*** THIS ARTICLE WAS ON MICHAEL SEIDELMAN'S SERVER WEBSITE.  THAT HAS BEEN DOWN FOR YEARS NOW AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REQUESTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE.  SHOULD ANY OWNER OF THE PHOTOS FOUND HERE OBJECT TO THEM BEING HERE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I WILL REMOVE THEM ASAP. ***  How To Contact

   In the Summer of 1978, the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad introduced a solid orange paint scheme.  It was a scheme that literally glowed when the locomotive was fresh out of the shop.  However, officials of the railroad didn't care for the paint scheme and it was retired some 13 months later.  Most people agree with the officials and call these units "Pumpkins" or "Punk'ins".  Some of us however, really liked this scheme.  It added to mix in the 1980's that included, Green Diamond, IC Orange & White, ICG Orange & White, GM&O Black & White, GM&O Red & White, ICG Orange & Gray, as well as sundry other schemes of units bought or leased from other railroads.

   There is some difference of opinion on the color of the sill and lettering.  Some say it was painted a dark brown, while others swear that the sill was black.  While I recall one or two looking brown, most of the ones I was next to were painted black.  Perhaps they were originally painted brown and when this wore off (which seems to have been required), they were repainted with black paint.  If brown paint was originally used, then this scheme can be considered the reverse of the chocolate and orange scheme used in the very successful IC passenger service.

   At least 22 units in 10 different models received the solid orange.  Originally, 21 of the 22 units came out of the paint shop with their sills painted (either brown or black) - 5052 came out with the sills orange and 8706 appears to have come out with the sill color extending around the back and on part of the front.  20 of the 22 had the 21" freight car stenciling - Both 5005 and 9523 appear to have larger "ICG" stenciling and the 9523 had a really funky "I" in the stenciling.

   Some speculate that these units didn't like the paint scheme any better than the officials of the railroad.  Others that the units were covered in two layers of PAM before being painted.  Whatever the reason, the paint on these units came off in buckets.  First the brown (or black) paint came off.  Then the orange faded and came off as well.  Over the years numerous units were "touched-up."  Many of the sills eventually would become orange, from either being repainted that color or by default.  And at least one unit, 8705, received white numbers on the side of the cab.

   Please help enhance this site by contributing information and photos at: IC9600!@yahoo.com minus the exclamation point.

  Some notes on the photos:

  The vast majority were found on Michael's server.  And as these weren't moved elsewhere, and no money is being collected for the web article, use herein is legal.  However, should you find your photo here and object to its use, I will be happy to remove it.  The few that weren't on the server, are either mine or I obtained permission to use them here.

   If you have photos of units in this scheme not shown here, PLEASE SHARE!   

   Many photos did not list a photographer.  If you are the photographer, let me know, as well as when and where the photo was taken.  If you can supply the train symbol, that would be great too.

   If you find a photo attributed to you which is not yours, speak up.  If you find one of yours attributed to someone else, speak up.   

   An attempt has been made to put the photos in chronological order.

   Photos are rated for the readers of the article.  This is meant to help those with limited bandwidth make the most productive use of their time.  It is not meant to disparage the photographer, nor the person who converted it to use on computers.  Any picture is better than no picture.  The aim is to show every photo someone has taken of one of these.  Good or bad, there were so few of these that every photo is invaluable.

   Click on each photo to view the unit's gallery.

	1414 (SW14)	Became Cedar Rapids and Iowa City 108
	1415 (SW14)	Became Tyson Foods 13873
	2520 (GP35)	Scrapped in 1992
	3041 (GP40)	Scrapped late 1996
	5005 (U30B)	Scrapped in 1988
	5052 (U33C)	Scrapped in May, 1984
	7962 (GP8)	Scrapped in December 1992
	8024 (GP10)	Became PAL 8326
	8087 (GP10)	Became GWRX 1002
	8108 (GP10)	To KCS in 1993
	8186 (GP10)	Became MPEX 1505
	8229 (GP10)	Became PAL 8327
	8354 (GP10)	Became USA 4619
	8701 (GP11)	On display at Carbondale, Illinois
	8702 (GP11)	Became CUOH 8702
	8703 (GP11)	Became South Central Florida Express 9023
	8704 (GP11)	Became MAW 8
	8705 (GP11)	Sold to Joseph Transportation INC. in November of 2001
	8706 (GP11)	Sold to Brandywine Valley Railroad in November 1999
	8707 (GP11)	Sold to National Railway Equipment on April 27th, 2000
	9430 (GP28)	Became KYLE 1825
	9523 (GP38D)	Being used for spare parts on the New England Central Railroad