Amtrak Billboards?

[sward84]

I am a ticket agent/baggageman for amtrak in Alexandria, Virginia. Today I was outside waiting the arrival of northbou0nd Silver Star train 92 from Miami. What I noticed suprised and shocked me. The head engine on the train (I think it was Genesis Deisel #84 or 85) was covered in an advertisement for the new Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Two things came up in my mind. The first thing was what the heck is this. But what really bothered me was the thought of Is Amtrak really that tight on ca***hat they are selling their engines as rolling billboards? Is this the statr of something or did Toyota cough up a ton of money to put a larger than life tundra an an Amtrak engine???? If anybody has seen this engine, please let me know. If anybody knows what is going on PLEASE inform me.

[andrewjonathon]

From my perspective, if the media reports on Amtrak's finances are even half true then I would say the answer to the question on whether "is really that tight on cash" is a resounding yes. If Amtrak can earn a little extra revenue from putting ads on trains then I am all for that because it still allows them to focus 100% on their real business of transporting people. This is unlike hauling freight which increased costs, resulted in slower schedules and increased delays.

[rich747us]

Back in mid November of this year, I rode Amtrak's #22 (Northbound Texas Eagle. The one I rode originated in San Antonio on November 13th.) to return home after a trip to Longview TX to visit the college I'm going to be attending. Much to my surprise, #22 was being pulled by Amtrak 84 with the Toyota Tundra paint scheme! That was the first I had ever heard or seen of this.

[Anonymous]

I think I'll buy me a Tundra and paint an Amtrak locomotive on it. Let's just cover everything in ads. Years ago we called it grafitti.
Mitch

[Mookie]

You can't find the door on a bus any more because of the ads. You can't see the screen of a tv program any more because of the crawlers and set "ads". We can't get more than 15 min of entertainment in a 30 min segment w/o a commercial. So the problem is?

[Modelcar]

....Greed....!!!

[Modelcar]

....And isn't it disgusting. So many years ago a half hour TV program had a note of advertising at the beginning and the center and one at the end....I know, things are different now, but it's still disgusting.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Revenue is revenue, regardless of the source. City buses and streetcars have carried ads on their sides almost from Day 1, wrap ads are a logical extension of this, especially when a higher rate can be charged. VIA has placed wrap ads on several of its F40PH's already, so Amtrak is relatively late to the game. For those of us who are old enough to remember, REA Express also carried ads on the sides of its delivery trucks and over-the-road trucks.

[Anonymous]

There is also a Monopoly, Legoland and Wheel of Fortune Amtrak.

http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/images/gallery152_lg.jpg

http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtHORIZON/amt53503a.jpg

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Just a thought. If locomotives are wrapped for advertising purposes to whom will model railroad manufacturers have to pay licencense/royalty fees? The railroad or the advertiser?

[tpatrick]

Maybe Amtrak should put ads on TV - their own ads that is.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Amtak is desperate for revenues....

However Amtrak should at least provide posters and other promotional material to all travel agencies....

[Overmod]

Rudy: The advertiser should PAY the model company (on some pro-rata basis) for the additional exposure, and/or pick up some or all of the otherwise-applicable license fee for the main-railroad trademark use. (Is Amtrak one of the organizations seeking "funding" by getting fees from model manufacturers et al.?)

[RudyRockvilleMD]

For Overmod;
As far asI know the Union Pacific is the only railroad that has asked model manufacturers for license fees.

[jkeaton]

VIA has been doing wrap ads on its F40s for some time - they have had a series for Home Hardware, and sightings of the 'Spiderman' F40 tied into several contests. Wherever they can find revenue - and publicity - it's got to help.

[espeefoamer]

If it's good enough for NASCAR it's good enough for Amtrak[:)].
Amtrak needs all the money it can get. If this will improve revenue, I'm all for it. VIA has been wrapping its engines with ads for some time now.I have wondered why Amtrak didn' t do this,and now they have.

[CSXrules4eva]

This is why I worry alot about Amtrak some of the times. In 30th Street Station in Philly, there is a huge about 4 stories high poster of the Toyota Tundra on the right hand wall if u enter the station from I76 East. I though this was weird. You can't miss it it's the bigest thing in the darn station. There is also a picture in the floor of the truck too, with a very stupid saying writen on it. Amtrak is desperate for money to put the darn truck on their P42, I have to say it's not a very good looking paint scheme. I guess David Gunn had no other choise but to allow Toyota to advertise on their engine.

[espeefoamer]

Could someone please post a photo of this engine? I have not seen any wrapped locos yet.I have seen the Legoland Horizon car and the Lion King Superliner.

[cnw1995]

This was noticed in Trains magazine - I think there a two engines with the Tundra ads - as others have noticed, Amtrak has done this in the past - as has VIA

[Wdlgln005]

Don't give MicroTrains any ideas! We already have the Pepsi train, the Hershey train, the Popsicle train, etc. Hallmark is making a mint on the Polar Express train, somebody else makes "special" MLB-NFL trains. Next thing you know there will be a Tweety Bird/ Snoopy train to sell.

http://www.nashvillentrak.org/mcstar/mcstar.html
Put this site in your browser &
see a new train set to go into service in 2005!
http://rta-ride.org/services/rail/index.html

I'd rather see Amtrak & others promote real trains people can ride! Y'all invited to visit Nashville,

[eastside]

Having lived my life in big cities I guess the question that comes to my mind is what took them so long. It's because I'm so used to seeing buses, cabs, subway trains and stations -- exterior and interior -- slathered in ads. Stadiums, roadways, and public buildings bear the names of businesses willing to pony up the money. McDonald's pays to run the rest stops on the local turnpikes. Since Amtrak is a de facto governmental entity that costs a lot anything they can do to defray additional costs to the taxpayer is fine with me as long as the local officials are getting top dollar. It sure isn't pretty, but that's the reality.

I bet the RR companies only wi***hey were more visible so they could put ads on the sides of rolling stock, sell rights to the Coca Cola bypass, the Sprint Transcon etc. [:)] I just wonder why the trucking companies haven't gotten wise and started putting ads on the sides of their trailers, especially those that ride the rails.

[daveklepper]

Anyway Amtrak can earn an extra dime without inconveniencing the passengers, I am all for it. (Or without hurting moral sensibilities, obviously.) I'm all for Toyota for helping to support Amtrak! And they make hybrids, too.

[daveklepper]

Any thing that is moral and doesn't hurt the passengers and that brings Amntrak more cash is great. And Toyota makes hybrids too, yeh Toyota!