UP has repainted 3 of their SD-70's, 4526-4528 into the striking scheme seen here YOU GO UP.................
Within a year, UP says it will repaint the entire road fleet into this scheme. All new units are to be delivered in it. Wonder if this is really gonna happen.
Have to say that, much as I like the scheme, I'm sceptical that they could get their road fleet repainted in a year in any colour scheme..... It took BN seven years to finish with the green paint after the 1970 merger, and UP doesn't seem to have eradicated CNW, SP, SSW loco's any faster than that. Looks good though.
Not with CNW and SP AC4400Ws STILL moving coal in & out of Grand Junction in their original colors, and DRGW tunnel motors and GP40s still haunting the former Grande. These folks must repaint when the units come due for major maintenance, and if it's worth repainting, much less repairing I think the flag decal (and it is that) is awesome. I only hope they keep the locomotives a bit cleaner (adopt Santa Fe's philosophy and not SP's), as a grimy flag looks bad, if not disrespectful. But, since we've already had one nasty debate over this in the past, I'm not gonna say any more. I'm still waiting for the Torch Train to hit "Junction" come Feb. 2, though.........
My interpretation of UP's locomotive painting policy is that they will paint locomotives in the new scheme for one year, meaning only units painted during that time will receive the new flag scheme. I agree that it is physically (and fiscally) impossible to paint the entire fleet in one year. As of this time, I have not heard of any more than the three original SD70M's receiving the flags. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if this program is trimmed back to a shorter time period and a smaller number of units. Only time will tell...
I haven't been paying too much attention, but doesn't that lightening stripe look a whole lot like CNW's Paint scheme from right before the merger?
Here are both sides of UP 4526 and UP 4528 (all 3 units have the nose wings) [ 18 January 2002: Message edited by: dbn160 ]
