16: ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION OF AN EMD GP7 LOCOMOTIVE FOR C&EI

Harry Bockewitz (1897-1982)
Chicago & Eastern Illinois Locomotive #203 (Circa 1950.)
Chicago & Eastern Illinois had already purchased quite a few Diesel locomotives when it ordered this and 28 other GP7s for delivery in 1950. Its passenger locomotives were painted an unusual shade of bright blue with an orange stripe, but its first Diesels, for switch engine service, were all black. By 1950, however, it realized that putting some white stripes on the nose would increase visibility at grade crossings, so this became the railroad's standard freight locomotive color scheme for many years.

This brightly colored and crisply executed composition painted by the General Motors Elector-Motive Division styling department depicts #203 pulling bright red cars through a summer landscape. The original tempera and watercolor painting with airbrush highlights on HI-ART artist's illustration board is signed by the artist lower left quadrant.
Measures 19.75 x 23.75 inches.
Very good original untouched condition, noting adhesive residue along the front upper edge behind the mat. There are no issues of major scratches, losses, repairs, in-painting or touch-up.
Provenance: The Fred Roniger Estate Collection.
$500 - $5,000