Amtrak in the Toyota Tundra Paint Scheme!

[siberianmo]

Good one, Tharmeni [swg] In my opinion, some humor on these forums and threads goes a long way ....... [tup]

[Tharmeni]

An inebriated man ran into the side of an ad on a passing Amtrak locomotive at a crossing on the west side of town today. His last words were "Those Tundras are sure tough trucks!"

[TrainFreak409]

Well, that's something you don't see everyday. Over in Europe, the locomotives carry advertisements frequently, so I am not surprised that it is happening here.

[espeefoamer]

I think that unit kicks @$$,especially on a train with one unit.It gives the impression that a Toyota Tundra can pull a train[8D]!

[siberianmo]

The first time I ever experienced travel aboard a passenge train that had advertising on the loco's (other than the roadname of course) was with VIA Rail on a cross-Canada trip from Toronto to Vancouver. One of the F40PH's was all decked out in KOOL AID markings. Ugh. Really a turnoff, but at least the other 2 F40's were untouched.

Some years later, I traveled to Halifax with ViA Rail and to my suprise one of two F40's was painted in Spiderman II advertising. This, I was told, was in conjuction with pushing the movie AND to generate interest in a contest. Oh well .......

So, I guess imitation IS the best form of flattery - now Amtrak. First I've ever seen like this and appreciate the post.

I fully understand the need for revenue and won't knock it, bash it, or condemn it. As long as we can still ride 'em, it's what's on the inside of those trains that 'does it' for me!

See ya! [tup]

[wskehr52]

What if this had happened years ago? A Purina ad on the side of a Chessie engine.

[Anonymous]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=85751

It looks a lot better in person than it does in a photo. I liked the Toyota Tundra paint scheme much better on 84 than I did 115. Here's 115 in the paint scheme: http://www.4rr.com/G11/115_001.htm For some reason, I like 84 better. [:)]

Nick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cefinkjr

QUOTE: Originally posted by radivil
This never stopped quite a few airlines from painting up airliners with promotional schemes, like Southwest's Shamu planes or the Star Alliance planes with a six airline hybird scheme. At least a train is visible for more than when an airliner linked to a jetway, provided you're actually in an airport terminal to see it as more than just a white shape at 35,000 feet.

Not quite true. My home is directly under Southwest's approach to Love Field and about 15-20 air miles out. Shamu is definitely identifiable when it passes over. (Haven't seen it lately though. Has it been repainted?)

Another major difference here is that Southwest's Shamu is advertising an online tourist attraction - Sea World in San Antonio. The Toyota-Amtrak connection is, if anything, a negative one. And besides, it's UGLY!

[:(]
Chuck

Yeah, you can see them if you're under the approach or depature for an airport, but for most of the plane's journey its pretty tough to tell what it is. Apparently they're still out there, some with the old gold and red colors on the non-whale portion and some with blue and red.

I'll agree its sorta odd that they'd choose a car company to advertise. But I don't think it would be odd for a bus to advertise for Amtrak on its side for some reason.

I'll also agree that its ugly. Because it is.

[Anonymous]

Why does everything have to be political, true the Rebublicans Amtrack policy is not perfect; but almost anything is better than just sucking out of the Federal budget every year.
And besides were talking about a hideous paint scheme. Amtrack's image leaves much to be desire, the old streamliners were well cleaned, had good service, and ran on time. Amtrack does none of these, the tundra just makes it worse. When you see and Amtrack train go by few people dream of travleing on it. When the Supercheif went by you could dream about were you could take that train.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

Mitch,
Count your blessings. PACE, the Chicago suburban bus operation, has a few bus wraps advertising "Six Feet Under". Who wants to ride in a hearse any sooner than the last ride?
Also, my compliments to your work on South Shore's timetables.

CSS,
Thanks for your kind words about my artwork.

I feel that transit-wrap, especially one that states "Six Feet Under" is not a good idea. With respect to transit vehicles of all descriptions, the negative attributes as I see it are :

1. A prospective passenger can't see in the windows so the interior is not inviting.
2. Law enforcement officers can't see in to determine if there is an on-board situation.
3. It reduces the image of any large vehicle to that of a truck.

