Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

UPDATED Livery and Herald for the NorthWestern Pacific SouthWestern Pacific System (Font for herald finally selected)(Herald shape selected)

12969 views
88 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 3:58 PM

It would either read NWP or SWP not both (except on a few special units).

I cannot make up a diagram right now, I don't have a computer, I'm limited to using a smartphone.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 2:45 PM

A diagram would be more helpful that a picture of a prototype locomotive.

.

Would it be NWPSWP instead of KCS?

.

I tossed this together in about 20 minutes using Paint and a downloaded coloring book image. Pictures will help us understand your idea better.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 12:16 PM

So here's what I think I've got down for a modern livery, my idea is to have the locomotive dark green all around then the roof and lettering be light moss green (almost white) and have the lettering be the KCS block lettering with a strike through reading Northwestern Pacific.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Sunday, June 10, 2018 10:38 PM

Here's another I could borrow from, I'm going to be working towards finalizing a design for my main era, '40-'60 I will post it when I get it done. Thanks for all the advice guys!

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 7:58 PM

NWP SWP
I just realized something! Railroads logos/heralds go through many reiterations/redesigns so I could do several logos that span several eras!

.

Steven,

.

Do you read the responses people post in your threads trying to help you?

.

Tom and I made this point to you 15/16 responses below.

.

I don't mind answering your questions and helping out, but I don't like to think that the effort is just getting glossed over.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 7:38 PM

OK I was looking at some pictures and I really like the SP bloody nose, would a green version work? Dark green replacing the gray, and light moss green instead of red, I could trim it out with southern green.

I guess I can get away with green in the desert.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, March 10, 2018 10:43 PM

I just realized something! Railroads logos/heralds go through many reiterations/redesigns so I could do several logos that span several eras! Maybe even one for the 60s-80s possibly resembling the CN wet noodle logo!

The Pullman logo could be the 20s, the four diamond IC logo could be the 30s...

Now for the livery I was thinking dark green with a light green bar and mid green stripes that can be passenger and freight is reversed light to dark, vice versa. That would be acceptable in the railroads stomping grounds in both the PNW and SoCal?

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 9, 2018 5:29 PM

I could do something like this in a diamond.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

Moderator
  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Waukesha, WI
  • 1,764 posts
Posted by Steven Otte on Friday, March 9, 2018 2:53 PM

Since there are so many directions in your railroad's name, I would consider basing the shape of your herald on a compass rose. Maybe tilted at a rakish angle to give it that feeling of motion and progress. I'm not going to draw it for you, but imagine something like this...

...but instead of letters at the poles, put a letter in each of the four quadrants. "N" at top left, "W" at bottom left, "P" in both of the right quadrants, and "W" at the center of the rose.

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 9, 2018 12:59 AM

It is like C&O/B&O yes it's two railroads same entity, I want a uniform logo type for both roads, kinda like SPSF, sorry that I didn't make that clear, my mistake.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, March 9, 2018 12:49 AM

NWP SWP
I'd like the logo to be for either NWP or SWP

I guess — based on your moniker — I thought it was one railroad, or at least one entity, like C&O/B&O.

Crooner, Imagineer, High School Senior, living with Aspergers, and President of the NWP-SWP System.

Oh well...

Ed

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Friday, March 9, 2018 12:46 AM

Ed that's not bad, something I want to point out, I'd like the logo to be for either NWP or SWP, here's to logos I might borrow from.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, March 8, 2018 11:33 PM

Just playing around in CORELdraw I came up with this. A little blend of the ERIE diamond and the old Illinois Central bar-diamond.

 NWP_1a by Edmund, on Flickr

This would be a pre-1950s emblem.

If I get time I may try a "modernized" version.

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Thursday, March 8, 2018 8:57 PM

How's this one you can see the NWP more clearly.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Currently in Chicago area
  • 830 posts
Posted by up831 on Thursday, March 8, 2018 3:41 PM

Ok, now I'm a little confused.  Are you designing your own logo or trying to model an existing prototype?  (See March diner)

IF you're designing your own logo, the design principles I explained in the diner are sound.  IF you're modeling a prototype, then the design principles don't matter.  Then, it's what the prototype did irregardless.  

However, looking at the locomotive in the diner, the NWP becomes the geometric figure that supports the bar.  You will also notice the NWP is the same width as the bar, which almost subjugated the bar element to the point where both elements explain each other.  Not very compelling, but that's what they did.

Less is more,...more or less!

Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Thursday, March 8, 2018 2:24 PM

I have a few more ideas that I'll post screen shots of later, my chief problem is I can seem to get the font big enough that the strike through looks OK.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • 172 posts
Posted by Eric White on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 11:24 AM

Take a look at magazines from your proposed modeling era to see what kinds of typefaces and logo designs were popular at the time.

That will give you an idea about colors as well.

