Should other railroads have heritage units like UP does?I would love to see fallen flags of the CN,NS,CSX,and BNSF.
Since CN has a chronic dislike for repainting old locomotives, there is not shortage of now fallen flags to see on that line…BC Rail, WC, IC, GTW…sure, they might be getting faded and dirty, but they still keep showing up…
Although I do know what you mean, and I think that may well be an interesting idea for other RR’s as well
Well, you obviously haven’t visited the WC lately.
Only 2 SW1500s are left in WC paint, and roughly 10 other WC painted locos are left.
I have no idea why no IC stuff got repainted, and I see my fair share of GTW quite often.
Phil
Ok, sorry 'bout that. I was just speaking from what I’ve seen up in Southeast Ontario. I have seen a few WC units around (albeit not in a little while)…I know originally a lot of the SD45’s were still hanging around in WC paint, but I realize those were being faded out
What UP did was really nice, but I am not too sure how many other railroads are concerned with giving a nod to history.
Even though Wheeling and Lake Erie is not a class 1. they do have heritage units one is for the Pittsburgh & West Virginia and the other is the Akron Canton & Youngstown sorry I don’t remember the unit numbers right off hand.
Norfolk Southern 4610 is painted in Southern RR colors with a Southern herald on the hood.
CP has its business train power in original wine red and gray and the NS business train power is in original SR black and white. Keep in mind that one of the reasons that UP developed the Heritage Fleet was to protect the trademarks.
Some RRs have official heritage locos (UP,NS,CP) and some have “unofficial” heritage locos (CN, CSX, CP) which are basically predecessor power that has not been repainted yet.
Personally, though this may sound strange, I think Amtrak should do something like that. I mean, look how diverse the equipment was back in the early 70s. Idk, just a thought.
and BNSF
The Finger Lakes Railway of central New York painted up this “heritage” unit in a classic Lehigh Valley scheme…the FGLK runs on some original LV trackage.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=552178
Scot
Don’t forget that NS has a GP59 in Southern Railway green and Finger Lakes official scheme is the old New York Central lightening stripes.
I’d like to see NS do a few. Especially one in the paint scheme of the old NS (The road SOU bought a long time ago. yes there WAS another Norfolk Southern)
and I’d like to see BNSF do a few. GN, NP, ATSF, BN, SLSF, CB&Q, any i forgot
Norfolk and Southern/ CSX is way to frugal to paint heritage units, plus there are alot of ex conrail units, look a Juniata shops rip tracks, B23-7’s every where. Another thing is I just won’t be the same with a SD70m-2 or whatever in conrail colors.
Conrail For ever, and Death to CSX/NS
Tjsingle
csx has a 2667 seaboard unit.there were a few chessies being used as slug units in various yards.I also like the southern unit as well.hope ns keeps her in good shape.
stay safe
Joe
In a sense, KCS is returning to its own heritage because it is phasing out those blah grey-and-yellow-diag freight engines in favor of a “Southern Belle” type scheme. A recent note in TRAINS quoted the pres. to the effect that they could afford to do that now that the road is more profitable.
KCS and NS already have somewhat of heritage engines already, NS with the F units and 4610, and KCS with the Southern Belle scheme. I’d like to see CN do heritage engines nut that probably won’t happen. Just think of all the roads they could do, GM&O, IC, DM&IR, B&LE, GTW, DWP, BC Rail, and perhaps EJ&E if the merge goes through. CP already has a “heritage” fleet with their Fs, 2816, a GP38-2 in the old paint, plus their D&H engines that I believe will be staying in D&H paint. Oh yes, and they still have lots of SOO power left including the old bandits.
That could be interesting, harkening to the “rainbow” era on Amtrak, but the other railroads own the trademarks and I doubt they would let their colors run around on Amtrak.
Or…are you referring to Amtrak repainting a few units into some of their own former colors, e.g. orange nose, Phase I striping with narrow white, Pepsi can, etc?? IMHO doing this could add some fun variety to Amtrak trains.
BNSF should come out with heritage units…wouldn’t it be great to see say a modern diesel locomotive in say in the Northern Pacific “Empire Builder” paint scheme; or Northern Pacific; or Spokane, Portland & Seattle?