New KCS / KCSM paint scheme - first photos

For several months it has been reported that KCS (and its Mexican subsidiary KCSdeM) would paint their new locomotives in a new paint scheme reminiscent of the old Southern Belle, (and virtually identical to the new scheme they recently initiated on their other subsidiary, the Panama Canal Railway Company. The locomotives were delivered from the manufacturers in primer only, and are to be painted in the KCSdeM shops in Mexico.

The first unit in the new paint scheme rolled out of the San Luis Potosí shops on Thursday, and we now have photos of the first unit thanks to Juan Viladrosa. You can see shots of the locomotive at:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=20641

Regards

Ed

Now that is a festively colored unit! [4:-)]

The Locomotive and Caboose schemes are excellent for application on an O Scale 3-Rail Model.

Andrew

The caboose is a special mobile display unit decorated for “Alto Total” (Total Stop), which is a safety program similar to “Operation Lifesaver”. Sorry it doesn’t agree with you.

Ed

SWEET!

Very eyecatching. I really like it.

I agree as well, Went out railfanning today but only saw 2 in red/gray, one was a 70 ace

Is the circus coming to town?

I’m sorry, but that is UGLY. And it was painted in Mexico - another insult to this country.

Well, KCSdeM is a Mexican railroad. I guess I’m a bit confused as to why the fact that their locomotive was painted in Mexico is an insult to anyone.

Regards

Ed

Even if the subsidary RR is mexican, the parent RR is still American.

Lots of hair splitting here. As far as I’m concerned is an American rail operating within Mexico.

And I’m not crazy about the color choice either.

I thought KCS owned them outright.

Are all the head lights on the ES44AC’s long hood that low or is this just for this road/order?

I belive he is referring to the fact that in the US alot of our stuff is not made in America, and now there is one more thing not made here. It also takes away jobs from our painters in the US.

I love that paint scheme. Better than any scheme any Class 1 has out there today. They dont look like circus colors AT ALL.

A major Class I in the US doesn’t move tonnage by paint schemes.

Thats been pointed out numerous times on this site. I see no reason to get worked up over paint.

I’m just old fashioned, I guess.

I like simple, classy paint schemes. That circus scheme may look good on some premier passenger train pulled by cowled units, but it looks plain silly pulling rusty, beat up freight cars.

Believe it or not…you know who has a really attractive paint scheme?

PanAm Railways (formerly Guilford)

http://www.panamrailways.com

That looks really Conrail-ish!

It really looks nice doesn’t it???