Often thought about grabbing a couple of these and throwing some Red and Yellow on them, or at least one. So many projects, so little time....
I've never been able to decide if this was the Rock's best paint scheme or their worst. But either way, it's quite the eye-grabber - -Mark
I like it. After seeing your BL2 and hunting one down, I also bought an RS in the same scheme. What model is the loco on the left? Something Hxx?
SinCity, Atlas also did a GP7 with Torpedo Tubes on the roof in this same scheme if your looking for more of the same scheme.
Thanks for posting these pictures. That's a fine set to illustrate the variations. The color of the walkways is always a critical issue. I recall BN had them green originally, but I think I only found a single picture showing it.
Thanks Flash! Even in these pictures the walkways vary from unit to unit. The GP40r has a white walkway showing, the U25B's are blue and the GP40 has a red walkway while the GP38-2 has both Blue and white. Even though they are different it kind of all blends together. Not problem, glad it helped. I think your right, most were green.
I'm not into a single railroad, and I have a number of scales. My first encounter with the blue&white paint scheme of THE ROCK was in one of my first color books on American Railroads. And the paint scheme struck me immediately as being extraordinary. Way different from anything else I knew of North American railroads. (I should add that I live in Switzerland.) It was only much later that I got to see some - by then much mutilated- originals. And I still think it's a shame that the bold graphics will forever be linked with the financial woes of that railroad. In fact, reading about "bankruptcy blue" causes me almost physical pain to this day. I have soon tried to model some of these prototypes (in HO), but had problems getting that blue right. In fact, my first (and only) caboose is way too dark because that's the way the blue was depicted in the book. And when I later thought I knew the correct type of blue, I found it extremely difficult to produce a mix that came reasonably close. One of my favorite models is the Atlas model in N scale of a ROCK diesel. As the picture shows, I had to get two of these GP38-2s and they are in front of the shelf. There is a ROCK hopper in the background, next to another bold and to me unique scheme, the DT&I, here in pink. Incredible as well. Of course, much of this would not have the same appeal if there were a whole train of the same.
No, they were mostly black. Only at the very onset of that BN green paint scheme were there units with green walkways. Not sure whether they all had them originally. But BN changed to black pretty soon. I presume for practical purposes.
First there was the "rocket" scheme and then there was the "hot dog". I tell ya, Freud would've had a field day with these guys - -Mark
Some railroads I wonder if they owned stock in a paint manufacturer. I mean use beyond normal maintenance. Someone was making a few dollars supplying them.
I think if I had to pick a favorite freight scheme, it would be this one from the 1950's. Clean and elegant - Atlas H15-44 - Intermountain F7A & B
Which of their earlier schemes were originated by the RR and what ones were from art work designed by someone such as EMD?
The Rock had nothing on the M&StL (another road I model). Those guys changed the paint schemes on their diesels every week! -Mark
Good question. I've always assumed that it was the railroads that drove such decisions, but maybe that was not always the case. I bow to more learned minds. -Mark
Something to consider about paint schemes was the cost involved. Most roads that went to simpler, more spartan paint schemes did so because of the cost to repaint units in the fancier schemes. The original paint was included in the cost of the locomotive, which is why so many roads had such nice schemes... but when it came to repainting the scheme some 8 to 10 years later (3 to 4 years for ACL's Royal Purple) the cost was considered more than most roads considered reasonable, which was why simplified schemes became the norm.
Cool! I am also an M&St.L fan! In fact there are a couple of Atlas box cars I am seeking from 2007....
All quite true. I agree. Just looking at the early scheme on those RS1 units, then noting what came later seemed to be fancier, as seen on the FT units. Then going on through to the red/yellow with speed lettering. Even the last blue/white scheme seemed like an expensive proposition. Their spartan maroon was not quite attractive, but sure must have been a cost saver.
