Today I saw a BNSF Warbonnet painted locomotive, along with 2 BNSF pumpkins on a grain train rolling through town… The Warbonnet was faded and sooty, like the others that infrequently roll through. How much longer before BNSF has everything painted orange? It will be a shame when they’re all gone.
Murphy Siding: I don’t have any inside knowledge about paint schemes, but I too think that the Warbonnet theme is about to become extinct. It will be a shame as the old F7’s and such were a sight to behold. That was the true Santa Fe in its glory. Watching the Super Chief, El Capitan, and others roll by was a beautiful thing to witness.
Roland
Why I been buying nothing but that paint scheme in my HO stuf for awhile. Afraid it will disapear from there too!
Maybe if enough people made enough noise, the BNSF could be persuaded to leave some of its motive power in heritage designs, including the warbonnet. Notice that I say “leave,” not “paint” or “repaint.” Some of those 10-year-old paint jobs are still lookin’ pretty good! RR’s website is bnsf.com, or you could also go through one of the many finance sites and enter the road’s NYSE symbol, “BNI.”
As you know, the company officially changed itself to NBI (nothing but initials) at its annual meeting and committed to the “swoosh.” Owing to UPRR’s surprising recent decision to commit some of their motive power to heritage, perhaps BNSF could be persuaded to do so also, on the theory that it’s the “done thing.”
Is it a frill? Some might consider it so. But then again BNSF has lots more loose ca***hese days than UP.[:I]
NBI- nothing but initials. I like that ![:)][:)]
I hope the War Bonnet doesn’t disappear before I get a chance to actually take a picture of one! Of course, it’s not like you see that many BNSF units in western North Carolina, what maybe the occasional one or two on NS?!? I have actually seen more UP units out this way!
I would hope other RR’s follow UP’s example and paint more heritage schemes. NS has just the 4610 GP59 in the Southern RR scheme, so why not one in Virginian, Wabash or NKP, or even the old N&W scheme? CSX could have loads of fun with such a program too.
Perhaps BNSF could paint their own nostalgic/heritage unit. I’m picturing a green and orange warbonnet. They could give it some cool sounding name-like"Heritage 14" ![:)]
Unless you are in the upper management in the ivory tower in FW & are privy to the info you are asking for the answer is whooooooooooooooo knows! [:o)]
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Originally posted by Murphy Siding
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Even if you tell them to keep some around they aren’t gonna listen to ya…I wouldn’t listen to some railfans that would “really like it if you would leave some Warbonnets around for us to enjoy”.
Just think:
If the Warbonnet paint scheme is maintained, licensing fees to reproduce the icon on model trains could be charged, ala UP.
I hope they’re all disappeared, and very soon, too. The paint is starting to look absolutely awful on the majority of them. Some railfans might be nostalgic about it I guess, but I’m nt one of them. I’d much rather see a locomotive looking good than a faded remnant of a past that no longer exists. Nostalgia just isn’t what it used to be I guess.
All I have seen are in pretty shape, paintwise. How often do railroads paint their locomotives? Is it just on an as needed basis?
And why do you think no more warbonnets? Its not a politically correct thing, like what the NCAA just did with univeristy mascots, is it?
Allegedly, there was a dash 9 in BNSF warbonnet that recently was repainted in the warbonnet scheme. Supposedly, BNSF will quietly keep some of its Superfleet BNSF -9s that are pulling priority intermodal in warbonnet. I say allegedly and supposedly because I got this info secondhand.
yardgoat46: I was thinking no more warbonnets because the Santa Fe sort of disappeared in the BNSF merger 10 or so years ago? Certainly, they could them something else? I don’t think it’s a PC thing. I think it’s a paint thing.
how is that horrible sceme they have with the new logo “heritage”? [:(]
Here in SoCal I see the bulk of BNSF run past my office window daily. The warbonnets are, for the most part, in horrible shape. I have observed some Dash 8s in Heritage II paint and believe they are former Superfleet because of the 2- or 3-digit numbers on the cabs. Maybe some of the younger Dash 9s are holding up better. Some are even in the lead. I have a Superfleet GP60M working secondary service in my area. It appears in good shape given the taggers haven’t hit it yet. Who knows, maybe the powers that be will see the warbonnet as a cost savings versus the more complicated Heritage scheme. What do you think of a “swoosh” in red against a silver background?
I saw one this spring that looked like it had recently been painted. The red had plenty of gloss and the silver on the frame and trucks was virtually spotless. It could have been clened up for some corporate outing. I’ve seen others in pretty decent shape, but some look like they’ve been through a sandstorm. Maybe it depends on where they’ve been assigned.
I would think that both versions of the warbonnet will be gone in about 5 years or at least incredibly rare. A lot will depend on when some locomotives are retired, sold or traded in. Another factor will be how fast will BNSF repaint its fleet. In the late 1970’s, BN made a pu***o repaint the last of its unrepainted power into Cascade Green so this may also be a possibility.
And then mabee 10 or so years after they are all gone the BNNSSF will revive the scheme one more time!!![8D]