Hey guys, In case some of you like the new paint scheme, I thought I'd post this photo I took in Cumberland last week: I really don't care for this new scheme - I wish CSX would call it what it is - an attempt to cut costs by using an easier paint job. CSX had one of the most attractive paint schemes in modern railroading - heck, even my mother thought it looked good! Here's hoping they'll bring back the good old Bright Future, but then that would require admitting that they made a mistake. But Coke did it!
The new scheme kinda reminds me of the old B&O/C&O blue/yellow paint scheme. At least it should be easier to see than the original CSX grey/blue scheme. Pat
Dave, Great shot! Nice looking ex-Conrail unit. The new scheme is starting to grow on me... as a modeler, it looks like it will be much easier to paint (same as the prototype ) Harold
Hey, I thought that road number sounded familiar! Here's a rather poor shot (REALLY poor when compared to your shot, Dave) of the same unit: Harold
Very nice shot Dave. I LIKE the new paint. The only thing they need to do is turn the C into the Chessie KittY!!!!
Nice shot! Now that dark future isn't bad looking. Its not so drab looking as the ones I've seen! Still GREAT SHOT! Harold, thats a good shot too.. a bad shot is one not taken!
Harold, That unit seems to be popular - I was just looking through the Railfan.net Total CSX email list archives and found another photo of it: http://www.railfan.net/lists/listphoto.cgi?totalcsx-08-21-01/img_2019.jpg It was taken by Henry Priebe near Toledo, OH apparently. Happy New Year everyone!
Harold - I find that every photo has something useful in it, especially from a modeling standpoint, so I never worry about shots that don't come out quite right - they still might end up being the one picture you have that shows the subject from the angle you need to complete your model. I saved your picture in case I need it for just that reason.
Dave, and Harold, I'm like this, a bad picture is one NOT taken! Or for that matter one thats missed. I have that trouble of missing them! CSX SD-80MAC #801 passed me by 3 damn times! WITHOUT my camera! Man I'm still kicking myself over that loss!!!! Thats a bad picture. the one in your mind that has no proof you seen it! And yes, that loco is HUGE compared to the C-60AC that was dirrectly behind it, on the first time I seen it! I can't remember what it had behind it the other 2 times I seen it but dang they are HUGE! Compared to a C-60AC!
Harold, I can't speak for Dave, but I can speak formyself! And yes I said that being I mean it... A bad picture is one you don't take, or one your missed! If its taken, its a good picture! I am glad it made ya feel better tho. being It wasn't ment too. it was ment to do and say just what it did! To explain to you what I believe to be a bad picture! If, everything goes right, I'll have a picture of my scratchbuilt HO scale Chessie slug! Its painted, awaiting decals... to be unit 138T of the B&O in Chessie paint! And I must say, Its flawless! I can't find nothing wrong with the body work I done, nor the painting of it! The paint went on like glass! I'm adding all my own custom bent wire grab irons, and whatnot to it... Being this one is as good as it is.. I'm going to model a CSX MT-6, that was an EX. Conrail unit..... Damn it I knew I had saved all those junk diesel bodies, and frames for something good! They sure are becomming of good use now! I'm going to base the MT-6 off a old Mantua/TYCO C-436 or whatever ALCO unit that was that Mantua and TYCO made! This one tho, will be a dummy being I can't seem to find a good running mechanisum to power it, and being coupled to a SD-40-2 or something of CSX in the SD diesel format well. I don't think I'll need the extra power being I'll run 2 powered cab units with it so.... BUT it will have a headlight and taillight, all directional wired for running! [ 06. January 2003, 11:22: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Have you ever noticed the similiarities between railfanning and fishing. Sometimes you sit around and don't get nothing, other times you can shoot your camera fast enough, similar to can't get the fish of the hook fast enough. The dark future scheme is starting to grow on me. It is easier to see. I can't wait to see the first 80mac in this scheme. BTW don't feel bad about not having a camera with you when you missed a great shot. Everyone probably has done that. My first memory like that is of two Burlington Northern units on the Conrail, now CSX, Boston line about 6 or 7 years ago. What a site and they were not lease power either.
Saw my first "Dark Future" scheme in person this AM on my way to work. It was on the Metropolitan Sub, crossing over I-270 near Rockville. There were three locos, with two GP38-2's: # 2778 (xCR 8200) was in the lead, # 2664 (xL&N 6013) was following wearing the Dark Future paint. The third I couldn't make out the type or number --- I was in stop & go traffic I'm pretty sure it was also a GP38-2.
On the Atlas HO forum, there is a picture in a CSX SD80 thread of #812 in the new dark future scheme. I guess that CSX is getting around to the big MACS now. The pic was taken from behind a fence. Bob
I'm not a CSX fan, but I like the so-called "Bright Future" scheme myself. The newer paint scheme is reminiscent of the "dip-blue" jobs B&O and C&O used. Which, all in all, beat the Penn Central, N&W and NS all-black "stealth diesels".
As a (very) amateur train photographer, I always enjoy new paint schemes.... it is fun to find units with the new one, as well as a challenge to get all of the "old" ones before they disappear! Harold
I am not really a fan of the new scheme, it looks to me like a "cheap" scheme, but it does look ok on the SD40-2, especially with the white cab roof. And like Harold says, it is another scheme to photograph
