I tend to find the argument over licensing fees to be a bit inconsistent. Most of us, whether we admit it or not, have paid licensing fees to NASCAR, NHL, NBA, etc. whenever we buy a hat, cup, jersey, window decal, etc. proclaiming our loyalty to our favorite team, driver or whatever. UP is merely doing the same thing that professional sports has been doing for years.
We also all need to lighten up a little. After all, railroading to most of us here is just a hobby and pastime. We all would like things to be the way they were at one time, myself included, but it ain’t gonna happen. Remember the past, enjoy the present and look forward to the future.
Had the “fallen flags” survived to the present, more than likely they would have updated their paint schemes like most other roads have. It’s a great opportunity to play the “what if” game and pretend that they have survived in their new paint schemes. Can’t wait to see them on the road. Probably will be a long time before they find their way to the Northeast. To paraphrase a famous saying, “I never saw a train I didn’t like!”
The paint schemes are attractave, but they don’t really remind us of the old WP and MoPac. Western Pacific was usually silver with an orange nose, and MoPac was usually dark blue with white and red lettering. They could have painted the engines in these accurate paint schemes, and then maybe they would look better.
Another thing…It would have been nice to repaint an F3 or an SD40-2 in these paint schemes. They look really tacky on the SD70ACe.
I guess we are just going to have to disagree on this. In my opinion UP has not painted any locomotives for WP or MP (In other words, nobody gave me a millon dollars). Most likely, then the “SP”, “DRGW”, and “CNW” locomotives are unveil, I will say that UP has never painted a locomotive for any of these railroads either.
I do not know what railroad(s) you are a fan of. However, it seems that, generally, there is a chasm between fans of the railroads that these locomotives are alledgedly painted for and people who are not fans of these railroads.
I am not getting worked up. I just disagree that these paint schemes are good or that these locomotives can even be considered as being painted for WP or MP.
Ok, Eric. We’ll agree to disagree. I take it that the “sp” in your handle refers to the Southern Pacific. I don’t have a line near me, however, the SP is the line I am most familar with. I guess that I am not accustom to Railroads treated with the same reverence as pro sports teams.
I don’t think the idea was that these engines were to be thought of as being painted for the WP or MP. I think the idea is to remember these and the other railroads that make up today’s UP.
Yes, I agree a closer scheme would’ve been nice. Someone else posted about liking to see a orange and silver WP engine. I liked that scheme myself, but the WP had abandoned that for Perlman green and orange, one I didn’t care for.
Also, the last MP scheme was armour yellow and harbor m
I would like to point out that many people will never be satisfied a funny, but true story. Heard this from Mike the proprietor of my local hobby shop. He is an expert on painting locomotives, he can sell custom done paint schemes done by himself, so one day a someone asks him what color the SP orange was for a particular unit (I forget what kind) Mike said not to worry too much that once the unit went through a tunnel the paint wouldn’t be the same color, this annoyed the man very much. Mike found the right paint for the guy anyway, and when it was all painted up the man complained that this orange looked nothing like the orange on a unit he had photographed. Just remember most people will complain no matter what.
Frankly, I love the new paint schemes, and can’t wait for more. The Western Pacific scheme is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.
I am not loyal to one railroad over any other, I love to go out and take pictures, and I frankly don’t care about anything else. I understand how some people are loyal to old railroads, my father was an avid railfan, and loved the old CB&Q, a railroad he grew up watching.
If I were to name a “favorite” railroad, it would be the old Illinois Central Gulf… why? I spent many days along the tracks in my hometown in my youth, and seeing old pictures of ICG units in the white and orange brings back happy memories of growing up.
So, I say, let UP do what they want with their heritage paint schemes, so long as they make 'em pretty…