Hi All, I’m curious to know what paint schemes from the 20th century are the Most iconic paint schemes and why
I’m only asking since I’m going to model a 20th Century-era model railroad route and want to know what paint schemes on locomotives to use to make it have that nice feel to it or vibe as some will call it
Everything helps!
New Haven McGinnis Scheme, NYC Lightning stripes, ATSF Warbonnet are probably my top 3 most iconic. Not necessarily my favorites, but most iconic.
By popular acclaim, probably ATSF Warbonnet. The East has NYC lightning stripe. Southern had the Ps4s and those E units. One of my favorites was Chessie System; no matter how lousy the day, it was lit up by one of those locomotives – although it has taken me nearly 49 years to see the cat instead of the broken dish…
Others that come to mind are SP Daylight (and to a lesser extent ‘bloody nose’); the various EMD schemes for Florida trains in the 1930s, and the Milwaukee Hiawatha colors.
I was fond of PRR 5-stripe on the GG1s and BP-20s, although that was something of an acquired taste. Fleet of Modernism is certainly iconic, although much of the stuff it was applied to really wasn’t
Some of Matter’s permutations and heralds on the New Haven power probably qualify, although probably the best in the old olive-and-yellow scheme is the current MNCR heritage unit. See also the IC Green Diamond and the original Electroliners. We need to be careful about some of the postwar schemes, like the C&O yellow or the application of the Matter style to the B&M; I admired the spirit of the Auto-Train effort (who could help but notice purple Baldwins!) but few thought it a triumph of enduring design…
I more or less concur: the ATSF Warbonnet.
In Singular, The MOST Iconic, Nation Wide, without any doubt,
The Santa Fe Warbonnet
Many will recognize the NYC Lightening Stripe, and the various Tuscan Pennsy
I think that pretty much after that it becomes much more regional, though the SP Daylight probably makes the National list as does the UP Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray
For me, another is BN’s Cascade Green and Black, I liked BN’s “Executive Scheme “ and thought it Classy, but I wouldn’t call it Iconic, in an industry wide sense
Doug
The Warbonnet is quite iconic
I would suggest that the War Bonnet is THE Most recognizable paint scheme of any RR
Here’s another vote for AT&SF. Many were excellent and lovely. But you asked for “iconic “. Warbonnet best meets that criteria.
Welcome Aboard, @Gnurps
Welcome to the forums!
The Ches-C Chessie System was the iconic scheme of the last half of the 20th Century. The ATSF War bonnet was iconic during the middle of the 20th Century.
Steam engine black and Pullman Green was iconic during the first part of the 20th Century.