This morning along the NE Corridor I saw a primered NS SD80 pulling some containers probably to the Triple Crown Yard . Makes me not feel as bad for running some of my unpainted Atlas shells heck they look like primer.
That was an SD70M (the new SD70Ms have flared radiators). NS doesn't have any primered SD80s - they were all acquired from Conrail. NS does their own painting, and it seems they are the only road that runs units in primer paint (usually about a month, sometimes less, sometimes more). As far as I know, they are the only Class 1 to do this. It does make for an interesting modeling concept though.
This thread reminds me of an April Fool's article in MR or RMC from about 25 years ago on the "Undecorated Railroad". It featured quite a collection of prototype "undecorated" equipment photos. Cheers, Rod Schaffter
A few years ago when I visited California, BNSF were in desperate need of locomotives, so C44's were being delivered in primer. Looks quite wierd when you first see one! See, there is a prototype for everything
White with a wide blue horizontal stripe. Arial Bold font in black for the name just below the wide stripe. I seem to recall a film where everything in the "store" was plain wrap boxes marked "Food". Just imagine the consist... "Locomotive" "Locomotive" "Boxcar" "Boxcar" "Boxcar" "Tank Car" "Tank Car" "Refrigerated Boxcar" "Boxcar" "Gondola" "Coal Car" "Flat Car" "Boxcar with ATSF warbonnet" (for variety) "Caboose"
TiVoPrince- The movie your thinking of, I believe, was "THEY LIVE," it starred "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Made in 1988, Rated R. Plot was Aliens were hiding among us, and using Subliminal messages on everything. So, with special glasses you could see it. It was pretty cool. Major fight scenes, Duh. On subject- KCS has/had a scheme mostly "Primered" color. I think it adds to the fun... Trying to spot the company. Plus, seeing how long it takes for that Unit to get painted.