But hey, what do we care about continualy crapping up the visual environment? Money is money is money no matter how little is derived, and what the negative impact is. It's like living in a visual kitty-litter box.

Mitch

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Mitch,
Count your blessings. PACE, the Chicago suburban bus operation, has a few bus wraps advertising "Six Feet Under". Who wants to ride in a hearse any sooner than the last ride?
Also, my compliments to your work on South Shore's timetables.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oklacnw

Guess "artmark" has let his true feelings out- he wants to do away with Amtrak entirly. Yep, lets keep subsidising the airlines, ships, and highways, but no American passenger system. Oh, well............

Where in this thread have I stated that I want to end subsidies to Amtrak or any other railroad passenger service? For the record I don't think they're subsidized any where near what is required. You cartainly don't think that sixty days worth of ad space on an engine subsidizes passenger service in any meaningful way.

Perhaps you missed the sarcasim of one of my posts.

If you're refering to my Republican painted engine, in response to Nick's post, you missed my point, and the irony entirely.

Please refer to me as "Mitch," as I sign my posts. I just noticed that "Artmark" and "Amtrak" can get confusing.

Mitch

[oklacnw]

Guess "artmark" has let his true feelings out- he wants to do away with Amtrak entirly. Yep, lets keep subsidising the airlines, ships, and highways, but no American passenger system. Oh, well............

[UPTRAIN]

Dang...that unit was on 21 AND 22...I'm glad it didn't come through on a night I went and saw it, I'd still be in the hospital.

[Gluefinger]

Um....how is the NPCU car scheme any different than an existing one? Because the baggage door blocks the striping?

[Anonymous]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewqueued.php?id=134265

I wouldn't even be able to look at that, lol.

Nick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jimitrain

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=85751

I'd like it if Amtrak painted a lot of their locomotives in that scheme. All I see now is Phase 5. What's your favorite Amtrak paint scheme? Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 5, F40PH / NPCU Paint, P32BWH Paint. (or other) Which one out of those do you like best?

Nick

I'd like to see the scheme proposed by the Republican National Committee. It's all red with the slogan, "Are ya with us? and a HUGE picture of GWB shouting "ALLLL ABOARD!" while crushing an AMtrak unit in his right hand.

Mitch

[Anonymous]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=85751

I'd like it if Amtrak painted a lot of their locomotives in that scheme. All I see now is Phase 5. What's your favorite Amtrak paint scheme? Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 5, F40PH / NPCU Paint, P32BWH Paint. (or other) Which one out of those do you like best?

Nick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gentlegiant
whens the H-O version due out?

See...That's what Toyota is waiting for. The model manufacturere will have to pay Toyota a license fee to put that stuff on a model, and then they'll get more advertising space in miniature running around in some clown's basement. Just think. You'll pay Toyota to have their advertising on your property. Just like paying a fortune for logowear. You pay a company to do their advertising.

Mitch

[Anonymous]

One time in the 1970's, I bought a ticket to ride a Rock Island commuter train from Blue Island to Chicago. It was the dead of winter. Rather than a nice set of Bi-levels and a grungy E or F unit powered train, this "thing" called a Fiat rail car pulled up...freezing cold...like riding a bus to chicago, then there was My first amtrak ride to Denver from Chicago as a teen rail fan...NO DOME...these 2 let downs pale in comparison to the abomination of the amtrak diesel with that god awful ad. whens the H-O version due out?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DATbeergeek

QUOTE: Originally posted by artmark

QUOTE: Originally posted by oklacnw

Aw, Shucks, folks- I think it is great! Just like Southwest Airlines putting a whale or other thing on its aircraft. Lighten up, people.
Al

Is someone selling whales. It's not the same.

Actually, it is the same: http://www.stillnuts.com/whales.htm (Southwest is selling SeaWorld, in case you don't follow the link).

If you REALLY don't like the advertising on Amtrak locomotives, all you have to do is call up the Amtrak's advertising department and tell them you want to buy blank locomotives, but still pay the advertising rates. Otherwise, let Amtrak do what they feel will extend their existance.

Me? I want several more chances to enjoy cross-country trains in the USA, and if they have to paint ugly ads on their equipment to allow that to happen, then all I can say is this: Ugly is better than nothing in my book.

I was not aware that Sea World was a competing form of transportation to Southwest Air.

