Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Time to get creative...

5227 views
60 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Charlotte, NC
  • 6,099 posts
Posted by Phoebe Vet on Thursday, November 15, 2007 2:21 PM

Kamikaze Railroad (No round trips)

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,400 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, November 15, 2007 11:56 AM
 J Campbell wrote:

I'm in the planning stages of putting together a large, freelanced, present day short line in the Pacific Northwest, yet I am having trouble coming up with a decent, creative name for it.

Oh, present day.  In that case, you need some tedious, meaningless 3-letter name, like "XSC" or "RZB," y'know, something without any grounding in reality.  A name that marketing types would think was mahvelous for anything, from a railroad to a sports car to the secret ingredient in the new miracle drug that treats both impotence and athlete's foot.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Thursday, November 15, 2007 10:07 AM
 dinwitty wrote:

 

I just toyed with a logo idea, a very rough hand draw, but done in one swipe draw, creates the 2 letters like so, in blue.. very simple

That's pretty snazzy, too.  I'll play with that one and see what I can come up with.

~ Jason

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Thursday, November 15, 2007 9:56 AM
 scottychaos wrote:

Scot 

 

I LOVE it!

Thanks Dude!  I think it's a keeper!

~ Jason

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Rochester NY
  • 335 posts
Posted by scottychaos on Thursday, November 15, 2007 9:17 AM

Scot 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 14 posts
Posted by billwinkes on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 10:31 PM

Feel free to use the name of my former RR, Willammette Valley and Coast RR (WV&C), the Spruce Lumber Railroad grown up into a short line hauling lumber products, fruit and grain.

Bill

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Memphis
  • 931 posts
Posted by PASMITH on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 7:41 PM


Shasta Pacific

Peter Smith, Memphis
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 7:11 PM

 

I just toyed with a logo idea, a very rough hand draw, but done in one swipe draw, creates the 2 letters like so, in blue.. very simple

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 7:04 PM

 J Campbell wrote:
SD80MAC he painted in the old NYC colors that I thought was pretty dope.  I was thinking about doing something similar.
NYC is about as far away from a NW short line as one could get.  Short line paint schemes seem to follow one of two philosophies. 

1.  Very simple.  Some solid color maybe with "V" stripes on the pilot.  Letters and number on the cab.  

2. Very elaborate.  Some of the midwestern short line paint schemes from the mid 1980s on were outlandish and elaborate.    The magazine Extra 2200 South carried photos of them.  That would be an excellent reference to get a few of and look through before deciding anything.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 6:43 PM
 TrainManTy wrote:

Yeah! Granite River Railway!!Thumbs Up [tup]

Now we have to come up with a paint scheme! Smile [:)]

Yeah, I don't know yet.  Smoke posted a pic earlier of a SD80MAC he painted in the old NYC colors that I thought was pretty dope.  I was thinking about doing something similar.

Then again, I still really dig the Montana Rail Link colors too...

I dunno...maybe I should see what the court of public opinion thinks.

~ Jason

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 8,639 posts
Posted by Texas Zepher on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 6:23 PM

Granite River Railway is a lot better than anything with Thunderbird.  Thunderbird is much more southwestern than it is northwestern.

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 6:15 PM
I named mine after a long defunct shortline in my area, it is the Harriman and Northeastern RR, or H&NE. No it didnt have anythign to do with that Harriman :)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 6:07 PM

Yeah! Granite River Railway!!Thumbs Up [tup]

Now we have to come up with a paint scheme! Smile [:)]

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Mankato MN
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by secondhandmodeler on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 5:21 PM
GRReat!
Corey
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Rochester NY
  • 335 posts
Posted by scottychaos on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 5:15 PM

Nice! I like it..

"Granite River Railway" sounds best IMO.. 

Scot 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 5:12 PM

 canazar wrote:
...Sometimes it can be something rigth in front of you and not know it...

I think I finally got it!!!  Indeed, it was right in front of me the whole time!

I work in the pile driving industry and I was going over some plans for an upcoming job we are bidding on.  One of the structures spans a river and while looking through the soils report, I noticed there was a layer of granite at approximately -35.

THATS IT!!!

"Granite River"

What do you guys think?

Any suggestions on how I should end it?  Railroad, Railway, Rail Co., etc...

~ Jason

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • 2,844 posts
Posted by dinwitty on Thursday, November 1, 2007 8:14 PM

Thunder Mountain and Snake River.

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Thursday, November 1, 2007 6:01 PM
 J Campbell wrote:

 canazar wrote:
Where the name Kiva came from gets asked  alot.  Something historical?  A location?  A famous person?   Nah, it is the name of my street that I have been living on for the last 3 years..  Sometimes it can be something rigth in front of you and not know it.

Hmmm...I live on Thunderbird Road.

Thunderbird Rail Co.?

I'll have to play with that one...

You guys are in GREAT company!  The three most important stations on Frank Ellison's legendary Delta Lines, Colbert, Fillmore and Rochelle, were named after his home street and the two closest cross streets.

