How often do railroads re-paint their locomotives?

[rvos1979]

In my case, they get painted when the boss doesen't like the looks of the unit. It seems every WSOR unit has to go through paint first before it's released into service

One day at Madison, we moved some of our boxcars to a track that could be seen from the yard office. One of these cars had faded paint & a different colored door. The president took one look at the car and had it shipped off for paint the next morning!

Randy

[Anonymous]

So that's what CSX means when they paint their locomotives in the "Dark Future" scheme. CSX is just letting everyone know that the future of its locomotives is a dark one indeed.[:-,]

[csxengineer98]

unless its csx...they paint once...blue yellow and rust....oh waite..the rust was always thier... it just comes back becouse the paint just flakes right back off..lol
csx engineer

[oltmannd]

RRs repaint locomotives about every 10 years - somewhat dependent on the condition of the paint while the loco is at a backshop for overhaul. If the shop thinks the paint is in good enough condition to make it to the next overhaul (about another 5 years), they'll let it go. Otherwise, it's off to the paint booth.

-Don

[Mookie]

I saw a couple of Sante Fe engines this weekend. Warbonnet and yellow/black - they looked clean and the paint was very good on them, too. It was a nice change from Norange!

Mookie

[Anonymous]

Mike-

Depending upon the type of paint, number of colors, scotchlite, lettering, stencils, etc a locomotive paint job costs between $10,000 and $25,000. It brings nothing to the bottom line. In case you haven't noticed railroads are a very low margin business. The money is needed much more elsewhere. Likewise, leasing companies don't earn anything on paint.

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear


Railroads repaint either when they deem the locomotive needs paint or when it changes railroads(more frequent)...

LC

......Oh so that explains how come I used to see old Reading RR Geeps down here in Tampa with only the words Reading missing or faded out on the sides. That was a decade ago, but I don't have to look far in 2004 to see some real rust buckets such as GP39-2, GP40's, or slug GP -30's CSX that look like hell. Some of these lease units are in awful shape as well, paint faded off, striping missing, ...they are a pitiful mess.
Must have taken lessons from SCL on proper paint & upkeep. Gives the the railroad a real good impression in the publics mind that they are just another industry in the "rust
bucket"- decline, faded, worn out - when you can't keep your equipment clean it shows you have no pride or respect in your position, you are not a good steward in the long term.

$$$$$$, of course that is the reason for being in business, but isn't there a bit more?

No this isn't in general how RR's used to keep their equipment in the 70's & times before. Some roads had a harder time than others keeping things clean due to working enivornment (Ok Penn Central or early Conrail, SP, & SCL are not the rule here - they always looked like dirty rolling junk, most were in poor shape all around). [:p]
Even during bankrupcty many class I's still kept things clean compared to the patch job's we see today. BNSF units genrally to me always look the best kept in 2004, I don't know if thats a fact, but the ones I see way down in Florida are clean & well painted.

All in all all RR equipment looks bad now, cars with one repaint or stencil after another on grey/boxcar red dull rusted cars missing logo's. Not just loco's. The graffiti is incredible, the cost high to keep it off rolling stock, but it too presents a very poor public image that at one time RR's like other industry cared about. That is no more.

Cheaper to keep a primer looking grey or red paint with no expensive logos or washing now. Must keep the stockholders happy.

It was a very good question, that I often wonder about though though I know the answer as mentioned aboved., [:(]

Take Care,
Mike




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[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by Puckdropper

You know... I was thinking last night about how much potential "free" labor there could be for the railroads. They provide pressure washers and everything except people, then they offer railfans the opportunity to get up close with a diesel still in revenue service. They catch? You get up close washing it. (It'd be fun to do at least once, IMO.)

Interesting idea, but the railroad's insurance company would never allow it.

I would imagine the various unions would be a bit peeved you are taking their work too...

LC

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

Southern Pacific only repainted units when they were rebuilt in the Sacramento Shops,and SP units only got washed when it rained.

I think SP would put a tarp over them during rain to make sure that didn't happen.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Puckdropper

You know... I was thinking last night about how much potential "free" labor there could be for the railroads. They provide pressure washers and everything except people, then they offer railfans the opportunity to get up close with a diesel still in revenue service. They catch? You get up close washing it. (It'd be fun to do at least once, IMO.)

Interesting idea, but the railroad's insurance company would never allow it.

[Randy Stahl]

Paint??? Is that the black crap the CN smears on the sides of locomotives?
Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Willy2

Well, I should have put that the paint is peeling and fading a lot. I wasn't really thinking straight.

It's up to my Mom and Dad to repaint our car. Keep in mind I'm 13 and don't own a car yet!

Willy

That explains a few things...

LC

[Puckdropper]

You know... I was thinking last night about how much potential "free" labor there could be for the railroads. They provide pressure washers and everything except people, then they offer railfans the opportunity to get up close with a diesel still in revenue service. They catch? You get up close washing it. (It'd be fun to do at least once, IMO.)

[mvlandsw]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF SD70MAC

Mabe the NS should clean theirs once in a while,hehe.
BNSFrailfan.

I think they look much better when the are weathered and dirty. Glossy black has no character.

[Willy2]

Well, I should have put that the paint is peeling and fading a lot. I wasn't really thinking straight.

It's up to my Mom and Dad to repaint our car. Keep in mind I'm 13 and don't own a car yet!

Willy

[espeefoamer]

Southern Pacific only repainted units when they were rebuilt in the Sacramento Shops,and SP units only got washed when it rained.

[Anonymous]

Mabe the NS should clean theirs once in a while,hehe.
BNSFrailfan.

[Anonymous]

Willy-

Do you repaint your car when it gets dirty???

Railroads wash locomotives at most major terminals when they are fueled, serviced or inspected. Certain parts of locomotives must be kept clean by FRA regulation and company rules to avoid the dangers of slipping and falling on spilled fuel or oil. As the numbers of terminals get smaller, the locomotives are not washed as often.

Railroads repaint either when they deem the locomotive needs paint or when it changes railroads(more frequent)...

LC

[Anonymous]

Not often enough!

[Willy2]

I've seen some kind of dirty locomotives lately. How often do railroads re-paint them?

Willy