With all the talk surrounding the Lionel ES44AC's and my pure curiosity, I went online to take a look at the actual pictures of the Norfolk Southern versions of the ES44's Lionel is producing. While looking I saw something very interesting, black numberboards. I thought that this had to be a photo shopped image since it was on flikr then I went to rrpicturearchives.net and saw them on at least 15 other ES44AC's. So my question is does anyone know why NS had black numberboards and are there still some using those type of numberboards because when I railfan Norfolk Southern I only see the standard white numberboards with the black lining and black numbers. If you don't understand what I am talking about I have pics of both numbers Lionel is offering in Norfolk Southern black below.
NS 8056 (note the black border on the numberboard)
NS 8065 (note the black border on the numberboard)
