The first 23 Class 20's were painted dark green with silver lining. 2024 and 2025 were both the first and the last new SNCB locos that left the factory in yellow with blue bands for better visibility. All were repainted into blue with yellow stripes when they received their first major overhauls starting around 1990. All yellow electric locomotives in classes 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 25 and 26 were repainted blue when it was found out the yellow ones showed dirt and grime much better than darker colors. It seems the SNCB forgot this lesson when it ordered AM 96 and later rolling stock which was painted in white. Loco 2005 was repainted from blue back to green to run in the last two farewell trips for the class in 2014. The first farewell trip was pulled by 2024 in blue in May 2013.