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Not sure if this is fact or fiction, but Santa Fe's classic 'war-bonnet' scheme was supposedly actually first seen on Lionel tinplate O gauge F units, and AT&SF management liked it so much that they adopted it, or at least, a version of it. ( I may have been 'April Fooled' on this, but I thought I'd throw it in here-is this true, or was I skunked? ) The Seaboard Airline's festive 'citrus' paint colors were an obvious connection w/ the colors of the fruits that used to be a major part of Florida's agricultural industry before much of the oranges, lemons and limes that we now consume were imported to the US from another country. I suspect that the somber paint schemes on the N&W, Clinchfield, later C&O, B&O, & NYC, as well as Pennsy freight, Penn-Central, and even Southern freight diesels was an economic decision because of the filth of moving long strings of coal, and being in and around coal yards and other dirty industry. What would be the point, from a public image standpoint, to have bold and colorful paint schemes under a layer of soot? Simple, dark paint looked less obviously 'dirty'. Later diesel paint schemes like SP's 'bloody nose' and L&N's last paint scheme before being sucked into the "Family Lines' and later CSX, . were probably a reflection of the somber state of the American railroads' image of themselves, and many of them were trying to save money, no matter if it was reflected in the public's perception of them. It certainly must be a lot cheaper to 'maintain' (or even ignore) simplistic paint schemes when there isn't any extra money for deferred maintainence chores lying around. Also, there was a change in corporate logo and graphics philosophy in the '60s and '70s (when everyone was responding to the hippy and mod generation and Madison Ave's attempt at capturing the attention of that 'generation' ). That was seen in many industrial products, including the railroads. It was the dawn of the big, bold, graphic initials used on products, and sometimes just a slogan was used for product identity, rather than the corporate name or initials. It was the age of the Peter Max and Andy Warhol impact on corporate America. A couple of railroads that illustrate this, in my opinion ( and I know little else about these roads, other than I think their respective diesel paint schemes are butt ugly-sorry) are the SOO and the Rock Island. There isn't anything uglier or illustrates fallen pride in a corporation's mission, than the rusty, filthy and peeling paint on those roads diesels. Bright and graphic paint schemes weather beautifully, but only for the modeler who's trying to capture history and accurately portray their chosen railroad. And the Rock Island once upon a time had a beautiful, dramatic ist gen diesel paint scheme, replaced by "The Rock" - yuk. The UP and Santa Fe, as well as their latest merger paint schemes (like BNSF) have maintained a proud corporate identity over the decades and a consistent public image. (and now they want us to pay for it - even if it's pennies per unit) Their paint shemes reflects a link w/ their past, and a present day optimism that probably captures the attention of the public and shippers in a positive way. The NS does this in a more conservative 'fashion', but because their motive power typically is nice and shiny, even if black and white, it too, reflects a seriousnees and pride in their corporate mission. The CSX still needs to get it, and I know I've probably tourqued off a few w/ that comment ! I just think the CSX's paint treatment(s) are awful. . .
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