Big Boy in grayhound colors ?

[propmeup1]

I brought this up sometime last year I finally found the photo I was looking for. Right in front of me it was, in the Steam Locomotive Cyclopedia V1 page 262.  From memory I thought it was grayhound stripes but I was wrong. The tender does looked to have some sort of stripes unless it is just dirty in a way to look like stripes. Here's the photo and you guys and gals pic it apart and throw your thoughts out there .   I did at one point think maybe it was a challenger tender put on the 4022 in a hurry to get her on the road.  I seen the Reading do some pretty crazy things to get the train out of town.
    Here you go, have at.

KTB

[Mark5]

I'm not UP expert but it just looks dirty to me.

If the greyhound paint on 3977 is historically accurate, the "stripes" don't appear to be consistent with the above photo.

https://www.steamlocomotive.com/whyte/4-6-6-4/USA/photos/up3977-wessel2.jpg

Mark

[propmeup1]

Yes correct the stripes do not look like grayhound stripes but they do look like some sort of stripes. I just don't know what the deal is. Are they painted or dirt. Doesn't look like condensation from the water.  The more that see this maybe able to put a thumb on it.

[C855B]

A possibility - the "stripes" are a result of a quick pass through a car/loco washer. I've seen a similar effect on diesels that were hopelessly filthy, only to emerge from the washer just slightly less filthy.   

[propmeup1]

That's a legit response. I had the same with a truck in the wash. Hummm, could that be it ?