Amtrak may do as they wish. As a taxpayer, a visualy oriented person, and involved in advertising I feel I have somewhat of a good idea of how this comes across, and will continue to express my opinions.

Do you mean to sit there and tell me that if we divide the amount payed by Toyota by 60, for the sixty day period, that the amount covers 100 percent of that days operating costs for the train? Or 50%? Can you get me the figures on how much Toyota payed Amtrak for the service?

I'll repeat what I said earlier in this thread. "So the whole problem with funding passenger trains pre-Amtrak was that the railroads should have sold advertising space on the E units."

Years ago, during the '70s, at The New York City Transit Museum, there was a whole presentation on how graffiti was annoying. It explained how visuals work, and that any grafic where it doesn't belong is visual cocopheny. The Toyota scheme is merely a version of grafitti.

Let's say your monthly debt service is $1000 including all expenses. Your monthly income is $450. Are you willing to wear a jumpsuit with cigarette advertising on it, where each of the pant legs are painted to look like burning cigarettes, ALL day, everywhere, all month for $5? And that includes wearing it to your next job interview.

I don't like advertising wrap on airplanes either. I have pop-up blocker on my computer for the very same reason.

Mitch

[james saunders]

GOOD ON AMTRAK FOR DOING IT I THINK ITS GONNA HELP THEM ALOT AND TOYOTA MAYBE THEY GOOD GO INTO PARTNER SHIP AND BE CALLED TOYTRAK OR SOMETHING RIDICOULOUS

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by artmark

QUOTE: Originally posted by oklacnw

Aw, Shucks, folks- I think it is great! Just like Southwest Airlines putting a whale or other thing on its aircraft. Lighten up, people.
Al

Is someone selling whales. It's not the same.

Actually, it is the same: http://www.stillnuts.com/whales.htm (Southwest is selling SeaWorld, in case you don't follow the link).

If you REALLY don't like the advertising on Amtrak locomotives, all you have to do is call up the Amtrak's advertising department and tell them you want to buy blank locomotives, but still pay the advertising rates. Otherwise, let Amtrak do what they feel will extend their existance.

Me? I want several more chances to enjoy cross-country trains in the USA, and if they have to paint ugly ads on their equipment to allow that to happen, then all I can say is this: Ugly is better than nothing in my book.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oklacnw

Aw, Shucks, folks- I think it is great! Just like Southwest Airlines putting a whale or other thing on its aircraft. Lighten up, people.
Al

Is someone selling whales. It's not the same. I don't know what you mean by "Lighten up."
I don't like it at all for the reasons I've been posting. Last I knew I still had the right to denounce nonsense. Or is that not fashionable anymore?

Mitch

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I think this is just another lame, stupid idea that again, misses the point. You want to raise money? Fix your service, not your logo.

[adrianspeeder]

Ahhhh, buy a Ford...

Adrianspeeder

[oklacnw]

Aw, Shucks, folks- I think it is great! Just like Southwest Airlines putting a whale or other thing on its aircraft. Lighten up, people.
Al

[Junctionfan]

Here is some interesting paint schemes that VIA has done on their F-40s as an example of how cool they can be. Some are more interesting then others though.

http://www.niagararails.com/cgi-bin/rosters1.cgi?/rosters/via/6400b/6403cbc.jpg

http://www.niagararails.com/cgi-bin/rosters1.cgi?/rosters/via/6400b/6405kool.jpg

http://www.niagararails.com/cgi-bin/rosters1.cgi?/rosters/via/6400b/6406sm.jpg

http://www.niagararails.com/cgi-bin/rosters1.cgi?/rosters/via/6400b/6411opl.jpg

http://www.niagararails.com/cgi-bin/rosters1.cgi?/rosters/via/6400b/6429hh.jpg

http://www.niagararails.com/cgi-bin/rosters1.cgi?/rosters/via/6400b/6429tel.jpg

[highballer1]

I agree that Bush is the demise of Amtrak. George W. Bush is the demise of most anything that was good in America. He should be out there somewhere "dodging" trains in a busy corridor, trying to save his ugly body from harm. This is the worst president I've laid my eyes on in my almost 60 years of age. What a terrible time for what was once 'America.'

We need that creep out totally!!!