I can't see myself doing that, even if I modeled US prototype.  All the streets around here have two Hispanic given names (The Carlos Ernesto and Julio Jose Western?  Not!)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Thursday, November 1, 2007 4:11 PM
 scottychaos wrote:
Thanks!

what did you have in mind based on the MRL scheme? colors? changes? If you give me some ideas, I can whip something up in photoshop.

Actually, I really like the colors.  In fact, I like them so much that I don't necessarily think I'll even change them.  I think the only thing I would do would be to add whatever name I decide on.

It could make it easy to find pre-painted locos as well.  Except for the fact that I would have to be able to color match the blue paint to cover up the old graphics.  I don't think a rail company with "big money" backing it would settle for the 'ol black-out patch job.

 scottychaos wrote:
Whats wrong with geographically based? If your model railroad has specific geography (location).. which it does.. then "geographically based" makes a lot of sense! ;)

Yeah, I guess your right...even R.J. Corman (who I have decided over lunch, will be my pseudo-plausible prototype) seems to own/operate short lines all within the same general vicinity.  I could just keep them all in the PNW.

~ Jason

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 1, 2007 4:07 PM

Wow! Nice photoshop!

I'm pretty bad at names.....

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bronx, NY
  • 381 posts
Posted by Hudson on Thursday, November 1, 2007 3:59 PM

Catamount Northern.

 Your name train could be the "Puma".

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Rochester NY
  • 335 posts
Posted by scottychaos on Thursday, November 1, 2007 2:06 PM
 J Campbell wrote:

Big Smile [:D] That's really cool, Man.

I was kind of thinking about ripping off a few ideas from this paint scheme...

Thanks!

what did you have in mind based on the MRL scheme? colors? changes? If you give me some ideas, I can whip something up in photoshop.

 J Campbell wrote:
Which brings me to my dilemma...coming up with a name for my "rail company" that isn't necessarily so geographically based.

Whats wrong with geographically based? If your model railroad has specific geography (location).. which it does.. then "geographically based" makes a lot of sense! ;)

Scot

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Thursday, November 1, 2007 1:58 PM
I don't know...maybe I just need to get my head around it a little more.

~ Jason

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Thursday, November 1, 2007 1:55 PM

Big Smile [:D] That's really cool, Man.

I was kind of thinking about ripping off a few ideas from this paint scheme...

...and maybe something like this for a passenger line...

I'm not married to any of them yet.  Still looking for ideas...all part of the fun of planning, right?

Somebody posted a link to R.J. Corman a few days ago.  Apparently they're a pretty well rounded company.  In addition to providing all types of rail construction services, they also run a handful of short lines. 

I was thinking that might be a cool story for my line.  At the very least, it would provide me with a plausible income large enough to run flashier, newer equipment.

Which brings me to my dilemma...coming up with a name for my "rail company" that isn't necessarily so geographically based.

~ Jason

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Colorful Colorado
  • 594 posts
Posted by Gandy Dancer on Thursday, November 1, 2007 1:39 PM
 J Campbell wrote:
I want something that sounds rugged and robust, yet slightly quirky.  For the life of me, I can't come up with the right moniker.
How about something simple like "Sasquatch Lines", or just "Sasquatch".  That is quirky, rugged, & northwestern, and I would guess if a sasquatch was real the males would have balls.  I don't know how robust that is though.  I mean there was the "Susquehanna" back east (NYSW), so it isn't too far from a prototype.  The full name could be something like Oregon Sasquatch Northwestern (OSNW), or Northwestern Sasquatch (NWSQ).
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Rochester NY
  • 335 posts
Posted by scottychaos on Thursday, November 1, 2007 1:24 PM

 J Campbell wrote:
I kinda dig "Snake River".

I like "Snake River" too! It sounds cool, and there is a real Snake River in Washington state, so its totally plusable.. 

You said "present day"..so im assuming modern diesels.

Color scheme for the Snake River?? an obvious choice for the Pacific NW would be green..but green doesnt work IMO with the name "Snake River"...Snake River says Red to me... with modern graphics..this is what just popped into my head:

Missouri Pacific blue scheme, with the chevrons on the nose..but replace blue with Red, and replace white with yellow..the result is this:

Modern, sleek, no-nonsense, not too flashy, but not too basic either.

(I know you werent even asking about paintschemes! Wink [;)] but I love this kind of thing, and I had a few minutes to spare while im waiting for a program to finishing running at work..)

Scot

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Thursday, November 1, 2007 1:03 PM
Hmm.  Thanks.

~ Jason

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 13 posts
Posted by erielackfanoregon on Thursday, November 1, 2007 12:44 PM
Me and a buddy were going to build a logging railroad and call it the Mohawk and Marcola (M&M). These are two unincorporated towns near where I live in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Alas, our logging venture never got off the ground, so feel free to take the name. And there used to be quite a major logging operation through there, with company towns and the whole works, so you could have a loose prototype to work from.
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Hesperia, CA
  • 223 posts
Posted by J Campbell on Thursday, November 1, 2007 12:09 PM
I kinda dig "Snake River".

~ Jason

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!