Wheeling around in Rio colors

|
Want to post a reply to this topic?
Login or register for an acount to join our online community today!

Wheeling around in Rio colors

  • Observation:
    While making the regular rounds about town last week, an engine in Rio Grande livery was idled at IORY's Ford Park yard in Lima. I have noticed on the railfan photo site that there are several W&LE units with Rio Grande paint. I also notice that fresh paint jobs on W&LE units are reminiscent of Rio Grande.

    [?]Question[?]:
    Is there a common ownership/connection between these two distant properties that I have missed thru the years? What is the common denominator that led W&LE to recreate the Rio Grande colors so faithfully?
    long, long, short, long. Thumbs Up
    Replies to this thread are ordered from "oldest to newest".   To reverse this order, click here.
    To learn about more about sorting options, visit our FAQ page.
  • I don't think they were connected in any way. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in the last 20 years that I've been railfanning I haven't heard any connection.

    I got to admit, I do enjoy the DRGW colors/paint scheme. I also enjoy they and SP were the only two roads that I knew had tunnel motors.
    Regards Gary
  • Ther is a connection between the two roads. One of the pricipals in the Wheeling was a senior eexecutive at the Rio Grande before the buyout by Phillip Aunshutz(I know I spelled the last name wrong, but you know to whom I am refering). I believe the last name of this principal is Parsons, but you could refer to a back issue of Trains (sorry, mine are packed away and not readily available). The story is the one about the history of Tennesse pass.
  • Thank you for the tip, jwal. The colors and lettering style were just too similar to not have a connection of some sort.

    I did a search on the TRAINS.com site, and found articles about Tennessee Pass in two issues: March 1997 and June 2003

    Philip Anschutz was mentioned in the March 1997 article, which appears in its entirety. I haven't found the Parsons fellow yet.
    long, long, short, long. Thumbs Up