What is the name of this paint scheme?

[traingeek087]

What is the name of this paint scheme?

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=64500

[MP57313]

The McGinnis scheme, introduced in 1955. Black, white and Chinese vermillion, according to Don Ball Jr's America's Colorful Railroads.

[traingeek087]

Oh yes thanks much man.

[locomutt]

That's a great picture,and Seeing an FL-9;they are semi-rare!

And thanks very much for the link.[:)]

[Paul3]

Actually, the name of this scheme is "McGinnis" scheme, named after the President of the New Haven Railroad, Patrick B. McGinnis, who instigated the "new image" for the New Haven in 1954-5 by hiring Knoll Associates (a well known New York industrial design company). Knoll Assoc. retained Herbert Matter, an artist and designer, to come up with the colors, designs, etc.

The result of this was a complete corporate makeover unprecedented in American business up to that time. It applied not only to rolling stock and motive power, but stations, tickets, signs, schedules, luggage checks, etc. Anything they could afford to paint or color red-orange, black and white, they did. The NH was truly the first company to try to "re-brand" their image, something we take for granted today.

In fact, to read a really good history of the subject (including the never-before-published schemes that never made it to the paint shop), read the book "The New Haven Railroad in the McGinnis Era" that just came out in the past year. Check out this link:

http://www.gis.net/~fm/pbm.htm

This is the author Marc Frattasio's webpage for the book. To see the rest of his site, including his other book, "Dining on the Shoreline" (a history of NH dining cars, plus a complete NH cookbook), click here:

http://www.gis.net/~fm/

Turn on your speakers and wait for the neat NH radio ad jingle to load...

BTW, this engine is one of 60 FL9's produced in 1957 (30) & 1960 (30). They ran in regular passenger service all over the NH system, and was used in limited freight service as well during off-peak hours. The big deal with them is that they are an Electric/Diesel-Electric, and have B-A1A wheel arrrangement to spread the weight of the extra electrical equipment for the 3rd rail pick up shoes needed to access Grand Central Terminal.

This particular engine is one of 6 rebuilds by Chrome Crankshaft (later Morrison-Knudson) for the State of Conn.'s (ConnDOT) Shore Line East service back in the mid-1980's. When the plan was announced, an NHRHTA member (New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association), who had connections, asked that these 6 FL9's be painted in their former NH colors (McGinnis scheme). After a bit, the State agreed. Sadly, the NHRHTA member, (I can't remember his name) died suddenly, and never saw the results of his efforts.

Since then, ConnDOT has sort of adopted the NH's "new image" as it's own RR colors. State owned passenger cars have an orange window band (just like the NH), and it's engines (now mostly GP40's and Genesis-types) are all painted in "McGinnis". Not bad for a 50 year-old design...

For more New Haven discussion, come on over the NHRHTA's NH Forum at:

http://www.nhrhta.org

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************
P.S. Behind the FL9 is a former MBTA FP10.

[UPTRAIN]

I've never seen an FL9, most likely never will in revenue service, they are neat though. I hope I see one in a museum some day. Thanks for the info on the paint scheme. Were they the first duel modes ever? I know TRAINS did an article on them in about 1993 or 1994, it was called The Unsinkable FL9 if I recall correctly.

[MP57313]

Thanks Paul 3 for pointing out the typo. (Don Ball Jr's book spelled it correctly).