Trains.com

Amtrak Logo

5126 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Amtrak Logo
Posted by Awesome! on Sunday, July 6, 2008 1:53 PM

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=52174

How many times have Amtrak change their logo? I remember, this logo but everytime I see a locomotive new one comes by.. Now, I understand why the loss alot of money in changing logos. Sigh [sigh]

They should stay one logo....

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,632 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Sunday, July 6, 2008 6:16 PM

Remember though that commercial passenger carriers are trying to woo passengers onto their  vehicles or vessels, be it: planes, ships, chartered buses, and of course Amtrak.  To help attract passengers, marketing managers definetly want paint schemes and logos to look fresh and modern.  Greyhound, Northwest Airlines, SW Airlines, are among the carriers that have changed or modified their look one or more times since the 1980s.  Why shouldn't Amtrak?

What Amtrak spends on paint schemes and logos is pitiful compared to what transit systems like Tri-Rail, NJDot, HART (Tampa) and Miami Metro-Dade spend on their fleets.   Notice that throughout the decades, Amtrak's schemes are basically spartan and rather simple compared to that of other U.S passenger carriers.   

The latest one doesn't look bad on the locomotives, but rather plain on the passenger equipment. The Amtrak California scheme is the exception to the rule as it is quiet eye catching.  IMHO, it would be neat if that scheme were adopted to the entire fleet. 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Atlanta
  • 11,968 posts
Posted by oltmannd on Monday, July 7, 2008 11:19 AM

Amtrak started out withe the "pointless arrow" logo and changed to the "3 sheets to the wind" logo in recent years.  The arrow had that out of date 70's look to it ala the CP "Pacman".  Two logos in 30-some years isn't too many, is it? 

I just wish they'd have a logo that looks good on the nose of the locomotive.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Oklahoma City, Ok
  • 161 posts
Posted by hf1001 on Monday, July 7, 2008 2:39 PM
I know that superliners have had five different paint schemes. The latest scheme, phase five, has basically the same stripes as the phase four but has added the "acela" type logo by the door. I don't know why some people call it the "acela" logo because the actual acela's logo is backwards from the amtrak logo.
Heartland Flyer 1001 ___________________________________
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, July 7, 2008 7:49 PM

A company are know from their name or logo. If Amtrak wants everyone to recognize them. Just keep one logo that everyone could recognized..Bow [bow]

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: West Coast
  • 4,122 posts
Posted by espeefoamer on Monday, July 7, 2008 8:53 PM
I prefer the Pointless Arrow to the Feather Duster.
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Hilliard, Ohio
  • 1,137 posts
Posted by chatanuga on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 10:44 AM

 espeefoamer wrote:
I prefer the Pointless Arrow to the Feather Duster.

Same here.

Kevin

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,632 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 6:21 PM
I especially liked the pointless arrow w/ red nose scheme on the SDP40fs.  IMHO, that scheme made those locomotives look more muscular.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,773 posts
Posted by wjstix on Friday, July 11, 2008 9:50 AM
I don't think Amtrak has had that many "logo's" (in railroading we usually call them "heralds"). They change paint schemes fairly regularly though.
Stix
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Hilliard, Ohio
  • 1,137 posts
Posted by chatanuga on Friday, July 11, 2008 1:40 PM

 wjstix wrote:
I don't think Amtrak has had that many "logo's" (in railroading we usually call them "heralds"). They change paint schemes fairly regularly though.

Well, for me, phase III was the last good paint scheme that they had.

Kevin

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: missouri
  • 430 posts
Posted by Been Nothing Since Frisco (BNSF) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 6:12 PM
i belive they have have changed logos at least 2 or 3 times
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Atlanta
  • 11,968 posts
Posted by oltmannd on Sunday, July 13, 2008 8:36 PM

Lots of paint schemes and variations.  Only two logos.

Logo #1 http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/gifs/amtrak.gif a.k.a. "pointless arrow"

Logo #2 http://www2.fi.edu/tut/images/amtrak_logo.jpg a.k.a. "three sheets to the wind"

 

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Monday, July 14, 2008 12:31 AM
Keep the original logo..SoapBox [soapbox]
http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy