One of the reasons that I model 1972 is because that was the year the 'yellowbonnet' was introduced - part of the U36C order was delivered in it, and the second order of SD45-2's. Handfulls of other locomotives across many classes got yellowbonnet (with black trucks in the beginning), and the CF7's at Cleburne were some of the first to get it. And, in '72, there were also a lot of F-units unconverted in red and silver, original blue and yellow, and the first yellowbonnet expiriments on the Amtrak lease units. Amtrak leased F7's were still in red and silver, along with a handful of ex-passenger FP45's and U30CG's that hadn't hit the paint shop. But 95% of the fleet was in blue and yellow pinstripe yet. The only thing I miss is that I do have an admittedly soft spot for the GP60's in Superfleet colors. But that's the only thing I've seen that would soften my affection for the chaotic paint transition year of '72. I saw my very first yellowbonnet FROM THE TRAIN as we were rocketing through Illinois on the Amtrak Chief in '72 and about knocked somebody over getting a picture of it through the dome window. I think it was a GP39, can't see the number, but I had the proof it was out there. The two renegade FP45's that missed the paint shop (5942 and 5944) managed to find the point of the Super C several times and I've seen enough photographs to convince me it wasn't an accident. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...
OC...nice scene there. i grew up watching the santa fe in the mid 60's and beyond and saw some of the different colors randgust was talking about. its a shame all the roads dont exist anymore thanks to mergers. ns737 is painting a 30 and 35 in the kodachrome colors for me. that will be different, cant wait to see them. i was thinking all the 30 and 35's were gone by the time the spsf merger was brewing, but i saw several on railpictures. mostly in california i think......
I am partial to the yellowbonnets...but...I have never seen a Santa Fe painted any color that I didnt like !!! :thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up: .
That's a pretty broad statement... I'll remind you about these and see if you want to stand by that ...? http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=313430&nseq=39 Even ATSF and Amtrak agreed that was a bad idea.... I suppose, if your customer wants it badly enough.... http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=268356&nseq=4 And, I know SOME people like it, but.... http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=299473&nseq=7 ...I'm glad it's gone. There were also the infamous 'black dip' switchers before the zebrastripe scheme, that were completely uninspired. But, truth be known....the earliest application of the red and silver warbonnet - with yellow and black edge striping, silver trucks, and the red 'Santa Fe" ... was to my knowledge, the Bachmann GP40. It was the original 'foobie later come true'. The original U28C scheme they were imitating didn't have edge stripes, they added them.
I stand by my statement :tb-tongue: I liked all them pics....foobies or not ! If it said 'Santa Fe'...'SF'...or even 'BNSF' its all good !! Like an old pair of shoes...Santa Fe just felt comfortable seeing or saying. Dont ask me why...I am just weird that way...LOL. .
I agree with Randy about the yellow and silver F units....the SPSF paint was a nice change as for my favorite.....either a 8-40BW/GP60M or a FP45 in Superfleet paint
I love the Kodachrome. I couldn't wait for my Dad and I to take our first trip out to Franklin Canyon in hopes of seeing some. I wasn't let down. It still holds a soft spot, and probably why I have five of them in my HO collection. I thought it was the best way to represent the SP/SF in one scheme.
I keep trying to think of a way to throw a monkey wrench in here. Darn, I can't shoot down anyone this time. Like George, I liked the paint scheme's Santa Fe came up with. You may not find models of my less then favorites on my pike. That doesn't change that fact that I liked them. Ah here's one for Randqust. I don't remember any yellow war bonnet freights riding around on black trucks. The ones that arrived on the property at Barstow, Ca., all had silver trucks. For all I know, they may have stopped off in the Kansas shops for a quick paint job. Russell, Nice shot of the Zebra's. There's was nothing finer then the Zebra Stripe, paint scheme. My number one favorite, bar none.
Rick, I like Zebra Stripes so much, I forgive the Pacific Harbor Line for painting an ex-Southern Pacific SD40 in that scheme
Hey, Rick, I'll take that as a challenge any day. Here's the first order of U36C's in warbonnet. Not only did they have black trucks, they also couldn't make up their mind whether the front sill end was supposed to be yellow or blue, varied by locomotive. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=290388&nseq=16 Note also the third unit back with black trucks and yellowbonnet - this is '73. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=140530&nseq=37 I'm not sure exactly when the silver trucks started. It wasn't long. Pre-74. But all the '72's had black trucks. Same deal with the CF7's. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1020876 But once they got started with the silver trucks, they went whole-hog. Not only did all the yellowbonnets get it, but they caught up on all the previous units as well. There were a significant number of GP35's and SD45's in the older scheme that received silver trucks before they got the yellowbonnet. Sometimes you have to really look close to determine if it is actually painted silver or if its a really bad case of sanding dust. I've heard that the silver paint made truck inspections easier (defects easier to see), don't know if that is truth or not.
Ha ha and still LOL. Randqust, Yep, I should of said, And yet I have pictures of them in Barstow and elsewhere in Southern Californnia with the black trucks. Nice challenge. I say that was checkmate. I lose. Grin! My U boats on the layout all have black trucks and I never once thought to change them. Fun eh? Bremner, You and me both. It was good to see the stripes back working for a regional.
The "Yellowbonnet" was part of the big news in '72, along with the Sea-Land train. Check out the cover of the annual report that year: http://www.goantiques.com/scripts/images,id,742771.html I have one of those annual report covers - framed - in my train room - opened up. The 'back' of the cover shows the other two U36C's on the point. They set the photo up like A-B-A where the middle unit was in pinstripe and the trailing unit was in yellowbonnet. All three have black trucks. Also note that #8706 has that wierd end sill.
I'd also have to say they're all good but I kind of like the pinstripe scheme over the yellow warbonnet, to my eyes it's a bit classier. My least favourite would be the plain blue scheme tried out on a few FT's.
randgust love the 45's. the shop computer didnt load them when i replied earlier. dont the non dcc athearn's weigh like 6 ozs? they should pull plenty good. ok, zebra striped engines didn't go beyond the gp 7 or 9's, correct?
The only Warbonnet I ever had problems quite fully accepting were the re-build SW's. Yes, I understand that the long hoods were the correct "fronts' for these locos, but it just looked strange to me with the red headress on the hood.
