Aww hell no, snow birds quickly became big dirty pigeons. Maybe the yellow and gray on the origional 420s, but the red was more of a mainstream choice.
Adrianspeeder
The LV color was Cornell Red (which differed from time to time). White got dirty quickly and the units were referred to as White Elephants; so no, not white. Grey with yellow was one group[ and the railroad was not recognized for it. So, the red with white nose stripes became the reconized look or branding of the LV in the 70s for most people and thus this unit does the LV the most justice. I have to admit, still, however, that the RDG has been the best so far and with the white front stripes here, LV has become second. Not sure of what is next in my mind, perhaps the PRR’s alluding to the Sharks.
Only has to stay clean until July 5th…
Its definitely Cornell Red…
LV Cornell red never had any hint of blue in it…it was not maroon-ish, it was not burgundy-ish, it was not purple-ish…it was pure pure pure deep red…This red is a perfect match…
a lot of people today have a incorrect perception of Cornell red, because it has been done so poorly by model train manufacturers over the years…they like to make it a blueish-red…they are wrong. This is not Cornell Red:
http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/Atlas%20Pages/Atlas%20Pictures/LocoPictures/VO-1000/50015_LV.JPG
If it has any hint of blue, purple, maroon, burgundy or brown…it is wrong…
yes, LV Cornell Red could fade and weather to an infinite range of reds…and they did have tuscan locomotives later…and the Sayre shops probably did mix and match paint for re-paints, resulting in a huge variety of different shades of red over time…
but im referring to brand new, from the factory LV Cornell red…no hint of blue…none. Its hard to find a color photo that shows it brand-new…because photos arent totally accurate either! the color balance can be off on a photo, not showing it really looked like…but here are a few examples of “proper” Cornell Red, which hve decent color balance…note, no blue! 
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=46370&nseq=162
http://abpr.railfan.net/february06/02-11-06/GP38AC_LV_311_1-9-76_Sayre.PA.jpg
The red on the NS heritage unit is spot-on…perhaps the best LV red anyone has seen since 1976.
Scot
What is a red with blue?
Adrianspeeder
Purple? Another place I read said that by the end, LV was dumping other (cheaper?) colors into their red paint to make it last longer. Don’t know if it’s true or not…
When you look at color charts that are shaded into and across the spectrums you will see how red can have blue added and run into purple shades or yellow added and run into oranges. Paint mixing is a lot more complicated in that black can be added to the red or blue and black, etc. to get all kinds of colors and shades. Cornell Red I think was a red with a touch of blue and a pinch of black. If that make sense.
I’d say Cornell Red.
LehighVic
HEY SCOT
I agree it’s a nice red, but not Cornell red. Too chinese red. I must ask Mike Bednar if he agrees, then I will get back to you
Ken
Definitely not Cornell Red as we kenw it but the later red used during the bankruptcy. A little more blue, a little black with a Cayuga Lake water wash.
Any way the rivet counters shake it out, still gotta hand out major props to the coin NS is spending for the foamers to have eye candy.
Adrianspeeder
Man! Youse got good rods & cones in your retinas. I think even the Sayre shops were mixing different hued batches of what went for Cornell Red, especially toward the end of LV . I recall a varying red-hued passenger consist lined up at the Wilkes-Barre depot - well, one day-coach was a bit more on the maroon side of the spectrum - but the conductor said they were all Cornell Red.
LehighVic
And remember, too, the Cornell Red was accompanyied by black striping. I think, however, this NS rendition is best because of the size and style of the locomotive.
Amen, Adrianspeeder.
it’s so generous of NS to share the enthusiasm for their heritage with the public. Not many corporations would go to those lengths to recognize a colorful past.
Lehighvic