in the early 1950s much of the white lettering was changed to silver (aluminum) in keeping with the California Zephyr colors. The silver quickly oxidized to a light gray.  Some research would be required to determine which was correct on which date.  Being a small railroad, there was some artistic license allowed in the paint shop, so company paint jobs on any specific loco might be hard to nail down.  

If you look at this photo, I think you can see the logo should match the locomotive silver color. Loco is dirty, but if you comparing the logo lettering to the number board white, you can see the silver lettering.  http://www.wplives.com/archive...sel/GP35/3006os.html

Interesting!  This one of 3018 is perhaps more convincing, since you can clearly see the contrast between the white lettering on the side and the grey of the logo:  http://www.wplives.com/archive...sel/GP35/3018os.html

On the other hand, this one of 3007 is clear that the logo is white:  http://www.wplives.com/archive...sel/GP35/3007os.html

The picture of 3007 was taken much later, probably mid to late 1970s. The Zephyr is long gone and Mr. Pearlman's team from the former New York Centeral has taken control of the Western Pacific. By this time the GP 35s would have been repainted in the WP shops. The logo is a large stick-on in the more traditional white background

made by Borden Decal in San Francisco.  

For what it's worth. Don