Then think about the culture of your railroad. Was is sauve and sophisticated? Or hardworking and practical.

Both the 1920s and 1950s were boomtimes, so there was a bit more enthusiasm for taking risks and being a bit flashy, but you'd still want to think about the practicalities of maintaining a particular paint scheme. Not to mention the difficulties of applying it to all of your models.

Eric

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 6:12 AM

NWP SWP

Ed, egads! That does look like an underground sign! Perhaps swapping the red and blue around might help! Alternatively I might ditch blue and red and go with a two/three tone green scheme... would green work for the SWP part of the system specifically in the deserts? 

Tom, Kevin, I agree and I'm trying to get a starting point to work backward and forward from, I can deviate slightly in the bland color/font department because my system is so "revolutionary" so to speak the liveries and such were to help "sell" the railroad to the general public... it's all about image!Laugh

I think any variants of greens would have been part of a post-war scheme.  Black, brown, red, and white would have been the predominant colors of WWII and pre-war schemes.  Course, there was "Brunswick" green (mostly black with a touch of green) on the PRR steamers...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 2:19 AM

NWP SWP
but other wise I like it!

 

Yes  Me too! Very nice.

 

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 12:58 AM

This is a bit more subdued...

It just needs the NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC and SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC in the outer ring, but other wise I like it!

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Monday, February 5, 2018 11:24 PM

Ed, egads! That does look like an underground sign! Perhaps swapping the red and blue around might help! Alternatively I might ditch blue and red and go with a two/three tone green scheme... would green work for the SWP part of the system specifically in the deserts? 

Tom, Kevin, I agree and I'm trying to get a starting point to work backward and forward from, I can deviate slightly in the bland color/font department because my system is so "revolutionary" so to speak the liveries and such were to help "sell" the railroad to the general public... it's all about image!Laugh

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, February 5, 2018 7:46 AM

tstage
With that being the case, you could come up with two distinct heralds: A pre-40s and a post-40s version.

.

I repeat what Tom said. I don't think any railroads had harmonized paint schemes over periods of decades.

.

The car on the left is "post war", and the car on the right is 1930's-WW2.

.

.

Be sure to keep evolution in mind when you are working on your paint, lettering, and heralds.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Monday, February 5, 2018 5:24 AM

A few thoughts:

  • Since your fictitious railroad is based from 1920-1960, be sure to choose a font/fonts that is representative of that time period in order to make it more plausible.  Pre-40s lettering often used serifs; 40s and later changed to sans serif.  With that being the case, you could come up with two distinct heralds: A pre-40s and a post-40s version.
  • Having parts of the herald in different fonts-types (e.g. block and cursive) would make for a nice contrast.  I would keep it to no more than two types.
  • Paint color varieties really didn't start coming onto the scene till after WWII.  So your pre-war herald should probably have no more than one or two colors.  Post-war schemes, however, can be more colorful.  That would help with making the two "era-related" heralds more distinct from one another

FWIW...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Monday, February 5, 2018 5:01 AM

A good start, Steven... but for some reason I'd always be looking for a Tube Station when I see it.

 Underground1 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Big Smile

Around here SWP was a nickname for Sherwin Williams Paint. Cover The Earth.

Cheers, Ed

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Monday, February 5, 2018 1:16 AM

I may not have a computer but I do have a smartphone! I found a PowerPoint type app on my phone and used it to make the following logo I just need to add NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC and SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC in the outside ring...

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Monday, February 5, 2018 12:38 AM

I'll sketch it up by hand with some colored pencils... by the way, currently I has no computerCrying

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 4, 2018 9:34 PM

NWP SWP
I just need someone with a computer with a program to create it!

.

Use Microsoft PowerPoint. I created the STRATTON & GILLETTE herald I use on this forum in PowerPoint, screenshotted it, and then shrunk it with paint.

.

PowerPoint has all kinds of powerful tools to create heralds. Try it out.

.

You should learn PowerPoint anyway, your professional career depends on it. Might as well try it out now on something fun.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, February 4, 2018 9:06 PM

Why not just go through the iterations and draw it by hand until you get what you are looking for?  You don't need a computer for that.  Once you lock in on the design then have someone draw it up for you...or do it yourself.  I've been able to put together a number of respectable diagrams in MS Word using the drawing options under Insert/Shapes.  Give it a try...

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Posted by NWP SWP on Sunday, February 4, 2018 7:34 PM

Maybe do what you said with NWP above and SWP below the bar that has GREAT PACIFIC FLEET and NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC on the upper hemisphere and SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC on the lower hemisphere of the circle...

I just need someone with a computer with a program to create it!

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 4, 2018 7:17 PM

Put "THE PACIFIC FLEET" inside the circle in script, NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC in san serif on top outside the circle, and SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC in san serif on bottom outside the circle.

.

The your herald will look similar to mine!

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!