Neil Williams wrote:

On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:02:17 +0200, Johannes Picht
wrote:

AFAIK, the only networks on the continent requiring a specific front end
color are the Netherlands (white or yellow) and Italy (red). In Germany,
you are free to run completely black locos such as

In the UK, black is permitted (and usual) for steam locomotives. I
assume that's because of grandfather rights, but perhaps also because
you'd hear them a mile off anyway!

Red, shurely. But the stuff coming out of the chimney is a visual clue
too. Indeed, as a first order approximation, I've always assumed that
the yellow end is a replacement for the plume of smoke/steam.


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