That wasnt directed at you Zug [(-D]
So is Amtrak painting engines in retro Amtrak colors or host railroad colors? Why would they waste money they could use where is is needed?
Just curiosity…
Is it paint, or is it a wrap? They have wrapped engines before when they needed custom paint for a few months.
Those “Christmas Carol”, Post Office, etc. special schemes were merely wraps that were quickly taken off once the promo period of time was over. If you ever have a chance to see one of these units AFTER the wrap has been off for a while you’ll notice the sunsequent dirt really sticks to the residual adhesive (whatever that may have been) left on the flanks of the unit where the wrap had been.
I know they were wraps. I stated that in my post. My question was whether the temporary retro colors are paint or a wrap.
Cleaning the adhesive off can’t be anywhere near the cost and complexity of stripping and repainting…twice. Once for the retro paint and once for the return to the current scheme.
I recall hearing the “new” schemes are applied in traditional paint.
I would assume that the engines being repainted were due for other shop work so paint work may have been needed. They will probably retain the retro colors until their next scheduled turn in the shop.
So far, after seeing all the photos of unit 145 in the Phas III scheme, I really like this look MUCH BETTER than the current blue nosed scheme, which seems dull looking and always seems to look dirty to me. Looking foward to seeing the Phase I, II and IV schemes…especially the Phase I “bloody nose” or “pointless arrow” look, and REALLY looking forward to seeign an old F40 back on the point of Amtrak trains again (wow, never thought I’d be saying that after the E units were scrapped but the F40 is so much better looking than the P40 or P42 series IMHO).
Sorry, this has been a very long week. My reading comprehension is somewhere between sucks and not there.
I like the idea of the heritage schemes. And why not? UP has a few “heritage” locos. And if it gets more people noticing Amtrak…maybe it will make a few people decide to want to, I don’t know…use it!
Amtrak is planning on using six engines for their heritage program. Four P42s will be painted into retro schemes, each one painted in one of Amtrak’s past past schemes, Phase I, II, III (already out) and IV. They are also painting Amtrak P40 822 into a scheme similar to 145’s and they also are planning on reactivating a F40PH. Supposedly the P40 and the F40PH will be used for Amtrak’s planned 40th anniversary special and the four P42s will be pressed into regular service as they are released. It will be interesting to see a P42 wearing the Phase I “bloody nose” scheme used on the SDP40Fs, that’s for sure!
Amtrak should go one step further and paint a few cars in UP yellow, NP greens, GN green/orange, SP red stripe, IC brown, etc. to recreate a rainbow era train from the early '70’s.
To make it even more interesting, go in a similar vein as UP by applying the heritage schemes to modern equipment such as Superliners that never saw the actual paint scheme they would wear. Add in a crew wardrobed in bell bottoms, puffy shirts, and wide tie—pronto–instant time machine with a “modern” touch.
Jay