Help with Lionel UP GP9 Paint scheme question before we attempt to chase one down.

The silver trucks is correct, the issue is whether that particular unit had the shield applied to the cab before it was retired.

If one is modeling the era of the GP9, i.e. as delivered, then the "silver" (actually the paint was 'Bright Aluminum') trucks would be correct for UP. Just from memory, I believe the UP changed to gray for their locomotive trucks, sometime in the late 1970s.

Yes.

UP began painting trucks silver in 1953.

However, on Feb 15, 1984 the painting diagrams were changed back to gray.  From the Utah Rails site:

"The use of aluminum-colored trucks, dating from 1953, has always been one feature of Union Pacific's trademark paint scheme. In 1953 the new aluminum color was first used on turbines, and from 1954 and 1957 on the newest E9s and GP9s. The use of aluminum paint on locomotive truck assemblies replaced UP's use of Harbor Mist Gray, which was first used on the E6s when they were delivered in 1940/1941, and on the Erie-builts with their delivery in 1945. The use of gray paint was changed to aluminum paint on selected units in 1953 to 1955.

With the projected costs of repainting the entire MoPac locomotive fleet, the cost of aluminum paint was considered, along with its high maintenance costs, since aluminum color wears off rapidly, and must be refreshed at least three times as often as most other colors. To save the added cost of aluminum paint on upcoming MP and WP repaints, in 1984 the aluminum color was changed to gray on the railroad's locomotive trucks. The change to the painting diagram was dated February 15, 1984."

Rusty

I have those and I do t know if they’re correct. They are nico locos tho. You could just buy it and then if you’re unhappy with the truck color, paint em

Matt Makens posted:

I have those and I do t know if they’re correct. They are nico locos tho. You could just buy it and then if you’re unhappy with the truck color, paint em

That's the plan Matt, I've attempted to discover the build date and appears to be August 1954.

As mentioned by Boilermaker1 the shield on the cab might be year specific. We'll keep searching for one. 

Check railpictures.net and look for UP geeps in the time period you are interested in. You should find plenty of pictures to help on that site. I use it and utahrails frequently when looking for specific info on UP equipment.